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There are relationships and experiences that alter our lives in ways we can sometimes only perceive in retrospect. As a mathematics graduate of the College of Creative Studies, I now realize, years later, how my time at the College laid the groundwork for my current success, both vocationally and personally.
The uniqueness of the College is obvious even to the most casual observer: artsy kids, small classes, the envy-inspiring lack of final exams. What becomes more apparent with time is the philosophy behind the College, essentially ?learn because you want to.? It fosters an atmosphere of self-motivation through student-initiated events and colloquia, tailor-made courses of study, and independent pursuits of special interests under the guidance of talented professors.
As a real estate professional, I am convinced that much of my success can be attributed to the College?s untraditional approach. Working with the individual and changing needs of clients, one must know how to strike compromises and improvise solutions. Often, I?ve observed other agents lose deals because their ?formula? didn?t translate properly. The College teaches students to overlook formulas if necessary, in order to achieve a desired goal, whether it be the answer to a math problem, a real estate deal, or a dispute between friends. Forging creative solutions in a world that disregards what is supposed to work is essential for success.
In addition, the College?s flexibility provided me with the opportunity to pursue interests outside my major, without typical constraints, such as extensive general education requirements. While enrolled in the College, I began studying independently with professors in the Religious Studies Department at UCSB. I later earned my Masters of Theology from Shiloh Bible College, and since then I have often both written and taught Bible studies in the Santa Barbara area and abroad. Had I not been enrolled in the College, I would most likely have been too preoccupied with requirements outside my areas of interest to explore what has grown to become one of the greatest sources of meaning in my life.
The College of Creative Studies has offered me the opportunity of an unparalleled educational experience that I have reaped the benefits of for the last 23 years. I am thrilled that both of my daughters have had the opportunity to be students at the College of Creative Studies. My eldest daughter, Rachel, a 2003 mathematics graduate, is now pursuing her Masters degree in Financial Mathematics from Stanford University, while my younger daughter is enjoying her junior year at the College, with an emphasis on literature and music. The College of Creative Studies has impacted my entire family in an incredibly dynamic way.
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