While some college searches are dictated by geography or a desire for something totally different, Chad was open to going anywhere and was looking for a college with a similar feel to Athenian. He also knew he wanted a school with a strong government program. Claremont McKenna seemed to check all of the boxes. It had the programs he wanted, a collaborative and supportive feel, and a strong sense of community. In addition to its strong government program, it had unique research and internship opportunities, and the Athenaeum speaker series. While a small college, the opportunities to connect with professors and thought-leaders both within and outside of Claremont McKenna were a draw for Chad. Because Claremont McKenna is part of the Claremont College Consortium (five colleges), Chad knew he’d benefit from a small school while also having access to a mid-size college environment and opportunities.
Did you have a major going into college?
"I came in as a Government major which provided a lot of flexibility…a lot of classes fit within the government department,” noted Chad. This allowed him to take a variety of classes and explore possible areas of future focus, such as national politics, political science research and nuclear nonproliferation. Now a sophomore, Chad finds himself returning to a childhood interest– Aerospace–as he rediscovers the world of spaceflight through a government and policy lens. He said, “with space travel now a private enterprise, there is a revitalized interest and a need for international policy, treaties, and regulation in order to do it safely and responsibly.” He added, “If I find a job related to this, I know that I’d never lose interest!”
How did you feel Athenian most prepared you for college?
Many first years have a hard time adjusting to the amount of free or unstructured time there is in college. For Chad, his time at Athenian prepared him well for this. “Athenian was very academically challenging,” he said. “The amount of projects and papers taught me how to organize, prioritize and just get work done. Also, participating in the many extracurricular opportunities at Athenian teaches you how to manage your energy.” In his senior year at Athenian, Chad participated in five or six extracurriculars including leading the Political Inclusion Club, the BSU and serving as a Town Meeting Officer. “I learned from overdoing it my senior year,” said Chad. He added, “coming into college and having so many opportunities, I knew to temper myself.. I physically couldn’t do them all. I picked the things I wanted to shoot for my first year and focused just on those one or two things.” At the top of Chad’s list was becoming a research assistant for the Rose Institute of State and Local Government. Now more than a year into his position with the Rose Institute, Chad’s original research on the rise of Ghost Guns in California will soon be published in the Inland Empire Outlook.
What advice would you give your younger self?
“One thing I’d tell my younger self would be to keep a better work-life balance, to not overwork myself to the point of burnout,” said Chad. With so many opportunities at Athenian, it was easy for him to devote most of his free time keeping up with school work and extracurriculars. Chad observed, “being so busy, especially my senior year, I sometimes missed out on time with friends and just giving my mind a break.” He added, “a healthy body and mind need a good balance… it is important to take time to relax, if not have a little fun too!”
