McGregor:

Tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a current student at McGregor, just finishing up my senior project.

I graduated from high school in 2001. After graduating, I attended culinary school at Sinclair. I dabbled in that for a while and decided that I wanted to pursue a four-year degree. I kind of bumped around to different colleges, but I didn’t really find the right fit for me. I wanted something that combined my interests like art, literature and cultural studies, but that would also relate directly to food and wine, which are my true passions.

So, I took a year or two off and did some traveling until I decided that it was time for me to go back to school. And then I stumbled upon McGregor. I looked at the Humanities program and I said, “Oh my gosh.” It was like someone personally designed it for me.

I’m working right now and going to school. I work with my fiancé in his wine store doing wine education, wine retail and a little bit of everything.

I’ve worked for about seven years in the food and wine business, and I’m thinking about branching off and starting my own business. Probably selling wine. But I pretty much dabble in anything from wine education to retail to wine making. It’s such a wonderful job because I get to travel a lot. I really enjoy traveling.

In fact, I just got back from China. I went with some of the people in my humanities program at McGregor. We had some interest in going to China and learning about the culture and traditions and the current state that China’s in. I’m going to use some of the information for my senior project. My senior project is going to be on pollution in China – how it’s affecting the people and what the government is doing about it and what they’re not doing about it. ^Top

Why did you choose McGregor?

I’ve lived in Ohio for my whole life, and I was always very intrigued with the little town of Yellow Springs. I was there during one of their festivals, and Midwest had a little booth with information. I picked up some pamphlets and, literally, a week later I applied.

I was very taken with the information that was handed to me. I met with some of the faculty and they talked to me, and I said, “Oh wow. This is really what I want to do.” It was like an impulse. I’ve never had anything happen to me like that. I just knew – this is it. This is what I want to do. And that was really neat.

The class that I was in, it was a very diverse group of people. Age, race, sex – it was unlike any classroom that I’d ever been in, and it really helped me to understand concepts from different perspectives. It was truly a unique opportunity.

And the people that I went through the core program with, they became like my family. We were all very close. And I think that in other colleges there’s a huge disconnect with people, with students. They don’t really have community like at McGregor. I just felt that there was such a community and closeness among the students. It wasn’t like a commuter college where you just go in, learn things, and regurgitate the information.

I’d also like to mention the Chair of the Humanities program, Jim Malarkey. He is such an amazing person and he really pushes students and really helps them to become not only great students and scholars, but also great people. I wouldn’t have been able to get through the program without him and his guidance. If you need something, he’s very accessible. Unlike other colleges, you can call him on the phone, you can email him – and he actually gets back with you.

And that’s another thing about Midwest – you’re not a number, you’re a person. In so many larger colleges, you’re just a number, your student number, and nothing else. At McGregor, they are very personable, and it makes a big difference. It’s so nice to be able to walk into an office and say, “Hey, how are you doing?” Or to discuss something that’s really bothering you. And things get done. If you have an issue and you go to someone, it will be resolved. ^Top

How did Midwest help you professionally?

It gives me a frame of reference for the cultures of the wine regions that I had traveled to. And it helps me to understand why they do things the way they do with food and wine and customs. It’s been really helpful with my travel.

In the Humanities program we really delved into different cultures, basically from the bottom up, everything about them. So I felt more comfortable being away from the U.S. I felt like I could really integrate the perspectives of people from different cultures into the program.

And I think it’s going to help me as I pursue running my own business. I think that I’m able to work with all different kinds of people, and I have experience in that from going to such a diverse school. I think that I can handle a lot of situations that I wouldn’t have been able to before.

I think that I’m very sensitive to other people’s needs now. And I think I’m also very sensitive to the cultures that I might be delving into with my work in food and wine. For my work, I cannot be made uncomfortable by different cultures; I must embrace their differences. ^Top

How has Midwest impacted you personally?

I feel like I’ve really grown as a student in my thinking, in my ability to kind of think “outside of the box.” It sounds a little cliché, but to think outside of the box and really learn things about myself that I wasn’t open to before. It really broadened my horizons and I feel more confident as a person and as a writer. I feel like I can really take the coursework and get something great out of it for myself and for my future education.

And I don’t think I would have gotten that experience at another university. Absolutely not. At Midwest we were forced – in a good way – to listen to other people’s takes on the material that was presented. And it was such an open environment. We weren’t afraid to talk about subjects that might be taboo in a state university. We could really touch on things like racism and sexism and things like that.

And I feel like the faculty at Midwest really encourages students to dig deeper, and to be uncomfortable, and to look at issues, and to be irritated with the current state of things. I don’t think you would get that at any other university. ^Top

Did you have an ‘Aha Moment’ at McGregor?

I had lots of those while sitting in class. When you’re at home and you’re reading the material and you don’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of. It’s kind of difficult and you can get really frustrated. But, when you walk in class and you’re talking to other people about the readings – light bulbs go off and you’re like, “Oh, okay. I understand what Plato was talking about now.”

And it was such a nice environment; it was nice to have such open discussion in the classroom. So there were lots of “Aha” moments. Everybody in class, constantly every Saturday, was thinking, “Wow, this is cool. I get this now.” ^Top

What advice would you give to a new student?

Be willing to devote yourself entirely. It is a flexible program, but don’t translate that to mean it’s an easy program. Actually, it’s very difficult. You have to be willing to discover things about yourself and others and be willing to tackle anything, any subject matter.

And you have to let yourself go a little bit. You can’t be uncomfortable. You have to kind of break out of yourself. I was one of the youngest people in my program at the time, and it was a little hard for me to break out and really contribute to the learning process with everyone else. But as soon I let myself go a little bit, I was able to really contribute and learn great things with everyone. So, my advice is to never be the person that’s holding too much in. Just be willing.

McGregor is the most comfortable place – one of the most comfortable colleges I’ve ever been to. People are very friendly and willing to help, and it’s just unique. It’s in a unique town and it’s a unique university, and I really think that it would be the right fit for a lot of people who are kind of struggling. People who might be asking themselves “What do I want to do? Where do I want to go and get my degree?”

I think it’s definitely something to explore, especially for people who aren’t quite sure. That’s the boat I was in, I was thinking “I don’t know what I want to do. I don’t know what kind of program I want to go into.” This is something just really special. I think it’s a special place. ^Top