Drawn to North Carolina for its climate and golf heritage, Jack Lee ’21 made the most out of his time at Guilford by double majoring in Mathematics and Economics, building friendships, and playing on the College’s golf team.
"I took one class with Robert G. Williams, and he completely changed how I viewed education. He made learning much more enjoyable and helped me understand how much effect the teacher can have on a classroom."
“I visited Guilford and loved the area and the golf courses surrounding it,” he says. “It was great being a part of a team because it makes getting acclimated to a new environment easier. You show up, and you’re already connected with people. Then you grow great relationships with your teammates because you spend a lot of time traveling together.”
Major Decisions
The Kansas native always enjoyed working with numbers, and after taking a few classes with Professor Ben Marlin he realized math was something he should pursue.
“Economics was definitely something I started enjoying later,” he says. “I took one class with Robert G. Williams, and he completely changed how I viewed education. He made learning much more enjoyable and helped me understand how much effect the teacher can have on a classroom.”
Guilford professors continued to play an integral role in Jack’s educational choices. During Jack’s junior year, Professor Natalya Shelkova persuaded him to add an Economics major.
“Natalya was extremely important in my development as a student and person in general,” Jack explains. “She pushed me to challenge myself by double majoring in a subject that I was not completely comfortable with, and thankfully it’s worked out well so far.”
Industry Influence
The recent graduate is now a development financial analyst for the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA).
“I am looking to gain more knowledge in the health-care industry to hopefully help influence some change and make health care more affordable and accessible to everyone,” he says.
Jack’s other-centric approach was evident during his Guilford years, too. He supported professors and other students as a tutor and teaching assistant for microeconomics and served on the board for Market Minds, an Economics club at Guilford.
He advises currents students to get more involved in things that might make them uncomfortable because this is where one truly tends to grow as a person. “On top of this, get some experience,” he says. “Any experience is better than none, so even if it’s not your dream job, it will benefit you greatly to have professional experience in any industry.”
Are you looking for a small North Carolina college where you can pursue your academic and athletic dreams? Put a visit to Guilford College on your list, where you'll meet students like Jack, as well as professors who want to help you succeed.