Ryan Eugene Heffelman

“I came from a non-traditional educational background, a Sudbury model school, where I didn’t have a traditional GPA or transcript. A lot of colleges turned me away because of this, but Carthage gave me the opportunity to pursue my education. Carthage also has a beautiful campus.”

“The Carthage faculty have helped me foster passion for what I study. Having a personal relationship with my professors makes me care more about assignments that I submit and the work I create. The faculty have written me personal recommendation letters, helping me get internships and into research programs. Professors Mark Mahoney and Erlan Wheeler are serving as my faculty advisors, helping me navigate through course selection with both my majors, preventing me from making mistakes I otherwise would have, and tailoring my education to my own specific goals.”

“CSC 2560 - Data Structures and Algorithms was my favorite course. The projects were really cool. I learned a ton, more-so than any other class. It was very intellectually stimulating. By the end of the semester, I had a folder full of awesome programs that I was genuinely proud of and continue to use parts of to this day. This is where computer science really opened up for me and I finally felt like a competent programmer, able to build whatever I put my mind to.”

“I’m the President of the Carthage Philosophy Club. We facilitate public weekly meetings where we talk about a broad variety of philosophical subjects such as sociology, war, religion, psychology, etc. As president of the club, I’m responsible for a lot of the administrative work involving the club, such as reserving rooms, sending out emails, managing finances, etc.”

“I work at Carthage Media Services. It isn’t directly related to either of my majors, but I’ve learned a lot about troubleshooting tech hardware and improving my problem-solving skills, both of which are valuable skills to learn for my majors.”

“The Hedberg Library is my favorite spot. It’s a nice central location. My job is located there, and I have a secret study spot in the library. Plus, Starbucks is there. I love the environment.”

“My favorite memories include winning the last prize in bingo after losing terribly all night and new student orientation. Additionally, another memory that I love was after pulling an all-nighter to study for finals. I was walking back to my dorm at 5:00am, then I got distracted and sat alone for 30 minutes admiring the beautiful sunrise over the lake. It was so peaceful and serene.”

“Have a strong genuine interest in what you’re studying. If you view studying your major as a chore, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Getting an assignment should be exciting to you about 90 percent of the time. Your passion and interest for your major ought to drive your studies, not your anxiety.”

“Participate in class, get to class early, reach out to people in your class if you need clarification on an assignment, and attend clubs.”

“Coming from a non-traditional educational background, there were a lot of doubts about my ability to succeed in a college environment, but all of those doubts are now gone. College hasn’t been too difficult, even as a STEM double major, I just have to put in the effort to succeed.”