Kevoi Walters: Lessons learned outside the classroom
Kevoi Walters had many reasons for selecting Caldwell College, such as proximity to New York City, small student-teacher ratios, and readily available financial aid. Over the last four years, this 2009 graduate found that Caldwell College offers so much more. By taking advantage of the many social, cultural, and professional opportunities on campus, he has learned some of the most valuable lessons in his life so far. "The biggest lessons I have learned here were informal, outside of the classroom," he said.
Working in the Office of Admissions gave him a taste of a professional work setting, while conducting campus tours helped him "come out of his shell." As a member of the International Student Organization, he connected with peers from all over the world and learned about their diverse cultures. His internship at a local Financial Services firm even led him to a career choice. After earning his B.S. in Mathematics from Caldwell College, he landed a full-time job as a Financial Analyst and has plans to someday become a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst).
As a member of the Caldwell College men's soccer team, Kevoi says he had to learn "time management and prioritizing" skills in order to juggle his academic responsibilities and a busy game and practice schedule. As a result, he was a three-time member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) All-Academic Team for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. His commitment to the team was also rewarded with a CACC championship his senior year. He also had four goals and one assist his senior year.
In addition, Kevoi served as Senior Class Representative, worked as a Resident Assistant for two years, and remained on the Dean's List all four years. All of this hard work and dedication are part of his ultimate goal to "give back" to his mother and family in Jamaica for the sacrifices they have made for him to be here.
"My mother has been the biggest influence in my life, and I want to reimburse her, not necessarily financially, but through the things I am able to accomplish here." Based on his success at Caldwell College, Kevoi is well on his way to reaching and surpassing that goal.