Jon Atkins
Russia, 2004.
My name is Jon Atkins and while I am originally from Sonora, I currently live in Boise, Idaho where I happily reside with my lovely wife Kelsey. This is my story.
After I finished high school in Sonora, I first entered higher education with my enrollment at Columbia College in the fall of 2002. Despite the fact that I did not have the slightest idea as to what I wanted to study at the time, I soon found that I was in the proper setting to interact with my then unperceived study interests. It was not until I took a few of the courses taught by Ted and Paula, however, that a couple key realizations began to emerge. First, I realized I could be successful in college level academics and second, I discovered in the passion that Ted and Paula brought to their teaching my own growing desire to study the social sciences.
After two years of study at Columbia College and earning my A.A. in Social Science, I transferred to Boise State University (BSU) in 2005. There I continued my studies in the social sciences, each semester edging my way into the areas of study that I was most interested in. While studying at BSU, I also had the opportunity to study abroad in Prague, Czech Republic for a full academic year, work as a Research Assistant in the Sociology Department, work as a Study Abroad Peer Advisor in the International Programs Office, and statistically analyze the “green speed” problematic with my other employer at the country club. In May of 2008 I graduated from Boise State Summa Cum Laude, earning my B.A. in Social Science (emphasizing Sociology and Political Science) with a minor in Sociology. In 2009 I completed what my minor started and earned my second baccalaureate degree in Sociology (B.A.).
After completing my undergraduate studies my next task involved finding gainful employment in the area so that my wife could continue to teach the 4th grade here locally. While entertaining the possibility of earning a teaching certificate myself, my current employer approached me with a paid internship opportunity which included a promotion and a tuition stipend for a graduate program in Turfgrass Science. Fast forward to the present and I am now in the final semester of my Master's degree in Turfgrass Management through Penn State University (World Campus). I wrote my thesis on a two year field study that I conducted on the influence of volumetric moisture content on ball roll distance on putting greens.
I learned a number of things from Ted and Paula while taking their courses, yet they offered a couple bits of key advice which I have found to be most applicable. First, no matter what happens in the future it is best to be mindful of opportunities and take advantage of them as they come along. Second, in a world that changes as fast as the present one does, it is most wise to be as flexible as possible. Both principles have helped me on my way and I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today without the investment of Ted and Paula early on in my academic career.
Boise State University Study Abroad