I still remember my excitement at receiving the Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) membership. I was an economics major, going for accounting (with some extra classes at the University of Minnesota, since at the time St. Olaf did not have all the necessary classes). It was unusual for someone in my shoes to get the award — my professors had to really argue for me, and it meant a lot to me. I was also unusual in my first job in the Big Eight (the accounting giants at the time) having a liberal arts degree. I actually spent much of my career in nonprofit work, which I found most meaningful. Throughout my career I was complimented on my writing and verbal skills. There is no question that the liberal arts prepared me for better communication, better overall analysis of situations (not financial, but situational), team skills, leadership skills. The people I knew at St. Olaf were thoughtful, intelligent, and caring. The professors I had were simply amazing. Where else could I have gotten so much modern lit along with accounting classes? Music classes on the symphony, and Beethoven? Philosophy? I could actually think in German (I am re-learning it now, for fun.) OK, I admit that I skimped on the science side and did the minimum, basically so I could take more modern lit.
“The people I knew at St. Olaf were thoughtful, intelligent, and caring. The professors I had were simply amazing. Where else could I have gotten so much modern lit along with accounting classes? Music classes on the symphony, and Beethoven? Philosophy?”
I continue to give to PBK, and I love reading the quarterly journal. It has always given me something to nourish the side of my brain that perhaps got less of a workout from the numbers I worked with much of the day, as well as a retreat from being with people all day; I am naturally more of an introvert!
I am grateful to St. Olaf and PBK for giving me such a wonderful foundation as I started out in my adult life.