Enrichment and Strength for Many Walks of Life: Stories from our Alumni

Elizabeth Slobodnik, Class of 2005

I did not intend to major in philosophy when I came to Benedictine, but once I started taking Logic, I was hooked. 聽The professors were engaging, the readings were challenging and interesting, and the class discussions formed me into the person I am today. 聽It was a privilege to encounter the truth, goodness, and beauty to be found in God, nature, and humanity. 聽Now, as a Catholic, wife, mother of four, and full-time campus minister, I continually draw benefits from what I learned in philosophy courses. 聽Studying philosophy deeply impacted the way I think, live, and love.

Matthew Cook, Class of 1994
IT Systems Administrator
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation

Working in information technology, I have to regularly read detailed technical documentation. 聽I also have to explain, with precision, my understanding of a technical issue or problem and its proper resolution. Philosophical training has allowed me to easily work through the consequences and dependencies when pursuing certain solutions, following them to their logical end. 聽In trying to resolve technical issues with customers, I learned very early on to determine what it was they were trying to accomplish. 聽What was their end? 聽Knowing someone’s “final cause” made it so much easier to offer the means to achieve it.

Being a full-time college student studying philosophy allowed me invaluable time to contemplate the big and essential questions. 聽How can we know truth? 聽What is the meaning of life? 聽Does God exist? 聽What is His nature? 聽I was able to leave college with a solid foundation of truth, 聽having settled in my mind many of the answers for which I hungered. 聽 I felt free. 聽Many left school with knowledge. 聽I was blessed to graduate with knowledge and wisdom. 聽Thus, philosophy was immensely more practical to me than anything else I could have studied.

Lailee (LaBarbara) McConnel

Philosophy goes beyond career choices or 聽鈥渨hat鈥� you will do, but also builds character, equipping you to intentionally form the 鈥渉ow鈥� and 鈥渨hy鈥� in what you do. After all, we weren鈥檛 created human 鈥渄oings鈥�, we were created human 鈥渂eings鈥�. Don鈥檛 only ask yourself what you will do in life, but also how you will be and what tools you need to get there. Specifically, the Philosophy department at Benedictine challenged my pre-conceived notions and forced me ask to ask tough questions, forming an inquisitive yet resolute way of thinking. This has followed me into my after-grad and work life in surprising ways, whether it be in management, building a team, or problem-solving. When situations arise, I find myself not only referring to the concepts I studied , but to specific conversations with professors about real-life application, which has helped me reason through both practical and ethical choices in a confident manner. No matter where life takes you, philosophy is an incredible tool and complement to any walk of life.