April 24, 2008
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Editor’s Note: Each month “Commodore Nation” will ask a varsity athlete to sound off on a point of personal interest. John Ebert is a senior on Vanderbilt’s golf team. He is in graduate school working on his MBA.
Vanderbilt offers an endless number of opportunities for its students, allowing each the freedom to choose what they want to make out of their stay in Nashville. I have found that in my three- and half-year tenure, I have been able to take advantage of this luxury and see Vanderbilt from a much different vantage point.
When I agreed to attend Vanderbilt and play on the golf team, I knew I probably would not be traveling with the team in my first season, thus resulting in a redshirt freshman season and four years of remaining eligibility. My prediction proved accurate and I made the most, both academically and athletically, out of my less travel-intensive schedule. In this first year, I learned of a program that allowed one to earn both their bachelor and master’s degrees in five years, something that immediately captured my interest. With the unbending support of my parents and friends, and in spite of some doubting naysayers along the way, I pushed myself toward my goal of excellence in both academics and golf. As a result, I gave up other opportunities that most other undergraduates enjoyed. For instance, I never had the chance to join clubs, a fraternity, or enjoy the many areas of Nashville.
By the end of my junior year, my economics requirements were completed, I had taken the GMAT, and I had been accepted into the MBA program at the Owen Graduate School of Management. Although my goal was reached, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into! Playing an extremely time consuming sport such as golf, I knew that this wasn’t going to be easy. Fortunately, I played in several tournaments this fall.
To say the least, the first few weeks at Owen were eye opening. I had passed the building every day for the past three years and never knew what went on inside. Now surrounded by people from all over the world, many with years of work experience, and others with incredible intellects, I was the only undergraduate and had no business experience. In five months, I have become accustomed to my new environment and have greater comfort than I ever expected. Focusing on finance, I have found an academic interest that has truly captivated me. I owe all of this to the fact that Owen has captured an outstanding mix of faculty and students, creating an educational environment that is second to none.
As they say, you never know what tomorrow may bring, so make the most out of today. Vanderbilt has provided me the opportunity to do this every day while giving me the prospect and the preparation for the brightest tomorrow. Few places in the world could offer me the options to do what I am doing with the added prestige that accompanies Vanderbilt degrees and SEC athletics. In the end, I am confident that many others will continue to make the most out of Vanderbilt’s limitless opportunities, helping to enhance their lives into the future.
