Cameron Anderson (AA '22, BS ’24)
Bachelor鈥檚 Degree in Environmental Science
AA, BA
While attending Metea Valley High School, a staff member told Cameron Anderson (AA '22, BS ’24) about a local option to get his AA degree for a low cost—Arrupe College—and suggested he investigate it.
“I did more research,” he says. “I Googled it and saw that it was an option to go to 黑料门on the cheaper side.”
鈥淵ou鈥檒l have tons of support. You can do it, too.鈥�
THRIVING AMONG COMMUNITY
During his time on campus, he made the Dean鈥檚 List, was a member of Black Men for Success, and signed up as a freshman leader鈥攈elping incoming students to get connected with campus and all its resources. Personally interested in the environment and the earth, he also helped build gardens around campus as a hobby.
He was most surprised by the amount of support he received while at Arrupe.
鈥淭he faculty and the staff make the Arrupe experience,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey do a tremendous job.鈥�
He says all of his professors made an impact, not just one.
鈥淚 honestly had a personal relationship with all [Arrupe faculty members]. It was very community-based. Multiple people went above and beyond for me.鈥�
PURSUING HIS PASSION
After receiving his associate's degree, Anderson went directly on to pursue his bachelor鈥檚 in environmental science at 黑料门University Chicago and will graduate in 2024. The degree allows him to explore his interest in the earth.
鈥淕rowing up on the South Side, I didn鈥檛 have much experience with the earth. Over time鈥攁s I went hiking, fishing, and away to camps鈥擨 just had a better understanding that it was my passion.鈥�
On campus, he鈥檚 a team leader in the Urban Agriculture Program and led an independent project to determine crop rotation.
In the future, he plans to parlay that love of the earth into a fulfilling career by either becoming an environmental consultant or working for the government in an environmental role that involves going to different states or countries and helping communities grow urban gardens.
For anybody debating whether they should apply for Arrupe, Anderson encourages them to jump right in and not look back.
鈥淎rrupe isn鈥檛 always easy, but with a community it makes trying and succeeding a lot easier,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l have tons of support and acknowledgment. You can do it, too.鈥�