ALUMNI PROFILE
Grace Garrett ’ 17
What have you been up to since you graduated from CPA ? Since graduating CPA in 2017 , I attended Elon University in North Carolina for undergrad , where I served as a peer educator for freshmen and eventually on the faculty advisory board for the program , volunteer coordinator of a free clinic for the uninsured in Alamance County , NC , and was a member of a sorority . After graduating in May 2021 , I moved to Washington D . C . to work at the National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) in community-based clinical research .
How did your experience at CPA prepare you for your current pursuits ? CPA prepared me very well in writing skills and work ethic . I had no trouble adjusting to college in terms of achieving academic goals I set for myself .
I believe we as Christians have a duty to serve those who have fewer earthly comforts than we do .
Are there any specific people at CPA you feel shaped your growth as a person ? Absolutely , the first person who comes to mind is Mark Miller , who I had for three years of math in high school . He was one of the best teachers I have ever had in terms of conveying material to a level we could understand , working with you to answer a question until you understood the underlying mechanism , and not letting you off easy in any way .
He was always encouraging and reminded us that any limits on our learning were ones we had set for ourselves — we were capable of learning everything taught .
Do you have any words of advice for students at CPA , about to head out into the world ? The world is extremely different from CPA ' s community , and most people have very different lives from you . Embrace learning about other people ' s experiences and see what you can learn from them just as they can learn from you .
How do you feel you may have an influence on today ' s culture ? If I have an impact on the culture of today , I would hope it would be to influence people who have advantages to become more empathetic to the struggles of the powerless .
How does your faith impact how you live and work in your industry ? In my job , I have a unique position to serve those who often are mistreated or forgotten by society . Based on Proverbs 16:19 and 28:27 I believe we as Christians have a duty to serve those who have fewer earthly comforts than we do . My faith influences me to accept this task compassionately and without hesitation .
58 PURPLE & GOLD FALL 2022