An interview with my classmate turned out to be a valuable learning experience. I learned a lot from him throughout our phone interview, as he answered my questions about his academic achievements and his plans. Let me introduce you to Pax Zezter, a 39-year-old nutrition major who is presently in his second semester at Georgia State University.

Pax grew up in Michigan and graduated high school in 2000 and attended Western Michigan University for the fall semester, but struggled to adjust to college life and had to return home, where he attended community colleges in various cities before receiving his general associate’s degree in 2011 from Portland Community College. He struggled with dyslexia as a child, which had a significant influence on his education. When Pax was 20 years old, he went to the Michigan Association for Dyslexia and was able to overcome it.

I found it impressive to overcome all of this and continue to push himself to accomplish more. Most individuals his age wouldn’t consider starting a new job, let alone a new degree that leads to a new profession, so I asked what his greatest motivation was. His reply was that even though he switched majors from time to time, he is still chasing his dreams, with flexibility being his best strength and his fiancée Rachel as his strongest motivation, seeing her face her challenges encourage him to accomplish more. I’d like to use this moment to congratulate him on his upcoming wedding in May.

But Pax also has other specialties besides school. He loves cooking and is so passionate about it. He used to bake with his grandmother when he was a kid, and she was the one that taught him the work ethic, but in 2011, Pax used his cooking skills to make his own money, and he ended up loving it. He had worked in the restaurant industry for ten years, but he wanted to learn more about the kitchen from the front of the house to get a more complete picture. In 2013, he graduated from the culinary institute with a baking and pastry diploma, and in 2016, he returned to acquire his associate’s degree in culinary art management. In all of this, he considers his greatest professional achievement to be working in James Beard’s award-winning kitchen.

Pax at Oregon culinary institute picture credit Amy ogle, March 2016

After returning to school after all this time, he found the tuition to be one of the most frustrating things, and I strongly agree with him. But in terms of his three academic words, determined, creative, and courageous, all of which I also believe are great fits for him. He said, “Because I’m an older student, I’m determined”. He acquired greater confidence in his ability to accomplish more as he grew older, battling his weakness, like every one of us, and uses therapy as his weapon, which I believe we all need right now. Pax wants to get a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and work with people who have type 2 diabetes. If he could provide one piece of advice to his younger self, he would tell him that “if you wanna do it, do it. You just can’t do it on your own”.

Following my interview with Pax, I am optimistic that, given his past, he will be able to achieve whatever he desires, and I have also learned the importance of planning ahead, of viewing life as a series of stages, each of which must be driven by a specific goal and revolve around the achievement of that goal. The interview prompted me to consider my own career aspirations and desires.