Meet Patrick

Name: Patrick Garrett

Class of: 2022

Program: Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics

"SNHU scholarships ease the financial burden of my collegiate journey and for that, I am grateful!"


What do you like most about SNHU?

I like the high-quality education that I'm receiving through the courses for my degree program... at an affordable cost.

How do the scholarships and financial aid you receive make it possible for you to attend SNHU? Specifically, how have scholarships made a difference?

The SNHU Veterans Scholarship that I received paid for my MAT-325 Calculus III: Multivariable Calculus course. I'm the only one working in my household of four, so it can be challenging at times trying to balance the cost of maintaining my household and the cost of pursuing my education. Luckily, SNHU scholarships ease the financial burden of my collegiate journey and for that, I am grateful!

What would you say to those who donate to support student scholarships?

To the donors that make these scholarships, I can't thank you enough. Money can be tight, especially now more than ever now that we're in the middle of a pandemic. However, your generosity makes it easier for SNHU students like myself to stay on track to graduate without worrying about how we're going to pay for the next set of classes.

Why did you choose Southern New Hampshire University?

I chose Southern New Hampshire University because it offers a high-quality college education at a cost that's affordable for me.

What was your hope in receiving a college education? How has your experience been different than what you imagined?

I hope that when I receive a college education, it's more than just all A's or a 4.0 GPA. I want to actually have the knowledge and experience to teach everything that I've learned in my mathematics degree program - since my end goal is to become a mathematics instructor at the college level. I certainly wondered whether taking a math degree online would be the same as taking in-person classes. However, I'm a self-starter and I think that in itself and the flexibility of taking online classes has facilitated my learning and growth as a student. I'm definitely happy with the SNHU online experience!

What inspired you to choose your area of study? What is your dream job?

My love for math was the driving force behind the start of my collegiate journey with SNHU. Though math is a subject often eschewed by many, I absolutely love it. Whether I'm using trigonometry to find the hypotenuse of a triangle or using a logarithmic equation to calculate the interest on a loan, solving math problems just fills me with a sense of excitement and fulfillment unlike anything else in life!

With that said, I want to use my to talents in math to help others feel this same sense of excitement when they're "crunching the numbers". So, I've returned to college to get a degree in mathematics with the intent of becoming a mathematics instructor at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As an Active Duty military member myself, I've proudly served in the Air Force for the past 17 years and I'm passionate about serving my country to defend our great nation. The USAFA has a unique mission to educate, train and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead the United States Air Force in service to our nation. To achieve this mission, the USAFA provides cadets with military training and a college education similar to that offered at civilian institutions over the course of four years. Upon graduation, cadets become Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force. There would be no greater honor and privilege than to be a part of the faculty team that mentors and develops these military cadets into the military leaders of the future. Being able to serve on Active Duty while teaching math to USAFA cadets would not only allow me to bring the best of both worlds together, but it would also be my dream come true.

Who at SNHU (professor, coach, advisor, etc.) has been the biggest influence on your SNHU experience? What lessons did that person teach you?

Mary Fontaine, my SNHU academic advisor, has had the biggest influence on my SNHU experience. The road to all classes start with her and she has given me guidance and recommendations on classes that I should take based on my desired course load per term. She definitely has my best interest in mind and I truly appreciate her for that.

In what ways have you been involved at SNHU (campus organizations, job, sports, etc.)?

I haven't been able to have much involvement with SNHU outside of my online courses. However, I'm looking for more ways to get involved in the near future.

What do you find most challenging? How do you deal with this?

I find balancing work, school, and being a family man to be the most challenging part of being an online student. I'm married with two kids, ages 11 years and 18 months, so outside of my military duties, I have to make sure that I'm spending quality time with my family on top of putting in adequate time to learning all of the material in my courses and submitting my assignments on time. I deal with it by making the sacrifice of waking up early and staying up late throughout the week in order to work on my coursework while everyone else in the house is sleep. I'm probably one of the more tired people in my household because of it, but the sacrifices has its rewards. I get to make sure that my wife and kids get my time while ensuring that SNHU gets the same!

What are you proudest of?

I'm proudest of my military service. I've accomplished so much during my past 18 years in the Air Force - I've gained skills/experience, made friendships, and built an extensive network of some of America's finest men and women. All of this would have never been possible if I hadn't signed my name on that dotted line to serve my country 18 years ago.

In what ways do you want/hope to stay involved as an alumnus/a?

As an alumunus, I would love the opportunity to be a part of a panel that shares its experiences at SNHU with other students. Being an Active Duty Air Force member, I'd also love to share my experiences and how SNHU helped me as I continue to pursue my goal of obtaining a math degree - so that I can apply for a math instructor position at the United States Air Force Academy in about six years.

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*Southern New Hampshire University is not affiliated with, and this material does not imply or constitute an official endorsement by, the Department of Defense or any Military Service.*