Alumni+Geography+Survey

2014 Alumni Geography Survey

**In August of 2014, I did an informal survey of former Geography and AP Geography students that I am in touch with on Facebook. I simply asked “What is the usefulness of geography in your professional or personal lives since leaving Westmont High School?” The responses below are those that I received in the three hours after the question was posted. I know there are many more stories out there from those that missed the post, but these are representative of some of the benefits I hope a student would walk away with from a geography class. - Mr. Landreth ** Geography has been an integral part of my life, as it housed my major of study and remains a major component of my day to day job. After leaving Westmont, I studied meteorology which is part of the Geography or Earth Sciences department at most universities. While there I did coursework in GIS (Geographic Information Systems). GIS is a great way to instill the critical thinking skills statisticians or data miners use. Currently, my role at CNA Insurance is aggregation management for CNA's insured risks in areas exposed to earthquake, hurricane, severe storms and targets of terrorist attacks. This requires an intricate knowledge of the regional geography so we can adjust models to properly predict losses. It requires the use of GIS to visually display exposures, or grab exposures when there is a loss. It requires the use of FEMA flood zones, USGS hazard maps, and NOAA's entire house. The company I work for is going global. As I type this email I am sitting in London finishing up a 3 week assignment on the validation of our international branches modeling structure to apply all of the skills that NIU's geography department taught me because of your introduction to the world of geography. - Phil J.

Jeez... where to begin? I owe my entire career to AP Geography. It opened my eyes to identifying spatial patterns and the impact of different land uses on transportation and vice versa. Your encouragement to read the Metropolis 2020 plan made me think about these critical issues at a regional level sparked a personal conviction in me to make Chicago and its collar counties one of the most dynamic regions in the world for the 21st century (a tall, ambitious order, but that's still a conviction of mine as a professional urban planner). With some intro discussions in AP Geography on mapping as a tool for planning and as a tool for communicating plans to the public, I decided in that class that I wanted a GIS certificate. Finally, on a personal level, AP Geography's units on culture and my experience in the Geography Club opened my view of the world beyond DuPage County and made me a curious person that could see other world views and fully appreciate the complexity of how cultural experiences and traditions have come to be.- Ian T.

 It has helped give context to all the crazy things that happen world wide. All that stuff on the news? Geography gives current and past events context. And you begin to see how everything worldwide contributes to your daily experience. So many of the problems we face locally and globally could be better dealt with if we considered our experience to be a part of a holistic geopolitical and geo-historical ecosystem. If you don't learn and embrace Geography, and consider your insignificant life and everything that happens around you to be a produced in a vacuum, your view will REMAIN limited...like, say, a freshman in high school. And who wants to be a freshman forever?! I didn't want to do that even one time. Also, I forgot the most obvious contribution of Geography in my life: I'm an actor. Every role I play takes place in some location(s) at some certain time. The dramaturgical study required to play my role and understand the circumstances of the play and it's current and past context is all Geography. Most of my work as an actor (besides memorization and FEELING stuff) is researching culture and history. .- Paul P.

AP Geography....geography in general began my interest in architecture, cities, landscapes, urban environments! It taught me to look up and soak in the skyline, identify landmarks not only by name but by its history, its builders and significance in how the city, that it was raised in, was developed. Taught me that buildings aren't simply just brick, steel, pre-fab, or concrete structures. Buildings have history in how they were built, who built them, who designed them and the land that they sit on. Geography is a template for our future, as well, when one views how our cities, transportation, parks are utilized and designed. When I run on the lakefront path down to Jackson Park, I think about how it's a shame that what used to be there ages ago was the Columbian Exposition and no longer. The cultural and historical significance it brought to Chicago during that time was phenomenal and fascinating. I would be none the wiser if not for your Geography classes and after hours discussions. You no longer see a city as simply traffic and crowds, but spaces and designs where cultural, historical, and personal interactions take place.--- Eddie M.

Geography was the most valuable and influential class I took in high school. As for usefulness in my professional career, I have since become a geography/cartography/GIS major because of the AP geography class at WHS. The lessons from this class have c arried over and are applicable to nearly every subject I have taken in college. My mind is open to topics I would never have considered previously. In my personal life, geography has given me things as simple as a better sense of direction to more complex ideas that make me seem much more impressive in class discussions and conversations in general.--- Alexa P.

I remember sitting in that geography class with some skepticism. Then as the chapters went on, Landreth's own personal photography and anecdotes really sparked a wanderlust in me. After further cultivating my curiosity in class and especially on trips outside of the classroom with the geography club, I knew travel was a top priority. It started with wandering the city's expansive neighborhood festivals and photographing the people there. Chicagoans are very fortunate to have such a convenient taste into so many cultures from all the different neighborhoods. A couple years later I found myself in Hong Kong, on my way to the Philippines, alone. A big jump, I know! After sitting in class (and some other classes) daydreaming of doing a trip like this; there I was. Lost in all the neon signs, meeting locals who gave me tips on where to go and even letting me stay with them free (I still have my kidneys). I would travel off the beaten path by foot, junk boat and cable car to reach places like Victoria's Harbor, the world's largest Buddha statue and the Peak. I would of course photograph most things and be reminded of Landreth's stunning photographs from class, but now I was across the world taking them. I was proud of that. I continued on to the Philippines and really the next chapter of my life, since I now spend every winter there! Back in the states I work as a boat captain (that's a whole other story) which is a profession that I continue to use those skills of chart reading and trip planning on my long voyages. Chicago's winters make my job seasonal so I have the opportunity to travel for a few months. I've worked as an English professor, billboard model, pubcrawl guide, floating bar manager and most things in between during my time traveling. I have met more influential people who are now some of the best of friends, experienced sights inspiring and frightening, galloped up a steaming volcano and surfed up to an empty island. I can honestly say that Mr. Landreth and his geography class/club were the biggest influences to spark this passion of mine. So I know sometimes as a HS student you're sleepy after lunch or worried about asking that girl out after school, but give a little attention and praise to the theory and experiences Mr. Peter Landreth is trying to bestow upon you. It changed my LIFE.--- Niko K.

AP Human Geography was legitimately my favorite class I took in high school. Not only was the subject matter interesting, but I found that I could relate it to current events and my life in general. Each topic we discussed I was able to apply to not only our class but other classes, such as AP World History, and real life. As a high school student, I'm guilty like many of not keeping up with current events, but being in your class forced me to broaden my perspective of the world and to learn about other people and places, and it taught me to question the world and why things are how they are. Right now, I'm studying at NYU, one of the largest cities in the world. Without your class and being an active member in Geography Club, I don't think I would have been comfortable to venture so far out of my comfort zone and explore a whole new world. Traveling with you not only to new countries but just around Chicago taught me that you don't have to go far to find diversity and culture. However, because of your class and everything I've taken away from it, my goal is to get a job which allows me to travel the globe, learn about people and cultures, and find a way to make a difference in the world. - Audrey P.

One of the few class that I actually felt I learned something useful and interesting. Not going to lie, it was challenging at the time but one of my top 3 favorite classes I took at Westmont. Plus getting AP credit was a bonus. - Aaron W.

I use a lot of the cultural aspects in my day to day life. Just getting along with people with a different way of thinking. Personally I probably use more of the actual geographical knowledge because I'm a nerd and am constantly taking trivia/geo quizzes when I'm bored. It also really helped me in college when I studied abroad because I could visually connect where I was to where it was on a map. - Jordan H.

I loved taking your class! Made me want to travel and expand my horizons more. Plus, we got to study hot dogs.- Paul C.

The knowledge I gained from the geography classes are helping me a lot in my studies as a musician because I can look deeper into my pieces pulling from culture and where the composer was from (mostly Germany and Italy). It also further peaked my interest in wanting to see the world and experience all of these different cultures, food, and music first hand!- Francoise W.

Living in Germany for the last three years... I remember all the little tips and tricks on safety and travel you shared with us! I can decipher any map of any city train/bus system without problem, no matter the language or country of origin. It made vacationing in Europe a breeze. Geography class and geography club also made us more open, aware, and appreciative of other cultures. Combine government, art, economy, social studies, history, earth science, second languages, culture, and map knowledge into one period, you'll find that you've got a geography class.- Missi Y.

Well for one, my global politics class last year was a piece of cake due to AP Human Geo. It was extremely easy. The class also gave me an understanding of many global topics and I've applied it in Spanish class and my Latin American history class. It also is important for understanding current events. I don't know if we talked about Ukraine in our AP Geo but at the very least having taken the class I know more about the Crimea crisis than if I hadn't. I'm also in a scholarly program at Hope College that is not global necessarily in outlook, but my knowledge of foreign culture and history certainly made a better contender for admittance into the program. (I'm looking at studying the Ottoman empire and AP human helped educate me on the middle east.) I also was nominated to represent Hope at a conference in Tokyo and I think Geo helped with that too. Also, no one who has taken the course can simply remain in the U.S. I spent my month in Europe. Christine studied in Scotland. Liz went to Jamaica. I'd say that AP Geo whets the appetite to see the world. Jon T.

Besides all of the above stuff about travel and places, it's also been very useful when dealing with new people. I go to UIC, which I think officially has the most diverse campus in IL. It's much easier to make friends if you know what they are talking about when they say they are from Somalia or Thailand or Yemen. With so many people in my classes from literally the other side of the planet, if I didn't know basic geography and roughly where countries were located, I would be way behind in certain class discussions that deal with global issues.- Margaret S.

Near the end of sophomore year, you invited me to become a part of the first-ever AP Human Geography live class, which had previously been offered only through online courses. This class taught me to think spatially, to think about the interactions of not just people with the "outdoors", so to speak, but in many various ways (such as migration, religion, population, agriculture, and more) and how it dictates and defines who we are as individuals, as a community, as a country, all the way up to who we are as the human species. That class taught me that geography can be applied in so many ways from the individual to the international levels. So how do I use geography in my post-secondary life? Well, other than the fact that I might someday end up being a geography teacher myself in the future, it's the fact that I have been able to think about how something interacts with something else, particularly with regards to history. Our great city of Chicago is a perfect example.--- Brian D.

Well firstly, it helped me choose my college in Chicago, since that's where most of our field trips were. I've been living there for nearly a decade now and still enjoy it. Secondly, it made traveling easier as an adult. I wasn't afraid of going to foreign countries and knew the ins and outs of getting passport, getting around in a foreign city, etc. Lastly, I was able to take a job where I travel. I'm currently in Canada on a long-term project and I'll be in Idaho for three months after this. If I didn't learn to be curious about other places and cultures I wouldn't have had any of my best life experiences, wouldn't have my job, and probably wouldn't have left my home town.- Tim J.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">As said above, the class helped me decide to go to school in the city. But as an anthropology major, the geography course has helped me understand my classes better since I have an idea of the area's of the world we are discussing in my classes. Another way that your class helped me, was by helping me realize how much I liked the social sciences. I probably wouldn't have gone into a field of social science if I had not had the experiences I had in your class, and subsequent classes of yours. It gave me the desire to see the world and understand it better, and I feel like it has helped me understand more the world around me. It was, quite honestly, one the best classes I took in high school.- Lane. T.

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.5;">Your classes have not only been the most interesting ones that I've taken in school, but they have an incredible amount of real-life application because it is so important for people to be able to understand what's going on around the world - you can actually discuss these things with other people and create intelligent conversation. I can't even imagine how many times something I've learned in one of your classes has come in handy out of nowhere. My interest in architecture and urban planning started in your classes and now that's something that I actually want to pursue. I'll definitely be studying abroad in my time at school and that's thanks to your classes and trips! These classes open so many doors that you'd never think of, and as a Freshman it's hard to see that but learning about the things that surround you and the city that you live in is SO rewarding.--- Meg F.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Aside from the serious case of wanderlust this class seemed to create in nearly everyone who took it, it really opened a major curiosity for culture as well. It WAS AP Human Geography, after all. In my 4 years at U of I, I have tried to attend as many cultural events as possible, along with taking cultural classes whenever I had open space. I noticed that I based my research into classes on which one would be the most enriching rather than which would be the easiest A. Also when I travel now, I try to look for hole-in-the-wall places that really represent a city properly rather than solely going to tourist traps. I've had a few job interviews around the country, and always ask the interviewer for the best local places to go. Also non-Geography class wise, but still influenced by you: all of your travel photos really inspired me to get into photography. I recently bought my first SLR, and I really hope to capture the beauty of the world and all the people in it like you were able to.--- Katie C.

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Well even though I got AP credit from U of I for taking the test I was far from being one of the studious students in the class. The class has still been very helpful. Specifically with learning where a lot of different food products come from such as co ffee. That is relevant to me since I am a Finance in Agriculture major. I agree with the other comments here in that the class inspired me with a sense of wanderlust. I studied abroad in Germany last summer and traveled through Europe which was the best thing I have ever done. I am hoping to top that experience this semester though for I am currently in Hong Kong and will be studying here for the semester. Kiel D.

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> Geography was a great class to learn that it isn't hard to travel. With little money you can visit little known wonders of Chicago or any major city. I learned that each city has bits of culture that we can miss if we decide to stay within comfort levels and go to some familiar fast food joint. I also really appreciated the project on planning a trip to another country as it's set in motion my desire to travel in the future. Basically, it's an engaging class and it teaches us that amazing experiences are within our reach. <span class="uficommentbody" style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">. --- Damon P.

<span style="font-family: Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I'm now an International Studies and Political Science double major because the one thing that I knew when I was deciding what I wanted to pursue was that I loved leaning about the world and being able to travel to amazing places. Both of those things I discovered I had a love for because of classes like Geography and being able to take the trips that you offered through the school. --- Molly J.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">If it hadn't been for you and your geography classes (and the club!), I never would have learned about so many of the amazing things about Chicago, which has always served me well living here, and I never would have had the guts to go couchsurfing through Europe alone. I have the best memories of geography club, and always tell people that I'm sure I wouldn’t be the same person if you hadn't been my teacher. - Becky S.

<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica','sans-serif'; font-size: 13.3333px;"> I've been touring with bands for 2 years now and have traveled all over North America and Europe. This year alone I have already done 4 full US tours. Your class taught me to search out things in cities that aren't tourist traps or hot spots. With that knowledge I've been able to explore towns and cities without being tempted to go to the same places everyone goes, and instead find local things that allow me to make it my own experience. - Brian S.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Geography was one of the first classes that I felt like I was learning something that I could easily become passionate about. The class explored topics as well as ideas that at the time I didn't know I had an opinion on. It opened up my mind and challenged me in a way where when I continued my education I looked for something that I could be passionate about and challenge my mind in the way your class would. The topics we discussed touched me so much that I would be going out of my way in some classes to tie in cultural and geographic impacts during discussions and papers. I would find myself even challenging my professors to look at some socioeconomic impacts that may be contributing to the problems the countries may be facing, beyond strictly location and resources... Your class especially helped me find my major : PUBLIC HEALTH which has made me finally feel like I am learning something that I will actually enjoy working in. This class taught me how to think and look at different problems in the world from an open and critical mind. Iman D.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> I remember listening to the interesting tales of your travels in class. It inspired me to expand my horizons and travel more. I became a high school English teacher in Japan where I had a positive cross cultural exchange that forever changed me. Being near Tokyo allowed me to make numerous friends from all over the world. I made friends with people from Japan (obviously), China, Korea, Jamaica, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, France, Singapore, South Africa, Italy, and likely more that I'm forgetting. This opportunity subsequently granted me the chance to learn of their cultures and norms. I was able to live on the famous Izu peninsula where I was in walking proximity to the ocean, extinct volcanoes, and many mountains. My location in Japan allowed me to journey through Asia as well. In the past year I climbed to to the top of Mt. Fuji, walked on the Great Wall of China, and stood at the border of the DMZ in South Korea. Hooray for geography! --- Wade L.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">This is one of the only classes that affords each student the opportunity to apply what they have learned in class to daily life. AP Human Geography challenged each student to look at the world around them and recognize human interactions with the environment. Whether it is visiting Chicago or traveling around the world, I feel that I am a more cultured student from taking this class. —Sabrina S.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">AP Human Geography gave back in ways no other class could. It exposed students—myself included— to a world outside Westmont and a world after tomorrow. It was in the AP classroom that I was introduced to globalization, nationalism, agriculture, religion, and other odd ideas that connect us all as people. It was these conversations that spilled over into college dialogue years later. If it hadn’t been for AP Human Geography, I wouldn’t have found my niche interest in college. I currently work at Marquette University as a teaching assistant for Demography and Human Evolution. My work there includes a research project reconstructing historic population structures of small rural towns in Wisconsin, and have presented this work at two academic conferences. I have also earned a certificate in GIS. I intend to tie all this together by attending grad school in Fall 2015 in the field of Anthropology and Population Studies. In the meantime, I love working at a coffee shop and can talk about the origin of our coffee beans and how our local shop plays into a larger globalized world because of my time in AP Human Geography. —EJH

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Worth far more than the AP credit (and approximately $1000 of tuition). Can't put a price tag on a frame of mind and your class certainly opened up all kinds of doors not just for me but for many students. Tim D.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">AP Human Geography is a class that strengthens and integrates "book smarts" and "street smarts." The class and teacher make students open their eyes. It teaches one to look at parts of the world as puzzles pieces and then how to admire that puzzle as a whole. It's about learning the facts and being able to see them in everyday life. Students always ask "When will we ever use this in real life?" Well, I use geography everyday. It can be used to draw a mental map when Ukraine is mentioned on the news to knowing how to decipher the Metro map in Paris. AP Human Geography at WHS makes its students crave to experience life, whether it be through daily occurrences or across the ocean.- Andi G.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Maybe this is more a testament to you as a teacher, but I am the learner as well as the educator that I am now due to you and your classes. I appreciate all the knowledge and experiences that I gained from geography--it's interdisciplinary and helps to build a non-ethnocentric worldview. I hope more students can gain an appreciation for geography and see its relevance to their lives. Stephanie P.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The geography coursework has encouraged me to explore my world. I have taken solo trips to meet friends by air, bus, and rail. I think about the projections of the earth when I see a world map. If someone in my midst is well-traveled, I ask them about their experience, from their perspective. The knowledge, the know-how, and the resources from geography class not only empowered me to freely move about the country, but urged me to think about the world as a whole. Understanding the relationships in your study of geography will keep you on the cutting edge as your world becomes even closer knit as a global community. Leah L.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Your class, your stories, and all those wonderful geography club field trips showed me that there's more to travel than the occasional, homogenized vacations that seem so prevalent in our culture. You gave us a first-hand look at the incredible depth and everyday wonders that exist in Chicago. I learned to experience places as an observer first: to abandon my assumptions and preconceptions, and discover how it feels to exist in that particular locale. One can speed through a bunch of tourist traps, sleep in a chain hotel, and claim to have visited a place, but to me that seems like saying you know a person after a short round of small talk. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Thanks to Geography Club and class, I know that there's more to the world than just landmarks. It's occurring to me now that these very ideas have shaped my current travel plans. I knew I wanted to make travel a priority in my life, and imagined I'd spend a few months abroad but I realized I've only seen a tiny part of the big ol' USA. So now I'm about to embark on a quest to visit every state. I'll be taking my time, so I can really get to know the places I visit. I expect this to take years, if I can sustain it. While I plan on getting my fill of international travel in the future, I'm forcing myself to first absorb and understand, as best as I can, this vast country that I was born in. Your class helped me to see the importance in exploring all the angles, and the influence that location has on everything from food and art to politics and ideals. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">I know I've written a lot here, but I've one more memory to relate. Shortly after my sophomore year began, I was drying my hair after first period swim class when a friend told me something about a fire at the Pentagon and a plane crash in New York. Suddenly there were towers collapsing live on television, and a flood of information and misinformation spread through the school. I couldn't begin to understand what was happening, or why. My mom actually panicked and pulled me out of school, but not before you acknowledged the unfolding tragedy as no one else had. That day, a lot of teachers had tried to calm us (and probably themselves) by ignoring the news and forging ahead with their lesson plans. Some resorted to letting us keep the tv on, but muted. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Your class was different. You showed us Afghanistan on a map, and told us who Osama bin Laden was. No one knew exactly what was happening that day, but you knew the places and the history that connected them. I was almost mad at my mom for pulling me out of school during yours of all classes, but now I'm just grateful that I at least had that much. I will never forget the class you taught that day. It was the eye of the storm for me. It was the only thing that made the slightest bit of sense on that frightening and confusing day. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">……………………………….....and that's how Geography changed my life. - Megg S.