MRC Student of the Month - March 2003

Leo Pierson

(Senior - International Politics & Spanish)

"Live Life by Your Own Personal Code"

“…To try at all is to risk failure
But to risk we must,
Because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing
The man, the woman, who risks nothing,
Does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.”

 - Leo Buscaglia

Sup y'all! I am Leo Jeremy Pierson. I am in my 4^th of 5 years that I will be attending Penn State. I double major in International Politics and Spanish, with a minor in International Studies. My passions vary with the day, but generally I am into being me, learning something, and living life!

What are my beliefs? I believe that all should do as they will as long as they are not harming anybody; this includes oneself. I believe in doing the right thing, even if this means self-sacrifice. I believe that my final decision is made by gut instinct. I believe in respect, dignity, and integrity.

A bit on my character… I am humorous, both to laugh with and at! Instinct and humor rule my spirit. I am sincere, I call things how I see them, after careful observation. I am honest; my word is my bond to humanity.

What have I been up to these 4 years at PSU? Freshman year was spent studying and thinking about what I would do with the rest of college and life. The summer after, I was an Intern at the N.T.R.P.D.C. (regional development stuff). Sophomore year I started as left midfielder for the PSU-Hazleton Soccer team, was the V.P. for the Multi-Cultural Council, and was a Resident Assistant. Junior year was spent entirely abroad. I lived in Mérida, Venezuela where I had more spiritually moving and life changing experiences than I could have ever imagined. Currently I am el Secretario of the PSU Spanish Club where I ensure the smooth flow of communications of anything vital to the success of the organization. Also, I tutor students in Spanish language acquisition at the Language Learning Center in 007 Sparks. I am playing soccer with the Italian Club team. And just recently, I was offered a position with JPMorgan Chase & Co. as a summer intern; I accepted! So I shall be spending my summer in Delaware, about 20 minutes outside Philly where I will be working in the Internal Consulting Services (ICS) division of JPMorgan Chase & Co..

“The strongest of all warriors are these two - Time and Patience.”

 - Leo Tolstoy

What are my life long goals that I have set for myself? My code is CCL. It’s really simple: Continuing the long developmental process of living my life, being Content with what I do and who I am, and Learning all that I can about whatever I can.

What can I advise? Dis-disclaimer: I shall be held responsible for the consequences of somebody actually doing what I advise. That said, Harry S. Truman once stated, “The buck stops here.” I agree and advise that I always take responsibility for my own actions and occasionally those of others. I advise that I live life according to my own standards. I advise that I always attempt to raise the bars of those standards of which I have set. I advise that I be myself. I advise that I do not give up on my dreams, others, or myself. I advise that I strive to better myself first and the world will follow in turn; that being my dream. I advise that I have the patience and take the time to relax, take time for myself, make time for others, listen instead of hear, see with my heart and eyes, and know thyself. I advise myself to remember that there are always two choices both preceding and following every decision made.

“As you walk, be wary of the choices you have and all of the decisions you make, for it is these that shape each day of each person who also will walk, have choices and decide.”

- Leo Pierson

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