Class of 2007 Senior Spotlight

Name: Peter M. Shaw
Hometown: Livonia, Michigan

Peter Shaw doing homework in the Math/CS Lounge.

Peter Shaw has found success in the classroom and on the football field. On the Dean's list five times, he was also a four year letterman on the football team.

Peter is majoring in mathematics with a concentration in Elementary Education as a member of the Fritz Shurmur Education Institute. "I came to Albion for a combination of reasons. I wanted to play football, the education department had a good reputation, and so did the math department."

Albion math students are pretty bright and hard working."

He likes the small size of Albion and the close-knit community. "Coming from a small high school where I knew everybody, I felt it was important to not feel like just another face on campus, but to feel like another person; someone that people know more than just recognizing the face."

As a member of Campus Crusade for Christ and Athletes in Action, Peter was also able to stay active in his faith. "One of the most rewarding experiences was participating in a service trip providing relief to victims of hurricane Katrina." This year, he is active in leadership roles in both organizations.

Lots of mathematical areas interest him, especially Linear Algebra. "I love math. I knew I was interested in Math during my junior year of high school. Without the influence of my high school teacher, Mr. Gordon Larson, there's no way I'd be a math major." At Albion, Pete enjoys classes with Dr. Bollman and Dr. Anderson. "I just love to chat with Dr. Anderson, about anything really, but I'm sure we could talk about football forever."

Even when you enjoy a subject, success often requires significant time commitments, hard work, focus, and determination. "I'm in Real Analysis right now and it's pretty tough." Peter says many of his other courses have been also been challenging, particularly Abstract Algebra and Multivariate Calculus. That said, he advises younger students that "you can figure it out!"

This semester he is working in the Quantitative Skills Center (QSC), helping students who are struggling with understanding mathematics. A frequent visitor to the QSC in his earlier classes, he was still a little uncomfortable talking to his professors. "The student workers in the QSC really helped me understand the concepts."

He enjoys the mathematics facilities in the new science complex. "I like to spend a lot of time in the building now. I used to only come to the building for class, now I do homework here quite frequently." One benefit of studying in the building is talking with other math students. "Most are excited to work with and help others with homework and studying. I typically work alone, but every time I've needed help, other students are more than willing to help and work with me. Albion math students are pretty bright and hard working."

Teaching is Peter's real passion. He plans to student teach in the fall, then teach upper elementary or middle school grades. He is also looking into the possibility of coaching once established as a teacher. His experiences with the education department have been his favorite academic experiences thus far, especially spending time in the local elementary schools to observe, teach, and mentor. "I love working with young children."

Serving others. Now that is success!