CTD ALUMNI
Looking Ahead
Patrick
NORTHWESTERN WCAS ‘20 Political Science
Though his experiences at CTD led to wide-ranging academic pursuits and long-standing friendships, PATRICK RYAN was initially hesitant about his first weekend course. “At first, no part of my seven-year-old self wanted to ‘go to school on Saturdays,’” he shares, “but after taking a couple classes and realizing how fun they were, my opinion did a complete 180-degree turn.” Now a junior majoring in political science at Northwestern University, Patrick recalls his time with CTD as collaborative, project-driven, and full of notably “interactive” classes. Through CTD, Patrick studied animals, pharaohs, immigration, global children’s literature, and architectural design, in addition to a host of scientific subjects. “They are a fantastic introduction to the more specialized topics that are covered in high school and especially college coursework,” he says of his experience with CTD classes, “and they are taught in a way that is very fun and engaging for all students.”
In Patrick’s most memorable course, he studied human biology. “I remember this class vividly because our final project involved creating a life-sized recreation of all the anatomical systems and how they interact with each other,” Patrick shares. This favorite subject was one of many topics he would go on to explore: currently, Patrick is interested in learning about constitutional law. “Even though I did not end up choosing a science-related field for my career,” he says, “this class was still very influential on my development.”
The programs helped him grow personally as well as academically. The college student describes himself as “diligent, passionate, and hard working,” and, though some of his CTD experiences are now distant memories, he recognizes their effect on his present-day character. “I can say with certainty that my CTD classes were very influential in instilling these values in me at a very early age,” Patrick says, adding that the program helped him connect with others.
“One valuable thing that I learned through my CTD classes was the skill of interacting and collaborating with peers, which is perhaps the most important professional skill any person could have. I have very strong collaborative skills at this point in my life, and this skill was introduced to me while taking CTD classes.”
One of those peers has turned out to be a lifelong connection. At 6 years old, Patrick met his best friend in his first CTD class. The two grew up together in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, attending elementary, middle, and high school together. Today, they are roommates at Northwestern.
Though his roommate is a familiar face, college has still provided Patrick with new opportunities to grow. He’s discovered an ability to thrive under pressure, cultivating valuable time-management skills. “At first, deadlines always scared and frustrated me,” Patrick admits, “but as I continued taking classes and writing papers, it became easier and easier to write creatively in a short time frame.”
He applies this same focus to life outside the classroom as a busy musician. Patrick has played the trumpet for 12 years, and contributes to his own band, the Northwestern University Jazz Orchestra, and the orchestras of campus musicals. Such an active schedule has motivated Patrick to be a more productive artist. “Ultimately, this pressure has made me a much stronger musician because I am able to get pieces performance-ready in a creative way much faster than I ever could before” he shares.
In addition to coursework and music, Patrick fills his time with sports, travel, and exploring new ways to advance his career. The avid White Sox fan also enjoys basketball and playing golf with his family and friends, and hopes to cap his college graduation with a long European vacation. But this summer, Patrick will be staying close to home: the self-motivated learner will intern at a regional bank, gaining an introduction to corporate law and finding another way to build on his many varied interests.
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