Wesley R. Pietri 

My name is Wesley Pietri, and I recently graduated from Spring Hill College in May 2016 with a B.S. in Actuarial Mathematics, while minoring in Computer Information Systems. I was also a member of both the basketball and track and field teams, while spending time as a volunteer math tutor at Wilmer Hall Children's Home twice per week.

I was born and raised in Mobile, AL, and I spent the vast majority of my life there. Although I have lived my whole life in Alabama, my Dad was raised in New Orleans, LA, so I am a huge fan and follower of the LSU Tigers, New Orleans Saints, and the New Orleans Pelicans.

I received my high school diploma from St. Paul's Episcopal School in Mobile, and when it came time for me to pick a college, Spring Hill felt like the right choice for a couple of reasons. The biggest factor for me, however, was basketball, and if it were not for this sport, my life would be drastically different. My Dad has been a Division I collegiate basketball coach since I was in 1st grade, and he is currently the head women's coach at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL. As a result, my entire livelihood has always been dependent on hoops. Needless to say, I had a basketball in my hands at a very young age.

As I have gotten older, I have come to realize how much the game has taught me about life and what it takes to be successful. It has given me an unbelievable work ethic, which I am incredibly thankful for. Whenever things get hard, I just think to myself that it could always be worse, and I push through. In my basketball endeavors, I have also been a team captain, I have learned how to perform under pressure, I have learned how to work with a team to accomplish a goal, I have learned how to effectively manage my time, and I have learned that hard work will always pay off. As a result of my experiences, I have acquired these intangibles, and I use them every day in all aspects of my life.

Without me realizing it, my experiences have shaped the person I am, preparing me for the future to come. I am excited for what my future holds because I know that I will be able to handle anything that comes my way. I want to be a leader in the workplace, I want to raise a family, and I want to be a part of something bigger than myself. Whether it was through athletics, academics, or my community, I have always been a part of something bigger than myself. By way of all these ventures, I have experienced and taken on several different forms of leadership, and I plan to try and continue this trend throughout the rest of my life.

The following e-portfolio is to serve as an accumulation of my work and involvement as a student, athlete, volunteer, and individual at Spring Hill.