Meet Patrick Fink, Science and Arts student
The following is a guest blog post by Kirtland student, Patrick Fink.
Hello there! My name is Patrick Fink, I am a 20-year-old college student at Kirtland pursuing my associate degree in science and arts. I’m proud to say that after Winter 2021, I will have my degree and plan on transferring to Grand Valley State University for my bachelor’s in film/video.
I have lived in Michigan all of my life and a majority of my childhood was spent in Saint Helen. I attended Charlton Heston Academy since middle school and graduated with a class of only 30 students. During high school I was involved in numerous clubs and extracurricular activities like robotics, D&D club, theater program, National Honors Society. I was even my school’s first mascot and he is named after me. Helping people and spreading positivity are things I’m very passionate about. I’m also passionate about being myself, a geeky kid who loves film and video.
What is involved in a Film/Video degree?
The degree will cover subjects like scriptwriting, sound design and much more. The program is designed to give students an overview of the program so they can decide what they’d like to go into. In the same way doctors learn general medical knowledge then choose an area of specialization, I’ll learn a variety of skills and hone in on what I’m most passionate about. I would like to be a part of 3D animation, special effects or scriptwriting.
I choose to pursue film/video to do something big or something that everyone will like. My goal is to make the next big blockbuster or a movie that will inspire others in some way. I want to make stories and create character arcs that people can admire and relate to. Almost everyone watches TV and movies or reads books to escape their lives to have a moment of peace and relaxation. One of my heroes, Stan Lee, once said, “I used to be embarrassed because I was just a comic book writer while other people were building bridges or going on to medical careers. And then I began to realize: Entertainment is one of the most important things in people’s lives. Without it, they might go off the deep end.” This quote changed my career and my life.
Why Kirtland?
During my years in middle school I went to the Roscommon Kirtland campus multiple times to attend plays that were put on by other students. At the time I thought I was going to go to a big university and start my college career there, but I learned that big universities came with big costs like credit hours, housing and much more. I then remembered the small community college that put plays on for the surrounding schools that I use to visit. Kirtland came to be the perfect place for me. I was able to afford the price and start my career head-on. My first few weeks at Kirtland were some of the best weeks that I’ve had. My adviser was very helpful and made sure that my classes were exactly what I needed. The professors I had were supportive and made sure that I was understanding what they were teaching every step of the way. The campus was and still is beautiful with so many tools to help students and places to sit, relax and study. Overall, Kirtland is a great place to begin college and is a warm and welcoming home for all students.
Are you a creative looking for the perfect way to express yourself while turning your passion into a career? Learn more about our associate degree in science and arts to get started on your path to success.
