Meet The Team-Alex Hardt
Year at Denison, position:
Senior/Attack (played middie all through our high school and college but was recently put at attack after some injuries of key upper classmen. Alex notes that it has changed the way he plays, he feels it suits his playing style well.
From
Dallas, TX (Episcopal School of Dallas)
What other schools did you look at?
W&L, Brown and Loyola
What is your major?
Philosophy with a minor in Spanish. Studied in Chile for a semester.
What made you choose philosophy?
Alex feels the professors are great in the department which was a big determining factor when declaring his major. Because Denison is a liberal arts school, he feels philosophy is the right choice for him as it helps him better understand arguments and different perspectives. He also goes on to say that Spanish has been a part of his life. Growing up in Dallas he had to utilize his Spanish skills in professional settings. The opportunity to study in Chile further provided him the experience to master conversational Spanish which he hopes he is able to keep up with over the next several year.
What has been the most interesting class you have taken at Denison?
The two that stick out in his mind the most are: Philosophy of the Mind and Epistemology. Philosophy of the Mind centers on studying the nature of the mind and human thought and Epistemology focuses on proof of our existence. Alex goes on to say that these classes require him to really think outside the box and become open to ideas and theories of existence. Freshman year Alex took a class called History of Modern Middle East and it stuck out in his mind as one of the more interesting classes he has had at Denison because it was challenging and helped him understand the different groups and perspectives there.
What has been the most challenging class?
The two philosophy classes listed above were without a doubt the most interesting but also the most challenging.
How do you think your major/minor will help you in the professional environment?
Being a philosophy Alex says that it requires him to understand the key elements in debate. Being able to string together thoughts and examine both sides of a subject are key components to mastering the philosophy field. He notes that Plato says that philosophy is the ability to make you see the other side which could help when dealing with clients. Alex is currently taking a class dedicated to studying the work of John Stuart Mill and specifically the study of politics. He notes that this class has forced him to think critically about the function of government.
What would be your ideal job out of school?
Alex notes that he would be happy with any job considering the job market is very tight. In a perfect world he would like to be in an exciting job environment likely in a sales roll or a job that allows him to work with customers. He is very open to any types of training programs that would provide him the opportunity to learn the business, travel and interact with clients and/or potential clients face to face.
Where would you like to live?
Really anywhere on the East Coast or West Coast. He has family all over the U.S. Specific cities that stick out in his mind would be Washington DC, Atlanta and Chicago as well as any in Texas. He goes on to say that he would like to end up in a bigger city but is open to move wherever the right opportunity exists.
What strengths to you bring to a company?
- Organization: Being the President of Phi Delta Theta and a Captain of the lacrosse team it requires Alex to be on the ball and organized to keep the group focused.
- Listening: He feels that he excels in helping parties establish compromise and understanding their thoughts and feelings key to the discussion.
- Leadership: Taking a stand whether it is the popular thing to do or not. He has had the opportunity to be in a leadership role in many different areas of his life and he feels it is something that he does very well.
What types of jobs have you had in the past?
- He has worked for Presco over the summer in a sales roll. Presco is one of the nation’s largest providers of caution tape and marking flags (ie. Invisible fence and yard flags). His Dad also works at Presco and part of their daily commute includes at 1 hour drive to Sherman, TX where Presco’s offices are located.
- Alex started a day camp for 2nd thru 4th graders called Camp Chumbawumba, with some of his friends from high school. He said this was a great experience because it forced them to be creative with activities but also made them examine their costs in order to make the venture as profitable as possible. Their camp had over 50 campers and provided guidance and mentorship for many kids that participated.
- Landscaping: Alex noted that his time spent on the landscaping job included many long days with hard physical labor.
How has the economy and job market affected your job search?
Alex remembers his freshman year at Denison and very few seniors had jobs upon graduation. He has utilized the Career Center at Denison to help create his resume and organize it in a fashion that is attractive to possible employers. Alex is taking a very proactive role to in his job search, he is very interested in any Denison Lacrosse Alumni that would be willing to talk with him about potential opportunities and he is also pulling from the vast Phi Delta Theta alumni group as well.
If you are interested in helping Alex with job opportunities after graduation, please contact him at hardt.alex@gmail.com. His resume is available upon request.