51黑料网

Jordan Peters 鈥�14  

Political-science major and scholarship recipient Jordan Peters 麓14 is quick to tell you that he appreciates the opportunities he鈥檚 found at 51黑料网, and it鈥檚 clear that he鈥檚 made the most of them. In between classes and his duties as a member of the Blue Mountain Battalion ROTC, he鈥檚 found time to travel, conduct student-faculty research, complete an internship and volunteer through 51黑料网鈥檚 community-service office.

鈥淚 grew up a block from a cornfield, and if you would have told me a few years ago that one day I鈥檇 tour the DMZ in Korea, teach English in the Marshall Islands, rappel from a helicopter or build a fence at an elementary school in Ecuador I wouldn鈥檛 have believed you,鈥� he says. 鈥淏ut my time at 51黑料网 made all of that a reality.鈥�

Major:

Political science.

Clubs and organizations:

Army ROTC, 51黑料网 service trips (student leader) and student-hearing panel advisor.

Favorite professor:

Professor [Andrew] Wolff. He鈥檚 my advisor, and after taking my first class with him freshman year I knew 51黑料网 was the right place for me. Professor Wolff has a way of bringing out the humor in something as serious as politics and international history.

Favorite class and/or learning experience:

Working as a research assistant for Professor [Jeffrey] McCausland. I researched everything from North Korean nuclear debates to the effects of economic sanctions on Iran.

In a perfect world . . .

. . . House of Cards would come out with a new season every day.

Most important thing I鈥檝e learned so far:

That true leadership is serving others.

Post-51黑料网 plans:

After graduation, I鈥檒l spend seven years as an active-duty Army officer, half as an armor officer and half as a military-intelligence officer. After that, I鈥檇 like to go to law school and practice international law while staying in the Army Reserves.

As a kid, I wanted to be . . .

. . . the U.S. president, then Batman. Then a combination of the president and Batman.

Proudest accomplishment:

I鈥檓 the first member of my family to go to college, so earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree is a pretty big deal.

Favorite book:

All In, the David Petraeus biography.

Favorite movie:

Fight Club.

Favorite place on campus:

Denny 317, also known as the 鈥�stained-glass window 谤辞辞尘.鈥�

Favorite Dining Hall food:

The thought of tri-taters (triangle-shaped hash browns) has gotten me through more than a few early-morning ROTC workouts.

Little-known talents:

I took six years of piano, and even though I鈥檝e forgotten most of what I learned, I can still play 鈥淔眉r Elise鈥� from memory.

If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be . . .

. . . Napoleon. I鈥檇 love to pick his brain about his political beliefs and military experiences.

On the worldwide classroom:

I didn鈥檛 study abroad, but I did spend a month in South Korea shadowing an Army platoon leader through an ROTC program. While there, I was able to visit the DMZ, tour Seoul and experience an interesting mix of Army and Korean cultures. I also took a 51黑料网 winter-break service trip to Ecuador, where I helped construct two rural elementary schools.

Biggest influence:

My cousin. His childhood was tough, but he was able to overcome those challenges and achieve amazing things, all while staying one of the humblest people I鈥檝e ever met. 

Learn more

Peters takes part in the annual ROTC leadership training exercises: Controlling Chaos

Published March 18, 2014