Meet William St. Martin

Major: Mathematical Business
Minor: Chemistry
Hometown: Franklin, Massachusetts

Tell us about yourself.

I’ve played the cello since 3rd grade, and I played in the University Orchestra. I have a borderline-ridiculous fear of snakes.

What are your plans after graduation?

I was lucky enough to be accepted into a Financial Management Program at the General Services Administration in Washington, D.C. Since the job will not start until August, I hope to spend the first few weeks of summer traveling in Europe and the rest of the summer at home in Massachusetts.

Have your plans changed over the last four years?

I planned on going into the Calloway School of Business and Accountancy thinking that I would become an accounting or finance major. However, after my quantitative analysis course, I decided a mathematical business major would be the best route for me.

How have you grown over the last four years?

I never thought I would leave New England to go to college, but studying in North Carolina made me appreciate what the rest of the country has to offer. As a manager at the Benson University Center I learned a lot about personal and group responsibility, and I don’t know if I would have had that opportunity at other schools.

Why did you choose Wake Forest?

I transferred from Boston University to Wake Forest in order to have the small community atmosphere that I enjoyed so much in high school. It’s one decision I’ll never regret.

What makes a Wake Forest education unique?

The course load is quite rigorous, and graduates leave knowing that they made it through one of the most challenging universities in the country. The professors at Wake really love what they are doing, and the campus is just beautiful.

Who was your most inspiring professor?

I sometimes questioned whether mathematics was the right route for me to take, but Dr. Hugh Howards was a constant reminder of why I found math so interesting. His enthusiasm over the subject is contagious.

What was your favorite class?

My favorite class was World History with Dr. Emily Wakild. She taught the course from a Central and South American perspective that I had never been exposed to, and she really had a knack for leading discussions in class.

What was your most meaningful extra-curricular experience?

In the spring of 2008, students from each of the four schools in Winston-Salem (Wake Forest, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Salem College and Winston-Salem State University) formed a group called The Quad that works to bring college students together through community service and social activities. There were students I met through this group that I never would have met otherwise, and it’s meant a lot to me to branch out of the Wake Forest bubble.

What’s your favorite memory of the last four years?

Throwing oranges around the Quad with over 1,000 other students after Wake Forest won the ACC Championship my sophomore year.

What will you miss most?

I know that never again in my life will I be able to study so many different subjects — math, history, literature, music — in an academic environment. I will miss those experiences very much.

Advice for incoming freshmen…

Branch out of the Wake Forest bubble either by going downtown or working with community organizations. Go to the core curriculum courses with an open mind. Some of my most enjoyable classes, such as world history and philosophy, were those outside my major.

— Office of Creative Services
May 12, 2009