Psychology Student is Cal Poly Great Grad from CLA
Each June, Cal Poly says goodbye to thousands of graduates who are ready to dive into careers or continue on to graduate studies and address the world’s problems with innovation, technical savvy and confidence earned through their Learn by Doing education.
Cameron Andrews, Cal Poly Great Grad
from the College of Liberal Arts
Each of this year’s roughly 4,500 graduates (one of the largest classes in Cal Poly history) have a unique story of success and perseverance along with thoughts on how their university experience has shaped them as they ready to make their way in the world. Meet the outstanding student from the College of Liberal Arts, Cameron Andrews (Psychology, '17):
A 2013 Paso Robles High School graduate, Cameron Andrews found Cal Poly’s Learn by Doing philosophy to be a “tremendous catalyst” as he pursued a psychology degree. “It gave me hands-on experience into what it would be like in the workforce,” said the 21-year-old, “and a better understanding of the things I would like to do in the future.
“Cal Poly impacted me in a way that all colleges should. It helped me grow, mature and expand my perspective. The past four years really has shown me who I am, what I love and where I want to grow.”
Andrews plans to pursue a doctorate in psychology at the University of Michigan. But first he will head to Alaska through the AmeriCorps program.
“I will be working with veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and the homeless population to help to integrate them into society,” he said.
Andrews, who competed on the track team, recalls his pride at representing Cal Poly and “what it means to be a Mustang — our tenacity, spirit and pride.” He was hampered by injuries that affected his development in the long jump and triple jump. A hamstring injury closed the door on his track career, but it did not end his days as an athlete, as Andrews began training to be a weightlifter.
“Whatever technical skills I lacked as a track and field athlete, I made up with raw strength,” said the 5-foot-9 Andrews. “Pound for pound, I was the strongest person on the [weightlifting] team. I'd give some of the guys who weighed 100 pounds more than me a solid run for their money and in certain lifts beating them. I remember when everyone’s jaws dropped; me — a 155-pound dude — was squatting 405 pounds five times, for sets of five.”
His coach is training him to become an Olympic weightlifter. “He believes I can become an Olympian and that I have what it takes to compete in the next Olympics in Tokyo in 2020,” he said. “I believe that I can do it.”
Story above originally appeared as part of a Cal Poly News article: https://calpolynews.calpoly.edu/student-success.html