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Humans of Fort Lewis College: Manuel Gant
Background: What's your title, and what do you do on your job? And how many years have you been at FLC?
I am a Financial Aid Counselor, where I have the opportunity to help and advice students and families on how to pay for college. Applying for federal funds opens up a lot of opportunities for students to access funds to be able to attend college, and my job is to try to make it happen without money being their biggest concern. I advise them on making the best financial decision available to them. I have been working at the Office of Financial Aid for 9 months, although I arrived at Fort Lewis College in the summer of 2012 as an International Student.
What do you like best about working at FLC, and why?
Fort Lewis College offers a great atmosphere and environment to work in. The location, population, and size of the school makes it a very pleasant place to work and interact closely with students. Also, working for an Institution which values offering a quality education to the general public through affordable prices makes it even better. I strongly believe that education should be accessible to everybody who wants to pursue a degree, whether it is to prepare for the job market or just to expand their knowledge about a field of study that they like.
Where are you from, and how did you get from there to here?
I am originally from Cordoba, a city in the south side of Spain. I was studying at one of the local schools, currently known as Universidad Loyola Andalucía (Loyola Andalusia University) which has an exchange program agreement with Fort Lewis College. When I decided to study abroad, I was accepted for the exchange at Fort Lewis College. At the end of the exchange I decided to transfer to FLC and finish my degree and graduate here. I saw the opportunity of moving to the United States, something that I always wanted to do and I could not let it pass. With great help of my family and friends, I transferred over and I was able to graduate within one year. Two months after I graduated, I applied for the Financial Aid Counselor position, received the job, and here I am today!
What's your favorite thing to do outside of work, and why do you love it?
One of my biggest passions is traveling, not flying, but by car. I just love getting behind the steering wheel and just driving to a place that I want to see. The sensation of freedom, seeing the places on the way and the final destination make the perfect journey for me. Add some music to it and I am a happy camper. In addition, I love spending time with friends, and just the typical things, going to the movies, dining out, or just sitting at the rim and enjoy the beautiful landscape of Durango.
What's an interesting thing about you that most people don't know?
Well, I am the only member of my family who lives in the United States and I do not have many opportunities to visit them in Spain. Flights are expensive and finding the right time for going and spending a couple of weeks can be rough too. Although I rarely express it, I miss my family and friends from Spain. I do not regret my decision of coming here, I am very happy where I am, but sometimes it is very difficult to deal with the nostalgia.
Please share one bit of advice or a favorite quote you can offer about ... anything.
I always strive to stay positive, no matter what the circumstances are or how big the problem is. I try to look at the bigger picture of the situation and find ways to fix the problem, if there are any. If you cannot do anything about it, just be patient, things will get better.