TKC Letters Project - Velvet-Covered Brick

I was drawn to King’s...

because of its vision for teaching students “how to think, not what to think.” During my four years at King’s, I learned to think critically and creatively. I was formed into a person of compassion and conviction. I still return often to an image Prof. Dawn Fotopulos gave during one of her business lectures, that of a velvet-covered brick. The brick represents truth; the velvet represents grace; and it’s key that they always go hand and hand, truth and grace.

The faculty at King’s are special. I will always think fondly of tours of the Met with Dr. Bleattler, Saturday trips out to visit Dr. Tubbs in Princeton—which always included long policy discussions and the best gelato, and Dr. Jackson helping me discover my love of poetry. The King’s faculty are invested in students’ lives and their flourishing.

The friendships I formed at King’s are one of the greatest gifts in my life. Because King’s focuses on the big ideas, from your first day as a student, you are having meaningful conversations with your classmates about what it looks like to live the good life, how to engage with the political sphere, what makes beautiful art, and what it means to be a faithful believer. Of course, living in New York City was also incredibly fun as a college student.

These days, I’m practicing as an attorney. I loved my law school experience, but it was primarily focused on learning the law and developing legal skills. My college experience was about learning what it means to be human and, in the words of Frederick Buechner, exploring “where [my] deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Along with a rigorous education and lifelong friendships, King’s gave me a framework to think about the world. I believe that New York City—and the world—need what The King’s College is doing.