Central MA College Standout: Clark University’s Timothy Conley

Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Susan Wagner, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Timothy Conley, sophomore at Clark University.

This sophomore from Walpole, Massachusetts majors in Political Science & Asian Studies. Timothy Conley runs for Clark’s Varsity Cross Country team and serves as the team’s captain. In addition, he is a Residential Advisor (RA) in Wright Hall, which has allowed him to become more involved in the residential community.

A Conversation with Timothy Conley

SW: Describe the career you envision for yourself.

TC: In the future, I would like to serve as a diplomat. I am very interested in international law and foreign policy relations.

SW: What drew you to your course of study?

TC: At the moment, I am planning on doing a double major in Political Science and Asian Studies. Government relations has always been an interest of mine, therefore Political Science struck me as an obvious major choice. Similarly, I chose to major in Asian Studies due to my interest in Chinese. In high school, I took a few basic level Chinese classes and immediately fell in love with the language. I hope to someday become bilingual.

SW: What is your most memorable class to date?

TC: During my time at Clark, I have had the opportunity to take incredible courses with world class professors. Yet, my most memorable class has been Intermediate Chinese with Professor Joanne Qu. Unlike other language professors, Professor Qu does not lecture. Instead, she uses each class period as a discussion opportunity, in which students are required to engage in conversation without referring to their notes or textbook. In this way, our class was able to practice Chinese under real world circumstances. By using this teaching style, Professor Qu’s class has made learning Chinese an enjoyable experience.

SW: What leadership roles have you taken on campus?

TC: Recently, I was named captain of the Men’s Cross Country team on campus. This position requires me to organize practice schedules, team meetings, and most importantly motivate my teammates. At the same time, I am a Residential Advisor (RA) in Wright Hall, a first year residence hall at Clark. As an RA, I am responsible for creating a safe and enjoyable environment for my residents by creating hall programs, enforcing university policy, and mentoring students.

SW: What are you passionate about?

TC: I am really passionate about Boston sports. Growing up 25 minutes outside of Boston, there is really nothing more to life than sports. In particular, I am a huge Red Sox and Celtics fan. To me, nothing is more enjoyable than correcting a New Yorker on their knowledge of sports.

SW: What do you do when you leave campus?

TC: Normally when I leave campus it’s for food. Instead of a midnight snack, I have a tendency to demand a midnight meal. Therefore, I’ll usually walk down the street to Uncle Sam’s or China Lantern to grab a quick bite when I’m done with my nightly work.

SW: What is your favorite quote?

TC: “There are those who look at things the way they are and ask why…I dream of things that never were and ask why not?” —Robert F. Kennedy

This quote sits on my desk, as a reminder that anyone can achieve anything if they set their mind to it.

SW: What is your favorite book?

TC: My favorite book is Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.

SW: What or who has had the greatest influence on you to date? Why?

TC: My grandmother, “Nanny,” has had the greatest influence on my life. When I was younger, both of my parents worked full time jobs, which left the duty of watching over me to my grandparents. Every morning my parents would drop me off at my grandparent’s house. While at their house, I would often run around and cause havoc, as most children that age do. Yet, unlike other grandparents, Nanny wasn’t afraid to punish me for my immature actions. Usually, she would yell at me in a voice that still rings loud in my head to this day. However, the older I grew, the less she yelled. As a child, I made it a goal of mine to make her proud. Every time I told her about a recent success of mine, in a game or on a test, she would smile. Her smile is what motivated me to do more. Although she passed away three years ago, I still strive to make her smile everyday.

SW: What would someone be surprised to learn about you?

TC: People are usually surprised to learn that I am a very spiritual person. As a Catholic, I attend mass every Sunday at St. Peter’s Parish. I pray every morning and every night before I go to bed.

SW: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

TC: I see myself attending law school or working for the government in some aspect.

SW: If you could do just one thing, locally, nationally or globally to make a difference, what would it be?

TC: Nationally, one issue I wish I could fix is the issue of student debt. As an American college student, I find the price of my education appalling. To me, the future success of this country is dependent on our younger generations. However, if students are unable to afford a quality higher education experience, then how as a country are we going to prosper? As a current college student and as a citizen of the United States, I would advocate for cheaper college tuition rates.

 

GoLocalWorcester presents Central MA College Standout, a weekly feature that profiles college and university students in Central MA. Join us every Tuesday for a look at the careers and lifestyles of today ’ s local college student. If you have suggestions for a profile, please email susanwagnerpr@gmail.com.

Susan D. Wagner is president of Susan Wagner PR, a boutique public relations firm invested in meeting client's goals with integrity and creativity.