Thomas "Tom" A. Trevor

When I graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1962, I wasn't sure of the direction I wanted in my life. After two mediocre years at Bronx Community College, I enlisted in the Navy. It was in Navy Electronics 'A' School that I learned not only a trade, but more importantly, developed the discipline and skills to analyze problems and work on resolving them. This served me well when I returned to CCNY at night to complete my degree in American history in 1973. It was my intention to become a middle school social studies teacher. However, with the social upheavals during the Vietnam War and the shrinking budgets for education in New York City, I pivoted into the life insurance business. There I used the writing and research skills as well as the experience with a diverse student body to help me navigate any challenges during a successful career. Among my jobs during my 35-year career in the life insurance business, I was a recruiter, trainer, and business systems analyst. In my last job, I wrote the business requirements for computer programmers. What I took away from CCNY as well as my naval service was a sense of mission and the ability to break down objectives to their component parts and complete a task within the required deadline. This discipline, required for completing my degree while working full-time, was essential. It served me well throughout my life. My life has been far better than it might have been because of the opportunity to attend CCNY at night during that tumultuous period. Since then, I have earned financial services professional designations and a master's in creative writing.