The philosophy major from New York City overcame an inharmonious start to college life, during which he often felt alone, to become a recognized leader on campus praised for his high level of involvement. In addition to serving as director of the Whittier College Program Board and a fourth-year representative for student government, Frank also brings his voice to the airwaves as a broadcaster for KPOET Radio. His passions beyond academics include creative writing, classical guitar, classical music and jazz.
“I’m proud that I committed myself to finding my way in this environment, and ultimately creating a college experience that I can remember fondly,” he said.
The pivotal moment came during his junior year, when Frank spread his wings by embracing more opportunities to engage with student life, “which introduced me to pretty much all of the communities and friends that I'd come to value for the next couple of years.”
We asked him a few questions about his experience as a Poet and his plans for the future. What’s next for you after graduation? Continue developing the writing projects that I’ve been working on.
What’s a fun fact about you? I’ve built a guitar and a deck (for a house) from scratch.
What’s your favorite Whittier memory? Shortly after being hired at KPOET Radio, we put on a small concert in Club 88 called "Geezer Night," named as such since the theme was "old guy bands" or something like that. But I remember Geezer Night as a turning point for me, which represented the first of much of the programming I'd come to be involved in.
What was your favorite class at Whittier? I technically took two different senior seminars in philosophy: One centered on the Chinese Philosopher Zhuangzi, and the other on Friedrich Nietzsche. I loved both, but I'll always remember the Zhuangzi seminar fondly. It was a small, intimate class, and my professor's enthusiasm for the subject matter was infectious. I ended up writing my senior thesis on Zhuangzi two years later.
What’s your favorite spot on campus? Probably the KPOET Radio office. It is a really cozy environment where music is always playing, and most of my best college memories happened there so it'll always be a part of me. Other than that I've always been a fan of looking at the hills, especially when they're green after it rains, from the top floor of the SLC.
If you could give your first-year self some advice, what would it be? Get involved in things, ASAP. And get out of your room and into life. Maybe on bigger college campuses, you can go about life passively and pick up friends, but I found that here, the key was to get involved in the communities that the school has to offer.
As we count down toward Commencement, Whittier College is highlighting seniors with something to say. Check back every Friday for the latest installment in this series.
