Major: Economics, Mathematics
Ty Giordano admits he was apathetic about his education.
When senior year arrived, he realized he had never thought about what he would do after high school. College of DuPage was an easy option. It was where his grandmother had once taught and where his parents met. He and his sisters attended preschool when it existed on campus, and his sisters completed their first years of college at COD.
“Beyond my family history, it is simply an excellent learning environment with smaller classes led entirely by accessible professors who are passionate about teaching,” he said. “COD also was my only choice if I wanted to go to college and graduate with as little debt as possible.”
Giordano applied for and received the Presidential Scholarship, a full-tuition award for high school graduates with strong academic records. But he still was not sure of a major. With math being his strongest subject, he originally wanted to pursue economics for a banking-related career that would earn him a nice salary.
After getting involved in Student Leadership Council, Giordano wanted to commit his life to something more impactful.
COD is simply an excellent learning environment with smaller classes led entirely by accessible professors who are passionate about teaching.
Ty Giordano
“In my Honors Intro to Sociology class, we read ‘Evicted’ by Matthew Desmond, where I was first exposed to the systemic exploitation of the impoverished,” he said. “Now I hope to learn more about economics, not to make me money but to look objectively at different policies we can create to help alleviate poverty in the U.S. Also, while math has always been my strongest subject, it was nothing I wanted to pursue seriously. After having some amazing professors, my love of math only grew, and I decided to choose it as a second major. Math will not only be useful when conducting research and shaping policy, but also the skills that come along with studying math like problem-solving, logic, resilience and analytical thinking will benefit my career.”
Giordano also immersed himself in campus life. He was accepted into the Living Leadership Program, became a New Student Orientation Leader and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, for which he served as president. He also provided a student perspective on the Academic Integrity Committee and represented COD on the Illinois Board of Higher Education Student Advisory Committee, where his service included conducting research on the connection between a student’s mental health and their financial health.
In graduating with his Associate in Arts degree, Giordano was named one of the College’s outstanding graduate finalists. His academic goals include pursuing a graduate degree.
“I want to focus on the economic impact of different policies to help reduce poverty in the U.S., and my ultimate career goal is to help reduce the exploitation of the low income in America,” he said.
As for COD, Giordano is grateful that he found a career that he is passionate about pursuing.
“When I came to COD, I knew I had a lot of growth to do. The bulk of my first year was spent developing a love of learning and a curiosity while exploring new subjects with passionate professors,” he said. “By my second year, I hit the ground running. I am eager to combine my new passion with the growth I experienced at my next school and continue my momentum. As for other students at COD, I would recommend that they always stay on top of their homework, reach out to their professors when they are confused, and go to the Learning Commons when they need some extra help.”
Learn more about the Economics program at College of DuPage
Learn more about the Mathematics program at College of DuPage