Radhik Patel '18
Currently Attending: University of Pennsylvania
Years at Shipley: 13

Activities & Positions Held: Co-head of Predictive Analytics, Co-head of Investment Club, DECA Club, Model UN, Debate, Basketball

How Shipley Shaped Me
Shipley has had a profound impact on my life both personally and academically. Not only has Shipley set a strong academic foundation that has prepared me for college but also it has instilled a work ethic, study habits, and other tools that are important for my life going forward. Academically, Shipley has helped me cultivate a love of learning by pushing me to capitalize on all of Shipley’s offerings both inside and outside the classroom. As a junior, I along with a couple of friends started a club called Predictive Analytics that connected many of the theories and concepts we learned in Precalculus, Python, and Statistics class to sports. It was the first time at Shipley where I truly felt that what we learned in the classroom could apply to something I love. Shipley has given me many opportunities like these, a platform, to be successful, and for that I am forever grateful.

Who was your most influential teacher and why?
Although I have been fortunate enough to have many exceptional teachers during my thirteen years at Shipley, the most influential teacher I’ve ever had was Mr. Goren, who taught me Chemistry and Physics. What makes Mr. Goren such a great teacher is that he makes learning an engaging and enjoyable experience. During class, we would learn difficult concepts through different formats, ranging from lecture note problems to demonstrations to labs. Mr. Goren pushed me to think critically with complex problems, teaching me analytical and problem-solving skills that will stay with me throughout college and beyond. Mr. Goren embraced my passion for learning and frequently met with me outside the classroom to answer any of my questions about the material and also concepts that extended beyond the scope of the curriculum. Mr. Goren’s willingness to help us speaks to his character and who he is as a teacher.

Most Memorable Experience
My most memorable experience during my time at Shipley was at DECA ICDC (International Career Development Conference) when my partner, Zach Bradlow, and I placed third in the world out of over 10,000 participants. The experience was so memorable because the competition was a virtual business challenge, combining my passions for sports and business. The goal of the simulation was to run a football stadium for one season in order to accumulate as much profit as possible. What made the simulation challenging was that at home, when we qualified, we had unlimited time, whereas at the competition, we had a live 15-minute double-elimination tournament to see which of the 16 qualified teams could make the most money.

Plans for Fall 2018
I will be attending The University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and will be concentrating in finance and real estate.

My future ambition is to work in finance and be an investment banker before making significant contributions to the business end of sports. I have always found math and business extremely exciting, and I see finance as the intersection of the two. After doing an internship for Fountain Financials, a sports and entertainment law firm, last summer, I have also found great excitement and interest in the business end of sports. I hope to pursue both of my interests in great depth.

Complete this sentence: Shipley has prepared me...
to seek my dreams with vitality and pursue life with moral integrity.