School's Not Going to End: An Interview with Andres Buitron
By Ashleigh, a Project Exploration Student
...continued

Ashleigh: Ok now I’m going to ask you about the college application admission process…….what was that like for you?

AB: It shouldn’t be hard if you know what you are doing. If you take time out to do it. At times, it was hard because the applications were needed on different days. The recommendations were needed too. Like our school had this thing and they would ask for them a week in advance and I would find out a week later. I had to rush.

Ashleigh: What college do you attend?

AB: The University of Montana.

Ashleigh: How is college?

AB: College is nice. It was what I was expecting. I am majoring in geology.

Ashleigh Do you have a minor?

AB: No.

Ashleigh: Why did you choose that major?

AB: Because I was interested in paleontology, but the University of Montana doesn’t have it. If they did offer it, I would take it.

Ashleigh So what are your classes and what are they like?

AB: I have two classes because I’m going to school part-time. It’s a geology and math class. The geology is a lecture class it has like 200 students in it.

Andres at a dig site in Montana
Photo: © Project Exploration

Ashleigh: Are you serious?!

AB: Yes, in my math class there are more students and teacher involvement—like one-on-one. If you’re having a problem they will help you. My math class had like 20 students in it. My high school was small, like 150 total students.

Ashleigh: Wow, did you get a lot of one on one with your teachers in high school?

AB: Yea, a lot of one-on-one.

Ashleigh: Do your teachers make you read like a lot of chapters in books and then give you a quiz on what you’ve read?

AB: Well my geology teacher doesn’t really go from the book, kind of...sometimes he does and then uses PowerPoint and then we’ll have a test on the PowerPoint, but in my math class we use the books most of the time. Like, everyday when we’re in class.

Ashleigh: Ok...well, what about student life—like what kind of extracurricular activities, clubs, work, etc?

AB: I don’t do much of it. I do work on campus. I work in the library. We work in groups. I’m in this group called Powers. We hang out like once a week.

Ashleigh: How do you balance it all... Well, is it hard to work and go to school at the same time?

AB: My job gives us schedules we prefer. I go to school part-time. I’ll start going full-time next year. They won’t let me go over 19 hours. But I’m a work-study. It isn't hard and its not so hard now since I have a schedule. I have days when I work and days that I’m able to have to myself.

Ashleigh: What was the biggest challenge you had so far, being at college?

AB: For me, being more open and talking to the professors to get the help that I need.

Ashleigh How has Project Exploration changed you or influenced you?

AB: Project Exploration is the reason I’m in Montana. Before, I didn’t have an interest or passion. I mean…..I used to have a passion writing short stories and music, but I’m in Montana because of PE.

Ashleigh: What skills or experience with Project Exploration have you used in college?

AB: They helped me have people-skills. Now when I work at the library, when people ask me a question or I have to ask other people questions, it's not so much a big deal anymore. I used to feel nervous on the spot. I only did it when I had to.

Andres gives a presentation during a
Junior Paleontologist classroom session
Photo © Project Exploration

Ashleigh: How much do you pay for college?

AB: I pay $4,000 for each semester. It’s $20,000 because I’m out of state. I have to get a residency in Montana to get in-state tuition.

Ashleigh: Do you think school will become harder for you?

AB: It’s easy now. Like most of the time, but the same time I have to put in more. It might be harder because I will have more classes. It might be more stressful.

Ashleigh: Do you have any scholarships?

AB: Yes, I have two scholarships. The Fiesta del Sol for $500 and the Chicago Scholars for $1,000. These are the only two I’ve gotten so far. I have also taken loans. Perkins Loans.

Ashleigh: What are you passionate about?

AB: Just passionate about geology.

Ashleigh: Just geology?

AB: Yes.

Ashleigh: Why do you only go to school part-time?

AB: Because there’s not a lot of money. My dad lost his job before I was accepted into college, before we had the money for college.

Ashleigh: Dang, that’s what happens to a lot of people.

AB: Yea.

Ashleigh: Were you disappointed by that?

AB: I was disappointed because he didn’t have the skills to get a job real quick. He was working at his job for like 20 years. And then he loses his job. He was born in Mexico and his English is limited. His education is only 1st grade and not many people are looking for that. My brother is going to college and I have a brother that is already in college. He has to take out loans. So money is real tight right now.

Ashleigh: So what is next for you? What’s in the future for you?

AB: Going to School. Getting a Masters, PhD in geology. School is not going to end. I plan on teaching college level.

Ashleigh: No high school?

AB: I’ll probably have to, but primarily college level.

Ashleigh: Alright...so that’s it. Thank you.

AB: Okay.