Dear Southwestern: Dr. Robert Cates

Dear Southwestern,

It's been 10 years since I graduated from Southwestern University. Not a day goes by where I don't think about my experiences at Southwestern, the skills I learned, the friendships I created, and how it forever changed my life.

When I was first approached about playing basketball for a small school in Georgetown, Texas, my initial thoughts were guarded. All of my close friends were going to larger public schools where I was sure they were going to have a better experience. I thought I was going to be immersed in a small, boring school with peers too different from myself. In hindsight, I was right—I was surrounded by peers from different backgrounds and with different goals. This, was only part of what made Southwestern so special.

It's surprising to think now, but the beginning of my basketball career was nearly the end.  I thought it was a waste of time, and wasn't particularly fond of the early morning runs and long practices. With strong parental and faculty support however, I persisted and went on to do very well. My coach at the time (Bill Raleigh) taught me as much about life off the court than on and became a life-mentor. He was pivotal in my life and to this day, remains a close personal and family friend. Teamwork, endurance, efficiency, and hard work were several invaluable rewards of being a student-athlete and have paid dividends in the pursuit of higher education and my current career.

The friendships I created while at Southwestern have also been special. I met my best friend there as well as numerous other close friends. I have been in several of their weddings and life events and remain in close contact with them. We meet up as frequently as possible to reminisce about the good ol' glory days in Georgetown.
 
Most important of all, Southwestern changed my life. When I first came to Southwestern I had a very closed-minded view of the world. From day one, Southwestern challenged this ideology. It taught me that people from all walks of life are special, that they all have something to contribute, and that being closed-minded only leads to exclusion and limits progress. If it weren't for learning this, I wouldn't have ended up marrying the love of my life, Rebecca (Class of 2007).
 
Southwestern created the foundation for my current career. It provided me with the essential skills – time management, communication, and a drive to be better. I am now an orthopaedic surgeon in-training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and am pursuing a sports medicine fellowship. I attribute much of my success to my Southwestern experience. It truly changed my life forever.

Thank you, Southwestern!

With best regards,
Dr. Robert Cates, Class of 2006