Brocke Addison has traveled a long way in his life – both literally and figuratively. After graduating from Ignite Christian Academy, having been schooled at home for several years, he received his bachelor's degree from a university of 26,000 students. A native Texan, Brocke then moved to eastern Canada to further pursue his academic goals – a PhD in neuroscience. He credits this success in part to the flexibility Ignite Christian Academy provides: "I enjoyed the program because it allowed me to tailor my learning environment to myself and create a more ergonomic approach to my studies. I took on the habit of self-study and independent learning, which has been essential to any success I have had academically. I felt that because I was so skilled at independent learning, it allowed me the ability to transcend college readings and assignments and really understand material for courses." Brocke sees some potential drawbacks with at-home education – mainly the difficulty of peer interaction on a regular basis. However, he says that this doesn't have to be a problem, since there are often ways for students to meet and work together.
Already Brocke has earned many academic awards and honors. He has earned a place on the Dean's list five times, and in college received the University Scholar award, indicating his standing in the top 1% of the 36,000 undergraduates. Brocke also won the McNair Scholars Program, for which he received graduate school application assistance and a fully funded research sponsorship. Brocke says he chose to further his studies at McGill University in Montréal, Canada because he was offered a fully funded opportunity "to work with probably the leading researcher in the field of epigenetics and maternal care. I personally study molecular endocrinology and physiology, with a focus on metabolic research." What does (soon to be) Dr. Addison plan to do with this degree? "Once my PhD is completed, I will move on to a post-doctoral position, and then a professorship at a research university or medical school. In 10 years I hope to be researching metabolic sciences and teaching courses."
School hasn't always been easy for Brocke, and his advice to struggling students is to find whatever drives them. He says "I have watched colleagues rise and fall around me because they were smart and hard working but did not enjoy their work. What gets you through a tough environment day to day, moment to moment, is joy and passion for the subject and research."
Brocke's advice to high school students in a virtual school? "The most important thing at a high school level to get into college are grades and the letter you write to that college." Students should also choose their college wisely: "I have taken classes at mediocre to highly-regarded universities and in the end, they all have strengths and weaknesses." Larger schools have more distinguished professors, Brocke says, but professors at smaller schools have more time to talk to and mentor their students. He also has advice for students preparing to make the transition to a brick-and-mortar university: focus on adjusting to the pace of college life. Brocke says that college academics require "specific deadlines, and these are no longer flexible as they were through online schooling. Also, the busy social environment is often a novelty and can become very distracting. Some distraction is actually a good thing, but should be kept under control."
Following this advice himself, Brocke manages to find time to nurture the other aspects of his life, despite the demands of his academic career. Since moving to Canada, he has taken up winter sports, and also does Thai boxing. Brocke also likes to take trips whenever his schedule allows. "I travel as often as I can, specifically because I cannot be far from the beach for too long."
Finally, Brocke says, "The best advice is to get into the best college you can and make the best of your time there. Ultimately your education is your own and only you can really make it great." God bless you, Brocke, as you pursue both your academic and non-academic dreams!