Mitchell Sahlfeld, B.A. Philosophy Class of 2011
“Philosophy taught me how to appreciate what I have day in and day out.”
In 2011, Mitchell Sahlfeld graduated from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. Philosophy was the perfect fit for Sahlfeld because, going into college, he had many different interests. “Philosophy is such a broad major which includes all these fascinating topics, so I thought to myself, ‘Why not major in a subject that encompasses everything?’” Along with his philosophy studies, Sahlfeld competed for the FHSU Track & Field team earning All-American Honors in the hammer throw and the discus throw his senior year.
When asked what he enjoyed the most about the FHSU Philosophy program, Sahlfeld answered, “the community.” It was this intellectually stimulating community of professors and students that ultimately made him feel confident about his decision to pursue a degree in philosophy. He specifically remembers a time, as a first-year student, when the professors were sitting together talking in the department room. “It was such a welcoming atmosphere. Everyone in the room held a different point of view on a topic and chatted about it, and yet, throughout the entire process, they stayed friends with each other. That was the moment I knew I was in the right major and where I felt at home.”
Currently, Sahlfeld is an IT Support Specialist at Astra Bank in Hays. His work involves helping customers with their IT issues, and some marketing duties such as handling the Facebook page, as well as radio and tv ads. His philosophical training at FHSU has been an invaluable tool in his job. “Problems are always coming at you, and a lot of these problems, especially in the business world, are value problems. How much do you value this customer? How much do you value this standard over that standard? It comes up all the time, and my background in philosophy allows me to think critically about those values and weigh them against each other.”
Philosophy has also profoundly impacted Sahlfeld’s personal life. “Philosophy taught me how to appreciate what I have day in and day out. Right after I graduated, I was in a rat race to get a job, so that I could make money to do what I wanted to do. And lately, I’ve started to understand that wealth is more than just money. If the money is not doing what you want it to do, then what’s the point of working harder just to accumulate more?”
On his own time, Sahlfeld reads as much philosophy as he can, and he especially likes the American philosopher, John Dewey. He is involved in philosophy work through his blog “Enduring Learner” (http://enduringlearner.com/) where he shares his passion for personal development.
When asked what advice he has for undergraduate students about life after college, he answered, “Be patient. A lot of times, people think that right after graduation they’re going to do something for this amount of money, and a lot of times that doesn’t work out. But if you keep to the course and to what you know and keep learning, then eventually you will hit an opportunity.”