Jonathan Sanders '05
Name: Jon Sanders
Graduation Year: 2005
Original Hometown: Los Angeles
Major/Minor: Psychology
Job Title: Professional Basketball Player/ Poet
What is your job description?
Do what I love.
Why did you originally choose Saint Mary’s?
Transferred from Colorado State University to play for coach Randy Bennett.
How did you enter the field you have chosen?
Overseas basketball through my coach’s contacts then through some contacts I later made on my own along with the help of people connected to my former teammate Blake Sholberg. As for poetry, I’ve just written all my life and published the book myself and will later try to get picked up by a larger publishing company for this book and for future books I intend to publish. Over the last two years, I’ve established a network of 25,000 individuals interested in my poetry through MySpace simply by using a program I purchased for under $25 and some innovative ideas that increase my site’s traffic while decreasing the amount of time I actually have to interact with those people. So now I’m hardly ever online, but I increase my network and make more money every day. That site is www.myspace.com/cchaplin. I’ve just started another website as well: www.thepoetryofjonsanders.com and have taken on a business partner to help me with my affairs.
How might Saint Mary’s have given you the concrete skills necessary to become successful in your career?
Interpersonal skill. Through my psychology major, discussion-oriented classrooms, and a comfortable environment to share ideas and communicate; I developed the skills needed to excel in a world where it’s mostly who you know and how you present yourself that are the keys to success.
What is your advice to students about to enter college?
Don’t worry. Just have fun while honestly trying your hardest along the way, and everything else will take care of itself.
