Personal Statement - John Rountree

Everyone has challenges in their lives which they say builds character. After high school I ended up at the University of Texas majoring in mathematics, then economics. Along the way studying linguistics and psychology.

Getting an MBA was easy, too easy. So, I got masters in computer science partly financing my education through scholarships, teaching, and turning a couple of thousand dollars investing into a comfortable bank account.

Working was more fun than school. I managed to get opportunities in research, derivatives, sales, portfolio management, and teaching. I co-authored the first comprehensive bond index, Barclays-Bloomberg Bond Index.

I started my own consulting firm, Lexington Software, believing that I had a competitive advantage having actually worked in different positions on Wall St. My plan worked for decades.

Then I realized that if I did not teach again, I never would. China was the obvious choice, growing and offering opportunities / challenges. Began at Suzhou Foreign Language School, graduated at RenMin University. The gift of knowledge and experience is continuing learning and teaching.

The most satisfying accomplishment was teaching a dyslexic high school student to read. We worked together alternating methods --- syllables, speed reading, word length. We discovered that mispronouncing a syllable does not automatically destroy the sound and meaning of the word.

Life is the journey.