William Funk's pursuit of happiness leads him to Tri-C

December 08, 2016

William Funk’s Tri-C story began in 2010, after he helped his Buddhist temple construct a peace and sustainability exhibit at the Western Campus.

“I thought ‘I would really love to go to school’ here as I looked around the Galleria and felt a sense of grandeur,” Funk said.

Later that week, the wheels were already in motion – Funk returned to the Western Campus and registered for classes in the Automotive Technology program. Funk was eager to start on the path to a new career.

“At that time, I was working the third shift as a custodian, and I was looking for an opportunity to have a job that would allow me to see the light of day again,” he said. “At some point, you learn from life, and you ask yourself if there’s a better way. For nearly a decade prior, I was either unemployed or working a string of jobs that barely kept my head above water, and I thought that through a certification or a degree, I might be able to do better.”

A member of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy, Funk studied Japanese, applied linguistics and language association, and will graduate this month with an associate of arts degree. He plans on transferring to a four-year school, where he hopes to have the opportunity to study abroad in East Asia.

“Why did I choose Tri-C?” he said. “Call it the pursuit of happiness. “In the search for happiness, we often overlook the subtle benefits that occur in our day-to-day life. Through my experiences at Tri-C, I have found a better outlook on life, made strides in my professional development, strengthened my resolve and have become more determined as an individual.”