Richard Bertelsen, KU Sarasota
Richard Bertelsen is a Legal Studies student at the Sarasota KU campus. He started his journey at KU in May of 2014 and he currently works as the manager of a local commercial animal boarding facility and senior dog rescue center. Check out what he had to say on what it’s like being a Legal Studies student at KU:
What made you decide to join the Legal Studies program at KU?
There are a few things that ended up bringing me to Keiser’s Legal Studies program. I had been thinking about going back to school to broaden my knowledge and add some variety to my life for a little while. I have always been very interested in American government and politics, and I wanted to challenge myself with a difficult subject. Having worked as the manager of a small business for 9 years, I learned how to schedule and manage a team, keep the place stocked, and build a reputation within the community. These things can be learned through experience, but there are concepts like regulations, contracts, taxes, etc. that you need a more formal foundation on to fully understand. All of this combined made legal studies the perfect fit for me. I chose Keiser because of its smaller, more personal class sizes and the accelerated schedule.
Do you have any favorite or least favorite classes so far?
I honestly cannot say that I have had a class that was a negative experience (including both my core classes and my general education classes). I, naturally, get the most enjoyment out of the legal studies classes. It’s hard to choose just one. There are a small number of instructors, so we have the opportunity to develop a great rapport as we see each other from course to course. Plus, the concepts learned in each course build upon the last nicely.
What would you say is the hardest part about being a college student? How do you overcome it?
The hardest part for me is maintaining a full-time job in a leadership position while also attending school full time. I am at one or both places 7 days a week. It can be very exhausting. There is no easy solution. I am lucky enough to love my job, and love what I am studying. It is great that Keiser instructors tend to understand that many of their students are juggling multiple things at once and are often willing to work with you to ensure that you can get done what you need to.
What are your plans following graduation?
I don’t have any solid plans, but I will likely go on to get my Juris Doctorate at one of Tampa’s law schools. If pursue my doctorates then I’d like my legal career to continue to have a focus on small businesses.
Do you have any tips for fellow KU students in the Legal Studies program?
Given Keiser’s unique schedule, you can never say enough about showing up for class. Missing a day can mean missing substantially more than at a traditional college. The instructors give you everything you need, you just need to be receptive to it.
Thank you so much Richard for participating in this interview with me! I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
If you are interested in learning more about our incredible legal studies program, check out our Legal Studies BA Degree to learn more!
As always students, if you want to share something on ELSE, or have any questions or comments, feel free to email me. I would LOVE to hear from you!
Your fellow KU student,
My instructors believed in me. They were more than instructors, they tried to get to know you as a person and tried to understand your goals so they could push you towards them. Student services helped me find a job before I even graduated. Everyone was dedicated to my overall success.
