Some careers just reach out and grab you. Take Steve Rockey, a 1978 graduate of Ohio University with an A.B. in philosophy. A couple of months after graduation, unemployed, he was strolling past the Shell Headquarters in Houston, and on a whim, went in to apply for a job.
"The Human Resources person actually looked up ‘philosophy’ in this book of job requirements she had," Mr. Rockey reminisced recently."She said: ‘Sorry, no philosophers needed here,’ but as I turned to leave she asked, ‘do you have any chem istry background?’ Well, I did, and that landed me my first job as a laboratory technician!"
Nineteen years later with a University of Houston chemical engineering degree earned while working full time, Mr. Rockey is manager of Shell’s Epoxy Resin Plant, which is the largest liquid resin plant in the world."As plant manager I probably use my philosophy degree more than my chemical engineering degree," Mr. Rockey said. "I like to say there are 22,000 philosophers at Shell, but I’m the only trained one. Philosophy teaches you how to deal with ideas."
Mr. Rockey has fond memories of his years at Ohio University, including those of being in a cabinet position in the student government. "It was President Ping’s first year, there was a huge controversy over students receiving the new minimum wage inc rease, and a strike during which the cafeterias closed," he said. "The years I attended Ohio University were wonderful. I loved the philosophy courses, even though I knew I probably wouldn’t get a related job. I knew it might be the last time in my life I could study something just for the sake of learning."