Derek Foley

GALESBURG – Sometimes college isn’t the answer – at first.
“I went to Monmouth College last year and decided it wasn’t for me,” said Derek Foley of his first college experience. “It was a bit expensive.”
So what did Derek do? He transferred to Sandburg.
At age 19, Foley actually comes to Carl Sandburg College all the way from the tiny town of Galva, IL, located in Henry County, about a half hour from Galesburg. The drive is long, especially considering that Black Hawk College has a satellite campus on the east side of the city just ten minutes away.
“Cross country is actually what brought me to Sandburg,” Derek said of his decision to attend, “Blackhawk didn’t have it.”
For Derek, the drive is worth it.
“I’m going to school for business,” said Foley of his major, “it’s the one thing that interested me in school.”
When Derek isn’t studying for class or driving to and from Galva, he’s running cross country.
“It’s an hour and a half of practice,” said Derek. “We just run.”
What’s his secret?
“I’m just good at it, I guess,” he said. “I did quite a few sports when I was in high school. During my freshman and sophomore years I did basketball, football and baseball; after that I did track and country. I was better at those.”
Derek won’t be driving much longer though, hopefully – his time here at Sandburg is up in the spring of 2013, as he will be graduating from Sandburg.
“I plan on transferring to Western or Illinois State University,” he said. “After that, I’m not sure – I can’t decide on where to live. I kind of want to stay, but I kind of want to leave.”
Derek’s advice for future Sandburg students has the ring of what many here have already said.
“Read your books,” he said, “if you don’t read the assignments you won’t learn anything.