Carl Bamlet
- Hayfield, Minn.
- Bachelor of business administration degree with a pre-chiropractic minor
- What's next: Entering the chiropractic program at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minn.
 |
UW-Eau Claire photo by Rick Mickelson |
Carl Bamlet has advice for those tempted to give up on their goals: "You cannot let fear of failure prevent you from trying something that you want to do. If you really want to be a chemist, doctor, nurse, dentist, teacher or anything else, do it, and if you fail then you can’t hate yourself later in life for not trying."
Bamlet is in a position to offer such advice. As a UW-Eau Claire freshman he was diagnosed with brain cancer and dropped out of school to undergo surgery and treatment. Four years later, the three-time Blugold wrestling letter winner leaves the university with a business administration degree, a chiropractic school acceptance in hand and a goal of one day opening his own chiropractic/health spa business.
Getting to this point took a lot of positive thinking on Bamlet's part, much support from his family and encouragement from his UW-Eau Claire professors. In particular he recalls the support he received during his illness from Paul Kaldjian, associate professor of geography and anthropology, and the lessons he learned about himself from Chuck Tomkovick, professor of marketing. Most influential of all was Bamlet's wrestling coach, Don Parker.
"Wrestling coach/Professor Don Parker has had the single biggest effect on me during my time in Eau Claire," Bamlet said. "He shows everyone how to handle adversity in the way he deals with his own on a daily basis."
More on Carl Bamlet
Future plans: In September 2008 I will be attending Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minn., in its chiropractic program. After graduation I plan on gaining experience at another chiropractic office for two years before I open my own office. After my business grows financially (10-15 years from 2008), I will expand it into a chiropractic office/health spa that offers a wide variety of services.
Unique aspects of his UW-Eau Claire experience: The most unique aspect of my education here has been my entire experience. As a freshman I was diagnosed with brain cancer on March 4, 2004, and had to drop out of school to undergo brain surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. My life was at a low place because of this and many other things, like girlfriend troubles and other health problems for my family. I kept my hopes up with a good sense of humor, my family and a future to look forward to and motivate me. The hope was a simple one: to get myself back into the best physical shape I could so that I could handle this if it ever comes back. I worked incredibly hard and made myself physically and mentally stronger than before I had cancer. As a result of this hope, I forced myself to compete on the university wrestling team the next year. I joined the wrestling team, and it furthered the physical and mental toughness that I already had. Three years later I am a three-year letterwinner on the wrestling team and finished with my schooling at UW-Eau Claire.
As a result of my very unique experiences, I have a very unique perspective on everything that goes on around me. Regularly I see people upset about a bad test grade or a bad fight they had with a boyfriend/girlfriend, tempted to give up when something gets tough. If in your future you plan to let every small thing make you sad and give up whenever anything becomes difficult, you will be very unhappy with how your life has turned out. Things are tough for everyone, and those who persevere through the challenges are the people who I think of as successful — not successful in terms of money or status, but successful in terms of making the most out of what hand you were dealt.
What he liked most about his UW-Eau Claire experience: What I've liked the most about UW-Eau Claire has to be the great teachers. Two professors who were particularly helpful to me were Chuck Tomkovick and Paul Kaldjian. Professor Tomkovich taught me some of the most important lessons about myself that I learned in school. Professor Kaldjian kept in touch with me when I went to treatment for brain cancer and gave me a way to keep hope by being a link to something other than a hospital bed, treatments and all the negative thoughts. I wrote him several times then and I still talk to him often. These are both excellent professors who helped me a lot in and out of the classroom. Wrestling coach/Professor Don Parker has had the single biggest effect on me during my time in Eau Claire. When I approached him about wanting to wrestle after my cancer, he was excited to have me. He understood when I asked him to keep that information from my teammates. He shows everyone how to handle adversity in the way he deals with his own on a daily basis. Whenever you see him he has a big smile on his face and nothing but good things to say as he goes rolling past. Coach, you will always be an inspiration to me and everyone else on the team.
Highlights of life at UW-Eau Claire: The biggest highlight has to be my fall 2007 semester. I took 19 credits, wrestled for the university, worked at Sherwin Williams part time and applied to chiropractic schools, and I still had a GPA over 3.0.
Proudest college accomplishments: My proudest accomplishments have to be overcoming brain cancer to be a three-year letterwinner in wrestling, graduating with my degree, and getting accepted into chiropractic school.
Advice for incoming students: My advice to all incoming and current students is that you cannot let fear of failure prevent you from trying something that you want to do. If you really want to be a chemist, doctor, nurse, dentist, teacher or anything else, do it, and if you fail then you can’t hate yourself later in life for not trying. I am not positive that I will be a great chiropractor, or that my business will be a huge success, but I am willing to chance failure in order to be happy with the possible success. Think back into every history book you’ve ever read and name me one person who is there because they didn’t take any chances.
Special thanks: I would especially like to thank my parents, Gene and Mary Bamlet, and the rest of my family for helping me through all of this. I couldn’t have made it without you being there to push me when I didn’t want to do anything or when I was grumpy and yelling. Dad, I still hate the smell of Royal Kona, or “Kahona” as you say, coffee that you drank every day while you sat there with me during my treatments. At least I don’t get sick anymore from smelling it. :)
Learn about other featured May 2008 graduates
