Between school, editing at SPM, applying for internships, having a boyfriend and trying to catch the occasional episode of Queer Eye for The Straight Guy, sometimes I get overwhelmed and frustrated that I'm not getting enough "Joy Time."
Then I met Beth Clark and Sky Kurtz. This super-enthusiastic couple is busier than Rush Limbaugh's pharmacist.
Beth Clark is a senior double majoring in molecular biosciences and biotechnology and anthropology. She is also pre-med, the president of the Devils' Advocates (those people who walk backwards and lead tours around campus), a member of Faces in Health professions, a part of this year's ASU Homecoming court, a freshman orientation coordinator, a worker for Youth C.A.R.E. (an organization that promotes sexual health and wellness) and an intern at two different hospitals. She has a 3.6 GPA. Not to mention that she also works two mornings a week at IHOP with her boyfriend.
And her resume goes on and on. In the past, she has also taught UNI 101, was in AED (the pre-med honors sorority) and went on a medical mission to cities around Peru this summer.
Her boyfriend has a similar list to gawk at. Sky Kurtz is a senior finance honors student with a 4.0 GPA, is an Honors Devil, has an internship with Smith Barney Financial Consultants, was the managing director of honors consulting, was the director of advertising for the American Marketing Association, worked for Youth Care and for Ford Motor Company, was on the Homecoming Royal Court last year, and this summer he had a scholarship to attend London's Guildhall University, so while he was there he interned for the Bank of England.
Sheesh, at least I get to have my Fab Five! I sat down and chatted with this super couple as they rolled silverware after their shifts at IHOP, and I finished my Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity.
SPM: Don't I know you guys?
Clark and Kurtz: We're Mr. and Mrs. ASU.
SPM: How did you guys meet?
Kurtz: We had Religion 305 together, and then I applied for Devils' Advocates. We ended up spending a lot of time together.
Clark: I pretty much made him date me.
SPM: Do you guys ever have time to actually date?
Kurtz: We functionally date.
Clark: We take naps together. We both have Thursday nights off, so that's the night we'll usually go out. And now we get to work together.
SPM: How the heck do you guys keep track of what day it is?
Clark: The planner is the greatest righthand man. Also, Sunday night is prep night: Go through the planner, figure out how many polos or work shirts you need clean. It's fun; it's like Olympic sports, except you don't get medals.
SPM: What do your friends think of your work ethic?
Kurtz: Actually, two of them are dressing as us for Halloween. They're going to wear layers of shirts and take them off as the night goes along.
SPM: Have you guys always been overachievers?
Kurtz: The funny thing is, we both started out college pretty apathetic. For the first year I was here, I sort of resented being here, and then I fell in love with the university.
SPM: What about when you were younger?
Kurtz: I'm from Jerome, [Ariz.], and I used to hustle the tourists when I was a little kid. I sold rocks and lemonade in the summer, and in the winter, I would sell hot chocolate. When I was 8 years old, I would hire 5- and 6-year-old kids to sell mistletoe. I'd give them a small salary, and the rest would go to overhead, i.e., me. I came from a poor family, so I used that money to buy clothes and Christmas presents. I bought my first bike with that money.
Clark: When I was younger my parents were hippies, and we used to go to Jerome all the time. So I swear I must have met him there back then. He probably stole my toys or something.
SPM: So what does the future hold for you two?
Clark: He's going to support me.... Just kidding.
Kurtz: I'm going to work for a few years and then get my MBA. I'd also like to teach in the future.
Clark: I want to be an emergency room doc and go on medical missions for the rest of my life.
Kurtz: I always joke that I want to have her cryogenically frozen right after she gets her scores back for her MCATS so that she'll be there when I'm ready to get married.
AWW, How romantic!
Reach the reporter at joy.hepp@asu.edu.
