En_LettersFromStudents

Abstracts of some students’ acknowledgements as a professor (I retired on June 30^th, 2016)

Mr. Kyle Johnson Jr Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2016

“Your words truly touched me, but I am not surprised because they always touch me. I almost started crying when you instantly said congratulations to me in person, whether I passed or failed, that is how much you mean to me as a mentor, professor, and person. Your passion is a value I will always remember, as I will try very hard to mirror.”

“You have not been rude to me, what you have done is only inspired me to embrace the beauty of what economics is and most importantly, life. I am a person who loves the challenge, the adrenaline of learning, and the struggle of the process, because I believe that is the only method to succeed. There will be a time that I look back at my studies, and career, and know that one professor willed me to succeed and gave me his shoulders to stand on my two feet to reach for the stars. As Jose Marti says, "Men are like the stars; some generate their own light while others reflect the brilliance they receive". This is you, Professor Antonio Morales-Pita, and what you have done for me. I will always thank you.”

Maha  Abdelwahab   Jun 3, 2016

“I am so glad to have had you as a professor.  You have taught me so many important life lessons that I can never forget. You have taught me how to persevere in my education and to conquer my fears and not be afraid anymore. 

I have always been afraid that I have disappointed you, especially with my absences and lateness. So I have tried my best on the assignments and on the midterm and final exams to try to prove to you that I am still dedicated to learning and understanding. 

After taking INT-205, I was so excited to see that you were offering a Senior Seminar course because I was eager to learn more IPE and I knew I would enjoy taking my last college course with one of my favorite professors. After taking INT- 301, I have realized that you are my ultimate favorite professor at DePaul. I have learned so much from you, not just in the classroom but outside of the classroom as well. When I came to your office in the middle of this quarter to talk to you about my paper, it was one of the most important conversations I have had in my life. You showed me that I have the potential to succeed to my highest ability if I am just persistent about my success. You did not make me feel bad about myself as a person or tell me that I am simply a bad student. You gave me very good advice in a very uplifting and inspiring way. Leaving your office that day, I felt that I truly had the potential for success, and I just needed to invoke your advice in order to improve. 

Seeing you every week also became my inspiration to perform better because I knew that you were supporting me to do the best that I can do and to continue trying even if I am afraid or if I am not confident. Being in your classroom for the past two quarters at DePaul has uplifted my mood so much. You have always made me smile and laugh even while I am struggling with the difficult material!! 

You have given me the confidence as a student to be able to assess my flaws and to challenge myself to work on those flaws so that I can become a better learner and perform to the best of my ability as a student. This confidence is the best gift that I could have asked for from a professor. 

I will never forget the lessons that you have taught me, Professor. I will never forget the happiness and inspiration that you have brought into my life. You will forever be in my heart.” 

Patrick McDermott – June 6, 2016

“I am pleased that I took your course a second time. As we discussed today, the first time around I was not as engaged, committed, and astute to all that macroeconomics has to offer. Through your talk with me, you gave me confidence and brought my focus to what the course was really all about. I am thankful for your patience with me and the time you devote to your students. It is not too often that we, students, take the time to recognize the passion and drive many teachers possess and devote to their work and their students, but I found that profoundly evident within you. Through your teaching I have gained a drive, an interest, and a recognition of the complexity of economics and how it affects and interacts within the world around us. As I told you today, I now am going to take up international studies-international political economy as a major career study and immerse myself in all it has to offer. I thank you again for believing in me as well as your other students, sometimes it takes us a little while to recognize the work you do for us, but each and every student can find in you a brilliant and passionate teacher who has committed himself to teaching for many years and for many students around the world. On behalf of the many you have taught throughout and over the years, I would like to extent a profound thanks and gratitude for all that you have done and all the work you have put into teaching and all those you have affected through it. I would also like to congratulate you on all that you have done and I hope that retirement treats you well because you deserve it for all the work you have put into teaching and into your students.”

 David Stout March 19, 2009

“During my first term at DePaul in the fall of 2008, I found myself enrolled in Prof. Morales’ global economics course, Global Connections. Due to the engaging and fascinating quality of the course material and the caring and enthusiastic pedagogical skills of Prof. Morales I excelled in the course. It sparked such an interest in me that I soon transferred from the Communications school to devote my studies to the international arena. I had a feeling that my education in this field would not end soon. In January of this year Antonio contacted me about a research study that he had been asked to conduct in his free time. Along with three other young men, Randall Towner, Brian Cihlaar, and Ross Richmond, I was asked to aid in the collection and analysis of data concerning our current economic recession. Antonio was excited about this opportunity for all of us. He is a man who loves to teach, and despite the study being completely voluntary and time consuming, he not only took on the bulk of the research but devoted hours of his time to instructing us in the methods of research. Our research culminated in a detailed and comprehensive presentation explaining the effects of America’s economic woes on the rest of the world. I am personally proud to have been asked to participate in such a rapid response to the crisis. I must stress that Antonio’s work has made it possible for many people including myself to gain a higher understanding of the perplexing and troubling events currently unfolding. It is the devotion and passion that he brings to his work that nearly immediately won my respect and admiration for Antonio. The man lives and breathes his work, his excitement is visible and contagious. I know that this trait has always existed in him, even while he lived under Fidel Castro’s Communist regime in Cuba for over three decades where he was the most qualified and experienced Professor of Economics at the University of Havana. Since arriving in the United States, Antonio has found his way to our institution where he is employed as adjunct faculty. Antonio is a man of incredible experience, aptitude, and adaptability with a spirit that is indomitable.”


David  Esser   January 14, 2009

“DePaul University has had a very profound impact on not only my academic career, but my life as a whole. Four or five years in a lifetime is no short amount of time, but considering the ages of eighteen and twenty-two, they may be the most impactful and developmental years in anyone’s life. As a senior now, I have been reflecting on the dramatic changes that have occurred, and the people that have been especially impactful in my life. In the fall of the ’08-’09 academic year, I was fortunate enough to take an International Studies course with Dr. Antonio Morales-Pita. It was clear after only several minutes in this man’s class, that he was an instructor who took nothing for granted. Even considering this was the first day back to classes after a long summer break, the professor had every student at the edge of his or her seat. I took an immediate liking to this man, who was very frank about his travels and his struggle to finally arrive in America, with places like Scotland, the Soviet Union, and Southern Mexico as stops on his attempt to leave his oppressive home, Cuba.”

“ It was last week that I learned of the Doctor’s Instructor of the Year Award in 2007. This is clearly deserved, as proven by each student’s attentiveness in all of his classes. No professor I have encountered can bring about such a light hearted sentiment to the classroom, and still accomplish so much. A further testament to his abilities, the doctor scheduled a volunteer politico-economic seminar for any of his students from the winter quarter on December 2nd, over a week after most students returned home. Even with most of the campus deserted, several students attended and participated, making it one of the most informational and educational meetings I have even been a part of, and the students did this out of respect for the doctor. Regardless of whoever may be reading this, whether it be an administrator, faculty, a fellow professor, a student, or Dr Morales himself, it is absolutely necessary that this man at the very minimum is informed of the value of his lessons, classes, and the mentality in which he always brings to learning. He is incredibly approachable and will go to any length to help a student in need. It is my opinion that this man be recognized once again, with at least Instructor of the Year. As a student in his final year at this wonderful institution, with all of the incredible people and professors at this school that have affected me, none has had more of an impact on my life than Dr Antonio Morales-Pita, and he is certainly deserving of knowing that.”

Adrian Mehmedi  June 19, 2007

“Hello Professor Morales,

I finished reading your book on Sunday, but I did not have time to email you about it until tonight because of summer school and working full time now. I apologize for the delay. I read the book so fast and could not put it down, just like you said. I really enjoyed the book especially in how you told the story. Most importantly though, I enjoyed your story and its meaning. I had no idea how bad communism was for a country and its people and you not only gave me a brief history lesson, but you gave me inspiration and motivation to be tenacious in everything that I do in life from now on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your life’s struggles and how you overcame them with much persistence and drive. I only hope one day to be as successful as you in terms of setting goals and accomplishing them. Thank you for your meaningful and inspiring story! Also, I just wanted to thank you for such a good class in Macroeconomics. I used to hate economics before the class and you actually made me enjoy it. I really learned a lot in the class and I am sure I will be able to apply these concepts to my everyday life. I will definitely keep you posted on my successes and I will keep in touch as well. Thank you!”

Jeff del Corso  November 23, 2006

“Dear Professor Morales-Pita:
First of all, I would like to thank you for your congratulations. So second of all, I would like to thank you for your great passion for teaching. Never before have had I had a professor go to such great lengths in making sure that his or her students actually understand the material. I have heard before that every student that goes through college will encounter one professor that they will always remember. You are that professor for me. I have learned more in your economics class then I have in any other class I have taken so far at DePaul. One thing that you said during class will stick with me for the remainder of my career here at DePaul, and someday when I have kids in school; “It is not about the grade that you receive in the class, it’s about how much you LEARN”. I think that a lot of students (including myself prior to your class), go through college so worried about what their GPA is that they forget the reason why they’re in college in the first place; to learn! So we cram for our exams the night before, and then after the exam we forget what it is that we studied for. From now on I will have a new approach. I am very excited to read your book over break and learn how your surge for knowledge led you to be such a great professor, economist, and inspiring person.”