by Pete Pitts–alum, actor, writer, musician, motivational speaker

I am grateful for Chattanooga State because during my time there, I was openly encouraged to learn who I was at the core.

I met many great people, had fantastic instructors and learned a lot about a variety of subjects, but the true value of my education was my journey of self-discovery. After changing my major three times, I found myself in front of a camera as a Chattanooga State “Joe.”  That was when I discovered my true passions: entertaining, performing and helping people. I used what I learned at Chatt State and continued to gain knowledge, and I am now on a career path to fulfill my greatest dream–acting in movies and television. Since my graduation, I have been blessed to work with and meet actors such as Tom Cruise, Ben Affleck, Ice Cube, Robert Downey, Jr., James Franco and Selena Gomez, to name a few. While I have not yet completed my journey in my career or life, I constantly lean on the strong foundation of wisdom that was gained during my tenure at Chattanooga State.

What was the greatest lesson I learned while I was a Chatt State student? Anyone can follow and fulfill his or her dreams, no matter how insurmountable they may appear at first!

Thank you Chattanooga State, I am eternally grateful!