If you ask Cole Jorde, a 2001 graduate of AFA, what he does for SAIC (Science Applications International Corporation) he will tell you he makes maps. What kind of maps? “Maps for the government.” Yes, and. . .? “The maps are 3-D urban feature maps.” He doesn’t say, “If I told you anything else, I’d have to kill you,” but one gets the idea.

Cole came to AFA as a 10th grader in 1999 having been home-schooled for his entire academic career. At first the adjustment to a regular school routine was not easy. A math and science person by nature, the emphasis on the humanities proved especially challenging. “I never enjoyed reading before,” he admits, “but Mrs. Mathwin made me like it.” Unlike previous classes, “there was no busy work, and the way she tested was so engaging. In her class, literature mattered to me.”

Academics impacted Cole but he stressed that friendships he made with classmates had the most significant impact on his life. All of them, like Amy Floyd and Michael and Stephen Ball, are married, some with kids of their own. Even with their different paths, they remain close friends. Cole himself married his wife Kristen in the summer of 2008.

A math major at George Mason, Cole found his college experience to be different than his peers. “The amount we had to write at AFA was more than at college,” Cole recalled. “But it wasn’t just the volume, it was the method and structure. I noticed that others had no background in organizing their writing, research, and the need for counter-arguments. I had a basic framework in place I could use with any task. [In college] I would get assignments, and the professor would say he wanted us to write two pages on the topic for next week.” While other students inevitably groaned Cole recalls thinking, “Next week?! You don’t want this tomorrow?”

Cole’s strong writing background from AFA allowed him to deal easily with many of his classes, which allowed him time to begin working at SAIC. Starting as an intern his freshman year, after graduation he worked himself up to a project manager in the Cartography section. He now manages teams of interns, students like he was years ago. He still sees a connection between his writing training at AFA and his job. “Writing helps you tackle a problem. Map making involves similar decisions. When writing I need to decide what arguments work best, and which should be in support. In making a map, you need to decide what features to emphasize, what will best prove your point. Maps are, at root, a point I am trying to prove.” Cole reflects that even making maps with computers contains elements of individual expression. “Personal style comes through a lot in the maps we make. You can look at a map and tell who in the office made it.”

When asked for any final thoughts on his time at AFA, Cole mentioned work and especially the friendships, but then his eyes grew wide. “I almost forgot about our undefeated basketball season! We beat Word of Life in our last game!” He smiled, “That’s a great memory.”