Joe
Cartwright '98
The Man of the House
In 2003, Joe '98 and Beth
(Conner) '97 Cartwright had an important decision to make. One of them
had to stay at home with their two children while the other pursued a promising
career.
Their decision, however,
was not too complicated. With plans of progressing within the medical field,
Beth began plotting her course as a certified childbirth educator while
Joe became a stay-at-home dad with son Joey and daughter Abbi.
"It's been fun and the adjustment
was not very difficult," said Joe, who was working in his father-in-law's
woodworking shop previously. "I never really thought about staying at home
before then, but my wife had an opportunity to advance in her profession.
It was the best decision for our family."
The Cartwrights, who live
in Big Pool, Maryland, have added a third child - Sammy -and Joe continues
to relish the time he spends at home with his children. While growing up
in Chicago, Joe learned firsthand how to handle responsibilities at home.
"I had a pretty good understanding
of what stay-at-home mothers go through because my mom had to do everything,"
he recalled. "I had a healthy respect for those kind of parents before
I became one, and I have even more respect for them now."
Cartwright graduated from
Trinity with a degree in history. He first heard of the College from sociology
chair Dr. Brad Breems, who attended the same church. At Dr. Breems' suggestion,
he visited the campus and felt comfortable with the prospect of being a
Trinity student.
"I wanted to go to a Christian
college because I needed more spiritual grounding," he said. "In my neighborhood,
I'd see people who supposedly were Christians and went to church, but it
was hard to tell by the way they acted. I felt that I needed to have a
tighter focus to develop my faith.
"Trinity presented a way
of thinking and a Christian worldview that will be significant for the
rest of my life. I learned how to maintain strong beliefs and the importance
of being able to articulate those values."
Away from home, Cartwright
coaches girls volleyball, and he is a member of Trinity's alumni board.
He and his family attend Grace Bible Church in Indian Springs, Maryland.
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