From NASA to Investing: How Sam Wadlington’s Interests Expanded at Purdue

06-10-2025

Growing up in Sugar Land, Texas, I always thought my path would lead me to the University of Texas. However, as my senior year of high school drew to a close, I realized that my interests might lead me to a new frontier. I was fascinated by investing, physics, math and exploring space. Though I investigated many potential majors, none of them felt like the right fit for me. That is, until I came across Purdue’s Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) program.

IBE was a perfect blend of everything I was looking for: a rigorous academic challenge, a chance to explore both business and engineering, and a school that encouraged real-world problem-solving. I visited Purdue in the spring, and despite the cold weather, I knew it was the place for me.

Choosing Purdue meant stepping out of my comfort zone. I would have to leave Texas and venture 1,000 miles away from home. I had always been close with my family, especially my brothers, and I frequently wondered how our relationships would be affected by this move. But the more I thought about it, the more excited I became about the opportunity.

Purdue was a place I could not pass up. It was affordable, a chance to experience Midwestern culture, and a firsthand opportunity to be part of an organization with a once-in-a-generation leader, Mitch Daniels. This made my decision abundantly clear: Purdue was the best fit for me.

My first year at Purdue wasn’t easy, and I often struggled as I began to find my footing. The courses were tough, making friends was hard, and I wondered if I’d be able to accomplish just half of the things I’d hoped for. What pushed me through those moments was that I never stopped asking myself, “What if?” What if Purdue is the right place? What if I make lifelong friends? What if these years change everything for the better? I began to realize that the thrill of adventure and the potential for growth far outweighed the fear of failure. I knew I needed to keep pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.

At the Be Involved Fair, I came across Boilermaker Consulting. It’s a student-run organization that provides consulting services to real companies. Consulting wasn’t on my radar at first, but I was drawn to the idea of working on real-world problems and providing tangible solutions for clients. As I became more involved, I found myself enjoying each new challenge more than the last. I worked on six projects throughout my time, and each one presented new obstacles and learning experiences. In one such project, I worked with an energy company and its venture team. We analyzed their different investments and recommended a strategy for accelerating a promising holding. My involvement with this project — and with Boilermaker Consulting more broadly — sparked a new passion for investing.

In my sophomore year, I ran for the student trustee position. Although I wasn’t selected, the experience was impactful. I realized that even though I wasn’t selected, I had met amazing people along the way, challenged myself and learned humility. The encouragement and thoughtfulness of professors like Dr. Jay Akridge helped me through this setback and even opened up an opportunity for me as a research assistant studying the future of universities.

Soon, I was working as both a teaching assistant and a research assistant. These roles taught me how to manage expectations, set goals and interact up and down the organizational ladder. As a TA, I served as a mentor of sorts and provided academic and professional help to first-year students. These experiences, coupled with the aforementioned research, broadened my understanding of the real-world applications of my studies.

While engineering and consulting had been major aspects of my college life, my passion for investing quickly became my focus. I stepped away from several of my engineering extracurriculars to focus on this interest in finance.

Every moment I spent with the Larsen Leaders Academy, honing this interest was incredible. Surrounded by like-minded, driven students, I felt motivated every day. The people I met in the academy pushed me to be better, and I pushed them. It became clear that the company I kept played a huge role in shaping who I would become.

One of the most eye-opening experiences of my life was a mission trip to Romania. There, I witnessed firsthand the deep poverty that exists in certain parts of the world. I visited families living in cramped 150-square-foot homes with dirt floors and only a few livestock to sustain them. It was heartbreaking, but it gave me a new perspective on life. I realized how incredibly fortunate we are in the United States and how much we often take for granted. This experience helped me realize how important it is to help improve the quality of life for those who are less fortunate. The experience and lessons I learned from the Romanian people will stay with me forever.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to incoming students, it’s to pursue things that are challenging because your time in college will be over before you know it. Your undergraduate years will fly by. Don’t let others tell you that you can’t land an internship or make an impact early on because the more you push yourself outside of your comfort zone, the more exciting opportunities might open up. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to do this and help you grow. Lastly, take risks, embrace failure and, most importantly, pursue what matters to you.