Pete Brock - Education

Education

Brock’s family wanted him to be an architect and upon graduating from high school he started college at Stanford University in the engineering department. It wasn’t very interesting, and soon Brock heard of a school in Southern California where student’s designed cars. During Spring break, he drove straight from San Francisco to Los Angeles, parked his car in the back lot of the Art Center School and unofficially wandered through the hallways, poking his head into classrooms and chatting with students. Within an hour Brock was certain; THIS was the place he needed to be!

Brock walked into the admissions office and declared he wanted to enroll and asked, “When can I start?” They asked to see his portfolio. He was so naive that he didn't even know what a ”portfolio” was and asked for an explanation. The admissions officer, obviously surprised, but very kind, explained it was a collection of one’s best work... samples you’d show to a prospective client. Client? The admissions officer patiently explained the Art Center was a school established by, and for, current professionals who attend to further their skills once they are already established in the industry. Undaunted, Brock went out to his car, dug out his school binder (the type with three rings and blue lined note paper) and went to work. A couple of hours later, with a few pages of hastily, but carefully, drawn images of hot rods (the kind most car crazy kids draw when they’re bored with class) he marched back into the admissions office and presented his "portfolio". Amazingly enough, the admissions officer saw past the inexperience of this kid and recognized the raw talent. Brock was admitted.