David Gardner

If we could all make the "foolish" choices David Gardner has made.

Insteadof following the New England prep school pack and accepting Harvard orYale, Gardner chose The Morehead and headed south to UNC.

Although he majored in English, specializing in creative writing, he picked a career doling out financial advice.

And rather than work for someone else's stock market newsletter, Gardner opted to launch his own business.

Today, he and his younger brother run the phenomenally popular The Motley Fool, the online investment site parlayed into a newspaper column and radio show. The winsome name comes from Shakespeare — Gardner considers it a form of playful protection: "If we mess up, at least we said we were fools."

TheMorehead helped set Gardner on this unexpected career path.Contemplating a career in investment banking, Gardner did one of hissummer internships at a New York City firm. But then he realized twothings: He didn't want to live in New York and he didn't want to workon Wall Street, finding the office work creatively stifling.

"That internship really did reorient me," Gardner said. "That was extremely helpful — and it's something I've said to incoming Morehead-Cains: Take summer internships in something you want to do (as a career) afterward."

Knowinghe wanted to combine his writing strengths with his fervent interest inthe stock market, Gardner eventually founded The Motley Fool. Today,millions read the often irreverent advice offered by the Web site andits offshoots. The business employs 110, and even hosts Moreheads oninternships.

"I think The Morehead gave me a wonderfulopportunity to try out different experiences," Gardner said. "It's aunique time to try on different lives and see if they fit before youreally have to commit."