Majors: Biological Sciences and French (Pre-Medicine)
Minors: Biochemistry, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Philosophy
Year in school: Senior
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Why did you select your majors and minors?
I started as a Biological Sciences and Philosophy double major (still pre-medicine). I enjoyed the coursework for both majors, but I felt like my degree was missing an element. I approached the Modern Languages Department, and after meeting the French faculty, I fell in love with French, declaring a minor before quickly elevating it to a major!
Philosophy is still in my degree as a minor, while Biochemistry was added on to supplement my pre-medicine coursework. Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs was added as it aligns with my ultimate career goals to work in the humanitarian and global health spheres.
Favorite course from your programs?
FREN 406 (Translation), FREN 460 (Survey of Francophone Literature), and PHIL 211 (Advanced Modern Logic) are my three favorite courses taken from my programs. FREN 406 and 460 introduced and cultivated the avenues I can explore with foreign languages post-graduation, and PHIL 211 helped me discover languages beyond traditional spoken and written language - the language of argumentation and theorization.
Strongest mentors or role models?
Dr. Erica Schauer in the French Department has provided extensive academic support throughout my journey. She is the professor who encouraged me to pursue French beyond a minor and to incorporate it into my medical aspirations. Talk to her if you are at all curious about French as a minor or a major!
Similarly, Dr. Georgina Bingham has been there for the past four years in cultivating my interdisciplinary studies (humanitarianism and public health), and in advising the RSO that I created. She and Dr. Schauer have motivated me to explore my passions, and they have shown me that there is a career in cultivating both passions, language and health!
Have you had an internship or job? If so, how have your majors helped you with it?
I am halfway into my internship with Lincoln Literacy, a non-profit dedicated to providing English Language Learner (ELL), GED, and miscellaneous skills courses for immigrants and refugees in the Lincoln area. I first learned about Lincoln Literacy from a friend in a French program, and I have been extremely grateful to be able to serve as both a tutor and an intern for the project. In learning foreign languages, my French major has helped me with determining how to best deliver ELL curriculum, and in drawing connections between the languages spoken by my students and English. If you are at all interested in teaching in the future, or in engaging in multilingual environments in your future job, I highly encourage you to consider pursuing work or volunteering with Lincoln Literacy!
