Hometown: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
I went to a classical middle and high school, where I learned from a traditional classical model and took 8 years of Latin classes. I love learning about the ancient world and I would like to pursue a career in academia studying classical texts and cultures.

What do you enjoy most about the program?
I love the vast selection of courses in the department, there are such cool culture and history courses that I’m grateful to have available to me in my 4 years here.

What is your fondest memory of the program so far?
GoreFest in the Classics Club was so fun, acting out famous death scenes was hilarious and such a fun way to gather and celebrate classics.

Hometown: Manchester, NH

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
I loved learning Latin in high school and wanted to continue my studies in Classics in college. I did not know what to expect, however, my decision to enter this program was the best decision I made coming to BC. This program challenges you to think about Classical texts and cultures in new ways, and motivates you to think deeper about how we can apply our learnings to modern day topics.

What did you enjoy most about the program?
I could write a book on what I enjoyed about BC's Classical Studies Program, but what I loved the most were the professors. They were so supportive and they never failed to make their courses fun and engaging. I love the way they assessed us because they allowed students to show their understanding of the material in various ways, and I love to go outside the box when given the opportunity.

What is your fondest memory of the program?
The Classics Department cookie decorating event. It was so nice to have a space to catch up with professors, other Classics majors and minors, and other students/classmates who love Classics. 

How did the program help you get where you are today?
I am currently a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Vietnam. Despite teaching English and not Latin, BC's Classical Studies Program has helped me so much. The courses I took give me inspiration on discussion topics to present to my students, mainly about identity and traditions. They are always amazed how I can make connections between their culture and a culture that existed many years ago. 

Hometown: Rumson, NJ

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
I knew that I wanted to pursue a second major in Classics because I have always been interested in the topics. Since elementary school I have been fascinated with the mythology and the art and the culture, so I knew I wanted to continue learning more about these societies' history in a formal sense. It wasn't until my time here at BC however, that I realized I wanted to pursue a career connected to these ideas. I eventually picked up an Art History minor as well and seek to pursue a museum based career.

What have you enjoyed most about the program so far?
The faculty have always shown such a great interest in their students not just in what they are doing in their classes but how they spend their time around the rest of BC as well. It is always nice to feel that support. I have also always appreciated each professor's willingness to help guide me in terms of my studies and my post-grad goals. From recommendation letters to just giving advice on how to use my Classics degree or how enter into a museum field, they have all been so supportive and kind.

How do you think the program will help you in the future? 
I am hoping to go into a museums based career. Although the exact way that this will look like is still unknown to me, I am interested in the space that museums foster, a sense of formal education that isn't defined by textbooks or sitting in classrooms but real experience and art. While I may not always be focused on ancient works, the skills that the Classics department has taught me will still be indelibly helpful.

Hometown: Bridgewater, CT

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
When I arrived at BC, I felt like I wanted to study a bit of everything—and in Classical Studies, you cover so many different topics, regions, and time periods! Once I took my first course and got to know the department, majoring was an easy decision to make.

What did you enjoy most about the program? 
I really enjoyed the sense of community I found with Classical Studies, where you get to know your professors and other majors well, especially thanks to smaller class sizes. I also valued the chance to do research that brought together Classical Studies and other disciplines, for which the department offered great support.

What is your fondest memory of the program?
I always remember the department pizza parties with Bocce we would have on the lawn next to Carney (in the days before Stokes!).

How did the program help you get where you are now?
I'm now a professor of Classical Studies at Elon University in North Carolina, doing this full-time! Needless to say, my experience with this department at BC was essential to setting me on this path. Majoring in Classical Studies literally changed my life.

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
My initial choice stemmed from a lifelong fascination with language, mythology, and ancient cultures. What solidified my decision was the program's tight-knit community. The welcoming atmosphere and the dedication of faculty and peers alike have made my journey in classical studies both enriching and memorable.

What have you enjoyed most about the program so far?
The connections I've formed within the community stand out. Additionally, the program's diverse offerings—courses like Ancient Medicine, Everyday Aphrodite, and Classical Mythology (to name a few) have been particularly enjoyable due to their specificity and unique insights into ancient life and thought. These courses have not only deepened my understanding but also kept my curiosity continuously engaged.

What is your fondest memory of the program?
The first Classics Club meeting on Maloney lawn. Witnessing the enthusiastic turnout and realizing how many students shared a passion for classical studies was both inspiring and affirming. It was a moment that truly reflected the vibrant and engaging community BC has fostered around classical studies.

How do you think the program will help you in the future?
As I approach the end of my time at BC, I'm excited about the future, whether it leads to biology, biotechnology, or medicine. Beyond academic knowledge, the program has profoundly shaped my perspective on life. It's taught me to view not just science, but all aspects of life, through a lens enriched by history and ethics. This holistic understanding and the critical thinking skills I've developed are assets I'll take into any field, making me a more well-rounded individual both professionally and personally.

Hometown: Rochester, MN

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
I chose Classics to not only further advance my study of the Latin language, but also develop translatable analytical skills that would bridge my Biology and Classics double major. The BC Classical Studies Program has an unparalleled camaraderie that catalyzed my studies from translating the Aeneid and discussing Aeneas’ ‘pietas’ to identifying and interpreting mythical imagery on ancient Greek pottery. The broad course offerings afforded me many opportunities to connect diverse perspectives and broaden my understanding of the human experience—a skillset that I continue to use in medicine and biomedical research.

What is your fondest memory of the program?
It is through several Classics courses that I developed close friendships that have continued to this day. One distinct memory is of the small seminar room in the basement of Carney that housed a very large wooden table surrounded by bookshelves overflowing with Classics texts where I first sat down as a freshman for my Aeneid Latin course. I also remember sorting through those books before the Classics department moved to its current location in Stokes. Another fond memory I have is starting the BC Classics Club (then called Aquilae Bostoniensis Collegii) and hosting several Classics-themed events.

How did the program help you get where you are today?
I am currently a student in the MD/PhD program at the Medical College of Wisconsin, completing my PhD studies in immunology with a focus on CD8 T cell metabolism in viral infection and autoimmunity. BC Classics helped me develop the writing and critical thinking skills that I use daily in my research and study of medicine.

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
I ended up studying Classics after taking Robin Fleming's Material Culture class as a history major my sophomore year, and realizing how well the two areas of study fit together. I began learning Latin, spent the summer studying abroad at Paideia's Living Latin in Rome program, and did a semester at the Centro (ICCS Rome). My senior year, I was able to double major in History and Classics, and I wrote my Honors Thesis on displays of elite status and identity through Roman mosaics in Britain under the History Department with support from the Classics and Art History Departments. 

What did you enjoy most about the program? 
The department and faculty's genuine interest in and care for their students was outstanding. From meeting with me outside of class for extra Latin help, to encouraging me to apply to the Centro, to career advice for my time after BC, I cannot thank them enough for helping me become the person and teacher I am today.

What are you doing now?
After graduating from BC, I did a post-baccalaureate program in Latin & ancient Greek at Georgetown University. Now, I teach high school Latin at Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C., where I'm a one-woman show running a robust and growing program with five levels of Latin split across all grade levels. I also act as a Promotions Coordinator for the Centro, amping up our online presence and promotional materials to reach a greater audience of prospective students.

Hometown: Casper, WY

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
I love learning languages and reading literature, so Classics was a natural home. Once I started taking Latin and Greek courses, I was hooked—both by the material and by the faculty.

What did you enjoy most about the program?
I enjoyed my advanced Latin seminars the most—and Latin elegy above all. All of the faculty members were (and are) fantastic. I also had the opportunity to conduct research related to a museum exhibit on Roman artifacts in the provinces and study Latin abroad.

What is your fondest memory of the program?
Translating Latin in the Classics room in Stokes Hall. I also loved the pizza parties marking the end of the semester or year, where our rag tag gang of students and faculty would gather and laugh together.

How did the program help you get where you are today?
After completing the Classics graduate program at BC, I went to Yale Law School. Since law school, I have worked at an international law firm and clerked for two federal judges. My study and experience in Classics has been invaluable. The thinking and writing I do every day as a lawyer is based on skills I developed in Classics courses: close reading, interpreting texts, making arguments based on text. And I am the go-to guy for any question on Latin legalisms—for better or worse (better, vero).

Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
I took Ancient Greek on a whim as a freshman (it’s fair to say that the extent of my knowledge of Ancient Greece was that there was a Parthenon), and fell in love with both the language and its literature.

What did you enjoy most about the program? 
Readings and Research for my Senior Thesis was a great opportunity to explore texts and concepts I was interested in. Likewise, Advanced Study Grants and grants to help faculty members in their research also allowed me to appreciate how nuanced and exigent the field is.

What is your fondest memory of the program?
Reading Homer for the first time was a great discovery. Also, the faculty.

How did the program help you get where you are now?
I'm an English and French teacher in Madrid. Learning how to decipher ancient cultures proved useful when I moved abroad and had to figure a modern one out. Classics also influenced my teaching, as my lessons often require students to analyze a cultural object (poems, paintings, scientific theories, films, etc.) in its historical context to see how language and cultural expression dovetail to form an inseparable whole.

Hometown: New Orleans, Lousiana

Why did you choose BC's Classical Studies Program?
I always wanted to be a teacher and started BC as an English major, but my Classics courses freshman year changed my entire trajectory. The inviting and helpful professors, the innovative classes that forced me to think more critically, and the classmates who shared my long passion for the civilizations of the ancients offered me a clear sign to get my Classics degree and pursue Classics in my future career goals.

What did you enjoy most about the program? 
The BC Classics faculty were the most welcoming and important group of people during my undergraduate career. Their constant willingness to assist me in academic and personal matters as well as their push to ensure I did my best work helped propel me through my four years. Their mentorship was invaluable and still continues to this day.

What is your fondest memory of the program?
One of my fondest memories was a trip to a pet cemetery (yes, that's a real thing) during Prof. Polt's "Beast Literature" course. We examined how people's fondness for their animals translated to burials with elaborate tombstones and thoughtful messages and imagery as we also tied this modern phenomenon back to humanity's relationship with animals throughout the time periods we studied. Also, because it's Boston, we had to dig through ice and snow which for a Southerner unaccustomed to snow was still a fun time!

How did the program help you get where you are now?
After BC, I moved across the country to Gainesville, Florida, where I received my MA in Classics and am currently pursuing my PhD in Classics. As part of the program, I have taught multiple levels of Beginning Latin nearly every semester and been involved with multiple other Classics courses.