2023 Modern Languages Graduates

I’ve been studying Spanish since I was in elementary school, and going on to major in Hispanic Studies at W&M has been one of the best decisions I have made in my academic career. This amazing program has offered me so many opportunities that have shaped me and my future. One of my most memorable classes allowed me to examine original medieval manuscripts from Spain and learn how these delicate yet enduring pieces were made. My Hispanic culture classes brought in authors and artists for fascinating discussions, bringing class material to the next level. But perhaps my most meaningful moments were studying abroad. I was able to study in both Spain and Gibraltar, including a summer program in Cadiz during which I conducted anthropological research related to protest movements among marginalized communities. I will be attending the one-year master’s program in the Anthropology department here at William and Mary, starting this fall. While I’m thrilled to get started, I’m so grateful for my amazing undergraduate experience within the Hispanic Studies program. I feel so lucky to have had so many amazing professors and to have made many lifelong friends.

My last four years in the Modern Languages department has particularly shaped me and my college experience. My advisor in the department, Professor Rivera Santana, has been an amazing supporter, and his constant dedication to reaching out to his advisees exemplifies the community this program provides.  Every class I have taken in the Hispanic Studies program has been filled with peers who are academically driven but remain compassionate and helpful to fellow classmates. Some of my favorite memories have been from the connections I have formed with these students. 

All professors in the department have been so supportive of both my academic and personal formation, and I am entirely appreciative. Next fall, I will be attending law school at the University of Richmond, and that would not have been possible without the academic rigor that my Hispanic Studies classes proved and the supportive community I found in both the students and faculty.

Being a Chinese major has brought me a close community with students whom I’ve had the joy of getting to know and becoming friends with during my 4 years here at W&M. Freshman year, I came to W&M thinking maybe I would be a Chinese studies minor, but I wasn’t sure. It wasn’t until I had a talk with Professor Hill that I declared a Chinese major my sophomore year, something that I hadn’t even thought about doing before that conversation. However, I will never regret becoming a Chinese major. The support that I’ve received from the faculty has been invaluable and I’ve always felt welcomed and encouraged. Receiving support from everyone in the Chinese department has been wonderful, and I appreciate the time and effort everyone has given me. After I graduate, I plan to take a gap year and become a research technician. Afterward, I will pursue my Ph.D. in biology while also keeping up with my Chinese!

After transferring to William & Mary from the University of Edinburgh my junior year, I always felt very welcomed by the MLL professors and students. Ever since high school, French language and culture have been my passion and I love being in a space where everyone shares this same passion. I have particularly enjoyed taking the French Presidents class with Professor Leruth this semester because this course lets me take a deep dive into my love for French politics. I will be continuing my path with the French language by participating in the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF). This Fall, I will move to Grenoble, France to work as a teaching assistant in a secondary school. Thank you so much to Professor Pacini for introducing me to this amazing program!

I am so grateful to be a part of the French program, and the MLL department more broadly. On an intellectual level, my French and Hispanic Studies classes have been some of the most important to my growth as a student and person. I think about the link between changing US border policies and Hollywood depictions of Latinx people surprisingly often. And I recently spoke to my family about the parallels between Macron's and Voltaire’s rhetorics on legitimate and illegitimate forms of political expression. Our readings and class discussions have stuck with me. What I’ve learned in Washington Hall these past four years has pushed me to understand politics, history, and my place in the world from perspectives that often contrast those presented in my International Relations courses. As I launch my journalism career, these lessons have shaped the way I report and the stories I aim to amplify. I’d also like to thank my professors for creating classroom environments that allow for humor and community-building. In November 2022, a dozen of my current and former classmates came over to my house for a “frager” (French rager). There were two rules: you had to wear stripes, and you had to speak French. I even borrowed a stranger’s French flag for the occasion! A few weeks later everyone was back for the France vs England World Cup game. These are just highlights—nothing beats the routine warmth I feel walking into classes full of my closest friends and favorite professors.

During my time at William & Mary I greatly enjoyed getting to know and work with my fellow Chinese majors. I also appreciated the wonderful classes I was able to take on topics such as Chinese SciFi and China in the Media. I especially am grateful for my bilingual China and the World capstone class, which I believe has prepared me well to attend the Hopkins-Nanjing center this next fall.

Getting involved in the French program has been one of the best decisions I have made in college. I had never intended to be a French major, but after taking Prof. Magali Compan’s‘ Invention of an Island’ class, she convinced me on a Zoom-era call to consider a major. I’m so glad I did. My French major classes have been some of the most interesting ones I’ve taken at W&M. My study abroad experience at Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier was predictably life changing — I seriously remember the moments I spent with my friends and host mother there to be some of the happiest of my life. My thesis on repatriation in French museums was such a rewarding research experience, and I was lucky to receive funding via the McCormack-Reboussin scholarship to complete field research in France. Learning French has been a lifelong thing for me, but taking French at W&M really demonstrated how it can be more than simply knowing another language. I’m not really sure what my life will look like in a couple months, but I am so grateful to the French program for setting me up for a lifetime of curiosity and critical thinking.  

Since my freshman year, the French program here at William & Mary has felt like home. Every course has been taught with so much passion and I've learned so much about the French language and culture. To be honest, I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for Professors Magali Compan, Deborah Lee-Ferrand, and both Angela and Michael Leruth. They're what makes the French Department so worth it! I've not only been able to take their classes, but they've also given me the opportunity to conduct research on various topics (whether it be on cheese or LGBT youth in France), teach fellow students grammar and about the culture, and I've even been able to grab coffee and laugh with them about random things I'll always remember! In complete honesty, being a member of the French program has also allowed me to reconnect with my own culture and fully discover what it means to me. I'm going to miss everyone I've met along the way, but they've given me the courage I need to work towards my dream of one day being a therapist/social worker! Then again, this isn't a goodbye but rather an "à bientôt!"

When I first started at W&M, I was not required to take a foreign language. However, after an unfulfilling high school experience, I decided to give French one more try because I had heard amazing things about the French program. I landed in Madame Leruth's class and she made me fall in love with the language all over again. I chose to continue with French and ended up having Madame Leruth as my professor for three semesters straight. Since my Sophomore year, I have been living in the French House and my Senior year has been the first year with an International Fellow. In the second half of my Junior year, I had the opportunity to Study Abroad in Lille, France. During that time, I got to experience the beauty of the country by traveling around by train (I love the trains!) going everywhere from Dunkirk to Montpellier and from Toulon to Normandy. When I returned for the Fall semester of my Senior year, I got to take a course on the French Revolution, which was one the most enjoyable classes that I have taken here at W&M. The final project for that class, where we had to play certain characters from the French Revolution was one of my favorite memories and also a group run at the end of the semester, which we aptly named the Fuite à Varennes. I am grateful to all of the Professors that I have had in the program, who have all gone above and beyond and have made it a particularly meaningful experience. I am eagerly anticipating returning to France this fall as a Teaching Assistant in the TAPIF program.

Throughout my time in the MLL department at W&M, I have experienced and learned so much about different cultures across the world, and it has expanded my mind in a beautiful, eye-opening way. I loved working and taking multiple classes with Professor Root, who–as my major advisor–helped me immensely throughout my Hispanic Studies journey, providing me with essential experiences in research, writing skills, and communication that will help me in whatever field I pursue. I especially appreciate my time abroad in Seville, Spain, where I got to continue my Hispanic studies in an even more in-depth and immersive way. That semester brought me new friends, new experiences, and new knowledge that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I am proud of my accomplishments in this department, and happy that I have strengthened my Spanish speaking skills, as well as deepened my appreciation for Hispanic culture in all its forms. I am excited for whatever the future may hold, as I know I will be prepared thanks to this university and this department. 

My time in the French program holds some of my very favorite memories from my years at William & Mary. When I first registered for a French course during my first semester, it was simply because I needed a 4th class to round out my schedule. I had always enjoyed my French classes throughout high school because I found the language fascinating and beautiful, but I had no real intention of "doing" anything with it once I got to college. However, French 212 with Professor Compan completely changed that perspective. The class was so interesting and engaging, and Professor Compan was so knowledgeable. She is first and foremost such a kind professor, but she also pushed us in a way a French teacher never had before, challenging our ideas and almost drawing new perspectives (and vocab and sentence constructions!) out of us. I have taken courses in the French program every semester since then, and they have slowly become my favorite classes that I look forward to every week. The small class sizes have made the community in the French department feel like a little family, and I have genuinely loved spending time learning more about French culture with a bunch of really friendly, kind, and intelligent people 😊. Some of my favorite memories have also included dinners at Professor Lee-Ferrand and Professor Compan’s houses this year where we enjoyed an amazing meal and even better company. As for my future plans, they are still a work in progress, but I am hopeful that I will be able to incorporate French into my professional career in a meaningful way, whether that be here in the US or somewhere abroad.

French was always something that I knew I wanted to pursue. It started as a commitment to not lose what I had accomplished in high school, but then it became a part of my identity and something that drove my desire to serve communities in need. I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today without the French program. My deepest gratitude goes out to the professors and the classmates that pushed me, encouraged me, and took steps away from their busy schedules to get to know me personally. Studying a foreign language is not easy, and I often felt discouraged, but the MLL community never gave up on me. The freshman me who cried in Madame Compan’s office (twice!) could not imagine the experiences that awaited her in the years to come. In courses with Madame Conley, Madame Lee-Ferrand, Madame Compan, Madame Pacini, Monsieur Leruth, and Monsieur Brehm, I was challenged to think critically, act boldly, and engage in discussions that provided me with a holistic understanding of French literature, history, society, and culture. I had the opportunity to study abroad through the Montpellier summer program, where I shared the joys of humanity with my host mother, conducted research, and strengthened my French-speaking skills. I conducted my research on the historic city of Écusson and its responses to urbanization. Though I am sad that my time with the MLL department has come to an end, I am excited to carry its lessons with me as I start working for the government this year and strive towards a career in the Foreign Service. Pursuing a major in French, c’est chouette!!

From studying in Cádiz this past summer, to research this semester, I’m incredibly grateful for all the Hispanic Studies program has to offer. I’m excited to announce that I’ll be starting at the University of Pennsylvania this fall to pursue a Master of Social Work. I hope to use the skills I’ve developed in the Hispanic Studies Program. I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this process and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Majoring in Hispanic Studies was the best decision I made at William & Mary. Through the department, I was able to gain research skills through travel opportunities to Spain, Gibraltar, and Argentina. Through these trips, I was able to build meaningful connections with my classmates, professors, and current roommates. My trip to Argentina as an intern for the Comisión Provincial por la Memoria was one of the most memorable experiences provided by the department. The internship allowed me to learn about Argentina's history and culture while helping victims of human rights abuses and gaining experience in the legal field. The connections I made with people in Argentina and the places I visited with my peers made me fall in love with the country. This trip further confirmed my desire to continue my path toward law school. Over the next few years, I hope to make this desire a reality and attend law school to study immigration law.

As a freshman at William & Mary, I was uncertain about what I wanted to major in. However, the Hispanic Studies program was a constant in my education. One of the most significant things I gained from the Hispanic Studies program was the community of friends I met through various classes and programs. I met my best friends and roommates in a Hispanic Studies class during my first semester. The environment of community the department fosters allowed these friendships to flourish because it emphasized communication and interaction among one another.

The department’s various study-abroad opportunities allowed me to travel to Gibraltar, Spain, and Argentina, where I was able to explore new cultures. These experiences broadened my horizons and helped me develop cross-cultural skills that have proven valuable in my professional life. Most memorably, I was able to travel along with friends and made new ones along the way, which allowed me to grow connections and broaden my community in the college. Additionally, as a research assistant to one of the professors, I gained hands-on experience that helped me deepen my understanding of Hispanic Studies and refine my research skills. What I am most grateful for is the relationships I was able to build with my professors through these experiences. These relationships made William & Mary feel like a second home, as they understood the traditions of my culture. 

As I move forward in my career working in the United States Congress, I am confident that the cross-cultural experiences and knowledge I gained through the Hispanic Studies program have prepared me to excel in my future career. As employers increasingly look for individuals with cross-cultural competence and experience, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to gain such experience at William & Mary.

The one thing I always tell everyone is that I never planned on being a French major in the first place. I came to college ready to take a few classes here and there so as to not forget it, but didn’t think I’d commit to anything. Shortly after enrolling in FR 212 with Prof. Compan, I met with her in her office and the rest is history. Deciding to be a French major has been one of the best choices of my college career. My favorite memories with the department include becoming a TA for Prof. Lee-Ferrand and Prof. Leruth. I had so much fun making ridiculous (but informative!) PowerPoints to make French engaging for new students and teaching them about African francophone countries. Another big highlight was going to Montpellier last summer, a city that will forever have my heart. Words can’t even describe how much I loved that trip and everything that went along with it. Being able to meet the artist I did my research project on, to going to the opera, to getting becoming regulars at the Kiosque Fabre…it was all incredible! Even more so was the people I went with. Some of my closest friends have come out of that trip / the French program. Whether we were stressing out about assignments together or watching France play in the World Cup, we were always having a good time. Needless to say, I am incredibly grateful for the people I’ve met, the classes I’ve had, and the experiences the program has given me and I will miss them all terribly. 

As a freshman, I expected to major in Biology and perhaps minor in French. However, once I began taking classes in the French program, I couldn’t stop. Not only were the courses fascinating, but the kindness and enthusiasm of the professors made every class a wonderful experience. Eventually, I decided to double major! Taking French has pushed me to continue trying even when I make mistakes, to analyze material on a deeper level, and to embrace the joy of learning. Serving as an introductory French Teaching Assistant has also been extremely rewarding. I know I will never forget the lessons I learned in the French program. Thank you to every French professor I have had, to my classmates, and to my TA students! Next year, I will be working as a medical assistant as I apply to medical school.

Coming into the Chinese program my freshman year as a part of Chinese 301, I immediately felt welcomed by the other students, many of whom had been in class together for two years already, and by my professors, who have consistently taken extra time to make sure I succeed in and out of the classroom. I am so grateful for all who I have met in this program, especially Professor Hill, Professor Wilcox, Shen Laoshi, and Lin Laoshi for all the time they have invested in helping me grow as a student. I am excited to share that I will be spending the next year in Taiwan on a Fulbright English teaching scholarship, and am so looking forward to utilizing my Chinese language skills and integrating into a new culture during my time there!

My favorite memories in the German program were times spent with the other German studies students, in class and out of class. It is a very small program, so when you’re involved in the program you get to know other people very quickly. My favorite memory from my time at W&M was going to Berlin with the study abroad program. It was really quite fantastic getting to study at a German university for the summer, especially with the cheap 9-euro train ticket. I got to see so much and experience so much, and I made some very good friends abroad. I will always be incredibly grateful to have had that experience in my young adult life. My plans after college are to move away, see the world, and hopefully continue my education with an MBA in the next few years. I don’t know where I will end up, but I am hopeful for a future full of travel, good food, friends, and plenty of learning.

I have been studying Chinese and Chinese studies since elementary school, but I have not learned as much or enjoyed it as much as here at William & Mary. All the teachers are great and have done their best to help and support me, and I have never had a class of students more welcoming than my Chinese ones. While I am unsure what my future holds, my time and William & Mary will leave lasting experiences I'll bring to it.

Going into college, I wanted to be a Hispanic Studies minor. I’d studied Spanish since sixth grade and dreamed of being fluent one day. Little did I know that, in Hispanic Studies, I would meet some of my favorite professors and closest friends while making memories to last a lifetime. In sophomore year I took HISP 240 with professors Rivera and Riofrio and loved it. I met my good friends Maddie, Katarina, and Sofia-Alexa, and decided to make Hispanic Studies my secondary major. That summer, I studied abroad with Professor Buck as part of the Cádiz program. I was immediately intimidated by the strong accent and quick speaking that I encountered. Yet, as the weeks went on I got more comfortable living in a foreign country. My speaking and listening skills improved dramatically, thanks to my amazing Professor Esther Beltrán. As one of the best teachers I’ve ever had, she taught me, and my William & Mary classmates, about gender-inclusive language, Generation ‘98, and all the accent rules. When I struggled to differentiate between certain verb tenses, she took me out for coffee and talked me through my mistakes. Besides the fantastic professors, I met other beautiful people many places, such as my roommate Isabelle and housemates from the University of Georgia. Our shared experiences bonded us for life, and I know I can always reach out to them. As my time at William & Mary comes to a close, I don’t know exactly where I’ll end up. I am taking a gap year to travel and volunteer in museums before I apply to graduate school for public history. Although my future career might not focus on Spanish, I know that the people I met and the experiences I gained through Hispanic Studies will stick with me forever.

My time in the French program has been lots of fun. I had the opportunity to “study abroad” twice (the first time was online, but the second time was for real,) and the time I spent in Montpellier during this time was unforgettable. Back in Williamsburg, I have fond memories of acting out scenes from La Cantatrice Chauve outside in the gardens, learning about French surrealism, and giving a presentation about French culinary legend, Paul Bocuse. Outside of the French major, I also am also getting a degree in linguistics. I grew up speaking French, but linguistics was something that I really discovered my love for during my time at William & Mary. I learned so much about the field, from phonetics and phonology to language acquisition and finally to my Field Methods class, where we record as much of a language from scratch as possible. I have also had a great couple of years on the fencing team at William & Mary, where I have found a superb community and another family of sorts. I plan on pursuing a graduate degree in linguistics after taking a few years to work post-graduation, possibly ending up ultimately pursuing a career in education or language documentation.

My name is Julia Thornton Leney, and I'm a double major in History and French & Francophone Studies. The French program at W&M has really been a cornerstone to my college experience--academically, socially, and motivationally. I've been learning French since I was six years old, and I thought I'd had enough when I graduated high school. I chose not to take French during my first semester of college, and it felt wrong! I signed up for French again the next semester and fell into the major by chance. Fluency in French and a deeper understanding of global histories and cultures has directly benefitted me in a myriad of ways, and I anticipate using the tools and confidence given to me by the program for the rest of my life. The chance to be a Teaching Assistant in introductory French for three semesters gave me a love for teaching and a chance to be truly creative with the language. My time abroad in Montpellier during the summer of 2022 was one of the best periods of my life--not a minute passed without a new learning experience marked by laughter. I was honored to receive the Nancy Bedford Research Award for my exploration of the historic Montpellier herbarium and its cultural intersections, and I plan to carry that research forward into my future work. I would like to extend extra gratitude to Professor Giulia Pacini for her deep compassion and continued interest in my studies, as well as Professor Michael Leruth for his guidance and kindness.

I had some of my best memories in the Japanese Studies program of William & Mary. My first Japanese class was Professor Sasaki's COLL200, titled "Crossing Borders: Japan and Travel." Before taking that class in Fall 2020, I was rather worried about whether I could complete the great amount of reading and writing assignments for that class, but the result turned out to be gratifying. The class was interesting and meaningful in guiding me to navigate the realm of Japanese history, and Professor Sasaki is splendidly knowledgeable and caring. In fact, I will argue that he is one of the best professors at W&M. Thanks to that pleasant experience, I took three more classes from Prof. Sasaki and spent the following six semesters completing all requirements for a Japanese Studies double major. Other highlights of my career at J-Studies included the rendition of the traditional Japanese ballad (enka) in the language house karaoke event, playing soccer on behalf of the Japanese house, as well as being inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Japanese National Honors Society. I will definitely miss the language hours, cultural events, and friends I made at language classes. My future plan, for now, is to continue my studies on Japanese history at graduate level, and I have committed to a Master's Program at University of Chicago. I am also planning to go to Japan for the first time in my life.

I treasure my Chinese Studies experience, learning from Professors Wilcox, Hill, and Vierthaler, and meeting diverse students. Excited to explore Chinese public policy research further!

I came into college expecting to have a Japanese Studies Minor at the most, but I fell so deeply in love with the faculty, the atmosphere, and the content in my Freshman year, that it was the first major I declared! My experience at W&M has really revolved around my involvement in the Japanese program, from having the chance to TA the 200-level language classes last year to living in the Japanese House 3 out of my 4 years on campus, to making so many incredible friends through the classes I took here. Through the Japanese Studies program, I have found resources and potential future paths I never would have had access to otherwise, and found a community of people who are passionate about the same things I am and accept me exactly as I am, with no need to change. That has been the most meaningful thing to me about J-studies, and I will miss it dearly as I continue on with my life. The future is still in flux for me, but I know for a fact that I want to take my love of Japanese language and culture with me into my career because I've enjoyed it so much at W&M that I can't comprehend a future where Japanese Studies isn't with me.

I began my time at William & Mary in the peak of Covid-19 pandemic and was very nervous about what this decision would mean for my future. I quickly learned that the Chinese program at William & Mary is home to a very personal faculty that wants you to succeed. They understand that this success can be different for everyone and want to enable you to make the most progress you can. There was a time when I was very overwhelmed by the learning curve and a professor personally invited me to a short session once a week to field any questions or concerns that proved to be incredibly valuable to my success in that class and others. I have enjoyed having meetings that feel like talking to a friend rather than an advisor and having professors that care about your personal wellbeing and progress. Even after graduation I know I can still call on these advisors for any questions and concerns I may have. Initially, I was also concerned with making friends during Covid restrictions but thanks to the personable feel of the Chinese program, I was able to bond with many people during my undergraduate career. All in all, this program has meant so much to me and I am honored to have been involved with it. I still plan on enhancing my Chinese knowledge and will be traveling to Taiwan this Summer with the TISLP and then traveling to Nanjing China to attend the Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate program in the Fall. I couldn’t have done it without the loads of advice and recommendation letters I received from the faculty at William & Mary. I have made so many lasting memories and learned so much about myself and the world around me because of this program.

My time at William & Mary was short but very fruitful and one that I would not change for anything. After arriving my junior year, I was met with open arms from the Hispanic Studies faculty. I am very thankful to Professor Rio and Professor Cate-Arries who guided me and were the ones that helped me fulfill all the requirements to keep Hispanic Studies as my major (along with my International Relations major). I also had the amazing opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and study abroad in Spain! Thank you Professor Buck for helping me through that trip! As I head to Texas A & M, to pursue a Masters in International Affairs, I will take with me all the lessons learned and the insightful conversations that I was able to have both inside and outside the classroom. Thank you to my peers and professors for giving me the space to grow and learn.

I am extremely grateful for my time in the French program as a French major. I came to William & Mary not even sure if I wanted to be a French minor, but loved my first two courses with Professor Angela Leruth so much I decided to continue with the language. I learned about the IFE internship and study abroad program my sophomore year, and with the support of my professors was able to study in Brussels in Spring 2022. I became an official French major in Fall 2022, and am so happy I made the decision. I am grateful for all of the opportunities, academic and personal, that my MLL education has provided me. French is an incredibly difficult language to master, yet I have always felt encouraged to try (and fail) by my professors and peers. I made my closest friends at W&M through classes in the department, and most of my favorite professors are French professors. As a result of my classes, I have expanded my knowledge of the language, history, post-colonial theory, francophone culture, and many other areas. As a result of my positive experiences in the department, I will be serving as an Assistant de langue through TAPIF in the Nancy-Metz académie for this upcoming school year. I am so excited to continue my French-learning journey and to work with elementary students while they learn English. After my time in France, I hope to pursue a career in international relations and policy. Merci et bonne chance à tou(te)s les autres élèves diplômé(e)s!

The most memorable and meaningful part of my Hispanic Studies experience was definitely studying abroad in La Plata, Argentina. We spent almost 6 months focusing on human rights activism and commemorating the tragedies of the dirty war that occurred there. It was such a powerful experience and I became part of a beautiful community in La Plata, connecting with friends turned family-for-life. I fell in love with the people, place and culture more than I could've imagined. I still drink mate and crave choripan on the regular. This is also where I fully became confident in my bilingualism, as I fully immersed myself in Spanish for the first time ever. As a Sociology and Hispanic Studies double major, I almost feel like I studied Sociology twice, just the second with a focus on Latin America and Spanish-speaking populations. I’ve learned so many things that have inspired me, I can’t wait to move to Latin America again post-grad. I want to engage with local communities and support projects that center conservation and decolonization. I am really passionate about uplifting the voices of and resources for children and youth, women, LGBTQ+ people, and victims of state and immigration services. I also believe in the power of the intersection between art and social justice. A nomad at heart, I can’t wait to see how my adventures unfold and all the places I will see, people I will meet, and amazing stories I will connect with.

I have had countless memorable highlights within my Hispanic Studies journey at William & Mary, but I think the following can best describe these moments: I met my best friends and learned immensely within my first experience in the MLL department in the lovely Professor Buck's course. Professor Rivera's Afro-Indigenous Identities class challenged me to think more 'out of the box' and inspired me to write my senior thesis on the empowerment of indigenous communities within environmental development. Learning from and engaging in daily banter in Professor Terukina's classes have also definitely been a highlight of my college experience. Lastly, but certainly not least, I am forever grateful for the knowledge and unforgettable experiences I was able to get during Professor Cate-Arries course, Gibraltar Culturas Fronterizas, where I was able to learn about, conduct research and actually travel to the Gibraltar-Spain region. Watching my friend get jumped by a monkey was certainly a core memory. Following my graduation, I will work for the federal government in a Latin American focused department. After a year, I hope to attend law school to work towards becoming a human rights attorney.

My four years with the German program have been nothing short of incredible. My favorite memories have been participating in the Berlin study abroad program with Professor Gülly, which allowed me to visit Germany for the first time in ten years, and taking Professor Leventhal’s German literature course, whose passion for the subject was infectious. After graduation, I will be participating in Fulbright Austria’s USTA program and spending a year as an English teaching assistant in Baden bei Wien, Austria. 

Coming to William & Mary, I didn’t expect to become a French & Francophone Studies major, but I am so grateful that I did and for all the wonderful experiences I have had through the department. My French courses at William & Mary have been some of my most rewarding. They have challenged me to think more critically and to become a better writer, skills that have served me in countless other classes and professional experiences. Undoubtedly, studying abroad in Paris was one of the highlights of my college experience. I met incredible people and grew so much academically and professionally, becoming more confident in my spoken and written French, and by extension, in myself. I interned at URACA, a community health center serving the Sub-Saharan African community, which was the perfect application of my two majors, French and Public Health, and my experiences living in West Africa as a child. My internship affirmed my desire to work in community health and I continue to reflect on all that I learned from my colleagues and clients. This year, living in the French House, participating in the Fête de la Recherche, and taking French classes have all been incredibly fulfilling. After graduation, I am thrilled to be returning to francophone Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo. Eventually, I hope to work with disadvantaged populations as a social worker, taking with me all I have learned from French classes on immigration, oppression, representation, and resistance. I am so grateful to the French & Francophone Studies faculty for their encouragement and support throughout my time at William & Mary. Merci mille fois!

My name is Audrey Thronson and I am a senior from Groveland, Massachusetts majoring in International Relations and German Studies. Throughout my time at William & Mary, the German Studies program has supported me while also challenging me to grow personally and academically. From Holocaust representation to interwar literature, I have been introduced to a wide variety of themes in German Studies. Professors have also supported me in exploring my interests in German Studies, such as German memory culture, minority culture in Germany, and German film. The German Studies faculty encouraged me to study abroad and helped me find the perfect program for my goals. My semester abroad in Berlin not only allowed me to immerse myself in German culture and history, but also helped me move past my nervousness about speaking in German (now I can go on and on, most obviously seen in my weekly phone calls with my host mom). The German Studies program also allowed me to further explore my passion for teaching. I gained invaluable experience from my three semesters as a Teaching Assistant and had a lot of fun along the way (including making a Kardashian/Jenner family tree for my students to practice family vocabulary!) But some of my most meaningful memories with the German studies program are the social and cultural activities, such as Grillfest, die Zeitung, and most recently, the international soccer tournament! The German Studies program is truly a family and I am so grateful to be a part of it. Due in large part to the support of the German Studies program, I will be teaching English in the Bundesland of Hessen for 10 months on a Fulbright grant. I look forward to coming back to program events as an alumni and am hopeful for the future of the program.

I cannot say enough about the joy it's been to find my home in the French program over the last four years. My time in this program—from the mentorship of these amazing professors to the friendship of the other brilliant French majors—has allowed me to stretch myself as a learner and as a human being. At every turn I was encouraged and uplifted. My experience studying abroad in Paris was fundamental to my college experience—it made me braver and more independent and would have been impossible without this program. As I pursue a career in journalism here in the States—for now—I'm keenly aware of how the skills I learned in the French major prepared me for my role. Thanks to French and Francophone studies, I was qualified to work in a French-speaking environment on issues in francophone Africa for the Voice of America's French service to Africa. I used my knowledge of French politics to write an article for my next internship about Macron's diplomatic outreach on the Ukraine conflict, conducting interviews in French. In my current role, I've been a part of continuing coverage of the pension reform protests, explaining the conflict for an American audience with the intercultural tools I learned in this program. Grateful doesn't begin to cover it. Merci mille fois aux profs et courage à mes collègues pour la suite!

My favorite part of MLL/W&M was my study abroad in Cadiz, Spain! After graduation, I will be continuing to work with Valens Global and pursuing a Masters degree in International Security from George Mason University.

Meeting so many people who speak different languages has been a highlight of my time at William & Mary. I have taken classes with many of the MDLL programs aside from Japanese, including Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Italian, all of which were fun. I am also very happy to have served as a student representative for the department’s Diversity and Inclusion committee, and helped push forward many goals that my fellow students want to see. I am so lucky to have had so many great experiences, the most exciting of which being the embedded semester program which took me to Gibraltar and southern Spain. After graduation, I will teach Japanese for a month at the Virginia Summer Residential Governor's School for high school students at Randolph-Macon before moving to Japan to teach English through the JET Program. I hope to eventually get a masters degree in Translation and Interpretation and become a translator. From Spain to Japan, and everywhere in between, the MDLL Department is integral to my time at W&M, and to my future.