I came to Georgetown planning to major in Government, but I loved my classes in the Department of French & Francophone Studies so much that I declared a major in French instead. In my first semester of intensive advanced French I met my best friend Leah, who is my best friend to this day. By the end of my freshman year, I couldn’t ignore that my courses in French were the ones I looked forward to the most. The department is full of superb professors who make the language so easy to love.
I studied abroad in Lyon during my junior fall and am still in close touch with my wonderful host parents. My semester in Lyon considerably accelerated my proficiency in French language and culture.
In my senior year, I had the opportunity to write a thesis under the supervision and mentorship of Professor Durmelat and benefitted immensely from her knowledge and expertise in food studies. I am so glad I decided to write the thesis and I can’t recommend it highly enough to any students considering it.
After graduating, I completed a three month culinary program at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, an experience I never would have sought if not for the Department of French & Francophone Studies. My language skills allowed me to form friendships with French chefs, students, and neighbors that immeasurably enriched my experience. I learned so much inside and out of the kitchen and had the chance to continue practicing and honing my language skills.
As I continue my gap year, I am heading up to Vermont to work as a ski instructor at Okemo Mountain for the winter months. In the meantime, I am applying to law schools and look forward to returning to school in 2027. Hoya Saxa!