I was a business major and a French minor at Skidmore. I recognized the names
of the retired French professors and I believe I had most of them in my French
Studies at Skidmore. I was the second class to study my Junior Year Abroad in
Paris (1981-1982). I was recently at the web page reading about how the program
has grown. My friend, Pam Mowry Guild , '83, and I were on work study together
and for our work, we put together a booklet for future students to use (how to's,
what to know before you go, etc.). It was a fun project. I will always remember
the importance that year played in my life -- the opportunity to live in and learn
about different cultures, the opportunity to travel to other countries, to realize
that there was more than just the "bubble" of the United States. I think
it is even more important in these difficult times.
After Skidmore, I moved to Boston for six years and while living there, I earned
my MBA at Northeastern University. I now live in Canandaigua, NY (south of Rochester)
and work at Rochester Institute of Technology in the Human Resources Department
where I am the Senior Benefits Specialist. I don't use French at all in my work,
and I know that I have forgotten most of what I learned, simply from lack of use.
I have not forgotten, however, the importance of knowing about other languages
and cultures. With two young children, overseas travel is really not a possibility
for me now. But I hope to go overseas again in the future.
My interest continues -- this year, I am serving on the Foreign Language Curriculum
Review Committee as a parent representative for the Canandaigua City School District.
It is great to be able to play a part in this review and make recommendations
for changes in the future. While it was only a one year commitment, it is a four
year project and I think I will continue next year as well. I feel like I can
make a contribution for the future students and hope to shape their lives by this
learning opportunity as well.