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.