Laura Garry `11

I am in my final year here at St. Lawrence this year. Although I was initially clueless regarding the major I would like to pursue while attending St. Lawrence, I was happily attracted to the Religious Studies department from the very beginning.  Growing up attending church, I found the study of religion, not only the practice but also the theories of and motivations for practicing a religion, fascinating.  I believe that by having a better understanding of religion and religious practices that I have a better grasp of how other people and other cultures live and act.  Unlike my other major, French, I have taken classes in the Religious Studies department ever since my first semester at SLU.

French became my second major after I studied abroad in France on the Spring semester program in 2009.  After taking French 101, myself and seven others spent four and a half months in Quebec, Canada; Rouen, France; and Dakar, Senegal.  It was definitely an experience.  Learning a language by being immersed directly into the culture is the greatest way to learn a language.  Studying abroad was one of the best decisions that I have made and I highly recommend participating in any program that St. Lawrence has to offer.  It enriches your experience and the experiences of those in your classes that benefit from a different perspective from a different corner of the world.