‘Real Life’ applications

So frequently in college it can seem that all of the terms, theories, or equations filling our heads are confined only to our textbooks and classrooms, while life ‘outside’ continues separately. But every now and again- more often than not at William and Mary- things happen to make us realize this is not the case. A brief discussion with your roommates about everyone’s classes can turn into a half-hour of musing about the state of the world, and the theories Sociology, Cultural Studies, and Government provide to solve its problems. Traveling on an International Service Experience or volunteering even right here in the city of Williamsburg are examples of hands-on opportunities to learn as well as apply classroom knowledge. Even the tiniest things- such as analyzing the accent of a Spanish speaker heard on the radio after leaving a Sound, Meaning and Identity class- prove to us that our education here at William and Mary is something that continually grows both inside and outside of the classroom. So next time mom and dad ask what you’re going to do with a William and Mary degree in (insert your interest here), the correct answer is, “What am I NOT going to do with it?”

Chelsea Estancona, 2011