Environmental Studies/Sociology combined major, Latin American Studies Minor

I decided to study at St. Lawrence because of the wide variety of study-abroad programs, the excellent Outdoor Program and the Outing Club. The great number of different courses offered in small classes all taught by professors was also very important to me. We are very lucky to have the Adirondack Park very close to campus; my friends and I spend a lot of time canoeing, rock-climbing and hiking.

As a freshman, I began organizing a cultural and adventure trip to Bali because it was a place I knew very little about. I learned to take on responsibility quickly, recruiting other students and handling all the logistics. Professors from history, government and religious studies gave their time to help us with preparations. The student government financed a huge portion of our tickets, enabling a group of seven students to travel to Bali over the 2001 winter break.

We had lots of experiences in Bali - traditional dance classes, music, religious ceremonies and puppet shows. Besides the cultural education, we also went mountain biking, hiking and whitewater rafting. Several students used their experiences for academic projects on campus the next semester.
I am planning another trip for St. Lawrence students to Chile or Peru next year. St. Lawrence surely supports learning about societies and cultures that are different from our own.