Unfiltered: Spring 2022

This semester has kept our juniors busy, from traveling to Spain for study abroad to starting an on-campus job as a Chinese tutor to exploring dating for the first time. Here’s what they have to say this spring: 

Hannah Scharrer
Tacoma, Wash.

What class are you most excited about right now? I’m currently studying abroad in Seville, Spain, so I’m taking a mixture of classes through my program and at the University of Seville. My favorite class is my Hispanic-American literature class.

What’s one recent triumph (large or small!)? I booked my trip to Granada to see the Alhambra and I cannot wait to go!

What have you learned lately? During my study abroad experience, I’m learning to become more independent. It’s definitely a process and a challenge, but it’s also exciting to be able to figure out travel and how to navigate a new city by myself. 

What do you wish you would’ve known six months ago? I wish I had known (or realized) that I would have to stay on top of things in the U.S. while also studying abroad. It’s hard to work on internship applications when you’re also trying to adjust to living in a new place.

What’s one thing you want to do in the next six months? I want to travel both inside and outside of Spain before heading back to the United States!

Carter Rutherford
Alexandria, Va., and Santiago, Chile

What class are you most excited about right now? Intro to Islam with Ahoo Najafian! This is my first Religious Studies class and I am learning so much.

What’s one recent triumph (large or small!)? I was hired as a Chinese tutor at Macalester for the spring semester. I’ve been learning Mandarin for six years now and I’m really enjoying the job.

What have you learned lately? I’ve learned a lot about Confucianism and Islam (in separate classes) this semester.

What do you wish you would’ve known six months ago? I wish I knew how long winter lasts in Minnesota. I haven’t spent the full winter here yet because of the pandemic and I’m desperate for some sunshine and warmth.

What’s one thing you want to do in the next six months? I’m currently planning a trip to Europe this summer. I’m really hoping everything works out with Covid and I can go.

Ross Relic
Crystal Lake, Ill.

What class are you most excited about right now? I’m actually pretty equally excited about all of my classes, but if I had to choose I’d say Advanced Quantum Mechanics. I mean, it’s a class directly on the topic I want to go into, why wouldn’t I like it?

What’s one recent triumph (large or small!)? I read two books over winter break, and reading can be very frustrating and difficult for me so that was a big accomplishment for me!

What have you learned lately? I recently started dating people for the first time and I’ve learned that the pressure that dating can put on you emotionally can really expose your weaknesses or places you have yet to grow. It’s really difficult and vulnerable, but it’s an excellent opportunity for learning about and working on yourself.

What do you wish you would’ve known six months ago? I wish I knew that I had nothing to worry about with regard to my grades last semester. Although, I might have something to worry about this semester, we’ll see.

What’s one thing you want to do in the next six months? In the next six months, I want to decide if I want to do my physics and music capstones as one joint capstone. If I do, I want to have figured out how that will work or how I will pull that off. If not, I want to have decided whether or not I want to write compositions or do a recital for my music capstone!