Being a major in the Department of German has been one of the most unexpectedly rewarding experiences at Georgetown. From Kaffeestunde and holiday parties to group excursions to concerts in the city and one-on-one conversations with professors, the sense of community extends far beyond the classroom. I have consistently been met with curiosity, warmth, and encouragement at all stages of the language-learning process by both students and instructors, and I’m especially grateful to my faculty advisor, Prof. Verena Kick, for her guidance and support throughout my time here.
One of the most impactful experiences I had through the department was the opportunity to participate in the Georgetown-in-Trier program over two summers. There, I grew so much in confidence and independence, not only linguistically, but personally too. Conducting a self-directed research project the second year allowed me to develop my interest in cultural heritage and memory politics and think about how to incorporate my German studies into my broader academic and career goals.
When I arrived at Georgetown, having never taken a proper foreign language course, I didn’t plan to major or even minor in German. I simply knew I wanted to take a language course each semester for myself and to better connect with my family. From there, a minor felt like a natural step. And after the Trier program satisfied the study abroad requirement… pursuing the double major only made sense. In this way, something I didn’t plan ended up becoming a defining part of my college journey.