Isaiah Back-Gaal, Major: Comparative History of Ideas, Prospective Major: German
"I have always been interested in learning languages. Learning a language pushes you outside of your comfort zone and grants you access to entirely new worlds. I initially started learning German out of curiosity and with trepidation, and have since fallen in love. I love the playfulness of German and the freedom with which I can experiment with the language. I love getting to read stories, watch movies and have conversations in German. As someone interested in history, for me learning a language is another way to access the past and interrogate the present. Studying German is not just about learning the language; it also means studying German culture and the complexities of the history of the German-speaking world. Learning German offers me a new perspective and constantly challenges me to examine and reexamine how I perceive the world."