When I chose Middlebury, I knew I wanted to be in a community where academic achievement and extracurricular involvement were equally rewarded. Little did I know the two could be combined! I remember signing up for my classes freshman year and thinking, What relevance do any of these classes have to the real world? I was so wrong. My experience at Middlebury has been largely shaped by the intersection between learning and living.

Using the skills I’ve learned from my political science classes, I’ve worked with other students in the Roosevelt Institution to develop policy solutions to local problems in the community. We even spent a winter term learning about issues in Vermont, like access to health care and civic education, and created our own practical policy solutions. We presented our ideas to the state legislature and published some of them in a national journal.

On the weekends, I spend time mentoring middle-school girls in Addison County [pictured above]. We try to incorporate fun activities with important discussions about relationships, leadership, and self-confidence. The things I’ve learned in my psychology or women and gender studies classes have helped me understand the issues that are most important to these girls, and how I can be a more effective mentor.

After spending a semester in South Africa and working for a non-governmental organization, I’ve chosen to write my senior thesis on NGO performance and democratic development. My professors here have encouraged me to use my real-life experiences as a launching point for intellectual pursuit. What I learned on the ground has helped me understand the issues in a more significant and concrete way.

I believe that really good educational institutions give people a platform for reaching out intellectually, socially, and to the community. Middlebury does that so well. People here truly embrace a well-rounded education—one that encourages students to go beyond the classroom, to reach out to the community, and to realize it really is all relevant!