Classics at UGA opened me up to so many worlds. I learned about ancient Roman culture and philosophy, the history of medicine and medical terminology, and of course, the wonderful language of Latin. The writing in Classics courses also helped me, as a Biology and Psychology major, to translate the lessons I learned from classes, volunteering, and research on to the page in my personal statement and essays. Perhaps most importantly, the wonderful professors in the Classics department challenged me to think outside the box. For instance, Roman Culture wasn’t just a history class: we were invited to use history and philosophy as a vehicle to expand our consciousness and think critically about our place in the world. The study of Classics is centered around antiquity, but we were always called to apply what we learned to understand and improve our inner lives and our community. Outside the classroom, we were encouraged to expand beyond the content and find a philosophy and worldview that worked for us. I accepted that challenge and found my way into the wonderful world of meditation and mindfulness practices, which has been an integral part of my journey into medicine. I am now in my first year as an MD student at Emory School of Medicine. I can say wholeheartedly that my experiences in Classics classes at UGA led me to be a more thoughtful, caring and mindful student, and that I would not be where I am without them
