Sara Getz '07

Political Science

Scranton, PA

"The really special thing about the Honors Program is the freedom to explore. Whether that means taking an obscure class, getting help applying for an incredible internship, or going to see the opera for free, is all up to you. For me, it meant the support in switching majors, trying new things, going to new places, and now the support in thinking about an even different focus for graduate school – anthropology. 

Here's a story: one afternoon, I went into Ruth’s office to have her sign off on my course selections for the following semester I would be spending in Temple Rome. “You don’t have an art course on here?” she said with chagrin. Of course not. I’m a political science major. I wanted the European politics course and the course about popes and political power. “I will not allow you to go to Rome and not study Baroque art,” she said. “It’s just simply foolish.” I figured she knew something about Italy after living there, so I took it. And it was amazing. I fell in love with Caravaggio. Do you know how politically charged the Baroque period was? I’d love to do a research project on it sometime – maybe when I take a break from studying Mexico.

Who cares if that honors course on Nietzsche and Foucault doesn’t seem to “make sense.” These guys – Ruth, Rebecca, Amanda – they will find a way to work it in. It’s a unique time right now for you to construct your own definition of success – and it will be if you’re doing what you love."

Update on Sara - April 24, 2007

"I just found out that next year I will be working at the PEACE Project at the Freire Charter School, through Philly Fellows.

Philly Fellows is a year-long post-graduate fellowship program which offers top graduates of Philadelphia area colleges and universities opportunities to engage in the city's vibrant neighborhoods and diverse non-profit agencies.

My duties will include program outreach and capacity building, working with the community and the program's established partners to strengthen/build the program. At the same time, I have the opportunity to work directly with the students on a project I design, choose to continue, whatever. In short, the experience and job is what I want to make of it -- they're really open and flexible!"