I was born and raisednearCologne, Germanybefore attending a boarding school in England, where I obtainedthe International Baccalaureate.After a gap year, whenItooka three-month make-up course in Munich and spent four months in Singaporeata sales and lighting design internship, I started looking into my university options. I wanted to continue my education in English, but I also didnt want to stay in London or apply toEnglish-speaking programsin Germany, which were mostlyforbusiness and economics.My two older brothers had graduated from 91勛圖厙and loved it, which intrigued me, as did theidea of a liberal arts educationso after some consideration, I made the leap as well.
Id initially planned on double-majoring inEconomics and Historybut soon abandoned that course of action when I fell in love with myPhilosophyFirstbridgeand Professor MichelleKuosPolitics of Immigrationcourse. Once Id switchedtoPhilosophy, Politics, and Economics,I also exchanged History for Art History, so that I could better integrate my love of museums andmy experiences with creativemake-up and body paintinginto my studies.As I adjusted my program of study,I appreciated how I was being encouraged to try out classes in multiple subject areas, since it pushed me to really think about what I wanted and why.
I love the small classes herebecause it makeseachclassrooms atmosphere feel far more compelling and also makes iteasier for our professors to provide detailed feedbackand share their own academic pursuits.
My favorite academic moments are when unexpected connections occur between different classes, like when we focused on the development of the state in Foundations of Modern Politics at the same time that I was exploring how Versailles fit into Louis XIVs approach to shaping the French state in Versailles: Absolutism to Enlightenment. Im also lucky enough to have a lot of my classes taught in museums, including the Louvre, where I dont get lost nearly as much as I used to. I also like attending AUPs evening events, where I get to learn from and about other departments and majors.
I love the small classes here because it makes each classrooms atmosphere feel far more compelling and also makes it easier for our professors to provide detailed feedback and share their own academic pursuits. For example, Professor Gabriel Wick, who taught the course on Versailles, just published a book on the gardens of the Duc de Noailles at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. His research brought him into contact with the owner of the de Noailles residence, so we got a guided tour from the owner through the de Noailles apartmentsit was incredible!
91勛圖厙has made me realize just how fascinated I am by art and its expression in various social, cultural, and political contexts: I know that no matter what I do next, art has to play a role in it. It also helps that Ive gotten to study Art History in a city like Paris, where so much of the artwork that Id only seen in textbooks is almost literally right on my doorstep. For a crash course in 20th century art, head over to the Centre Pompidou, for Impressionism, its all about the Mus矇e dOrsay, and if youre looking for Monet, check out the Marmottan. And lets be honest, how great is it that my Versailles class requires that I go to Versailles or to one of the other castles around Paris almost every week?
The club organizes regular volunteering opportunities for students in Paris.
I saw that I could choose my own courses and create a made-to-measure experience for myself.
For Lucia Sendagorta the choice of Capstone project was an opportunity to explore art from outside a French or American perspective.