Majors: Criminology and Criminal Justice, German, and Global Language and Area Studies (Arabic track)
Hometown: Warren, RI
What accomplishments and activities are you most proud of doing while at URI?
I’m graduating with skills and knowledge that are not confined to a degree. The skills I’ve gained here I’m able to use outside of academic settings, and are not confined to a particular area of study. I’ve also met a lot of people who have helped shape me into a better, more well-rounded person. I’m most proud to graduate in May as a first generation college student, feeling like I’ve made the most out of my time at URI. I’ve studied abroad three times and learned a lot about other cultures, made significant gains in two other languages that I didn’t know anything about when I started college, and have learned material significant to the career fields I’m interested in entering.
What research projects, internships, and/or study abroad programs did you participate in at URI? How did they enhance your education?
I’ve had an eventful few years at URI. I completed the Deutsche Schule am Atlantik, an immersive German summer program at URI in 2017, which helped me improve my language skills by only speaking in the target language inside and outside of the classroom. The program was to prepare engineering students for the year abroad, so we learned a lot about environmental issues in German and even built boats out of plastic water bottles! I also studied in Berlin the following summer, which really challenged me academically. Not only did my German improve, but I also learned a lot culturally. By the end of the program, the majority of the course curriculum was STEM-based work, which was challenging not only because it’s in German, but because I was one of the few students who wasn’t an engineer! I learned a lot about aero and car engines from visiting companies such as MTU, BMW Welt, Volkswagen Data Lab and more. We got to travel around the country, which was a good way to bond with my classmates. I also had the opportunity to learn about topics relating to my Criminology and Criminal Justice major by attending a DNA collection and analysis workshop. I got to see how a lab uses certain equipment to make identifications from DNA samples collected from crime scenes, which were all in German!
I’m grateful to have gotten the Beatrice Demers scholarship, which made it possible for me to study Arabic in Jordan for a semester. I learned a lot about Jordanian traditions and practices, and met a lot of locals. I’m particularly grateful for that opportunity, as the emergence of globalization is becoming increasingly relevant in today’s political climate and I think it’s important to bridge gaps between people and cultures. I think language can help close that gap. I’m currently interning with the Patrol Bureau in the Rhode Island State Police, and am learning about the functions of different law enforcement agencies. I get hands-on experience during ride alongs, observe arraignments and trails in several Rhode Island courts, and learn more about how each situation is handled as they may arise. Additionally, I’ve recently joined The National Criminal Justice Honor Society, Alpha Phi Sigma.
What do you value about your liberal arts education?
My liberal arts education has allowed me to learn about a variety of things and apply them all in an interdisciplinary way. I’ve also been able to take what I’ve learned here and not only see its significance outside of academia but also apply it in practice through study abroad and internships. I think a lot of students see how their areas of study overlap with other fields they may study, which really makes liberal arts students draw connections to a bigger picture. For me, I enjoy being able to use my language skills to overcome language barriers and seeing how culture (and even linguistics) can influence how ways of thinking can differ. Liberal arts prepares students with communication and problem solving.