Student Voices

Emily Prosch, '13

Meet Emily 

"The Classics Department's main strengths are its faculty and hands-on opportunities."

Hometown: Boulder, Colo.

Major: Classics with an emphasis on Classical Archaeology

Minor: Latin

Career goal: "To work at a museum but be able to travel to archaeological sites."

In high school, Emily Prosch's favorite classes were history and Latin. She was always interested in archaeology, but she didn't consider it as a career until a former teacher encouraged her to look into the opportunities available. When she started to look at colleges, Carthage stood out for a few reasons: It is one of the few small Midwestern schools that offers an archaeology program. Also, undergraduates at Carthage receive field opportunities within the Classics Department.

After just one semester at Carthage, Emily has big plans for getting involved on campus. She is part of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and the Meditation Club. She also plays in the Chamber Orchestra. For her first J-Term, she's traveling abroad. "I'm going on a J-Term trip to Greece to study architecture and religion, which I am really looking forward to," she said.

Emily said the Classics Department's main strengths are its faculty and hands-on opportunities. Professors at Carthage are genuinely interested in their students' lives, she said. J-Term offers students the chance to travel and participate in real archaeological digs, both in January and during the summer. Emily hopes to take full advantage of the possibilities of travel found at Carthage, and hopes to participate in an Oxford study abroad and the Omrit J-Term dig in Israel.

Favorite professor: "It is a three-way tie between Profs. McAlhany, Schowalter and Kirkland. All of them have knowledge of Classics, and they all bring in a different perspective. They make the material accessible to students like me who are new to the program, while also making you think."

Favorite class: "Also a difficult question, but I think I'll go with Classical Archaeology. I felt a little doubtful of myself when I declared an emphasis on archaeology because I'd never had any experience in the area, but taking this class has confirmed my love for the subject. I thoroughly enjoy everything we cover, and I think it's really valuable that Professor Schowalter has so much first-hand knowledge and experience with the topics we study. He's been to a lot of sites and museums, so he can show us his own pictures from his travels."

Toughest class: "Western Heritage, because it really makes me think. It can be scary to find yourself having to explain your personal values and can make you question them. But my experience so far has been that this really lets you get to know yourself better."

Favorite moments at Carthage in general: "Anything involving my Intervarsity small group. We've only known each other for a couple months but we've become very close, and laughter is always guaranteed."

Favorite spot on campus: "Down by the lake behind the TWC. It's very peaceful and calming."

Biggest surprise so far: "My transition into college has been remarkably smooth, and I haven't been totally overwhelmed by homework."

Advice for students considering your major: "Don't let people discourage you if you love Classics. I've encountered all kinds of people who don't understand why I want to study what I do, and sometimes I even have trouble explaining it. But ask any professor in the Classics Department and they will encourage you and assure you that, yes, you can get a job with a Classics major and it is applicable to life after graduation."

— Elizabeth Reinhardt, '12

Student Voices

Emily Prosch, '13

Emily hopes to take full advantage of the possibilities of travel found at Carthage, and hopes to participate in an Oxford study abroad and the Omrit J-Term dig in Israel.
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Anna Treudt, '13

"Both in German and archaeology the willingness to learn is what separates you from the others. That might sound uninteresting and a little daunting, but when you find something you like, you enjoy it."
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Patrick Lambdin, '13

"If you like being challenged academically, try Great Ideas and Classics. Together they are a very intensive program that encourages you to know at least three languages before graduation."
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Carman Anderson, '12

"I have had some really wonderful conversations with friends and professors that have encouraged me to think about things that I would have never even thought of on my own."
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