Receiving a liberal arts education has enabled me to take courses in multiple areas. Here are some of my favorites and why.
Intercultural Communication
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved to travel! My parents plan a couple of trips every year because they want to show me a life outside of small town Harlan, Kentucky. It’s easy to become trapped in this bubble and never leave, however with my travels I have been exposed to an array of customs, cultures, and cuisines. In our growing world, it is becoming increasingly important to be able to communicate with people who are culturally different. Learning about hand gestures and body language that are known to be “normal” in America mean something completely different in Germany or Australia. I loved being a part of a classroom conversation that put importance on communicating with other cultures and how to best accomplish that.
Startup Lab
Startup Lab is Wake Forest’s highly selective startup accelerator program. Teams who are accepted are invested heavily in and connected with accomplished mentors that have founded successful ventures. Ever since I declared Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise as my minor, I knew I wanted to be in Startup Lab. Fast forward to fall of junior year, and my dream came true! Without the help of Startup Lab and its mentors, my business, Culinary Sprouts, would not be where it is today. Culinary Sprouts is officially in market helping children realize their love for cooking and generating revenue and I couldn’t be happier! I have learned from some of the most successful entrepreneurs and will forever be thankful to each and every one of them.
Religion 101
My grandfather has written a plethora of books on religion, so I felt confident going into this class with an understanding of how the major religions practiced their faith. My professor, who was the absolute best, made the lesson plans so engaging; I was hooked from day one. Not only was I able to hone in on knowledge I learned from my grandfather’s books, but I learned so many new facts from my religion professor as well. My love for this class is again rooted from my travels. I find so much joy in meeting new people from different backgrounds and learning everything about them. The media often times portrays other religions to be “not valid” but I for one, find them exceptional. Learning about Buddha’s Enlightenment and Muhammad’s legacy was riveting. I wondered, with all the many religions that exist, how does one person even choose? Wouldn’t it be more fun to be Christian, Muslim, and Jewish at the same time?