Erica Shafran
Latrobe, PA
Major: English and German
The more Erica Shafran looked at IUP, and the
Honors College, the more certain she became that she was making
the right choice.
"I'm an English/German combined major and I hope to become
a professor, doing research in, and teaching, linguistics. Originally,
I was an English Education major. I had always heard that IUP
had the best Education department and a particularly strong English
department. The combination of those two and the proximity of
IUP to my hometown, made IUP the logical choice – but the
real draw was the Honors College, which I learned about during
a summer tour of IUP. When I got my letter of acceptance from
IUP, which I expected, I was pleased. When I got my acceptance
letter from the Honors College, I did a dance of joy!"
Once on campus, Eric Shafran soon realized that she had another
important choice to make, one she recommends to any high school
student entering a college or university.
"The most important decision anyone can make in college
is getting involved. Through various officer positions I've held
on campus, I've literally blossomed. Being in the forefront of
any organization enhances one's speaking abilities, sense of leadership
and management skills – all skills that I know will help
me both in grad school and in the real world."
As she took classes that first year, Erica Shafran discovered
the importance of finding a school where professors, too, are
involved, where teachers truly care about their students.
"One unique thing about IUP is the interaction we have
with professors. Communication doesn't end outside of the classroom.
I've had countless conversations in the hallways and various classrooms
with all of my professors and several of them have served as mentors
to me throughout the years. I've had a rich and rewarding relationship
with my professors; their dedication to both students and their
own professions is nothing short of remarkable."
The Honors College also offered Erica and her classmates something
beyond the ordinary.
"There are dozens of unique things about the Honors College,
but the one that comes to mind immediately is the intellectual
freedom offered by the faculty, students and the environment.
Almost nowhere else can a student enjoy the stimulating academic
atmosphere that pushes one to dream about and challenge the world."
Thanks to IUP and the Honors College offering both study abroad
and special studies at other major university centers, Erica Shafran
has taken up that challenge, semester by semester.
"I've spent the last few months preparing my application
for the Fulbright scholarship to study linguistics in Vienna,
Austria, and I recently learned that I am a finalist. I should
know soon if I'm going. I also had a 1998-99 year of study abroad
at Gerhard-Mercator-Universität in Duisburg, Germany. In
preparation, I spent last summer studying linguistics at Georgetown
University under the guidance of two prestigious linguists. It
was an amazing learning experience, perfect for my entry into
the field of linguistics."
Sometimes, it does us all well to find quiet retreats from the
world. For Erica, working with ceramics, shaping clay into objects
both beautiful and useful, answers that need.
"This semester (as well as next), I'm taking a studio
ceramics class. This class has been the greatest outlet, one of
the most rewarding experiences I've had during all my college
years. I find it's important to have some type of outlet where
I can just get away from the rest of the world now and then."
But when she goes out into that world, Erica Shafran does so with
ever-deepening awareness and appreciation.
"Because of my study abroad, and being immersed in a completely
different culture, I came to realize the importance of understanding
other cultures, other people. I never could have guessed the far-reaching
effects that living in a foreign culture would have in my present
life. You can't learn to think differently until you open your
mind to new ideas and different ways of living."
More information about Erica
Want to learn more?
|
