Meet Classical Studies Student Helena Hollander
Helena has come all the way from Oregon to pursue a B.A. in Classical Studies in the Eternal City. Now a sophomore, she tells us all about her experience as an American in Italy.
Tell us about your background.
My family likes to travel a lot, so I’ve visited a lot of different countries, mostly in Europe. I lived in Austria for a year and a half, so I have always wanted to live abroad. Growing up, I was very interested in travel, history, and learning about different cultures.
I came to John Cabot to study Classical Studies with a minor in Gender Studies. I chose to study in Rome mostly for the historical aspects of the city, and also because I wanted to be somewhere I could do on-site courses. I wanted to be able to experience firsthand the archeological sites and have that experiential learning aspect of my degree. Also, I just love Rome as a city: I love the people and how laid back it is; here, people just want to enjoy life.
Did you have a hard time adjusting to life in Rome? What’s your impression of JCU so far?
There were definitely a few things that were hard to adjust to. The language aspect was hard; I’m still learning Italian. Another big thing I’ve had to adjust to is being in a large city, because I’m from a small mountain town. Even though I’ve traveled a lot, I have only lived in smaller towns, so just being surrounded by all the noise and the people is a lot. But I guess that’s also part of the experience.
How did you decide to pursue a BA in Classical Studies?
I’ve been interested in history from a young age; I think traveling a lot helped. With time, I’ve shifted my focus more from a historical point of view to an archeological point of view, observing structures and artifacts with greater interest. I’ve also taken some art history classes this semester, and it was so different than anything I’d ever studied. Since starting here at JCU, I’ve found that I’m very fascinated by the little things, like jewelry. I just think it’s really cool to study the daily life of ancient peoples.
Did you have a class or professor that has impacted you?
I’ve had two really great instructors, Professors Inge Hansen and Crispin Corrado. Both of them have truly inspired me. This semester, Professor Hansen’s class is all about Rome in the age of Augustus, which is a time period I love. We’ve also been looking at portraiture and architecture, something I didn’t have the chance to study before.
Professor Corrado’s class is about wall painting in the Ancient Mediterranean. There are only five students in that class, so there is a lot of interaction between students and professor. For an on-site visit, we went to the Palazzo Massimo and the Palatine Hill. It was remarkable to see the wall paintings in person – that’s something you can’t get to experience if you’re studying in the US.
We’re living in an increasingly technological world where STEM studies are usually more encouraged both by students’ families and the job market. Why do you find studying Classics is still important to you? What is the benefit of studying Classics for you?
I believe a lot of scholars would agree with me when I say that the humanities in general give students the ability to think critically. I also think the on-site aspect of it is just really unique. It feels like you can envision these ancient spaces in a way that you wouldn’t get from staring at a screen. Moreover, studying classics puts emphasis on language and how to express yourself and read attentively. I think these are all really important things that even people in STEM careers should know how to do.
I recently attended a JCU lecture on why we need the Humanities. The speaker, Professor Nicola Gardini from Oxford University, explained how most technology-based jobs wouldn’t exist without a humanities foundation. I personally believe all the skills you can learn from history and classics are potentially applicable to any field.
What are your plans for the future?
I definitely want to do a Master’s, and I’ll probably pursue a Ph.D., as well. I definitely want to stay in Europe because I love being able to travel and go to many different countries; I do like Italy, so I’ll look for programs here, too.
If you were to talk to a fellow American who was thinking about studying or earning a degree abroad, what would you say to them? Would you recommend it?
I definitely would because I like everything about JCU. I think there’s something here for everyone. For me, it’s the history, but you can study anything you want: John Cabot provides a wide range of programs. I also think it’s really valuable to be able to learn a language other than English and live in a different place, even if it’s just for a semester. And I think it’s just fun being in a big city like Rome: you can take a train to anywhere, and that is something we just don’t have in the US. Although it is hard for people who haven’t lived abroad before, I think the pros greatly outweigh the cons.
