Do What Scares You: Meet Humanistic Studies Major Allison Pomeroy
Allison is a Humanistic Studies major and Classical Studies and Philosophy minor from San Jose, California.
Tell us about your background. How did you decide to study at John Cabot University?
I spent the first 15 years of my life in Connecticut and then moved to Northern California for high school, in a suburb east of San Jose with my mother.
I was not sure about what I was going to study in college, and I didn’t feel like any of the universities in California were a good fit for me. I got introduced to the idea of studying abroad because I had a friend who went to the American University of Rome, where I was originally an International Affairs major in Fall 2020. Then I took the Spring semester off and transferred to JCU in Fall 2021, changing my major to Humanistic Studies.
I feel like my university journey started when I came to JCU: it only took me one course here to realize what I wanted to do. Everything came together with time. I discovered who I am, found out what I really wanted to do, and committed to my studies.
What is your impression of JCU? Is there a professor or class that really had an impact on you?
In a university like JCU, you are given more opportunities compared to other bigger universities, where I might have struggled trying to stand out in class. The one thing that appealed to me the most about John Cabot University was how great and qualified the professors are, especially in the History and Humanities department.
The two professors who have impacted me the most are Professors Annette Bryson and Tom Bailey. I appreciated Professor Bryson’s teaching approach and her way of fostering discussions among students. Thanks to her, I realized that philosophy was something that I wanted to dedicate myself to.
Most of the philosophy courses I’ve taken are with Professor Bailey. I have collaborated with him as a research assistant and helped him write the syllabus for the new Feminist Philosophy course. I like how Professor Bailey strives to make philosophy more inclusive and intersectional, allowing students to be a part of it.
You will be graduating soon. What will your thesis be about?
I will analyze three different case studies from a Kantian perspective on autonomy – friendship, love, and marriage. I want to be able to demonstrate that Kant’s ideas about these three topics are not as incompatible with feminist values as one may think. I believe that his ideals could be incorporated and strengthened into contemporary philosophy.
How did feminist philosophy impact your life and who you want to become?
I’ve found an area of study that I want to pursue for the rest of my life. I want to teach philosophy – I cannot see myself doing anything else. The professors that I’ve had have reinforced this idea, especially female professors such as Professors Bryson and Brunella Antomarini, who are great sources of inspiration. They are proof that women can also be a part of academia in an area that is mainly male-dominated. Although it is not without its challenges, I believe this is what is meant for me. There is a quote from Carl Jung that I always refer to: “Where your fear is, there is your task.” To me, that means that no matter how difficult a situation may be, I know that I am capable of handling it.
What advice would you give to prospective students who are considering studying philosophy at JCU?
My advice would be to get to know your professors and become comfortable with public speaking since presentations are a huge part of the curriculum. Do what you think is manageable but push yourself. You can’t stick with what you know all the time. When you’re in your early 20s, everything scares you, but now is the time to do what will get you to where you want to be.
