Emily Fogelberg

The Lafayette Experience means something different to every student. For me, it is synonymous with opportunities—to learn about myself, the people around me, and the larger world community; take chances and try new things both in and out of the classroom; and cultivate relationships with individuals and community. Lafayette is not simply a school or an institution; it is truly an experience in itself.

Academically, I have been able to immerse myself in a myriad of liberal arts courses while pursuing a double major in economics & business and history. The passion of Lafayette’s enthusiastic, motivated, and accessible faculty is evident in lectures and seminar settings as well as discussions that continue outside of the classroom. Through senior honors research and the EXCEL Scholars program, I have had the unusual opportunity to work closely with several professors, including Ute Schumacher, (economics & business), Victoria Langland (history), and Gladstone Hutchinson, dean of studies. The academic rigor has been instrumental in my personal development in the last four years.

Lafayette endorses many study-abroad experiences, and my semester in Freiburg, Germany with the Institute for the International Education of Students was one of the most rewarding of my college years. The experience was academically enriching as I traveled to 18 countries with professors and friends to study the European Union. More important, however, I had the opportunity to meet students from around the world and challenge myself personally and academically in many new situations.

The time outside of the classroom has been an equally important component of my Lafayette experience. I have maintained an intense training regimen and competition schedule with my horse, and I’ve also continued my interest in the cello with the string ensembles and orchestra.

I’ve combined my personal interests with community service through the Landis Community Outreach Center, where I am coordinating the Best Buddies and Equil-ibrium programs. I participated in Alternative School Break doing service as leader of a team of students and staff in the Florida Everglades. I have made wonderful friends on campus and in the community through these activities. The possibilities on this campus for extracurricular exploration and experimentation are endless and enriching.

The Lafayette experience is not just about what happens while you are here or where it leads you in the future. For me, it has meant the opportunity to discover my own passion and my own voice. Lafayette provides the environment to cultivate this discovery in each and every student.