Cecily McAndrews, ‘07
Glastonbury, CT

Cecily McAndrews is a double major in English and French who spent a year abroad in France with the Sweet Briar Study Program in Paris.

Studying abroad has made me braver.  After that, this past summer I went to Korea with a CGI internship, something I never would have tried without my experience in Paris. Today, I would not be such a strong person today without my year in Paris, followed by the summer in Korea.

When:  My junior year (2005-2006).

Why did you choose to study abroad: I’m a French and English double major and love literature.  I wanted to learn more about French literature, and Paris also has always been a locus of Franco-American exchange, so it was the obvious choice for me.  Finally, I needed to push myself.  In the past I have been a person who stayed within my comfort zone, and I wished to grow into a person who was not afraid to take risks.

What language did you speak: Almost only French, since I lived with a French family and took classes which were taught in French or focused on French.

What did you study:  Classes based on French literature with two classes at the Sorbonne, and two other classes with the Sweet Briar program.

What next: I would dearly love to go back, but I think I'm going to take my urge for urban experience to New York, where I want to work in publishing.  Sometime in the future I hope to go back to Europe, possibly to Paris but maybe to London, and now I know I am capable of handling such a transition.