Students
Name: Emily Ezzo
Major(s) and Minor: Classics, the Classical Humanities option; and English, with a concentration in Creative Writing.
Year: Third Year
How did you decide on your major?
When I first started at Rutgers, I was an English major. Because I love plays and have a background in theatre, I was drawn to the class, “Greek Drama in Translation.” I thought I’d enjoy the course – but I had no idea just how much.
To be honest, at the time, during my first semester, I didn’t even know what “Classics” meant! It had to be explained to me, what the word entailed; but “Classics,” the study of the ancient world, was explained to me – perfectly so, by enthusiastic, wonderful classmates. And I knew I’d found something I was passionate about.
It’s hard to believe that, less than three years ago, I didn’t even know about my major. Now I can’t go more than five minutes without thinking about antiquity!
What is it about your chosen field (and the department) that appeals to you?
Oh, the Classics department is the best! People are always early for class... Professors reach out with reading recommendations... There is a high level of care and respect. And you are constantly surrounded by dedicated students and teachers.
Do you have a favorite class/professor within your major?
Professor Emily Allen-Hornblower is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met. Her radiance is palpable. I tell everyone I meet to take classes with her! She is brilliant, hands down.
What are your favorite academic experiences outside of your major?
Outside of school, I’m a musical theatre performer! I’m a trained actor and singer, obsessed (and I mean obsessed) with Stephen Sondheim. Prior to attending Rutgers, I graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), a conservatory in New York City.
What are your other Rutgers activities?
When I’m not in class, studying ancient Greek, or singing show tunes, I’m tutoring at the Livingston Writing Center.
What are your plans following graduation?
After graduation, I plan on writing as much as I can. I want to be a novelist and playwright. Currently, I’m trying to publish my first novel. But I have six book ideas to complete, over the next decade. And yes, every book idea is inspired by Classics in some way!
Name: Meghan Kiernan
Major(s) and Minor: Classics - Latin, minor in Business Administration
Year: 2015
Why did you choose Classics as your major?
After having two awesome Classics professors here at Rutgers I knew I wanted to continue my studies of Latin. I learned so much in my Latin and Classics classes! Switching from being a business to a Classics major was without a doubt one of the best things I’ve done
What did you like most about it?
All the professors were so outstanding. They were clearly passionate about they do, are some of the most brilliant and hardworking professors at Rutgers, and care so much about their students. I felt more like family than a student
What is your current position, what do you do, and what do you enjoy most about it?
I am a public high school Latin teacher at Freehold Township High School where we have the largest public Latin program in the state! I absolutely love my job! My students are so passionate about learning Latin! It’s so much fun being able to inspire kids to love Latin as much as I do. If I hit the lottery tonight I’d still continue working as a teacher because I just love my job that much!
What was your first job after Rutgers and how did you get it?
During my time at Rutgers I had my first internship with Macy’s as a store manager and then after college I worked as a manager of a small business. They were both excellent business positions but I knew they were not what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
How did you move from that first job to your current position?
After I worked for both a large corporation and a small business I knew I needed to do something with my life that was more fulfilling. I then decided to go for my teaching certificate and the next year I began my teaching career. It was without a doubt the best decision I ever made!
Looking back, what classes or experiences at Rutgers would you point to as contributing to your successes?
I don’t remember much of the grammar, lessons, and assessments from my time at Rutgers. What I truly remember is the impact the faculty had on my time at Rutgers and now my continued success as a post-grad.
Two of the biggest influences on my teaching career were Professor Leah Kronenberg and Jay Fisher. Professor Kronenberg taught me that the most important thing for a teacher was to care wholeheartedly about your students. I don’t remember every little detail about her lessons but I do remember her genuine love of Classics and her students made her without a doubt one of the best Professors I have ever had. As for Professor Fisher I learned most of my methodology from his teachings. He also taught me that you need to be yourself while teaching, no matter how crazy and ridiculous I am.
What advice do you have for our current Arts and Sciences students?
You need to find the career that truly makes you happy. Working in a field where you just get by day to day is a miserable way to live. However, it is hard to get a job in almost any field. So make sure you work your butt off, have a back up plan, and most importantly MAKE CONNECTIONS and network! Networking is one of the most important skills you can develop at Rutgers.
Name: Jennifer SeungAh Yook
Major(s) and Minor: Classical Humanities Major, History Minor, Biology Minor
Year: Class of 2016
Why did you choose Classics as your major?
After a long internal debate between CBN and Classics, I decided to go with the choice that I was most interested and excited about. Of course, in hindsight it seems like that was an obvious choice to make. Classics granted me the chance to develop skills and techniques essential for any field of study; it also allowed me to gain a much more profound understanding of our world.
What did you like most about it?
I think the part I like most about it is how it all seems to connect. Once you understand the more basic underlying themes, you can see the huge impact classics has in shaping modern society. It’s amazing how you can walk out of class one day and almost immediately be able to apply what you learned- your mind is able to make that connection and provide a modern example of ancient history/culture. It’s an amazingly relatable subject; we might not have monsters or demigod heroes, but the questions and issues that these characters faced are very relevant and very human.
What is your current position, what do you do, and what do you enjoy most about it?
Currently I am an intelligence officer for the USAF.
What was your first job after Rutgers and how did you get it?
I actually had two first jobs after Rutgers. The first was actually at an insurance firm. I got it after meeting one of my mom’s acquaintances; I was talking to him about my college experience as well as my life after graduation. We were parting ways when he told me he was looking to hire and offered me his office number. I called and after a short phone interview, I was hired.
Around the same time, I figured that since I had more time on my hands, I would like a job that didn’t revolve around office work. So, I applied to the nearest Starbucks and was hired.
How did you move from that first job to your current position?
Funnily enough, they don’t actually have much to do with each other. Once I had my first jobs, I was actually trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Through experiencing working at these two environments, I was able to narrow down what I wanted and what I didn’t.
Looking back, what classes or experiences at Rutgers would you point to as contributing to your successes?
As far as classes, I believe that all my Ancient Greek language classes contributed to my success. Learning a new language is a new discipline; as rigorous as it is, it is also rewarding. These classes opened up my mind by giving me new perspectives, new teachings from ancient philosophers, and a renewed appreciation for history.
I also believe that actively participating in organizations/sports teams helped. Sometimes, we get so caught up in studying that, it’s nice to have a non-academic outlet. Plus, there are some things that a classroom just can’t teach you.
What advice do you have for our current Arts and Sciences students?
Take this time to try and find out more about yourself. Don’t think that you’ll be wasting time or effort by trying something (even if you end up hating it) - as long as you learn something from it, it’s never a waste.
Name: Jonathan Finnerty
Double Major: Classics and Philosophy
Year: Class of 2017
Jonathan Finnerty says studying the humanities changed his life.
He hopes to one day share the insights he absorbed from his double major in classics and philosophy with as wide an audience as possible.
“Whether you’re an auto mechanic or an academic, critical thinking is essential to your life,” says Finnerty, who graduated in May 2017 from the Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences. “Philosophy and classics are not just subjects that sit in the ivory tower. They are deeply relevant to our everyday existence."
His own blue-collar background makes him especially aware of that relevance. The son of a truck driver and a nurse, Finnerty attended a vocational technical high school, exploring trades such as auto mechanics. But at Middlesex County College he took his first philosophy course, and fell in love with the field.
And after transferring to Rutgers, he became intrigued by classical thinkers such as Plato and Aristotle. He yearned to read them in their original language so he started taking Greek classes in the Department of Classics, and eventually courses in Greek drama.
He came to see classics and philosophy as complementary sources in his own search for meaning. The synthesis provided him with intellectual rigor, analytical precision, a penchant for fearless questioning, and a concern for understanding the struggles and aspirations of ordinary citizens.
“From my classics studies, I've gained the ability to reflect on the world as it is today, and to look out across the ages,” he says. “That has changed who I am.”
Finnerty is current applying to graduate school in philosophy with a specialty in Greek philosophy. But his academic accomplishments have already won him a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship, which funds four years of graduate study.
His ultimate goal is to teach.
“The most important task it to take what I have learned on this journey and share it with others, particularly with people who did not come from strong academic backgrounds,” he said. “Sometimes people feel limited in what they can do. But one thing I learned is that with education, anything is possible.”
Name: Dior Simone Bell
Major(s) and Minor: Classics and History Major
Year: Graduation May 2017
Why did you choose Classics as your major?
I chose to major in Classics because I have always enjoyed learning about Antiquity, its people, culture, and language. By majoring in Classics, I was able to study both interesting and challenging material that covered a very crucial time period in the worlds’ history. Overall studying Classics at Rutgers gave me the opportunity to study what I had a genuine interest while expanding my knowledge in an interactive environment.
What did you like most about it?
I enjoyed the wide variety of topics that encompassed the field of Classics. From learning Classical language, about history, to famous philosophers and their philosophies, and mythology I was never bored and looked forward to having discussions.
What is your current position, what do you do, and what do you enjoy most about it?
Currently, I am attending Rutgers Law School. I most enjoy learning about the law and learning how to solve problems by applying the laws I have learned. Learning about the different laws in my Classics classes helped me better understand the laws today and how today’s laws are both similar and different to those I learned about in my Rutgers’ Classics classes.
What was your first job after Rutgers and how did you get it?
After graduating from Rutgers University, I went straight to Rutgers Law School.
Looking back, what classes or experiences at Rutgers would you point to as contributing to your successes?
Law school involves a lot of reading, understanding situations, and healthy debates. I believe that my Classics classes, most of which were interactive, helped me build the skills necessary to navigate may way through my law classes.
What advice do you have for our current Arts and Sciences students?
I would tell the current Arts and Sciences students to really focus on their studies and use all the resources Rutgers has to offer to achieve his or her dream. I would also implore the students to not give up and never be afraid to ask for help or guidance because although college can be difficult and stressful, the Rutgers environment is supportive of its student with its main priority to help its students thrive.