Rising Senior David Murauskas ’18 Reflects On His BU Classics Experience
I attribute my interest in classics to a robust high school Latin program led by a teacher with such an infectious affinity for the antique that you couldn’t help but catch the Latin bug. Inspired by her (and originally planning to follow in her footsteps as a Latin teacher in my own right), the decision to pursue classics in college seemed a no-brainer and the obvious choice for anyone who knew me in high school. Upon coming to BU with my singular focus in mind, I was immediately accepted into the department’s fold as a young, burgeoning classicist eager to delve into my studies.
Apart from the bevy of captivating courses, ranging from introductory Ancient Greek to Roman Comedy in translation to the history of medicine, what truly sits as the hallmark of my (rapidly concluding!) time in the department is the stimulating cast of characters I’ve become acquainted with, both faculty and fellow students alike. The people of the classics department make the environment feel much more intimate and familiar than that of a larger or more sterile department — I met some of my best friends through the classics department. I’ve been able to sit down in professors’ offices outside of advising and chat for what feels like hours about any topic under the sun. Everyone is here because they clearly want to be. The wide-reaching net of classics absorbs people from Core, art history, English, history, archaeology, anthropology, and beyond, even reaching into the sciences. Beside my experiences in the classroom, my involvement as President of the Undergraduate Classics Association has rewarded me with leadership experience and opportunities to connect with my classics-oriented peers in a lighthearted, entertaining context, especially the spring comedy reading, the apex of the department’s and UCA’s programming.
All in all, I’m very content with my experience within the classics department. As a senior, it is daunting, saddening, and somewhat terrifying to know that I’ll soon be finished with my undergraduate career and ejected into the real world. I feel adequately prepared for the future due to caring direction from the beloved professors, top-tier education in the classroom, and worthwhile connections among my peers.