A Global Perspective With A German Twist

When Nathaniel Greiwe ’18 began his college search, he knew exactly what he was looking for. After falling in love with German in middle school, he wasn’t just looking for a school with stellar German and education programs. He hoped to find one that would allow him to graduate in four years with a degree and a teaching certification while also allowing him to study abroad in Germany for a full year.

“Several universities offered to fulfill different parts of my goals, but only one fit all of the criteria: Valpo,” Nathaniel explains. “Valpo fits me like a glove, and I could not have chosen a more ideal place to study.”

While Nathaniel has certainly had a clear idea of what his future would look like for several years now, the way he understands that future has changed over the course of his studies. At first, he viewed his German, education, and Christ College – The Honors College courses as separate and unrelated. As he continues his studies, however, he increasingly sees just how interconnected these areas are.

“My knowledge, skills, and passions for German are just one part of the bigger picture, a way of life that involves engaging with the big, deep questions of humanity,” Nathaniel says. “Knowledge of a foreign language is the key that unlocks the door to a different culture. It enables one to engage with new thoughts, perspectives, and insights that would otherwise be inaccessible, which then allows for an even deeper engagement with these essential questions of humanity.”

Nathaniel is currently studying abroad in Tübingen, Germany, and is on track to graduate in May 2018.