Young alum Tommie Worrall, a 2024 graduate from Billerica working towards a Master's In Latin American History at Boston College, reflected on her time as a history and Spanish double-major at Salem State.
How did you decide to study at Salem State?
I initially decided to study at Salem State for a number of reasons. My mother graduated with the Class of 1991 when the school was still referred to as Salem State College, and she had nothing but praise to offer from her experiences there. I was also looking to attend a university close to home, and Salem State was a convenient hour-long commute from my house in Billerica. After touring the university campus and listening to the professors describe and promote their academic disciplines, I knew that I had to go to Salem State.
What factors influenced your major?
I entered my undergraduate studies at Salem State with a major in History and a minor in Spanish, having thoroughly enjoyed both subjects as a high school student. When I fulfilled all the requirements for my minor by the first semester of my sophomore year, however, my disappointment at no longer needing to take any more Spanish courses was palpable. I quickly turned that minor into a second major, and it was one of the best decisions of my undergraduate career.
What academic experiences made the biggest impact on you?
My in-class and out-of-class experiences with translation made an enormous impact on me as a student and as an aspiring scholar. My first class in translation that I took in my sophomore year with Professor Doll opened an entirely new world for me, one in which the importance of translation cannot be underscored. Throughout my time at Salem State, I ended up translating a whole assortment of material, including study abroad information for the Center of International Education, advertisements and fiscal records for a local non-profit, and even the poetry of the renowned poet and translator, Stanley Barkan. Knowing that my work in translation helped people and allowed for a shared understanding, in spite of linguistic and cultural differences, made it some of the most satisfying that I have ever done.
Were there any activities or organizations outside the classroom at Salem State that you found particularly meaningful?
I joined the Student Historical Association during my first year at Salem State, which happened to be during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when we were all still quarantined at home! The consistent biweekly meetings of the Historical Association, even if they were only on Zoom, allowed me to connect with friends and peers during that isolating digital juncture. I became the Association’s president my sophomore year, when we were finally able to return to in-person classes (albeit masked!), and met some really wonderful people with whom I still speak today.
How are you using the skills you learned at SSU in your current role?
The skills that I acquired while at Salem State have proven invaluable to me as I currently work towards earning my Master’s Degree in Latin American History at Boston College. The training that I received in historical research and analysis in my history classes at Salem State has prepared me very well for the unique rigors of graduate studies in History. Moreover, without the fluency in Spanish that I acquired from my World Languages and Cultures classes, I would be unable to contend with the primary sources that are important to my research, almost all of which are in Spanish.
What advice would you give a student considering a World Languages and Cultures major?
My advice for any student considering a major in World Languages and Cultures is simply to go for it! The benefits that you will receive from your WLC degree are priceless; you will graduate with a heightened cultural appreciation and understanding and with the ability to speak to those with whom you never would have been able to speak before. To major in World Languages and Cultures, regardless of which language you choose to study, is to connect yourself with humanity; I promise that it is well worth the effort.