Sarah Stolar

My passion for languages goes all the way back to elementary school. There, I had the fortunate opportunity to join my district’s new Spanish immersion program. Starting when I was 5, each subject was taught in Spanish. As much as I learned American history, I came into contact with lessons on Chilean, Mexican, and Colombian culture. I reveled in the dynamic, international approach to my education, constantly eager to use my Spanish skills to push the boundaries of my limited knowledge of the world.

By the time I reached middle school at age 11, I knew I wanted to study French. Once I started, I was instantly captivated, continually asking myself: How could two modes of communication be so similar, yet so different? I found I could pick up French vocabulary with much greater ease than I had expected. But in the same class period where I would learn a new set of words, I would be forced to confront a new grammatical element or cultural cue that completely differed from the Spanish language. I stumbled through my early trilingual language learning, accidentally placing a French word into my Spanish speech, or having to consciously switch my mind back into English after French class. Yet, the effort was worth it: I was soon proficient in both languages, having applied both in conversations with classmates and native speakers in the U.S. and beyond.

Throughout my language learning and immersion experiences, I internalized firsthand how cultivating this detailed knowledge of the two languages opened doors to connection and understanding like no other skill I possessed. My familiarity with language, and awareness of its connection to cultural contexts, allowed me to build relationships with a wide variety of people throughout my early life. My early exposure to cultural and language studies made cross-cultural interaction and studying linguistic intricacies integral parts of my life — core passions that I wanted to continue exploring in college.

Once I got to Michigan, I needed to figure out how I could possibly pursue both languages. With an already-decided International Studies major and minor in Program in the Environment, I knew language studies would be difficult to fit into my schedule — but pursuing this lifelong passion for language and cultural studies was non-negotiable. I was ecstatic to learn about Michigan’s Romance Languages and Literatures (RLL) major: very few universities offer this specific undergraduate major, and the RLL Department truly ensures students are provided with the opportunity to explore their interests in language and culture, as a primary concentration or as a complement to other studies. This major was the last piece in the puzzle of my academic career at Michigan.

The RLL classes have been some of my most engaging courses in college. I improved my grammar and comprehension skills, and greatly increased my self-confidence in speaking up in front of others. Perhaps one of the best parts of the major is being able to explore a wide variety of subjects and themes through a humanities lens. I delved into nineteenth-century literature on the city of Paris, explored cultural productions on climate anxiety in Latin America, and evaluated the social implications of linguistics, just to name a few. The topics covered allowed me to explore a wide variety of my interests, diving into the unique histories, literary traditions, and social landscape of each region. And the RLL major not only allowed me to expand on my established skills in Spanish and French, but provided me with the opportunity to learn a new language. Though I wasn’t sure if I had time, I always hoped I would be able to study Portuguese in college. RLL’s unique course offering “Portuguese for Spanish Speakers” allowed me to do so: the course gave me an accelerated introduction to the language and Brazilian culture, a perfect opportunity for students like me to use my previous Romance language knowledge as a tool for understanding this new language.

Overall, my courses expanded my ability to internalize cultural nuances, a highly valuable skill that can only be achieved through careful, thoughtful consideration of societies and their cultural representations. I always knew I wanted to study abroad as a university exchange student, hoping to improve my language skills through application in academic, professional, and social settings. The skills and confidence I forged in this program gave me the confidence to study abroad in Paris, where I immersed myself in the world of French culture and Parisian slang. I made plenty of mistakes, whether from not knowing certain words in argot or simply not being able to keep up with the fast pace of speech. But I quickly learned from them, and am now even more sure in my ability to adapt to living in a society which operates completely differently from the one I grew up in.

I often consider how uniquely beneficial it is to be skilled in two, or more, languages – but the reality is, in our increasingly globalized world, this is becoming not only more common, but also necessary in any career and geographic context. As someone who hopes to go into international environmental law or a related field, I know my RLL education will support me in connecting with others from a multitude of backgrounds, while granting me the mental agility and diverse sociocultural knowledge to come up with creative solutions to sensitive issues.

I am often asked after telling someone about this major: “what do you want to do with that?” But the beauty of this program is that there is very little you can’t do with it. I currently do not have any set plans for my immediate postgraduate career before moving on to law school in a few years. Yet, I know RLL has prepared me to be a valuable and compassionate global citizen. It has shaped me into a more conscientious, and, at the same time, adventurous person, pushing me to challenge myself in college and beyond. Even if I make a few mistakes, my Romance language studies have made me capable of recognizing these errors and improving my practices, dedicating myself to a lifelong journey of learning.