Elizabeth Blowers
Being a graduate student is a challenge in itself, but being a graduate student at Syracuse University while also a member of the Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) is anything but easy. However, graduate student Elizabeth Blowers, who is pursuing a master’s degree in French literature is seamlessly navigating the challenging academic landscape with the poise of any seasoned cadet.
Q: Where are you from and where did you earn your bachelor’s degree?
A: I am originally from Pepperell, Massachusetts, and completed my bachelor’s degree at Saint John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. There, l studied French and adolescent education and earned my New York State teaching license.
Q: What did you do after graduation?
A: I have a desire to teach and to see the world, I traveled to Europe after graduation and found myself a “home away from home.” I lived in Strasbourg, France, and taught English for nine months at a local high school. Once I tasted the joys of teaching, I decided that it was my true career path. To achieve this goal, I came to Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Q: What do your graduate studies entail?
A: I am a teacher’s assistant for French 102. At the College of Arts and Sciences, I have not only received a great education, but found a home. Everyone is very warm, welcoming and close. They have truly made me feel like a member of the family.
Q: What is your goal once you complete your graduate degree?
I want to be a university professor or a high school teacher, but first there are a few things that I want to check off my bucket list. After graduating from Syracuse, I hope to become a second lieutenant in military intelligence. After completing my deployment, I want to earn a Ph. D. in French literature or education.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: As an undergraduate, I was a member of the women’s rugby team. Now, I enjoy long hikes and running 5K races. I currently have a 5K race planned twice a month for the next two months. Races also allow me to volunteer and give back to the local community, especially to the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization I hold close to my heart.
Q: How has the College of Arts and Sciences helped you in moving towards your goals?
A: Syracuse has tested my mental and physical comfort levels and helped mold my future. “I am challenged every day, physically, mentally and professionally, to exceed my limitations and better myself. I am confident that I will leave Syracuse University with a hard-earned master’s degree, unrelenting professionalism and mental agility that will make me stand out against other candidates for future jobs.
When I am facing an uphill battle in the classroom or in the woods, I reflect on the quote, “You are only confined by the walls that you build yourself.”
By Christina Tiberio