Cristin Monahan ’11
Which faculty member influenced you the most?
Prof. Kathleen Parthé undoubtedly influenced my interest in Russian history and culture, particularly through the lens of other (and "othered") identities -- Jewish, Queer, etc. I always appreciated her critical feedback on my research and written work, and her guidance was essential in both building the structure of my Russian studies minor as well as my history honors thesis. I took at least four classes with her, and her mentorship was one of my most cherished experiences at Rochester.
What's your most memorable Rochester hangout?
Equal Grounds on South Ave
What are you most proud of about your University of Rochester education?
I handcrafted my education in a way that would have been impossible anywhere else. Although I had no interest in learning another language when I was in high school, once at Rochester, I had the flexibility to take a year of both biblical Greek and Russian (What can I say? I like learning new alphabets). In addition to my History major, I enjoyed delving into disciplines as diverse as astronomy, linguistics, and psychology. Through independent study and guidance from fantastic faulty, I was able to dedicate a full year to researching and writing my honors thesis, which still brings me an enormous amount of satisfaction and pride.
What advice would you give an incoming student?
How you spend your time is how you spend your life, and time is our only truly non-renewable asset. Spend it wisely and then spend it with enthusiasm.