Latin and Me Anonymous

Four years of Latin have taught me several truths: the great Julius Caesar’s writings are unexpectedly boring; almost all novels derive from The Aeneid; and most people see no value in a ‘dead’ language. Despite these apparent drawbacks, Latin has inspired my ravenous appetite for knowledge. Prior to high school, I was academically insecure due to a learning disability. I always worked harder than my peers to master the same topics. However, when I started Latin in 9th grade, I was finally equal to my peers: we were Tabula Rasa. While I enjoyed my first few years of Latin, it was not until I started reading ancient texts that I truly fell in love with the language.

It is a challenge to explain Latin to those who have not taken it, but it is the most mesmerizing language with each word carefully chosen to convey a particular mood. When I tell people that I want to pursue Classics in college, there is usually a blank stare followed by a lecture on why I should choose a more relevant major. There is not a more applicable subject than Classics, especially since I want to attend Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences. The idea of a “College of Arts and Science” was founded by Ancient Romans who believed that education was the key to...