Final semester

Today is the last time I write a blog post as a Grinnell College student. It's strange. It seems like yesterday, when I was sitting on a plane to Iowa, not knowing what this college experience is going to be like. Today, I dedicate my blog post to looking back at the past four years at this institution.

1) Academics
The flexibility of Grinnell system is extremely rare. Besides one mandatory tutorial class, there are hardly any requirements to graduate (apart form the number of credits). I took advantage of the flexibility and created my own independent major. It is called International Relations and Communications and it combines four departments - Economics, Political Science, Spanish and Studio Art. I am currently in the process of writing my bachelor thesis, which focuses on the Russian strategic communications, its impact on local political system and analysis of defense strategies of two case study countries: the Czech Republic and Estonia 2) International experience
Twenty percent of the student body at Grinnell is international. Last semester, I had a seminar in which there were fifteen students - five Americans and then one South Korean, three Indians, one Dane, Somali, Ghanaian, Russian, Vietnamese and myself. Besides the campus experience, I also engaged in every opportunity to go and explore beyond Grinnell College – I interned in Argentina and participate in two study abroad programs in Germany and Chile. My last trip of my bachelor career takes place next Tuesday, when I fly to Estonia for a conference that is part of the research for my bachelor thesis. 3) Work experience
I started working at Grinnell as a waffle bar attendant and caterer. In the second semester I got a new job as a technology consultant. As a sophomore, I became a Czech language tutor, took photos for student newspaper and worked for the Office of Communications. At the end of my third year, I was elected the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Student Government Association, where I have been working for the past year. Besides that, I also had the chance to explore future career paths through shadowing a professor of gymnastics in New York City and interning at the Czech Embassy in Buenos Aires. 4) Extracurricular activities
This is my third year as a leader of Grinnell Extreme Society. Throughout those three years, I secured funds of more than $10,000 for three trips to the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Grand Teton, Zion, and Grand Canyon National Parks. As a freshman, I founded together with my roommate a Gourmet Cuisine Society that prepares dishes from around the world every Sunday. In the first two years at Grinnell, there was a strong sense of community of students from Eastern Europe that lead us to establish a Friends of Slavs organization. Thanks to this, we can organize various events and celebrations where we cherish national holidays and showcase our traditions to the whole campus community. I also had the chance to lead the International Student Organization, which is the second largest organization on campus. As a second year, I spent part of the summer in the Czech Republic working on a project about refugees and last year I explored the Western USA thanks to a traveling grant for international students. When I realize that four years ago I almost did not accept Grinnell’s offer, because of its location, I shrug a little. At that time, I had no idea about the possibilities that this small liberal arts school can offer, and the community that is so special exactly because of its in-the-middle-of-nowhere location. Perhaps I hope that this blog post will motivate someone to come to Grinnell. I have been the only Czech student for my whole four years and once I walk across the graduation stage, they will take down the Czech flag from the gallery of flags. For at least one year, Grinnell will have no one to cook “svíčková“ at the International Food Bazaar, lead an Easter eggs decorating workshop and organize a student celebration for November 17th.

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