A Conversation with Minerva Student Anne Behme

What drew you to apply and enroll at Minerva?

Minerva’s global immersion approach to learning was the deciding factor for my enrollment. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to explore the world, and Minerva offers an opportunity to travel outside of the United States for three years, seeing a multitude of diverse languages, foods, and people that expand my knowledge of the world around me.

What does the Minerva community mean to you?

For me, the Minerva community is a group of friends who are not afraid to undergo adventures with me while challenging my perspective on the world. The global rotation encourages fast connections amongst ourselves as everyone understands the journey of exploring the world while studying. The diversity within our class pushes me to rethink our cultural narratives and diverse experiences through different interpretive lenses. I am certain that the Minerva community will support my development and help me thrive during our four years together.

How has Minerva’s experiential learning influenced your future career goals or aspirations?

Minerva’s immersive learning has made me crave creativity in my future career. By working on local topics for location-based assignments and partnering with firms in each rotation city, I have learned to love the feeling I get after I finish a project or creative deliverable that showcases the skills and knowledge I have accumulated. Because of this, I know I want a career that pushes me to constantly develop my skills to ideate and create something that impacts the world.

What is a standout moment from your Minerva journey that you believe has been particularly transformative for you as a student and an individual?

In October of my first year, several classmates and I traveled to Alcatraz Island to work in the historic gardens. Spending the morning planting in the gardens taught me two essential lessons. One, I should take time in my life to enjoy. To enjoy cheerful discussions with my friends, the plans I have to explore a piece of history, or simply the feeling of the wind in my hair. Two, I should learn to find beauty in everything. Learning about the gardens of Alcatraz during the time it was a prison highlighted how we can learn to love life by finding beauty during our struggles.

How have the active learning and seminar-style classes influenced your academic development and professional readiness?

Traditional style learning pales compared to Minerva’s active learning approach when one aims to retain and apply the concepts discussed in class. I am more engaged during class and find myself and my classmates often debating the concepts and class topics outside of our virtual classroom. A prime example occurred during my Berlin semester when my friend complained about grabbing dinner at McDonald's, and we fell into our global business class discussion on MNC’s local market adaptation strategies and the vegan-friendly burgers bought which were not available in the United States. 

Tell us about a funny experience that happened to you during your global rotation.

After studying at a popular cafe in Seoul, my friend and I were walking down the steps when she suddenly stopped in her tracks, almost causing both of us to trip down the stairs. Walking up towards the cafe entrance is Audrey Lane from Jam Republic. As dance is such a huge part of South Korea’s K-pop industry, my friend had taken many dance classes and kept up with the popular dance show Street Woman Fighter, which Audrey was a competitor in, so my friend was ecstatic to see an idol in person. Audrey must have noticed our stumble and shocked stares as she smiled and stopped so we could pass. My friend was starstruck, standing silently for a solid 10 seconds before managing to ask for a picture with the dancer. After discussing which drink we recommended from the cafe, we fast-walked away, and still close enough for the dancer to hear, my friend began yelling, “CAN YOU BELIEVE WHO WE JUST MET? SHE ASKED FOR MY COFFEE ORDER!” I will never forget the shocked look on Audrey’s face as she turned to look at us squealing with excitement.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about applying to Minerva?

If you are considering applying to Minerva, think about what you will do in each rotation city. Ideate who you will become and what you will discover about yourself. Maybe you will find that you love the taste of bread and beer together while in Berlin, or you find out there is no better feeling than the exhaustion after a K-pop dance class in Seoul. If the idea of surprising yourself with the person you become in each city appeals to you, then I challenge you to take the first steps in your Minerva application.

If you were inspired by Anne's story and are seeking a college experience that will teach you valuable pragmatic skills that will enable you to change the world, apply to join Minerva today.