Letter from 2010 Graduate

Dear Prospective Gustie:

I bet you are sick and tired of being asked about what your plans are for next year.  As a senior applying to medical school and trying to figure out my future, I, too, have grown tired of people asking this same question.  You and I both have something in common:  we both have some important decisions to make about what lies ahead.  I hope that the information about the Curriculum II program at Gustavus will help you to not only narrow your college search but also inform you about an incredibly unique program found only at Gustavus.

Aside from the fact that I now bleed black and gold after coming to Gustavus, my involvement with the Curriculum II program has been one of the most rewarding components of my college career.  You can learn more about Curriculum II in the accompanying materials in this packet but let me just give you some of the highlights.

  • Each year, about 60 students are accepted into the Curriculum II program.  Curriculum II students move through their general education courses together, and in the process they develop incredibly close relationships with their classmates.  This has been not only the most rewarding aspect of the Curriculum II program, but also of my time at Gustavus.  These students engage in some of the most thought provoking and meaningful discussions I have ever had.  We challenge each other to really think outside of what is generally accepted and examine the world and our role in society.
  • Curriculum II students also have the privilege of being taught by some of the most intelligent, personable, memorable, and best professors on campus.  These professors are especially passionate about challenging our conception of the world and allow us to grow into articulate, well-rounded students.  In addition, we have the chance to go on various retreats with these professors so we are able to get to know them in a way most students do not get to know their professors.  I know that if I have a problem, need advice, or just want to go to coffee with someone, I can always count on one of my Curriculum II professors.  They genuinely care about us and are wonderful resources as well.
  • Many of the benefits of Curriculum II are realized outside the classroom.  As previously mentioned, Curriculum II sponsors several retreats each year throughout Minnesota and South Dakota that allow students to connect with each other and their professors and partake in lively discussions outside the classroom.  Some of these retreats include:
    • A trip for first-year students to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Guthrie Theater where they have the chance to experience some of the material discussed in class.
    • A first-year/senior retreat to Koinonia Retreat Center northwest of the Twin Cities.  This is a chance for first-year students to really get to know each other, for seniors to reconnect with each other and reminisce on their four years at Gustavus, and for everyone to share some fellowship away from the hustle and bustle of campus.
    • An upperclassman retreat to Blue Cloud Abbey.  During this trip, students have the opportunity to participate in the daily activities of a group of Benedictine monks in their monastery.  There is plenty of time for rest and relaxation in the quiet, open prairie of northern South Dakota.
  • In addition, Curriculum II sponsors several barbecues and “study-break” parties at the beginning of the year and around finals time.  I always love coming back in the fall and going to the beginning of the year Curriculum II party held at Chaplain Brian’s house just down the hill from campus.  It is a great opportunity to reconnect with Curriculum II friends—not just students, but faculty as well—after a summer apart.

At the heart of Curriculum II is its dedication to liberal arts and its record of academic excellence.  The classes are certainly difficult, but Curriculum II students tend to love a good challenge.  As you move through the classes together, you will be able to share in the ups and downs of college life and make a great group of friends (and study partners!) in the process.

Curriculum II professors will ask you to consider some important questions that may not come up anywhere else.  Here are a few examples:

  • How are we to interpret the Bible in a post-Enlightenment world?
  • How did the Greeks and Romans lay the foundations for Western civilization?
  • What constitutes moral behavior?
  • What can we learn about a piece of literature, music, or art from its historical context?
  • Who or what has impacted our sense of identity and our role in the world?
  • How can we live our lives in a mindful way that allows us to be conscious of our role as global citizens?

Being just a few weeks into my final semester at Gustavus, and having just returned from the first-year/senior retreat this past weekend, I look back at all that I have done and learned through Curriculum II and know that it has been a great fit for me.  The Curriculum II program was a huge part of what originally attracted me to Gustavus, and it has certainly lived up to my expectations.  If any of this sounds like what you hope to get out of your college experience, I strongly encourage you to consider Gustavus and Curriculum II.

Good luck with your college selection and I hope you join us on the hill next fall!

Adam Strand, Class of 2010