My name is Sarah McGough and I am from Westlake Village, California.
I had come in wanting to study science and culture and people and possibly medicine, but I
wanted to learn how to think and to
challenge my beliefs and to learn about
the world and then learn how to engage
that world when I got out of college and
that's what anthropology does. 
Anthropology synthesizes a diverse range
of fields using the perspective of
studying cultures and studying people
and interactions all to answer the one
singular question which is that of the
human existence and the human experience. That's as broad as it can get!
So that's really what drew me to
anthropology. I feel like the motto of
anthropology is "question everything." Why did the Spanish Influenza wipe out so
many people or how exactly was South
America colonized or conquered? Why
did the Mayan people disappear? All of
these fascinating questions that require
that understanding of culture and people
in civilization. The faculty in our
anthropology department want to learn
about our passions and our interests and
want to share their stories with you. Our
class discussions are always so engaging
because we really challenge ethical
questions.
All sorts of things that really push the
limits. My favorite thing about
anthropology is how it emphasizes
fieldwork. Actually being on the ground
interacting with people, going and
interviewing someone, and really learning
their trade or their profession and
participating with them not just
studying as some distant observer. As
part of the Hesburgh-Yusko Scholars
Program I went to northern Uganda to
learn about and volunteer with an
organization that worked with war
affected youth called Watoto.
I was able to learn so much about human
strength and resilience. A lot of the
people there have such incredible
stories to tell and are so strong
throughout it all. I don't think my
education will ever stop after
graduation. I hope to go to graduate
school.
I really want to gear that towards a
career in public service. Notre Dame
wants you to find your passion and to
follow that passion through. That's what
I wanted out of my liberal arts education and so that's why I ended up here.
