Maura Schwartz

I graduated from Ramapo in 2011 with my Bachelor’s degree in Literature and a certification to teach secondary education. In the summer of 2010 I participated in study abroad in Limerick, Ireland, studying Irish Literature and Folklore. During this three week program, I was immersed in the Irish literary greats, such as Yeats and Joyce. In addition to the classroom knowledge which study abroad awarded me, going to Ireland also gave me the opportunity to experience the Irish landscapes and culture which have been chronicled throughout literature and art for centuries. The program scheduled trips to areas outside of Limerick so that students got the full Irish experience. I will never forget standing at the edge of the Cliffs of Moher with my new friends, talking about giants and Finn MacCoul, which we had learned about in class. This study abroad program, albeit brief, has provided me with countless stories and memories which will last a lifetime. The lessons that I learned during that program have carried over into my personal life as well as my career. As a high school teacher now, I often share my fond memories of my time at the University of Limerick with my own students in the hope that one day they, too, can connect their educational lessons with their worldly experiences.