An Unexpected Path

Sam Arnold '21

Sam Arnold '21

Sam Arnold '21

Sam Arnold ’21

Sam Arnold ’21 came to Dickinson with plans to become a computer scientist, but he found his true passion while taking classes he never would have considered before. Last summer, he served an internship on several organic farms in Italy.

Hometown:

Boiling Springs, Pa.

Majors:

Earth sciences and archaeology.

Clubs and organizations:  

Rock Climbing Team, Men’s Club Soccer, Men’s Club Volleyball and Junkyard Turkeys.

Favorite book:

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.

Favorite movie:

Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

On choosing a major:  

After realizing I didn’t want to be a computer science major, I decided to erase my entire schedule and take classes that I would have never thought about taking before. That is when I found my passion for archaeology. I declared a major in earth sciences after that.

Favorite place on campus:

Rector.

Little-known hobby:

Baking.

Biggest influence in my life, and what I learned from them: 

My parents. I’ve learned from them that no matter how busy your day is and how much you have going on in your life, you can always make time for the people who matter to you.

About my internship:

This past summer I was able to volunteer on different farms around Italy. Through WWOOFING (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), I had the chance to live and work with local families on their farms. My goal of the trip was to learn more about Italian culture and to practice the language outside of the classroom. 

I really enjoyed my time in Italy, because I was able to meet some many amazing people as well as witness firsthand the hard work that goes into running a farm. I learned many valuable skills, not just a new language or culture, but also how to make friends and survive in a country where English is not everyone’s first language.

Post-Dickinson plans:

My goal is to pursue a master’s degree in archaeology and work with underwater archaeology in the Mediterranean area.

Most important thing I’ve learned so far:  

Taking care of yourself is more important than any test, project or homework assignment.

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Published December 10, 2018