Nicole Papageorgiou ’24
Smithie Snapshots
Other clubs, sports, and activities:
SCMA student worker and French department liaison.
If another student was considering your major, what would you tell them?
Have the courage to give French a try—and don’t give up! Learning another language is such a valuable skill that will reward you in all aspects of life. But the minutiae of grammar, vocab, and all the little details can knock you down. I think the key is to not lose faith in the process. Keep going, because every little improvement you make along the way is gratifying.
Focus on what feels right in each moment and the rest will unfold.
Where is your favorite spot on campus or a ”hidden gem”?
During the day: Overlooking Paradise Pond from the garden by the President’s House. It’s a great spot to linger on the way to class, even for just a moment.
At night: As you pass under the Emerson arch, you can see all the rooms of the quad illuminated, especially if it’s a clear night and the stars are overhead. It always provides a peaceful moment before I head back to my room for the night.
What’s your all-time favorite Smith memory?
I have to say my year abroad in Paris. Participating in the Smith JYA program reshaped my relationship with French. Even though I had studied the language for many years, I was still nervous about how I’d acclimate to living in a foreign country and speaking French all the time. So to take the leap, and then to realize, again and again, “Oh wait, I can actually do this” —these distinct moments are my favorite memories from my time in college. I owe it to the support of Smith and the Paris directors.
What’s one thing you wish you could tell your first-year self about your Smith experience?
It’s not going to go as planned! When I started at Smith in 2019, I of course had no idea that a pandemic would disrupt my first years of college. I would simply say: Focus on what feels right in each moment and the rest will unfold.
