Up Next... Caroline Allen

This week I had the chance to chat with Caroline Allen (C '14) about her journey after graduating from Sewanee. Enjoy!

What year did you graduate from Sewanee?
2014

Did you have any internships during your time at Sewanee? If so, what were they?
No, I worked at a summer camp every summer during college, since I was planning to go into teaching. I was hoping to be an elementary school art teacher - even after one of my friends who worked in that role said that one day he found part of a crayon in his mouth after school, without any memory of how it got there!

What made you decide to major in Art History?
I was hoping to major in studio art, but I also played field hockey and wanted to study abroad. Because of the way the required classes fell for the studio art major, I couldn't do all three, and I had to choose just two. I was in Thompson's Survey II class that semester, and I really enjoyed it, so I switched to art history! It was definitely where I was supposed to end up. 

What was your favorite art history course you took at Sewanee?
I loved Medieval Art with Clark. I am a church nerd, and learning about all the cathedrals was one of my favorite subjects. I currently live in Latin America, and that class gave me the ability to speak intelligently about some of the grand churches in our area. I enjoyed all my classes, honestly. I am also really excited to see that the department has branched out to incorporate studying art from more areas around the world. Classes on Latin American and Asian art weren't available to me during my time as a student, and I'm so glad that they are now. Art from the western, developed world is so important - and so is art from other places! It's fun to see all the new course offerings!

Where did you go after graduating? What’s your story postgrad?
I haven't ended up working in the art field, but I do think I use my major every day. Art history taught me how to write cohesively and persuasively. It taught me how to make connections between multiple subjects, and how each individual element plays a part in the meaning of the greater whole. It taught me to look for beauty and meaning in everything I encounter. Because I majored in art history, I know to look and listen a little deeper than what may be obvious at first. I know to ask questions and to lean into curiosity and wonder. It also taught me how to, shall we say, "embellish!" And let's be real, it taught me how to make a darn good set of flashcards. I learned how to express myself better, often with visual imagery, and how to better listen to and understand others. Art is such a part of life and how people express themselves, so my degree is part of everything I do. 

With that said, right after graduating I ended up spending a year working in youth ministry in Quito, Ecuador. A life-changing experience on a Sewanee outreach trip during spring break of my senior year (shout out to comping in January!), made it clear that was my next right step. My career thus far has continued to be in ministry, and each time I have changed jobs, a Sewanee connection and invitation has spurred the process. I was a youth minister in Florida for almost six years, and my husband and I just moved back to Ecuador full-time two years ago. Although I don't currently use my major professionally, Sewanee is still very much a part of why I am where I am, and why I'm doing what I'm doing. Plus, one of the highlights of every year in Ecuador is continuing to receive a Sewanee outreach trip every spring break. Y'all come on down!

If you had to give one piece of advice to your college self, what would it be?
I would tell myself to take advantage of every opportunity Sewanee has to offer, because there is so much. Study abroad (I'll say it again, STUDY ABROAD), go soak up wisdom from the kind ladies at career services (or whatever their office is called now), take a class that gets you involved in the community outside of campus and meet local families, invite someone you want to get to know better to coffee at Stirlings, go to events at the themed houses (shout out, CoHo!), hike the Perimeter trail at least once, attend a service in All Saints even if you're not religious, take a random class that has nothing to do with your major, etc, etc. You have more time now than you think you do, and it's never too late to try something new. You don't have to be a freshman to try new things! Once you hit the "real world" you have to work to find these opportunities and work to find the time for them. At Sewanee, it's right there for you to take advantage of. Go do something that feels very "Sewanee" to you this week - I wish I could! 

Caroline Allen (C ‘14)