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The Gladys Sakowich Campus Center, the heart of campus activities.
Arthur Pestauro
Arthur Pestauro
Class of 2009
Political Science Major
Arthur Pesaturo '09 liked the idea of studying abroad, but he wasn’t exactly sure how to go about it. He transferred to Merrimack as a sophomore and thought it would be challenging enough just to complete the courses he needed for law school. But he also liked the idea of going abroad to gain a different perspective on a European country, so he worked with Lauren Gannon, Merrimack’s director of International Programs, who Arthur says played a major role in making his study abroad experience possible. Because of its history and beauty, he chose to study at St. Andrews University in Scotland for one semester his junior year.
In Scotland, whenever Arthur wasn't experiencing the vastly different pedagogical style – St. Andrews classes are lecture-based, unlike Merrimack's small, hands-on classes – he spent his free time golfing, hiking, playing rugby, and touring other European countries. (Altogether, Arthur visited 17 different castles – and even lived in one.) Although he still plans on law school, he's now considering the possibility of first spending a year in China or Thailand, teaching English and learning another language.
“That kind of experience could open up new possibilities after law school,” he says, “especially if I wanted to pursue business or international law. I think it's really essential to study abroad,” he adds. “If you don't, you're missing a chance to develop a more comprehensive understanding of our world and our country's place in it.”