Mamie Bowers '81 P'17
"...the best part about my studying Latin and the ancient world is that I have passed it on to my daughter. Now the two of us have our passion for ancient culture to share."
Two things convinced me to come to Wellesley College back in 1977, a strong science program and a vital Classics department; the former because I had my sight on medical school and the latter because I had studied Latin for 4 years in high school and I wanted to continue. After all, this was to be a liberal arts education, right?I ultimately chose to major in both fields, choosing both Chemistry and Classical Civilization, and I did go onto medical school. I am an Obstetrician/Gynecologist in private practice now for 25+ years.
Chemistry was a clear choice for my career path but why Classical Civilization? There is no obvious application of the study of ancient civilizations and their languages to the current practice of medicine, right?
No, not obvious, but there are good reasons just the same. The study of any subject requires discipline, organization, attention to detail, and oftentimes, interpretation and problem solving skills. This happens more easily if one is especially curious or passionate about the subject. As much as I have a passion for medicine, I also loved studying the ancient world, and I enjoyed the process of revealing it through the translation of ancient texts, a methodical process requiring attention to detail, problem solving and interpretation. This process is not unlike medical diagnosis.On one very practical level, the Latin language is present daily for me in the medical terminology I use. The knowledge of Latin roots makes those words much more meaningful for me- not just another term to memorize. I love it when a really obvious Latin root is present; my favorite, the FENESTRATED surgical drape. See, Latin lives on!
Here is one last personal reason why Classical Civilization studies have been so impactful for me: last month while volunteering at the Bryn Mawr-Wellesley Used Book sale in Princeton, an awesome, not-to-be-missed event, I nostalgically perused the Classics section – Livy, Catullus, Vergil, and Ovid. Then I sent a text to my daughter Sophie, Class of ’17, to ask her what books she anticipated needing next semester for her Latin poetry class. You see, the best part about my studying Latin and the ancient world is that I have passed it on to my daughter. Now the two of us have our passion for ancient culture to share.
I’m Sophie Rowland, Mamie’s daughter, and I am a member of the class of 2017. I am majoring in Classical Civilization and Biology. Studying classics has given me the opportunity to handle ancient coins, go to Greece on an archaeological excavation, and discuss the writings of authors from ages past. Lingua Latina mihi placet—and I’m not just saying that. I may or may not continue in the classical field after college but what matters is that learning about the Greeks and the Romans is something I enjoy and something that has enriched my life. I am proud to follow in my mom’s footsteps in the Wellesley Classics Department.