Betto van Waarden, Class of 2010

Hometown: Utrecht, Netherlands
Citizenship: Netherlands
High School: Anna van Rijn College
Major: History

In the footsteps of my grandfather, I came to the United States to chase my own “American Dream.” Though many in the liberal Pacific Northwest seem critical of any remaining believers in the faded ideal of such a dream, I think that a liberal arts education in a stimulating and international environment does stand for part of this old ideal. The world fascinates me and to become one of its global citizens, I think that nothing is more valuable than the broad type of education that Lewis & Clark offers. I consider the diverse knowledge of disciplines and languages, as well the ability to think in different ways, very valuable in the 21st century of globalization. As I do have to narrow down my interests somewhat, I have decided to do a history major. In part, because history encompasses so many aspects of life: economics, politics, sociology, psychology and more. Worth mentioning are the two US History classes I took last year, in which I was amazed to see how all these aspects came together and forged such a modern and successful nation in only 200 years of history, on par with the more than 2,000-year-old civilization back home!

I really wanted to come to the Pacific Northwest because on one hand it was a part of North America that I was not familiar with, and on the other hand I thought I might feel at home in what was described to me as a region with a “progressive and liberal mentality.” The combination of a “Garden of Eden-like” campus and a large urban center nearby seemed perfect. Not to mention the beautiful nature that surrounds Portland; a nature that I spent many weekends exploring through College Outdoors my freshman year. I went hiking, kayaking, skate-skiing, and did a compass and rafting guide clinic. Over winter break I took the Wilderness First Responder course to learn a bit more about the things that could happen on less successful trips in Oregon’s rough outdoors.

Upon arrival, the Lewis & Clark campus proved to be a busy beehive, with an incredible number of different people walking around involved in a myriad of activities. Throughout the year, I thoroughly enjoyed playing and watching soccer with other students from around the world. To broaden my athletic interests, I also took classes in golf, sailing, tennis, and Ghanaian dance. Throughout my daily life in the campus beehive, I got to know a lot of American and international students, experiences I really enjoyed and which gave me some new and transatlantic perspectives on life.

For the remainder of my years at Lewis & Clark, I plan to keep taking classes in many different departments and taking full advantage of the small classes and the discussions and personal attention they promote. Next fall, I hope to go on the Washington, DC, program to witness the 2008 elections firsthand! In my senior year, I would like to go on the East Africa trip to radically broaden my cultural horizon even more!

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