Student Profile: Carly Schlinkert
One thing Carly Schlinkert won’t need when she studies abroad in Germany next semester? A German-to-English dictionary! The Sterling Heights senior has been studying German since her freshman year of high school.
“Coming from a German family, my dad was always very gung-ho about the culture,” she says. “When I was little, I used to look up German words all the time, so I’m excited to speak constant German and to be totally immersed in the language and culture.”
Though Schlinkert can’t wait to say “Tag” to Germany, with memberships in German Club, Alpha Mu Gamma and Gamma Phi Beta, she will no doubt miss Alma College’s campus.
“You really do get to know everyone here, including professors,” she says. “Alma has a small-town feel. Everyone knows everyone’s business, in a good way.”
With the encouragement of Holly Liu, Schlinkert is confident in her choice to major in German. She says the associate professor of German convinced her to stick with the language she loves.
“I wasn’t sure that I could make a career out of German, but Dr. Liu helped me explore career options,” she says. “She cares about me inside and outside of the classroom.”
Schlinkert, who works as an office assistant for the German department, plans to continue studying German in graduate school. She sees herself working at a college someday in the study abroad department.
