It’s one of the first questions many college students field when they return to campus in the fall.
Some worked at the local golf course, while others landed internships at accounting firms.
For some, the plan was to relax before another semester of calculus homework and English tests. But for a group of University of Michigan-Dearborn students, this was no ordinary summer.
Some traveled worldwide in search of archeological treasures, while others surrounded themselves with powerful politicians in Washington, D.C.
So when students like Elizabeth Bastian or Anton Attard are asked about their summer, they have quite the story to tell.
Anthropology Abroad
Sweat dripped off her brow and dust clouded her vision.
Consider it another day in the field for Elizabeth Bastian. The UM-Dearborn student often trudged through sweltering heat and undesirable conditions in her search for archeological treasures in Rome last summer.
But the payoff was worth it. Bastian spent six weeks in Italy’s capital, where she discovered some of the ancient city’s hidden gems, as part of the University of Michigan’s Gabii Project.
“It was honestly a dream come true,” she said. “I got to wake up every morning and do something I truly love.”
Bastian and 35 other college students nationwide embarked on Rome last summer to conduct field research. Bastian studies anthropology at UM-Dearborn, but her experience in Rome taught her more than she could learn in any classroom.
She sifted through dirt, sometimes six feet below the surface. She uncovered pieces of bone that were crafted into hairpins. And Bastian even licked bone fragments in order to ensure the mysterious finds weren’t pebble or stone.
“It took up until now to work up my courage to do so, and to make sure that this wasn’t some kind of strange joke played on all the new diggers,” Bastian wrote on her blog, which she updated during her trip overseas. “The spongy material of the bone will stick to your tongue, unlike a rock or a sherd of pottery would. And I have ingested so much ancient dust in the past two weeks during digging, I am sure a little dirt on my tongue isn’t going to do much damage.”
But it wasn’t all work and no play for Bastian. On the weekend, she was free to explore the city.
Bastian and other students visited Florence and Pompeii, both historic sites that she had read about for years.
And although Bastian worked long hours during the day, she mustered up enough energy to explore Rome at night.
“No matter what time, day or night, people are always out and about,” she said. “Oftentimes, one can barely discern the difference between a Tuesday night and a Saturday night because the sidewalk cafes are busy all the time.”
Aside from the fieldwork and friendships she created in Rome, Bastian also can cross the visit off her bucket list. Next summer, Bastian hopes to embark on another archeological dig, this time in southwest America.
“I’m always thinking of my next travel excursion,” she said.
The Nation’s Capital
Those with political aspirations often head to Washington, D.C.
But the road to the nation’s capital isn’t always an easy one. It pays to have an upper hand when students pursue careers in politics.
Anton Attard certainly earned that upper hand this past summer. The UM-Dearborn graduate student worked with U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represents Texas’ 15th District.
“It was quite the responsibility,” said Attard, who plans to graduate in December with a master’s degree in public policy. “Out of all the interns, I probably had the most interaction with the congresswoman. I also got to meet representatives that most people could only dream of meeting.”
Attard drafted statements for Jackson, which were recited by the congresswoman during committee hearings. He also researched his share of legislation and kept Jackson updated on political news.
“She likes to be really on top of everything that’s going on, which kept me busy,” he said.
Attard knows the experience working with Jackson will pay off eventually, as he pursues his own career in politics.
“Overall, it was a great experience,” he said.
