Ann
Herbert graduated in 2006 with a major in Religion and minors in
Spanish and Business Administration. She worked as a Health
Extension Agent in Morocco with the Peace Corps from 2007-2009. She
recently completed a Master in Public Policy from The University of
Chicago Harris School of Public Policy in 2012 and is currently
pursuing her Ph.D. in Public Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health.
The decision to major in Religion was not an easy one. I was
worried that studying religion wouldn't lead to a job and that
everyone I met would think I was a religious fanatic of some sort.
Frankly, the decision came down to going through the course
bulletin and highlighting all the courses I wanted to take. It was
clear once the religion section was completely yellow that I would
go this route. Still, I was uncertain about this decision so I
handled it with humor. I remember standing up at a
Religion/Philosophy Department dinner to explain to a group of
fellow students that I chose to major in Religion in order to start
a cult. Something I have yet to accomplish. But, my decision to
study religion at Butler has turned out to be good one and one that
I would suggest to others considering it.
While attending Butler, I was heavily involved with the Center
For Faith and Vocation, which, among other things, afforded me the
opportunity to participate in a Field Seminar to Nicaragua. This
seminar included a trip to Nicaragua over spring break where we met
with various religious leaders who were representing diverse roles
in the country and who held divergent religious views. This trip
was my first trip abroad and played a significant role in my
decision to study abroad in Ecuador. Since then I have lived in
Morocco and Germany and will likely have an international career.
My studies in religion were the first exposure I had to learning
about other people in different cultures and is one thing I took
away from this major.
At Butler, I took courses that ranged from a broad overview of
the world's major religions to a micro-view of an Islamic mystic
poet, Rumi. I did walking meditation in Asian Philosophy. I wore a
headscarf for a day and wrote about the experience for Muslim Women
in the Middle East. I wrote a paper using various theories of
religion to prove that my sorority was in fact a religion. Coming
from a small town in rural Indiana where I was only exposed to
Christianity this was an eye opening experience to say the least.
Studying religion opened my eyes to other ways of thinking and
living in the world. I became a more well-rounded and open person
having learned about diverse belief systems which is something I
think is crucial in today's increasingly diverse world.
Because I was interested in different ways of thinking and
living due to my exposure to different religions through my course
work, I applied to Peace Corps. I was open to going to Morocco when
many others were frightened at the prospect of living in a Muslim
Country in the post-9/11 era. I wanted to see how Islam was
practiced on an everyday basis. Not only did my background in
religious studies lead me to Morocco, but also my experience in
Morocco was much richer having studied the religion, as it is a
major component of the average Moroccan's worldview.
Following my Peace Corps experience, I could have done many
things and the basic skills I gained as a religious studies major
at Butler would have been enough preparation for most jobs I would
have applied for. As a religion major I gained competence in
reading, writing and critical thinking. These are the basic skills
necessary for any job. Jobs are basically seeking applicants
that can do these three things well, learn quickly and are
motivated to work, all of which a religious studies major at Butler
is more than capable of.
I, however, chose to go to graduate school because I wanted to
supplement my training in the humanities with a more quantitative
base in the social sciences. Paired with my Peace Corps
experience, my excellent undergraduate performance afforded me a
choice of top graduate schools offering a range of support. The
fact that the religion department at Butler is small and is willing
to work closely with students, advising them both academically and
professionally, has been a huge advantage. I was able to thrive and
grow in that supportive environment, which played a significant
role in how well I did during my studies and subsequently what
other opportunities became possible. The faculty was available both
during my time at Butler and after. I have repeatedly returned to
them for advice, contacts and other support. I actually applied to
the University of Chicago where I just completed a Master of Public
Policy Program because a Butler Religion Professor, Chad Bauman,
directed me to this school. Finding a department where the
professors believe in you and are willing to work with you is one
of the most important aspects of an undergraduate education, and I
am thankful to have experienced this at an optimal level in the
Religion Department at Butler.
Additionally, having studied religion makes me unique and allows
me to stand out from the crowd. It is a rare major that allows me
to contribute a unique perspective. Through my courses I gained the
ability to talk intelligently and respectfully about a
controversial subject and to approach problems in a more creative,
holistic way. Religion happens to be a part of most people's lives
all over the world in one way or another and therefore having
studied it allows me to provide a pertinent and important
perspective.
Lastly, for me, taking time to think about what I believed and
finding out more about what others believed was a crucial step in
my personal development. Knowing where I stood on fundamental
things such as whether or not I believed in God has influenced most
decisions I've made since. I had the luxury to think about big
questions such as, "what is religion?" and "what role should it
play in a democracy?" These are topics that most people consider to
be a luxury to think about and I got to dive deep into them for
four consecutive years.
Now if asked, "Why Study Religion at Butler?" by someone who is
interested in the subject I would reply by saying you learn basic
skills that are necessary for any job, you gain competence in a
field that applies to anyone anywhere, you will get exceptional
support from the department that will allow you to thrive
academically and professionally, and you will stand out and provide
a unique perspective. Needless to say, I am very happy I chose to
study Religion at Butler. In fact, I am very proud of my
decision to major in religion. It has led me to where I am today, a
place that I am very happy with.