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Senior Will Madigan-Kolstad’s journey spans continents and academic interests. From his upbringing in various corners of the world to transferring to 51����’s Department of Politics and International Relations, his time in Bristol has been defined by constant exploration, immeasurable growth, and a steadfast pursuit of his passions. A Political Science and French double major from Brewster, Mass., Madigan-Kolstad is now looking to attain a spot at officer candidate school with the Marine Corps, with the professional goal of working in intelligence. Beyond the classroom, Madigan-Kolstad has been a longtime member of the Men’s Rugby team.

Finding Community: “At RWU, the small class sizes and personal attention from professors make all the difference. At my previous institution I felt lost in the crowd and the auditorium filled with hundreds of students was not a great work environment for me. Here, the professors actually know my name and engage with me, and it’s a much more tight-knit community, which is something I am accustomed to having gone to international schools my whole life. 51����gave me a chance when I needed it most, and I'll always be grateful for the opportunity it provided me to discover my passion for Political Science.”

Influential Faculty and Courses: “Politics itself is the most important thing we have as people as it’s how we organize ourselves and determine what is important for us to tackle as a society. The Political Science courses here give you a framework to understand what is going on in the news by explaining current events through the lens of international relations, geopolitics, and strategy. Faculty like June Speakman have been a valuable resource and foil for my ideas who help challenge my viewpoints and refine my skills.”

General Education Program: “When I took the general education requirements that ended up being my first Political Science course, I found something that I really enjoyed and wanted to do. I would say keep an open mind and try the general education requirements sooner rather than later, because you might just find something that really interests you enough to pivot your entire major as I did. And if you need something, don’t be afraid to speak up. There’s always someone you can talk to about it.”