I knew I was heading to a great college but I never thought that classes would have such a huge influence on my personal life. Introduction to Islam during my freshmen year taught me more about a religion [about which] I knew most of the fundamentals. The things I learned about the history, philosophy, and theology of Islam reshaped my approach to religion and helped me have a better understanding of the interactions between religious groups and politicians in my home country. Second, I never thought a French class would be one of my greatest learning experiences in college. Cultural Expressions of West Africa's Mande with Professor Cherif Keita made me passionate about cultures from neighboring countries to Senegal. I spent more time exploring the relations between the cultural norms and values of the Mande and the outcome of political crisis in countries where the majority are Mande than studying for my probability final exam. That was the extent of my enthusiasm for the subject.