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Veronica Raikovitz '11 |
For Randolph-Macon College student
Veronica Raikovitz ’11, it’s all about family.
Raikovitz, who hails from Belo Horizonte (“Beautiful Horizon”), Brazil, has lived in the United States since she was twelve years old. “My father worked for Child Fund International in Brazil, and his job moved him to Richmond,” she says of her family’s trek to the States. “The Brazilian culture is very family-oriented. I am extremely close to my parents and my younger brother, and when I looked at colleges, I knew that I didn’t want to be far from them. I go home every weekend to spend time with my family.”
To read more Student Experience stories, click here.Raikovitz says that the family atmosphere at R-MC made the transition to college life as smooth as possible. “When I first moved in, I had a hard time adjusting, but the students made things easier because of their friendliness and guidance. I was impressed right away by the warmth of the R-MC community,” she says. “I like the small class sizes and the personal attention I get from my professors.”
Multi-cultural Learning
Raikovitz says she chose
international studies as her major because she loves to learn about different countries. “Discovering their customs is something that I find very intriguing,” she says. “Professor Badey (
political science) really helped me solidify my decision to major in international studies. His International Relations course opened my eyes to understanding the world around me, and his knowledge of the world impressed and inspired me.”
Raikovitz decided on a minor in
sociology because “the first time I took a sociology course, I was challenged in ways that I had never been before. Sociology helped me grow as a student, improved my writing skills, and introduced to me different ways of looking at things.” She credits Sociology Professors Gill and Armenia for being major influences in her academic career.
New Horizons
Raikovitz, who has always wanted to be a lawyer, plans on taking a year off after graduation to study for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). “I worked very hard to get to where I am today,” she says of her R-MC experience. “I am honored that I am earning a degree from Randolph-Macon College.”
Although she considers herself Brazilian at heart, she plans to continue expanding her horizons. “After I graduate from law school I’d like to travel to Europe,” she says. “I want to visit the countries that I have studied as part of my international studies major—France, Germany, Portugal and Switzerland. Ideally I’ll travel with someone who is also interested in learning about different cultures.”
Closer to home base, Raikovitz plans on having a serious talk with her brother Joseph, currently a junior in high school. “I really hope he chooses to come to Randolph-Macon,” she says. “It would be great to watch him blossom academically in the same ways that I have grown.”
For more information about the breadth of programs and opportunities available at Randolph-Macon or to schedule a campus visit, contact our Admissions Office at (800) 888-1762 or at admissions@rmc.edu.