Because Alex Kassl was minoring in sociology while majoring in journalism, he was drawn to NYU in Berlin and its wide selection of sociology courses. Through one course, on 20th-century politics and society, he traveled with his class to locations in Germany and Poland, where they toured the memorial site at Auschwitz, the former death camp. In another course, on contemporary Berlin, Alex’s professor made use of what he called a “flying classroom,” meeting his class each week at a different historical location in the city. Through this same course, Alex met a woman whose father had been a Nazi official. She allowed the class to screen the documentary she had produced about national guilt, generational clashes, and cultural identity. Afterward, the students had a chance to speak with her directly about her experiences. Alex says, “I can read or listen to a lecture anywhere in the world. Learning about Germany firsthand was true ‘fieldwork’ and was invaluable to my education.”
Alex sees himself as a fiercely independent person. However, he says, “My entire life, I had lived within 15 miles of New York City. I chose NYU not only because it’s an excellent school but also because of the professional opportunities New York City offers. That being said, I have always dwelled in a certain ‘comfort zone.’ Going abroad was a true test—to leave my comfort zone and adapt to an unfamiliar world.”
