Why I Chose Classics: From Myth to Meaning + My Greece Study Abroad Adventure Ahead

My introduction to Greek mythology didn’t begin in an ancient text or a classroom—it began with a dog-eared copy of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief tucked into my backpack. What started as an exciting story about a modern teenager discovering the Greek gods were real quickly became something more. I found myself wanting to know who these gods were beyond the pages, where their stories originated, and why they’ve endured for thousands of years. That curiosity led me from fantasy to history, from mythology to literature, and eventually to the academic study of Classics. Now, as I prepare to study abroad in Greece through the CIEE program, I’m eager to step into the landscapes that inspired these myths—and to explore how the ancient world continues to shape our own.

The Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan