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GSSM Alumni Mix Math, Science and French to Find Careers They Love
December 9, 2009
For Rui Jiang '07, French class in high school seemed more like a "fun" class to throw in the middle of her challenging science courses. Having only taken one semester before attending GSSM, it hadn't occurred to Jiang that French was a language she would ever use in her daily life. 
Now a junior at Duke University, Jiang spent the past summer in Togo, a small African village, helping establish a health insurance system. Because the village's native language was French, Jiang said she was able to help draft a simple health insurance policy and hold large community meetings in French.
"I was pretty surprised at how I used French," she said. "It definitely opened me up to a completely different culture while I was in Africa."
A number of GSSM alumni have gone on to pursue French-related careers since graduating from high school. While they said they came to the school because of an existing love for math and science, some said they soon found themselves enamored with French after taking instructor Lollie Eykyn's classes.
"I really fell in love with French at Governor's School," said Jason Weeks '06. "I always loved languages and French was one that I found particularly interesting ─ the food, literature, history and culture in general."
Weeks, a junior at Clemson University had never taken French before attending GSSM. A French and International Trade major, Weeks is studying abroad in France to simultaneously get his degree from Clemson and a bachelor's degree in International Business from l'Ecole Superior de Commerce in Grenoble France.
He said Eykyn sparked his deep interest in France.
"Madame Eykyn was truly an amazing professor," he said. "I remember the first couple of weeks we would have no written French just to force us to start pronouncing and training our ears in French.
She always knew how to explain things and help you, which is really an incredible ability for a professor."
Eykyn said she is proud of each of her students regardless of what career they pursue. French is a language that she said can open doors for alumni as they make their mark as leaders in their fields.
"In a school like GSSM, I don't expect them to end up as translators or French professors, even though some do," she said. "I do expect them to see that French is a tool that could get them a better job in business, law, research, technology, education, charity work or medicine."
Since graduating from Truman State University with degrees in French and math, Alexis McGeahy '01 has become a middle school French teacher in Missouri. She said she works hard to employ the logic and reasoning skills she polished at GSSM.
"(Eykyn) always had several ways of looking at the concepts ─ visual, auditory and kinetic ─ which made it perfect for mathematical thinkers like myself. I am successful with teaching many concepts in various ways because of the dichotomy of language and culture with mathematical reasoning. I enjoyed her teaching style so much that I imitate it whenever possible to ensure my students are learning."
Alumni said that whether they chose careers teaching French or in business and medical-related careers, learning about another language and culture made them more well-rounded professionals.
Jiang, who wants to pursue a career in medicine or global health is considering a career in international service following her experience in Togo.
"I think that learning another language in general opens you up to a different culture and widens your world view," she said. "French has allowed me to communicate what I have learned in the science field to others."
