Nicolas Read

What three words would you use to describe Lewis & Clark?

Close-knit, Supportive

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I wanted something different from the Midwest. The campus was beautiful, and the international affairs and German studies majors immediately interested me. The possibility of studying abroad also played a large factor.

What have you been doing since graduation?

After graduation, I moved back to Germany, partially to be with my boyfriend (now my husband) whom I met on my study abroad program and partially to see what it was like to live in Europe. I worked retail for a few months, and then began working as a legal assistant/paralegal for a German boutique complex litigation firm. That experience strengthened my desire to continue my education and get my JD. I moved to Boston in 2021 to start law school.

How did Lewis & Clark prepare you for law school?

L&C taught me how to engage with different fields of study, and to be interested in things from calculus, genetics, the political economy, international organizations, German theatre and art, and economics. I am better able to relate my different experiences together, and I am able to quickly immerse myself in a new field of study or subject. My study abroad experience in Munich further taught me how to work with a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures. It also taught me to examine things more critically, as life in Europe differs significantly in many ways from what we may be used to in the U.S. All in all, this has prepared me to adapt to my jobs and returning to school, as well as given me the skills to think critically and analytically.

What would you say is the most important thing you learned at Lewis & Clark?

To never stop exploring different interests.

Why did you major or minor in German studies?

I was born and raised in Switzerland until I was 11. While in Switzerland, my parents raised me bilingually with English spoken at home and German spoken with friends and in the community. Once my family moved to the States, we continued to speak English at home and my German became rusty. I chose to major in German to regain my fluency and progress further than a fifth-grade level. The prospect of studying abroad for a full year in Munich also excited me.

How do you stay connected to Lewis & Clark as an alum?

I try and stay connected with my classmates and crewmates. I’ve also attended the Black and Orange parties hosted internationally to connect with alumni from other classes.

Have you been to Alumni Weekend or other programming, like Homecoming, etc.? What did you enjoy about the event(s)?

I attended the alumni Black and Orange party in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2018.

German Studies International Affairs