Spring Break in Berlin Spotlight:

Five Roach Honors Students Share Lessons Learned on Cultural Routes

By Texas Christian University Lance Sanders

April 15^th, 2025

“The city ended up blowing away my expectations. Never before had I felt more immersed in the history of a place.” - Hunter Plaster

Eighteen students in the John V. Roach Honors College spent their spring break studying abroad on Cultural Routes: Berlin. Designed for first-year Roach Honors College students and guided by Assistant Dean Marie Martinez and Wassenich Family Dean Ron Pitcock, Cultural Routes asked participants to study the sights, sounds, history and culture of Germany’s capital. Throughout this experience, students explored historical sites like the Berlin Wall, the Reichstag, and Sachsenhausen concentration camp to challenge their understanding of the philanthropic, political and religious events that shaped Berlin. Using the city as a traveling classroom, students were able to embed themselves into an environment that enriched their understanding of the past and its connection to the present. Below are five students’ short reflections on the Cultural Routes: Berlin experience.

Witnessing History: Alexis Peck, Economics and Political Science

My favorite part of attending Cultural Routes: Berlin was the opportunity to directly witness historical monuments and places that I had grown up learning about. The most notable monument of them all was visiting the Berlin Wall Memorial located on Bernauer Street. The houses on Bernauer Street stood right behind the border line in East Berlin, and many of their residents made attempts to escape to West Berlin. At the memorial, I was able to stand in the foundations of some of these same houses and see the remains of the wall, allowing me to imagine what the exact area I was standing in would have looked like while the Berlin Wall was up. This was a unique interactive aspect that many other monuments did not have and something that allowed me to see the full picture of what Bernauer Street looked like in the past.

All-In; 24-7: Sam Sewell, Biology

The Berlin experience was truly eye-opening. Berlin is a city full of rich, heavy history but also adventure and fun, and we experienced that on Cultural Routes Berlin. My favorite part of the experience was the people. Everyone who came not only wanted to be there but was on fire from start to finish. This was very encouraging, especially because there were moments when I was exhausted. Because everyone was fun and encouraging, I felt energized and “fired up” to experience everything Berlin offered. I loved the structure of the experience as well. We split into three groups called Alpha, Bravo and Charlie; each day for three days we collaborated to discover specific places assigned to our groups. Being with that group was, for lack of a better word, AWESOME! I got to know some incredible people that, without the experience of Cultural Routes, I may have never met. I am so thankful to the John V. Roach Honors College for the opportunity to experience Berlin this way!

Studying Humanity: Hunter Plaster, History

As a History Major, the chance to travel to Berlin was so special. It’s a city with a deeply interesting and complicated past. During just the 20th century, Berlin was the center of the Nazi atrocities and later became the defining front line for the Cold War. The city ended up blowing away my expectations. Never before had I felt more immersed in the history of a place. One site in particular really stuck out to me: the Olympic Stadium from 1936. After reading books as a child about the athletes who competed in those Games, like Jesse Owens, Louis Zamperini and the Boys in the Boat, it was incredible to see the place where they made history. From Jesse Owens inspiring a generation of African Americans and breaking racial barriers, to the Boys in the Boat becoming one of the greatest underdog stories ever, that stadium was the site of the most iconic Olympics. While our time in Berlin exposed us to many sites filled with dark and weighty history — such as Soviet gravesites, Holocaust memorials and even a concentration camp. It was a refreshing change to visit a place that once was the site of humanity's triumphs.

Traveling Abroad for the First Time: Arleth Rivera, Biology

As cliche as it sounds, this Cultural Routes experience was life changing. Never in my life did I think I would get the opportunity to travel abroad during my first year of college. At first, I was incredibly nervous. It was my first time leaving the country, and I didn’t know a single person going on the experience. I questioned whether I had made the right decision, but once we arrived, everything changed. There was so much to do, see and experience that I barely had time to feel nervous. The city was huge and unbelievably gorgeous. I loved interacting with locals and navigating the city on our own; I got to see just how big the world truly is. I also learned so much about others and myself. One of the best parts of the experience was how connected our group became and memories we now share. Berlin was a dream. I didn’t know how much I loved Berlin until I left. I came in not knowing anyone but left with some incredible friendships, and I love knowing that we will all share this special experience for the rest of our lives.

Grateful for Immersion: Jeannie Cobb, Neuroscience Pre-Med

My experience on Cultural Routes: Berlin was truly once-in-a-lifetime. I can confidently say that I walked away from the week with cultural knowledge, new skills and strong friendships that I will cherish forever. We left no stretch of the city unseen, from climbing to the top of the Berlin Cathedral, visiting the Reichstag rooftop at sunset and taking walking food and art tours. We immersed ourselves in Berlin’s rich history through our visits to Sachsenhausen, the Topography of Terror Museum, and Checkpoint Charlie. Volunteering at Serve the City Berlin and attending a Cold War Panel connected us with people living in Berlin now and informed us how history has influenced their lives. Our “Alpha Bravo Charlie” days, in which we were split in small groups and given a list of sights to see, allowed me to form great friendships and learn from other members in my group. Additionally, our dinners and night adventures, such as an ice cream run or dancing, created a warm, welcoming environment that brought us all closer. I am eternally grateful to Dr. Pitcock and his team, as well as the donors who made the CR Berlin experience possible.

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