Traveling on the Quarter System

Although it’s already the middle of September, DePaul students have only just started classes. The first day of school was not until September 11th this year (thanks quarter system!), and this allowed me to take a month-long backpacking trip for the last few weeks of summer that I’ve been wanting to do for years. As many of my friends at other schools were buying textbooks and heading to class, I was able to take advantage of the end of the summer tourist season in Europe. With the hectic chaos of Fall quarter looming on the horizon, I knew this would be the only time I’d have to take a trip like this before graduation. Since DePaul’s quarter system is very distinct from most other semester systems, there are a few key differences that alter the way in which students organize their time. For me, this meant working extra hours throughout June and July in order to be able to take August and part of September off to savor the last weeks of summer. 

My trip ended up being one of the most inspiring and thought-provoking trips I have ever taken, and I’ll be spending the rest of the quarter reminiscing on this summer’s incredible experiences. While many people told me I was being irresponsible for prioritizing travel over something more in line with my career, I’ve always been one to learn better from real world experiences than sitting in an office or classroom. I’m thankful the late start of DePaul’s quarter system allowed me to make time for such an impactful experience.

-Aggie Kallinicou