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Canfield’s Fekete seizes opportunity to study abroad
Photo
Lauren Fekete (left) poses for a family portrait with her mother Marlene, brother, Dean, and dog, Theodore Maxwell.
BY ABBY SLANKER
Lauren Fekete, daughter of Matthew and Marlene Fekete and a 2008 graduate of Canfield High School, has been inducted into the National Honor Society of Collegiate Scholars, an academic honor society, at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.
She was honored at an induction ceremony Sept. 9. She has also made the Dean’s list at the university and will major in cognitive science and minor in dance.
Fekete has also been accepted for the study abroad program at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for the next two semesters.
“I am usually the type to embrace change, mainly because it is an inevitable part of life. As before any trip I am extremely excited, but I must say that I am upset that I will be leaving my friends and family behind,” said Fekete, when asked how she felt about participating in the study abroad program.
Fekete hopes to befriend as many diverse individuals as possible, adapt to and immerse herself in another culture, and above all, go on an adventure she will remember for the rest of her life.
According to Fekete, she will take advantage of having the opportunity to travel while in Scotland.
“In the U.K. and Europe, public transportation is relatively cheap and widely used. Because there are so many discounts available to students, I feel that it would be a complete waste to not take advantage of them. I hope to travel to Ireland, Greece, Italy, Spain and France, if I have the time,” she said.
When asked what made her want to major in cognitive science and minor in dance, Fekete explained their correlation.
“I have always been intrigued by the notion of what motivates human behavior and decision. Cognitive science is a relatively recent field that incorporates psychology, neuroscience, philosophy and biology in an attempt to discover the inner workings of the human mind,” she said.
“A surprise to many, cognitive science is well paired with dance, my passion of 15 years. Why do people enjoy dance? How are certain emotions aroused from watching a dance performance? How is movement processed by the mind? In coupling cognitive science with dance, I hope to answer these questions.”
Fekete has been dancing for 15 years, including styles such as ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz, salsa, swing, African and Afro-Cuban. Aside from dancing, she has also played piano, taken voice lessons and has been involved in musicals. Last spring, she choreographed Pippin for the Case Western Reserve University’s “Footlighters.”
Fekete will continue to pursue her passion for dance while attending the University of Edinburgh.
“I have already researched several groups at the university that offer ballet, hip hop, swing, salsa, etc. I also plan to take classes outside of the university at a place called DanceBase,” she said.
“I recently watched the movie “Dead Poets Society,” a film that has become one of my favorites. A theme that is repeatedly brought up is ‘Carpe Diem,’ or seize the day. ‘Make your lives extraordinary,’ and that is exactly what I have in mind,” Fekete concluded.