n early 2008, David Storicks, BA’08 (M), MAT’09 (T), was a student in FDU’s QUEST five-year program, a combined degree program with an undergraduate degree in a chosen subject area and a master of arts in teaching degree. But, the ambitious senior, who had appeared in several on-campus theater productions, served as president of the Student Government Association, attended Wroxton College, student-taught in Britain and worked as a resident assistant, had yet to face his most difficult challenge. A serious motorcycle accident put Storick’s life in jeopardy. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, a broken leg and a broken ankle. Storicks missed walking across the stage at the Izod Center to receive his BA in theater arts, but he recovered with remarkable speed. While in the hospital he received numerous well wishes from the FDU community, including those at Wroxton. After several weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, Storicks returned to his home in Dumont, N.J., at the end of June and continued outpatient therapy through August. Storicks resumed his master’s studies at FDU and his resident assistantship in the fall of 2008. This May, he graduated with his master of arts in teaching, received the Student Pinnacle Award and addressed his fellow graduates. He also starred in two more productions on the FDU stage: as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” and as Sky Masterson, a tough New York City gambler, in “Guys and Dolls.”

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What was your first impression upon arriving at Wroxton College?
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The moment you set your eyes on something that’s older than the country that you were born in, it takes your breath away. I was also fascinated to learn that Lord North, who formally owned the estate, was actually the prime minister of England during the American Revolution.

How did the style of teaching at Wroxton differ from that at FDU’s New Jersey campuses?
Once you attend a British-style university, returning to an American classroom is easy. But I don’t want to discourage any student from attending, because there is nothing during my time here on earth that has equaled the value of the life-changing experience Wroxton provides.

Where was your studentteaching assignment?
What grades did you teach? I was assigned to Wroxton Primary School, only a short walk from the Abbey [at Wroxton College]. They did not have grades one through five, they call them years. Also, many of the years are combined within a single classroom. I personally taught year four and year five.

What was your most memorable moment as a student-teacher?
I think the most memorable experience was a lesson I taught comparing and contrasting the United States and England. I used a Smartboard and Google Earth to show them where I lived and where their school was located. Then I compared typical morning ceremonies. In English schools, they have prayers said each morning over the announcement system. I told the students we do not have prayers, but we do salute the American flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance. I told them why we did so and asked if they would want to try it. They did, and in all honesty it was pretty funny to hear those British accents saying the pledge.

How did gaining teaching experience abroad help you to further understand the process?
My cooperating teacher, Mrs. Campbell, had strengths when it came to teaching English. One of my favorite memories is when she would read chapters from particular novels. The art in which she told these stories made even me, with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts, jealous.

What was your favorite excursion during your time at Wroxton College?
Travel break was an amazing experience. I spent the week on a cruise that went from Naples, Italy; to Sicily; to Marseille, France; and even to Tunisia, Africa. I never believed that I ever would have seen so much. Looking at Pompeii in Italy was breathtaking. It was even amazing to see theaters I knew of only because of a course I had taken in the history of the theater. But here they were. I was standing on a stage that another actor once stood on thousands of years ago.

If you had to choose just one thing to highlight about your time at Wroxton, what would that be?
Studying abroad teaches one of the most important lessons — who you are. The friendships that I formed over there are far different than those back at home. To quote a saying of Dr. Nicholas Baldwin [dean, Wroxton College], it would be friendships that were “not better or worse, just different.” I could not have learned what I did without those students who I now call my friends, along with the faculty who I consider to be just the same — close friends. After my accident, I was sent numerous letters from Wroxton College. I think that perfectly explains how amazing the faculty and staff at Wroxton truly are. If I could make studying abroad at Wroxton a full-time career, I would be one of the happiest people on earth.

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Wroxton College

FDU-Vancouver | Academics | Online Learning | FDU and the U.N.
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