A former student from Bridgewater-Raritan High School returned to share her experiences and insights on the value of mastering both the French and English languages.
On February 20, 2025, students in Maria Kostis' AP French class had the unique opportunity to engage with this accomplished Bridgewater-Raritan High School alumna, Nicole Sydor.
According to Ms. Kostis, Ms. Sydor is a passionate advocate for language learning and an aspiring educator who shared her educational journey with the students who assembled in the high school’s conference room.
Ms. Kostis revealed the background of Ms. Sydor.
“ Nicole’s journey with the French language began in Bridgewater, where she first started studying French at the Bridgewater-Raritan Middle School with Madame Goldberg. From there, her love for the language grew deeper as she participated in the highly enriching French exchange program at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, where she immersed herself in both the language and culture.”
“She was fortunate to experience the high school’s French exchange program and travel to France for two weeks with our partner school in Lyon, France.”
Ms. Kostis continued.
“After high school, Nicole continued her studies at Drew University, where she majored in English and French. Her passion for French was further solidified during a summer semester abroad in Paris, an experience she described as both exhilarating and eye-opening. In addition to her coursework, Nicole served as editor-in-chief of Ma Parole!, a French literary magazine. Her role as editor allowed her to blend her love for the French language and literature with her leadership skills, which have continued to shape her career aspirations.”
Ms. Kostis reported that “currently, Nicole is working toward a Master's in Teaching, with the goal of teaching English or French at the high school level. She explained how she wants to inspire future generations of students to appreciate the power of language and the doors it can open. Her passion for teaching was evident as she spoke about her dedication to helping others learn and grow, both linguistically and intellectually.”
As part of the visit on February 20, students in Mrs. Kostis' class had the chance to ask Ms. Sydor questions.
“They were especially excited to hear her speak French spontaneously, an experience that gave them a real-world example of the language skills they are developing. Nicole was more than happy to answer their questions, offering advice on language learning, cultural exchange, and the importance of persistence and practice,” Ms. Kostis said.
“For many students, this visit was a reminder of the possibilities that language learning can offer no matter what someone wants to major in. Nicole talked about friends who are pursuing double majors in sciences and French and have been recruited by global companies. Nicole’s story is an inspiring one, showing that with passion, dedication, and an open mind, one can turn a love for a language into a career that brings both personal fulfillment and the chance to make a difference in the lives of others,” Ms. Kostsis said.
Ms. Kostis also revealed that Ms. Sydor’s session resulted in an impact on the high school students.
“The AP French class left the session feeling inspired and motivated, with a renewed sense of appreciation for the power of language. Nicole Sydor's journey from Bridgewater-Raritan High School to Drew University and beyond serves as a powerful example of the impact that language studies can have, not just on personal growth, but on future careers as well.”
Ms. Kostis concluded:
“We are grateful to Nicole for taking the time to return to Bridgewater-Raritan High School and share her experiences with us—reminding us all of the value of pursuing our passions and never stopping our journey of learning. Nicole is thankful for her experience with French in the district and also expressed gratitude to several English teachers who also inspired her to study English in college.”