From books to the Parthenon: STU student takes on Greece study trip

Henry Nadeau poses with a cast member from Frogs at the Theatre of Dionysus during the Greece Travel Study trip. (Submitted by: Henry Nadeau)

When Henry Nadeau stood in the ancient Theatre of Dionysus in Athens, he couldn’t help but smile. Just two months earlier, the fourth-year great books honours student had performed Aristophanes’ The Frogs, the same comedy that premiered on that very stage over 2,400 years ago.

“It was kind of mind-blowing,” said Nadeau. “Standing where the play was first performed, after acting in it myself, it made the history feel so real.”

Nadeau has been part of the Great Books program throughout his time at St. Thomas University (STU), an interdisciplinary program that explores classic works of philosophy, literature and history.

His passion for the ancient world led him to join STU’s Travel Study trip to Greece twice. His first trip was after his first year and he returned as a student leader after his third year.

“I’d been to Greece before, so I thought I knew what to expect,” he said. “But going back after studying classics for a few more years gave me a totally new perspective. I understood the texts on a deeper level and could connect them to the places we visited.”

Each summer, small groups of students travel abroad with professors who link classroom learning to real-world experience.

For Nadeau, that meant standing in the Agora where Socrates once walked, exploring battlefields described by Thucydides and watching his great books curriculum come to life before his eyes.

“I remember Dr. Dinan saying, ‘This is where Socrates was imprisoned and died,’” said Nadeau. “I’d read Plato’s Phaedo and suddenly I was standing right there. It hit me how incredible it was to learn this way.”

Beyond the academic experience, the trip helped Nadeau grow personally. He took on a leadership role as a student liaison, helped new participants navigate the journey and approached professors if they needed support.

“It wasn’t really a challenge, but it was something new,” he said. “It gave me confidence to take initiative and help others feel comfortable. I learned how to bridge that space between students and professors.”

He also found moments of quiet reflection amid the travel.

“One morning in Sparta, I went for a run near the ancient sites,” he said. “It was surreal. I just thought, ‘This might be one of the coolest things I’ll ever do.’”

Nadeau said that while the academic insights were powerful, what stood out most was the feeling of independence and discovery.

“You’re travelling in a place where you might not know the language, figuring things out on your own, trying new food,” he said. “You learn so much just by being there. It’s not just about the past, it’s about learning how to navigate the present.”

When asked what advice he’d give to other STU students considering a Travel Study course, Nadeau didn’t hesitate.

“Do it, 100 per cent,” he said. “It’s one of the most rewarding things you can do. You get to travel, learn, and grow and it’s surprisingly affordable compared to doing a trip like that on your own. It’s an experience you’ll remember forever.”

As STU looks ahead to future travel study opportunities, Nadeau hopes more students will take the chance to learn beyond the classroom.

“There’s no other course like it,” he said. “You can read about history but when you’re standing in the place where it happened, it changes how you see everything.”