F&M Stories

English Grad Writes Next Chapter as Anatolia Fellow

With a Franklin & Marshall English degree in hand, Rohail Spear ’24 is ready to write his next chapter.

It starts on a hillside in Thessaloniki, Greece, where Spear will spend 10 months as an Anatolia Fellow.

“I knew that I wanted to do a fellowship right after graduating. It seemed like a perfect bridge between the comfort of college and the independence of the real world,” said Spear, one of nine fellows selected nationally. 

Spear will complete an English fellowship at Anatolia Elementary School. With nearly 2,000 Greek and Balkan students, Anatolia’s full campus includes Anatolia High School, Pinewood American International School, and American College of Thessaloniki, where fellows can audit both undergraduate and graduate courses.

Anatolia Fellows teach, advise clubs and plan events. Beyond that, they serve as cultural ambassadors and build meaningful relationships with students.

Learn more about Spear’s next chapter. 

"A fellowship seemed like a perfect bridge between the comfort of college and the independence of the real world."

Rohail Spear ’24

Rohail Spear ’24

What inspired you to apply to the Anatolia Fellowship? 

I knew that I wanted to do a fellowship right after graduating. It seemed like a perfect bridge between the comfort of college and the independence of the real world. Although you're working a real job in a different country, you don't have to worry about finances or housing: All of that is taken care of. 

I've been interested in teaching and working with kids since I started volunteering at Squash ACES during my sophomore year. I've always loved traveling and thoroughly enjoyed studying abroad in Bath (England) my junior year. Doing a fellowship at Anatolia satisfies both of these interests. Plus, it's in Greece.

What is a day in the life like for an Anatolia Fellow?

I will be assisting an elementary school teacher. I will be able to choose what grade I'll work with, from grades one through six. I can work with multiple grades, so I'll probably choose to work with both younger and older kids for a variety of experiences. Because I'll be assisting a teacher, I will be helping the kids with all subjects.

Why did you choose F&M?

I chose F&M because of its strong creative writing program, small class sizes, proximity to home and academic rigor. 

Related Articles

June 27, 2025

The (Diplomat) Way of St. James

Completing the Camino de Santiago is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But Johansen Vargas '26 and David Nieves '27 have accomplished this feat twice. The two were selected as student leaders for F&M on the Camino.

June 25, 2025

D.C. Summer Session ‘Opened My Eyes to a World I Had Never Known’

An immersive summer program brought 13 students to Washington, D.C., for two weeks to connect with thought leaders in government, nonprofits and community organizations.

June 12, 2025

London Calling: Kate McBride ’24 Chases Political Dreams Across the Pond

Emboldened by her research with F&M Global Barometers and a transformative study abroad experience in London, Kate McBride ’24 moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a master’s degree in political behavior at London School of Economics (LSE). “Those opportunities allowed me to discover a calling within myself that I don't think I would have discovered otherwise, and it completely altered my course of action going forward,” she said.