Holding history in his hands

The past can be as visceral and thrilling as the present, something classics graduate Noah Leslie Adam [BAAdv/2026] experienced in vivid, unforgettable ways during his degree. In June 2026, he crosses the stage at convocation. Before bidding farewell to UM, he shared the highlights of his undergraduate journey.

An elective changes a degree path

Adam’s passion for the ancient world and Greek literature began in high school, when his teacher assigned The Odyssey and The Iliad. “She didn’t want us to leave high school without having read two of the most important poems of all time,” he recalled. “Looking back, I wholeheartedly agree with her, and those works remain deeply important to me to this day.” 

When he began university in U1, Adam initially considered pursuing architecture. But an elective course on Greek and Roman myth changed everything. There, he learned from his professor that he could pursue a degree in classical studies. “From then on, I had no plans of turning back.”

A chance to learn hands-on

As someone who has always loved the outdoors and worked as a landscaper from a young age, archaeology felt like a natural fit. “Hearing that I might be able to use my classics degree in a more physical way really drew me in,” said Adam. 

He was introduced to his first excavation opportunity by Dr. Mark Lawall, a dig in Corinth, Greece. “I quickly learned that studying archaeology in the classroom is very different from practicing it in the field,” he said. During the dig, he gained hands-on experience in mapping, using drones for overhead surveys, and carefully lifting delicate materials such as pottery and human remains. 

The experience left a lasting impression. “It inspired in me a deep love and respect for the work involved in constructing a vision of the past through physical labour,” Adam shared. “Being able to touch and uncover history with my own hands has been one of the great joys of my life, something I may never have discovered had I not pursued a degree in classics.”

Adam plans to return to Greece and continue excavating during his upcoming MA in Classics at the University of Western Ontario. One day, he hopes to lead his own dig. He dreams of working in Lesbos “I’m intrigued by the archaeology of Sappho” and in Thebes, drawn by “the repeated cycles of destruction their polis had undergone.”

Understanding the past, applying it to the present

Adam encourages anyone studying history or anthropology to engage in archaeology, not only to appreciate the work that goes into uncovering these sites, but also to experience what it feels like to hold history in your hands. “It goes without saying that learning more about our past helps us correct mistakes we are making in the present,” he said. “Whether through people’s missteps in conflict or their methods of diplomacy, there is much to learn and apply.”

While the past may be behind us, Adam does not believe contemporary society has surpassed the achievements of the ancient world in many respects. “We owe the ancient Greeks and Romans a great deal for the vast array of philosophical, political and literary contributions they have passed down to us,” he said. “Part of repaying that debt is taking the time to understand our predecessors’ history fully.”