What happens when you take SMU students out to the New Mexico wilderness for three weeks? SMU-in-Taos, of course! Bringing together both students and professors, SMU's second and underrated campus is held in Taos, New Mexico at Fort Burgwin in the middle of the beautiful Carson National Forest.

When I found out about SMU-in-Taos last semester, I had to learn more. I could get five credit-hours in three weeks? Count me in. After turning in an application, the next thing I knew I was being shipped off to the middle of a national forest (with wi-fi access, of course).

When I first arrived at Fort Burgwin, I was struck with the beauty of the campus. I let the sweet mountain air fill my lungs as soon as I stepped out of the car. With its adobe structures surrounded by Ponderosa Pine and Aspen trees, Fort Burgwin is truly breathtaking. However, I soon realized that I knew practically no one in the program. Little did I know that this was not a problem, since SMU-in-Taos has such a small student population, everyone gets to know each other extremely quickly. I stayed in a small adobe cabin called a casita, meaning “little house” in Spanish. With only four other girls in my casita, we immediately bonded over our classes and the best restaurant recommendations in Taos.

Before I had even gotten my final grades back from spring finals, I was starting my first day of classes. While I was at SMU-in-Taos I took three classes: Plant Biology, Ways of Knowing and PRW. All of these classes offered extremely diverse experiences. Plant Biology gave me the opportunity to study biology inside and outside the class room. After two-hour lectures in the morning, we would then attend lab outside, learning and applying our new knowledge to the plants and trees native to New Mexico. Never in my life have I had such a hands-on classroom experience.

The one-credit Ways of Knowing class focused on the culture and history of Taos. The class was field trip based, taking us to the plaza of Taos, Los Alamos and the Taos Pueblo. By understanding the culture and history of Taos I had a more enriching experience. At the end of the class, I had a deeper understanding of Taos and could easily discuss tough ethical and economic issues occurring in New Mexico.

By far, my favorite class in Taos was PRW. This was a fitness experience unlike any I have had before. Hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting and horseback riding all in three weeks. I would tell any SMU student to come to Taos just for PRW. Every weekend, I pushed myself to limits that I did not think possible. Being mildly afraid of heights, my first challenge was pushing myself to rock climb 115 feet up a cliff face. The next day, I found myself frantically paddling down class four rapids in the Rio Grande Gorge. The next weekend I was horseback riding for four hours and then hiking up 1,000 feet in attitude. Every weekend was about being challenged, then feeling rewarded, and dealing with the extreme exhaustion after it all.

Attending SMU-in-Taos has been one of the best decisions I’ve made at SMU so far. I would highly encourage every SMU student to attend this unique program. You will meet new people, have crazy experiences, be challenged and ultimately changed. Everyone at Fort Burgwin will agree that the campus is extremely special in an indescribable way. Thanks to SMU-in-Taos, I hope to one day to return to the slice of heaven in the New Mexico wilderness.