Class of 2003

JULIE SLEISON discovers the joys of sailing—and the agony of seasickness.

Sleison has wanted to learn to sail a tall ship since taking sailing as a physical education credit her sophomore year. Combine this with the fact her senior thesis tackled physical representations of history, and you could say she found the perfect job: working aboard a replica of the Amistad for six months. The original Amistad was an 1839 slave ship that was overtaken by its captives, who sailed to New York, where they were freed and returned to Sierra Leone. The replica has been sailing around the country since 2000, partnering with school systems, media and other interested parties to explore race issues and educate the public about the Amistad incident. Last year Sleison served as part of the 13-member crew, doing everything from scrubbing decks to keeping the nightly watch. Sailing more than 5,000 miles was unforgettable, says the Topsfield, Massachusetts, native: "We had dolphins playing in our wake and flying fish jumping out of our way." Unfortunately, the seasickness was equally unforgettable. "It is the most miserable feeling in the world," she says.