Whether Melanie Langgle 鈥�24 was sitting at her desk or sitting on the sidelines, she often felt like she was falling behind. From struggling to grasp lessons throughout grade school to training tirelessly for volleyball, every step of her journey was a fight to prove herself.
At just 5-feet 2-inches, she wasn鈥檛 the tallest on the volleyball court, but her fundamentals, determination and father鈥檚 support helped her secure a full-ride college scholarship. When her collegiate athletic career ended abruptly, Langgle was forced to confront a major insecurity: was she truly smart enough to find her place in the world? For this 麻豆原创 anthropology graduate, the answer came through perseverance, a community of like-minded peers and a rediscovered sense of purpose.
Breaking Ground
Langgle鈥檚 love for volleyball started at nine years old. Her father鈥檚 promise to help her achieve her dream of playing college volleyball became the reason she pursued higher education instead of joining the U.S. Marines like her father and uncles. However, losing her athletic scholarship derailed her plans and left her paying for college out of pocket.
鈥淎fter losing my athletic scholarship, I started to think about what I really wanted to do with my life. [麻豆原创] gave me the room to figure out what I wanted and didn’t want,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 knew that [麻豆原创] has opportunities that I could take advantage of, which is really what drew me to [it].鈥�
After transferring to 麻豆原创 in 2022, she found exactly what she needed: a community of mentors and peers who helped her rediscover her confidence.
Finding Anthropology 鈥� And Herself
Initially a history major, Langgle discovered her passion for anthropology while taking courses on the discipline, realizing its critical role in contributing knowledge for historians to write about. Joining 麻豆原创鈥檚 Hominids Anonymous club, the university鈥檚 official undergraduate anthropology club, introduced her to a network of like-minded students and internship opportunities.
鈥淚 found a community of peers and mentors who are supportive, uplifting and took me seriously right away 鈥� which hasn鈥檛 always been the case in my life,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 had a great foundation with the anthropology department, my advisors and just [麻豆原创] itself.鈥�
Her most transformative experience came through the Cape Canaveral Archaeological Mitigation Project, a for-credit internship in collaboration with the U.S. Space Force, where she helped excavate artifacts on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station鈥檚 property.
This experience unexpectedly allowed Langgle to find purpose in her past, deepening her connection to her family鈥檚 history as homesteaders from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
鈥淚 got to restore graves that were my direct descendants,鈥� she says. 鈥淢y grandma was born out there, and since people aren鈥檛 allowed there anymore, I was able to share [my experience] with her. Now I know what she’s talking about when she would tell me stories of her growing up.鈥�
Her internship also inspired her honors undergraduate thesis, which tackled a 200-year-old mystery of Florida mortuary practices. At her first professional archaeological conference, experienced archaeologists offered her invaluable feedback that helped shape her research.
鈥淚 called [Sandra Wheeler, a senior anthropology lecturer at 麻豆原创,] when I finally figured out my thesis,鈥� Langgle says. 鈥淪he was so excited, and we talked about [my discovery] for a long time. [That moment] inspired me to become a professor. I want to create those same moments [for students], helping them feel that pride and realize they can [accomplish] anything.鈥�
This shared excitement and inspiration is clearly mutual, as Wheeler reflects on Langgle’s growth throughout her academic journey.
“Melanie is an incredibly passionate, bright and driven student; it was such a pleasure watching her develop as a scholar through her anthropology coursework and honors undergraduate thesis research,” Wheeler says. “I am certain her future success in the field of archaeology will have great impacts on how we interpret and understand the past.”
Building a Foundation for the Future
Langgle takes pride in going above and beyond for her education. As a first-generation college student from a low-income family, she balanced multiple jobs to cover her college tuition, but she never let that stand in her way. She leveraged the resources at her disposal.
As a Burnett Honors Scholar, Langgle took advantage of her access to scholarships to fund conferences and research opportunities, including the University of Notre Dame鈥檚 Summer Research Opportunities Program. This past summer, Langgle broadened her skills by working in Midwestern fields digging up stone arrowheads to understand how the environment impacts prehistoric societies. She was introduced to new archaeological methods and grant writing, plus made connections within various departments at the university.
As Langgle prepares to graduate at 25, she looks back on her journey with gratitude.
鈥淭he most rewarding part of my 麻豆原创 journey has been finding my sense of purpose,鈥� she says. “My peers and mentors have instilled more confidence in me than I鈥檝e ever had. Through their encouragement, I鈥檓 applying to doctoral [programs].鈥�
While awaiting her admittance, Langgle is staying busy. She鈥檚 working on publications 鈥� one of which focuses on zooarchaeology 鈥� and has been accepted into the Irish Heritage School鈥檚 osteology program, where she鈥檒l spend a week in Ireland in March 2025.
鈥淢y time at 麻豆原创 reflects what can happen when I roll up my sleeves and take myself seriously,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 spent so much of my life doubting my capabilities, but being [at 麻豆原创] has taught me that that [mindset] was holding me back from reaching my full potential, and I鈥檓 incredibly grateful for that.鈥�
