Name: Serina Nakagawa
Instagram handle: serinajoy99
Major(s) and/or Minor(s): Global Studies with Asian Studies and Broadcasting
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Year at UNL: Senior
Favorite book and why:
My "favorite book" is a revolving door of books I've read recently. I read "Educated" by Tara Westover during the Capitol Hill riots and I thought a lot about how we got to this point in history. The book is about her upbringing in the mountains of Idaho, homeschooled - if you could call herbalism with a dash of filtered history homeschooling - and working herself tired under the control of her survivalist father. (Spoiler Alert?) She eventually gets her education off the mountain. While reading, I thought a lot about how anti-intellectualism has affected US society: global warming denial, opinion-based news as fact, and blatant disregard for evidence-based arguments because it doesn't fit into our schemas. Although I'm ecstatic that our country is starting to move in the opposite direction of where we have been heading over the past couple of years, the impact of what has happened will probably stay with us for the next couple of decades. Oof-da.
Favorite movie and why: Currently my favorite movie is either "Parasite" (dir. by Bong Joon Ho) or "Jojo Rabbit" (dir. by Taika Waititi). I loved "Parasite" because it is a tragic comedy and has many symbols and metaphors to think about. On the other hand, "Jojo Rabbit" is a satire about WWII Germany and the indoctrination of youth into Hitler's army - as the German army is losing the war. Who would have thought that all three favorites have some element of "think for yourself" messaging?
Why Global Studies?
I have always known that I wanted to travel internationally and look at things through many perspectives. These goals acquiesced into the interdisciplinary Global Studies program. I tend to home in on matters affecting Asia through these international perspectives. I have Broadcasting because I value show-business and the role of media as both a watchdog of the government and a way to advocate. Also, I love National Geographic and the Discovery channel. In the Global Studies program, I have constantly been surprised by the special topics courses like "Refugees, Displaced Persons &(Im)migrants" or "Human Rights, Conflict, and Community Changemaking" and many more! They have made them so that they count towards specializations like Human Rights or Global Security and Foreign Policy.
The nice thing about Global Studies is that our world is global and no matter what you end up doing there is some element where Global Studies will help or where the world at large is directly involved with your life.
Extracurricular Activities:
During my time at UNL I have gone abroad 1.2 times! Though I could have gone abroad 3 times if COVID-19 hadn't showed itself. I went to Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. I absolutely loved it there! My first time abroad was for a month-long summer program which inspired my second study for a semester. Since the second one was in Spring 2020, I was there for a week before I returned to Nebraska. I had also planned to intern in Japan through our Senshu Matsudo program, but alas.
However, I am more passionate than ever about conducting research and earning my MA abroad! For now, I am interning with the Asian Community and Cultural Center to help with their cultural programs. I fully believe that everyone should have an experience abroad, preferably in a place where they can experience some discomfort and become accustomed to a new way of life - you'll develop a lot as an individual. Don't go into massive debt for the experience - and there are plenty of funding opportunities, ask Emira!
What are you post-graduation plans?
For now, my goal is to receive a Fulbright grant for research in South Korea. Next is graduate school at Hawaii or abroad. I'm not too particular about the journey nor the destination, all I know is that I want to understand that part of the world a little better.