Name: Jacob Behnk
Instagram: @behnkjacob
Major(s) and/or Minor(s): I have a double-major in Spanish and Global Studies, and two minors in Latin American Studies and International Trade.
Hometown: Clearwater, Nebraska
Year at UNL: Senior
Favorite book and why:
Running Out of Time by Margaret Peterson Haddix has long been favorite book. I don't want to spoil too much about the book, but what I can say is that it introduces a massive plot twist that I adore. With that being said, I still need to finish reading Valley of the Birdtail, which tells the history of racism and inequality in Canada as it applies to the Canadian government's relationship with First Nations.
Favorite movie and why:
(Honestly, I don't watch a lot of movies, so this is hard to answer.) At the moment, I would say that Wicked is my favorite movie due to both its top-tier songs and its portrayal of socio-political issues, such as how authoritarian leaders rise and keep their grip on power.
(Alternatively, if possible, I could mention my favorite show/TV series.) My favorite series is Carol & the End of the World. It's a rather short series, having only 10 half-hour episodes. This is a perfect length for what the writers intended to accomplish, in my view. I don't want to spoil anything, but what I will say is that I love the portrayal of humanity that is given. It makes one think about our place in the universe and how we go about living life with the time we have.
Why these majors and minors?
I chose to major in Spanish because I had a desire to learn a second language that I might end up using in my career field. It seemed natural to continue learning Spanish at UNL since I had already taken three years of classes in high school. Global Studies was a natural connection to my interests in geography, politics, and culture, and my Latin American Studies minor allowed me to hone my skills in a specific region of the world that tends to be overlooked and misunderstood in American media. Later on, I decided to add a minor in International Trade after I took a course in Macroeconomics. My high school did not offer this class, so I never knew how much I enjoyed this subject. With the minor, I was able to connect macroeconomics to Global Studies and develop new skills that will be useful in an increasingly interconnected world.
ECON 211 (Principles of Macroeconomics) is what initially inspired me to pursue a minor in International Trade, so it is by far the most influential course I have taken. I also enjoyed GEOG 155 (Elements of Physical Geography) and GLST 201 (Intro to Global Studies); both are good options for SGIS students. Global Studies is a valuable major to add to your undergraduate experience due to its versatility and sense of perspective. That is to say, students who major in Global Studies acquire a plethora of transferable skills that can be applied to a diverse range of careers. I never feel like I'm confined to a single, unbending pathway—but I also have enough structure to ensure that I am becoming a qualified leader in my specific interests (such as geopolitics). In the United States, we tend to be a bit sheltered from the rest of the world. English is a prominent language across the world and our country is vast enough to feel like it has "enough". With that being said, it is important that we learn about the world beyond our borders—especially when it comes to our neighbors. We live in a community of nations, and Global Studies helps us to feel like a true member of this community.
Extracurricular Experience:
For the duration of the Fall 2024 semester, I embarked on a study abroad experience in Santiago, Chile. I had a lot of uncertainties and doubts when initially applying to the program: Can I afford this? Will my Spanish be good enough? How do I adjust to the academics of another country? Everything about study abroad was new to me; I had never been outside of the United States before, let alone North America. I was motivated to get out of my bubble and try something new and exciting. I was able to get advice and encouragement from my sister, who had studied abroad in Argentina two years prior. It was her initial experience that inspired me to do the same.
As for why I chose Chile, my best answer is that the country grew on me as I researched it. I knew that I wanted to study in a Spanish-speaking Latin American country so that I could advance my conversational fluency. Argentina, Mexico, and Peru are already famous for their respective places of Buenos Aires, Chichen Itza, and Machu Picchu, but Chile felt like an underrated gem in the region. Chileans speak a unique variant of Spanish with their own vibrant vocabulary and inhabit a country that is geographically diverse due to its long shape—both were major bonus factors for me. USAC, the program I studied through, put a great deal of effort into ensuring that the American students experienced all of Chile. They gave us plenty of time to travel, and even threw in a couple of their own excursions to places like Viña del Mar and the Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. In this way, we were able to see all aspects of Chile, both modern and ancient.
One of the most important aspects of study abroad, from my perspective, is cultural exchange. I shared aspects of American/Midwestern culture with my Chilean host family, just as they introduced me to aspects of Latin American cultures. My host dad, who is originally from Colombia, taught me how to make foods such as arepas, cachapas, and completos. On Thursdays, I would prepare an "American" food for my host parents. (Tater tot casserole was such a hit with them that they asked me for the recipe.) Food is just one aspect of cultural exchange, of course, and there is a plethora of ways that we can share culture. I encourage any students who are thinking of going abroad to find something they want to share too.
What are your post-graduation plans?
After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in international affairs. Working with a group such as DTB AgriTrade would be ideal, as they advise clients on trade policy and help resolve issues in trade. Alternatively, I wouldn't mind taking my expertise from Global Studies directly to a country of interest, where I could work on-site to support the operations of a partner organization.