Ivy Chobanyan
Major in Geography, Minors in Anthropology and Computer Science
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
5th year at UNL
Favorite Book: The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks, it has interesting themes of how cultures and their customs affect one's thinking, how political hierarchies distort the motives of those involved, and how we may be manipulated by forces we do not know. It's also just cleverly written science fiction with some good twists.
Favorite Movie: Everything Everywhere All at Once. It's not a new recommendation by any means, but I'm a big fan of A24's output and it's a fundamentally solid action comedy. It is also a spirited point-by-point take down of nihilism while embracing the absurdity of the modern world. It feels like everyone's been going crazy since Covid-19 and it's easy to slip into learned helplessness, and this film provides a path to reject it. If nothing matters, everything matters, and that's beautiful.
Why are you studying your chosen Majors/Minors?: If at all possible, pick classes by professor over topic. A good educator will inspire a fascination with the material you didn't know you had. I originally joined UNL Majoring in computer science, but pivoted to geography after taking a class with Dr. Jim Benes who approaches the discipline with an infectious enthusiasm. Similarly, nearing graduation, I realized I had signed up for so many of Dr. Tim Sefczek's biological anthropology lectures that I could cap off a minor with my remaining courses. Find the professors who engage you and talk to them. You'll get more out of it than you expect.
What are some of the best/most interesting classes you’ve taken?: I particularly enjoyed World Regional Geography, Global Environmental Issues, Oceanography, Insect Biology, and Elements of Physical Geography. A few of these are just down to having a good lecturer, but in particular, Oceanography, Insect Biology, and World Regional Geography encapsulate and reward the curiosity for the natural world that a geographer needs. It's easy to feel in the modern day that everything has been exhaustively catalogued and explored, but there's still mysteries if you're willing to go looking. Plus Elements of Physical Geography took us to Robber's Cave (fantastic and nearby, go if you are ever able) and Insect Biology got me into keeping terrariums.
Tell us about your study abroad/internship/extra-curricular experiences?: I got the opportunity to join the Geography department's trip to Iceland, and they're doing another soon so keep an eye out. International travel is stressful and this was no exception, we were marched and bussed around practically all day for two weeks, but it was well worth it, there's so much to see. The landscape is unlike anything else and the local people and culture were delightful. It's rewarding as a geographer to see and apply the field to the most geologically interesting place on earth, but it's also just enriching to experience new things and expand your perspective.
What are you post-graduation plans?: Still very up in the air. I'm currently trying to get into graduate education abroad, either in Canada or western Europe, to apply my geography degree to research combating climate change. It feels like the most worthwhile way to apply the major, and it's a skillset I am able to contribute.