My name is Cassy Ross and I am a sophomore here at UNL. I am a Global Studies and Political Science double major with minors in Arabic Studies, National Security Studies, Religious Studies, and Humanitarian Affairs and Human Rights. I am from Denver, Colorado but moved to Nebraska during middle school. After I graduate I plan on attending law school. My ideal job would be to work as a diplomat with a regional focus in the Middle East / Arab countries.
Favorite Book: My favorite book is In the Name of Honor: A Memoir by Mukhtar Mai. It is a heartbreaking and inspiring story of a woman, Mukhtar Mai, who was sentenced to be gang raped by a tribal council for a crime her brother allegedly committed. After she was raped, it was a societal norm that Mukhtar take her own life, however she stood up against the tradition. Mukhtar Mai went to the police and refused to give up the pursuit of justice. She is currently still fighting an uphill battle, both legally and socially. Her strength and courage is exemplified throughout her story and so are critical issues affecting so many women throughout the world. It was this book that sparked my curiosity in the Arab world and in global studies. I was shocked at how different societies can be and all I wanted to do after reading this book was to study the international community, its politics, and its relations. I felt this consuming pull to learn and to affect change and I knew studying Global Studies and Political Science will lead me down this path.
Favorite Class: Exploring Love, Sexuality, and Femininity in the Arab World (MODL 298) was one of the most interesting classes I have taken so far. The class covered hard topics relating to faith, the different interpretations of the Quran, abortion, sexuality, women's rights, and so much more. I was challenged to develop new perspectives and critically analyze topics in a way I never have before. This class also educated me on several topics relating to women in the Arab world. I also loved how the class was discussion based, as it let us explore topics more fully and from several different perspectives.
Words of Advice: The biggest suggestion I have for any Global Studies major or student in general is to study abroad and to always keep an open mind. Never be afraid to say yes to new things, try and look at a situation from someone else’s point of view, and experience as much as you can. There are so many programs and ways to make studying abroad possible, you just have to want to -- and trust me you do.
Study Abroad Experience: I spent twelve weeks this past summer studying abroad in Amman, Jordan. I was able to both take classes and have an internship at a local NGO. I studied Arabic and took a history class as well. My classes were very intensive, but I was able to learn the most from exploring the city, interacting with local Jordanians, and by working with my NGO. I interned at the Sisterhood is Global Institute and there I spoke Arabic on a daily basis, learned and experienced cultural norms, and got the opportunity to do an immense amount of research. It was such a humbling and eye opening experience. Working on cases involving honor killings, abortion, human rights violations, and tribal issues brought to light a whole other side of these issues. I saw it from a personal level, a legal level, and an outsider's level. I was also able to experience the holy month of Ramadan, visit amazing sites such as Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba, Jerash, the baptism site, and more, and travel to other countries throughout my program. I made life long friends, improved my Arabic language skills vastly, and learned more about myself and the Arab world than I ever thought I could in twelve weeks. I cannot wait to study abroad again, this time for longer.