Name: Thuy-Dung Tran
Major: Interior Design
Minors: Global Studies and Business
Hometown: South Sioux City, Nebraska
Year at UNL: Senior
Favorite book and why: The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini is my favorite book because it made me look at things from a different perspective. It helped me gain a greater appreciation for the things in my life and compassion for other people who live under a very stringent government where peace is simply just a dream.
Favorite dish/food and why: The one food I can never get enough of is sushi! I love sushi for the variety of different flavors and types, the convenience of it being bite size, it's a healthy food option (in moderation of course), and using chopsticks is fun!
Why Global Studies?
My passion for traveling and learning about different parts of the world led me to take multiple classes that went towards a Global Studies minor without even knowing it, so Global Studies as a minor happened effortlessly for me as it lines up with many of my passions. One of the most interesting classes I took for Global Studies is world music. In this class, we listened to music from different areas of the world. It was important to learn that the world shares the common passion for music, but how different the music is depending on the area it comes from. Classes like these give me a greater understanding of the differences across all cultures, and at the same time help me understand that at the base of differences there is always a commonality. My advice to new global studies majors/minors is to remember the world is a magical place that has so much to offer; so fill your soul with new adventures, get inspired, try new things, understand new people, and fall in love with new experiences. :)
Tell us about your study abroad/internship experience.
I studied abroad in Florence, Italy the summer of 2015. There I took an Art History and Architecture class. For three weeks of my life I got to experience the Italian lifestyle—I took naps at 6pm, went to dinner at 10pm, and made a minimum of one Gelatto run a day. After my program ended, I traveled around Europe for three more weeks to explore Spain, Ireland and France.
What are you post-graduation plans?
This coming fall I get to live out my dream of being a resident in one of my favorite cities in the world: Tokyo, Japan! I recently accepted a semester long internship in the English department at Senshu University, where I will assist with teaching classes and planning activities to help students learn English and become familiar with the American culture. After I graduate, I hope to put my skills to work at a corporate architecture firm that has the resources to make a difference on a global scale.