Name: Alex Christensen
Major/Minor: Global Studies, National Security Studies
Hometown: O’Fallon, IL
Year at UNL: Sophomore
Favorite book: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. This book is great because it features a protagonist who is flawed while at the same time being hilarious and extremely likeable. The story revolves around Randle Patrick McMurphy, who despite being perfectly sane, was sent to stay at a mental institution on a technicality instead of having to serve time in prison. There’s a clear “good versus evil” narrative here, and the best parts of the book are McMurphy’s many face-offs with the (appropriately named) Nurse Ratched. Even with the climactic build up and sad ending, there’s something for everyone here. A witty hero, an evil nurse, and several psychotic mental patients. What’s not to love?
Favorite movie: Sicario. I had to watch this one a couple times before I decided how much I liked it, and I’d recommend others do the same. Sicario is about the story of a joint FBI-CIA task force whose goal is to bring down an international drug cartel, and what’s interesting about this movie is that it’s told from the point of view of a woman that is suddenly thrust into this dynamic, much like the audience. This makes all of the action scenes and twists and turns that much more compelling, and the added senses of mystery and geopolitical intrigue make it even better. Sicario will give you a scary glimpse at the shadowy ways in which certain powerful organizations operate on the world stage, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants an intriguing story where the “good guys” and “bad guys” aren’t clearly recognized.
Why Global Studies?
I’ve always been fascinated by subjects like international relations, geography, history, and politics. Global Studies was a perfect choice for me because of how versatile it is; all of the above subjects are represented in our course material and it’s easy to see how I can apply that knowledge in my future. One of my favorite classes was GLST 201: Intro to Global Studies, which I took my freshman year. I loved it because it was a great overview of what I’d be studying as a Global Studies major, and there were many opportunities to network and get involved outside of the classroom by making resumes, going to the career fair, and attending guest speaker events. One suggestion for new Global Studies majors is to have a solid plan on how this major will help you achieve your career goals later in life. There are a lot of options for Global Studies, so it’s important to think about how what you’re studying will help you in the future.
Campus involvement: Aside from being a student-athlete tutor, I am also currently participating in a research team that will give a presentation in the Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance (DAAA) Conference at Offutt Air Force Base later in March. Many schools from around the region will also be present, and this will give me the valuable opportunity to preform extensive formal research on a topic that is pertinent to global stability and security. My research team’s topic is identifying potential tripwires that could lead to nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan, and briefing our findings in front of many senior officials in Offutt will be a great experience that will undoubtedly be useful in my future career.
Post-Graduation Plans: After graduating, I hope to get a job in the US Intelligence Community and apply my knowledge and skills to strengthen our national security. There are many options for people who want a career in the Intelligence Community, but I’m most interested in analytical or operational positions that allow me to rely on my skills of communication, writing, and knowledge of important world affairs. Depending on which agency I’ll be employed by, there are many potential opportunities to travel and utilize foreign language skills, which are also important to me in a career.