Name: Randy Thomas
Major/Minor: Majors in Political Science and Communication Studies
Minors in Global Studies, Geography, and History
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Year at UNL: Senior
Favorite book and why:
My favorite book is definitely the Disaster Artist. This book follows the making of “The Room”, a movie written, produced, and directed by Tommy Wiseau, did I mention he was also the star actor? I was a huge fan of this movie, some call it the “Citizen Kane” of bad movies, and this book was an excellent supplementary piece to it, and I loved its recent movie adaptation.
Favorite movie and why:
If I had to pick one, it would be Manchester by the Sea, to this day, I still can’t get over its great visuals and emotions. I love its motifs around overcoming grief, step-by-step.
Why Global Studies?
I chose Global Studies as a minor because I have developed a passion for international affairs throughout my college experience. I believe knowledge of the greater world around us is crucial, both for professional success and for personal development. Knowing that there are people in different countries going through vastly different experiences, and strangely coincidental ones makes the world feel so much more vibrant, captivating, and authentic.
Some of the best classes that I have taken include Political Geography and the Pro-Seminar in International Relations. These two classes offered interesting insights to reimagine how to view global politics and the perspectives of various stakeholders throughout the world. One of the most interesting discoveries I had in these classes was the realization of how maps inform our perspective of the world, especially when one considers the political motives that may be behind a particular map.
One thing that I would recommend for new Global Studies students is to just go out and try to study different fields, you can learn so much more about the world and connect to so many new people by just diversifying your experience.
Education Abroad:
I studied abroad in the Summer of 2017 in Brussels, Belgium. I picked this particular program because it offered classes for both of my majors, Brussels was the headquarters of the EU and NATO, and I was able to participate in a local internship. During my 8 weeks there I took a 3 credit hour class on the European Union affairs, looking at its history, with an outlook on the present and future. I also participated at an internship at a small law firm where I helped lawyers inform clients on their EU rights for different disputes.
Aside from the class work, I loved the experience because I was able to visit the locations of many of these important international institutions. I also have to say, walking around Brussels in a suit on most days was exhilarating. Apart from practicing some of my very meager French, I also just loved taking the time to soak it all in, whether it be through walking around the city with a cone of Belgian fries or meeting friends at a restaurant in the heart of the city. This study abroad experience gave me the opportunity to try living from a different perspective.
Post-Graduation Plans:
I will be graduating this May, and am currently in the process of applying for a few research fellowships and jobs. I hope to gain valuable skills through these experiences and am hoping to find more of my long term interests, as I will also be preparing for the LSAT, as I plan to go into the field of Law eventually. Whether or not I plan to be a lawyer is still up in the air, but I am excited about the new doors and opportunities that I will be able to access with a law degree.