Name: Emily Johnson
Majors: Global Studies, Political Science, Spanish
Hometown: Lincoln, NE
Year at UNL: Junior
Favorite book and why: It changes often, but I would say Antigone by Sophocles. It’s a classical Greek tragedy about a young woman standing up to a corrupt government, and it packs drama, suspense, and a valuable lesson about political power. Plus, it was written over 2,500 years ago, and it’s very interesting to see recurring themes that span centuries.
Favorite movie and why: Call Me by Your Name. It’s a 1980s love story that takes place in the North Italian countryside, and the imagery is beautiful. I highly recommend watching this movie if the Nebraska winter is making you wish for sunshine, because every scene is bright and gorgeous.
Why Global Studies?
Regardless of what discipline you specialize in, it is important to be a citizen of the world and have a basic understanding of other customs and cultures. I personally want to practice law and specialize in immigration policy after I finish my professional education, so it is imperative that I have a background in many different cultures and religions. I’m currently in POLS472: State Terror, and it is extremely interesting for anyone interested in situations that produce refugees and asylum seekers.
If you are new to global studies or even vaguely interested in international affairs, you should apply to volunteer with Lincoln Literacy. I currently teach a Beginner’s Citizenship Class and working with students from all over the globe has been an eye-opening experience. Lincoln has a huge refugee community, get involved and get to know your neighbors!
Education Abroad:
I spent the summer of 2018 in Bilbao, in the Basque Country of Spain. The autonomous Basque region has a unique history of conflict with the rest of Spain, which appealed to my political science background. My host mom had lived through a dictatorship, a constitutional monarchy, and various coup attempts, and I enjoyed nothing more than sitting and chatting about her experiences for hours over a dinner of Basque octopus. If you want to study abroad in Spain but don’t want the typical West European experience, I highly recommend spending some time in Basque Country.
On campus, I stay busy as the Internal Vice President of ASUN student government, where I have the opportunity to interact with students from various backgrounds on a daily basis. Even if you don’t consider yourself a “political” person, I encourage you to look into how you can get involved in ASUN, because we take on issues from sustainability, to campus inclusion, to academic policy, and we always can use more global studies majors!
Post-Graduation Plans:
I plan to take a gap year (or two) after graduating and then pursue a law degree. I am not sure exactly what I will do with my gap year- I am currently a Truman Fellowship finalist, and if I am selected I would love to participate in their Truman-Albright Fellows program in D.C. Otherwise, I plan to apply for a Fulbright award to Spain. Needless to say, I’ll be writing a lot of application essays in the next few years!