Name: Grant Paisley
Major: Global Studies
Hometown: Roselle, IL
Year at UNL: Freshman
Favorite book and why: As of right now, You Just Don’t Understand by Dr. Deborah Tannen. It’s fascinating to read about the different worlds women and men come from and how that comes out in conversation between them.
Favorite movie and why: Wow. So many amazing movies. A few that never fail to entertain and provoke are Ocean’s 11, 12 and 13. Heist movies are designed to illustrate the double-lives and hidden motives that so many people have. The heists also get us to somehow root for the thieves who are supposed to be the bad guys. It’s just a wild ride.
Why Global Studies?
Our world is becoming more and more interconnected. I find that there is an ever-growing vacuum that can best be filled by people who are invested in learning about other countries and who are dedicated to strengthening relationships between people all around this complicated globe. This is why I chose Global Studies to be the anchor for my education. Studying how nations interact with each other and how people bridge gaps in understanding is fascinating to me. I want to be part of the next group of people who facilitates that growth here and abroad.
Study Abroad Experience: While I have not had the chance to study abroad as a UNL student yet, I have experienced much of the world through travel and by visiting the places not frequented by tourists. The time I’ve spent in countries like Turkey, Senegal, South Africa, Egypt and Tunisia has been critical in shaping my worldview and my perceptions about people living their lives just like me. I’ve visited the townships of South Africa and been a guest in the homes of people who take pride in their lives and who instruct me to be grateful for mine, I’ve met the Senegalese farmers who are on the edges of the desert, working to save the land from destruction. These are the places I plan to study abroad in and these are the people I plan on learning from during my tenure at UNL.
Post-Graduation Plans: My plans are far from complete but I’m happy simply to be learning from the best and talking with those who will lead me in the right direction. Before leaving UNL, I do see myself being a Boren Scholar in Africa and eventually working for the federal government abroad in West Africa, helping to strengthen economic and social ties between that region and the U.S. Plans are subject to change and I’m happy to see where they take me.