When Derrick Stevens came to college he wasn’t even sure he wanted an internship, much less one overseas.
But when the opportunity presented itself, Stevens, a junior political science and global studies major from Lincoln, jumped at the chance. And it all happened because he decided to ask questions.
Stevens had been to China in the spring of 2012 and was eager to go back. He asked Dr. Patrice McMahon, the professor with whom he had taken the first trip, if there were any way he could return to China. McMahon put him in contact with the American deputy director of the American Exchange Center, a NU-funded program run at and in cooperation with Xi'an Jiaotong University. It turns out the director was already looking for interns.
Stevens’ internship was the first of its kind and developed slowly because of international cooperation and negotiation issues. “By the graces of good professors and people who were really committed, it did happen, and for that I’m really thankful,” Stevens said. In March 2013, Stevens left to spend three months in Xi’an, China.
Stevens worked at the American Exchange Center at Xi’an Jiaotong University. He studied Chinese from eight to noon every morning and in the afternoon worked with Chinese students. He told them about American culture, sat in on classes and helped Chinese students practice their English by playing games and having conversations in English.
Stevens’ interest in Chinese culture was a big reason he wanted to return to China. He said the one-on-one interaction with people of a different culture was the best part of his internship. “It’s really about those interpersonal experiences you have meeting new people inside of that bigger culture that can help you understand how that person thinks, what that person does in his or her daily life,” he said.
Stevens said it’s important to have a positive attitude about things like studying abroad or overseas internships. “You’ve got to approach it with the best, most curiosity-driven attitude that you have because that’s really the reason to study abroad, like I said, to learn about these different experiences, to want to be there.”
Along with Stevens’ double major in political science and global studies, he is pursuing three minors: philosophy, human rights and global security studies. In the future, he wants to work in a study abroad office or for an organization that sends students from the United States to other places. His experience in Xi’an has helped to influence his career aspirations.
“I had always had interest in study abroad but obviously after having done it twice I’m definitely much more passionate and dedicated to that sort of experience that I think is really good for students to have,” Stevens said.
“I think being able to travel in general, especially outside of the U.S., gives you a very colorful experience in terms of understanding what exists besides the bubble that you’ve lived in your entire life.”
Find opportunities to study abroad by visiting the Education Abroad Office in Love South 127 or checking out the website at http://educationabroad.unl.edu.
-by Kathleen Anderson, junior journalism major
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/9a0c