Esbeidy Chavez

Why you chose your major

When I first came to UNL I majored in Business Administration and as I was taking Business courses I felt as if the major didn't fit me because I was more passionate in learning about other countries, learning about people from different cultural backgrounds, their language, etc.

I cannot be more thankful for Emira Ibrahimpasic, a professor for Global Studies, because she helped me throughout my transition in becoming a Global Studies major.

Transitioning to the Global Studies Major was one of the best decisions I made because I now know that it is something that I am passionate about, especially since I get to focus on a specific region that I would like to know more about. Global Studies has helped me learn about how the world operates in various countries, why different countries do the things they do, the many policies that are involved in each country, etc.

When talking about my career goals I want to work in the area of Global Security or Foreign Policy. I would want to work in these areas because I want to be able to build relationships with other countries/people and help them out in any way in order to help their economy strive.

Favorite and/or most impactful course

The one class that has made the biggest impact on me would be Global Studies because of Professor Emira Ibrahimpasic. She made the class so interesting especially when discussing about issues or topics that are occurring in different countries.

This class has opened my eyes on how a lot of countries are heavily impacted by political or economic issues and the unsettling relationships that many neighboring countries have with each other. Staying up-to-date with the current events that are happening around the world is crucial for us to understand in order to help others when they are in need.

Research or internship experience

At the moment I don't have any research or internship experience yet, however my goal is to get an internship for the U.S. Department of State down the road. One thing I would mention is that I have applied for the CLS Program (Critical Language Scholarship Program) to study abroad in India, which will take place this summer.

Other involvement

The Community College I attended, before coming to UNL, I was a part of Phi Theta Kappa an International Honor Society. I was not only involved in my college, but I was also involved in my community.

Being in Phi Theta Kappa has helped me developed great leadership skills because I served as the Vice President of leadership for the honor society. I oversaw all leadership activities in the college and outside the college. I also made sure my group participated in community service activities, such as volunteering in the Salvation Army, volunteering for the Heartland United Way, or even hosting our own event and many more.

Throughout my two years in the community college, I was able to attain a lot of qualities that I didn't know I had. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and interact with different people from different cultural background and I think the most important one was gaining leadership skills.

As of right now, I am volunteering at the Asian Community and Cultural Center where I teach English classes to adults that are from Africa and Asia. I love teaching adults English because not only am I helping them improve on their English, but I am learning a lot from them and their culture. On my free time, I also volunteer at the Salvation Army in Lincoln.

Why you chose Nebraska

When I was 12 years old my family made the decision to move from Kansas to Nebraska in search of better opportunities. I chose to attend the University of Nebraska because I want to continue with my education and build a better life for not only myself, but my family as well.

Another reason why I attended UNL was because I want to make my parents proud because they have worked hard and they have made a lot of sacrifices for not only me, but also my siblings in order for us to get a good education and succeed in life.

Student Ambassadors are undergraduate students who talk to prospective students, parents, alumni, and the general public about the college.