Sydney Paulak, Ambassador

Why you chose your major

I chose geography as a major because I am interested in studying the world and why it matters. It combines both theoretical concepts and real world skills, which is important to me. For example, I have taken several GIS courses and have actually been able to use the application outside of class. Geography pairs well with sociology, where I get to learn about social issues and research. This works well for me because my career interests currently include city planning, city technology, or research.

Favorite course

I have learned a lot in my college courses, but one that stood out to me was SOCI 201 - Social Problems. This course is just an introduction to many social issues, such as racism, income inequality, and crime, but it really helped me find what topics I am passionate about and learn more about them. It also ties back to my career interests because inequality is a huge problem in the United States, and I want to create communities that level the playing field.

Research or internship experience

During the last two summers, I worked as an intern for the City of Kansas City, MO. My position was in the Innovation Office, which is a division of the mayor's office dedicated to city data, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the "Smart Cities" initiative. In my first summer, I worked on a plan to expand the city Wi-Fi and met with several contractors to make this happen. For my second summer, I was in charge of the Innovation Partnership program, which is a pilot program for private companies to work with the city and potentially form long-term contracts.

Other involvement

Cornhusker Marching Band, Honors Program, Out of the Darkness Walk Committee, DEFY, various honor societies

Why you chose Nebraska

I have several family members who went to UNL, so I was very familiar with the campus. It is a large school that still feels friendly, and also has a lot of options and opportunities. This was appealing to me, and the scholarships helped make Nebraska an affordable out-of-state option.