Majors and Minors while at UNL: Global Studies and Political Science Majors; Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Minor
What have you been up to since graduation?
After graduating, I was fortunate enough to land a position as an Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator for Lutheran Family Services’ Refugee Resettlement and Support Program.
What were you involved in during your time at UNL?
During college, I spent free-time volunteering with another refugee resettlement organization in town mentoring clients from Eritrea and Somalia. I spent more time volunteering with Somalian immigrants while studying abroad in Spain and found the world of refugee resettlement to be fascinating. This stuck in the back of my brain as I completed my Bachelor’s Degree. Upon graduating in May of 2018, I knew I wanted to stay in Lincoln due to its affordability and surprisingly large immigrant and refugee population. I had been told that it would be difficult to find a career in refugee resettlement as programs had been facing cuts nationwide and openings were scarce. Nonetheless, I happened upon my current position in May and decided to give it a chance. Months later, I was offered the position with a start date in August. Additionally, days after being offered a position with LFS I was offered a position as an Immigration Services Officer with USCIS in Lincoln. I only mention this to serve as an example of how things can go seemingly terribly for months (literally as I had no prospects and was nervous I never would) and then dream jobs can present themselves in a matter of days. Patience is key.
In the end, I decided to stay with LFS as the flexible schedule and hands-on client experience attracted me and continues to be rewarding. So many students do not see options for globally inspired work in Lincoln being a small, rural town. In actuality, Lincoln has a large immigrant and refugee population and organizations assisting the populations are thriving. Many will try and leave the country to have a global impact; however, you can achieve similar results right in your backyard. Lincoln is becoming a cultural hub (think the Yazidi population) and opportunities are becoming more and more available. If I could offer advice, I would tell students to contact people in the areas of work they are interested in. The old adage “it isn’t what you know, it’s who you know” holds true in the nonprofit world. I would also highly recommend pretending you have graduated and begin searching for a career. Look to see what is actually required of potential employees and what experience is most sought after. Be proactive in knowing what is available and legitimately doable.
What is your advice for current global studies students?
Post-graduation can be a scary time and the “real world” can be intimidating. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln does a really good equipping students with the knowledge to proceed into a professional career. Nonetheless, students have to put in the work in order to reap the reward. Don’t be afraid to talk to people in the community and apply the knowledge professors and advisors have equipped you with. Working in refugee resettlement and other immigrant/refugee related programs can be incredibly difficult. Nonetheless, it is inspiring to see the impact the work has on the populations served and the Lincoln community as a whole. Stay hard-working, stay passionate, and stay patient. Everything else will fall into place.
