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Photographs by Greg Helgeson
 Jessica Hawkinson '08
Growing up in the Presbyterian faith tradition, I frequently saw the Presbyterian Church's activity in global affairs, particularly humanitarian aid. My youth group in Wallingford went to Juarez, Mexico, where we helped rehab a women's shelter. We also witnessed the devastation of families of squatters, whose homes were destroyed by Mexican officials. Families tried to relocate--finding cardboard and plywood in trash heaps to build homes. The problems associated with poverty continue to be perpetuated. My experiences in Juarez contribute to my feeling that these larger problems must be addressed.
 I quickly learned that most important questions in life don't have easy answers, and I've come to love these challenges.
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Ultimately, I visited the international studies departments of all the schools I considered. Professor [Ahmed] Samatar happened to be doing the intro seminar [at Macalester], and he displayed a passion for international studies that was unmatched at other institutions. My mom [Suzan Hawkinson '80] is an alum, so that didn't hurt.
Academic life: I've worked independently with Professor Samatar doing two tutorials, on globalization and on the European Union and models for global governance. I've looked at regional integration, policymaking mechanisms, how citizenship works in the EU and some of the problems with the integration of minority populations, particularly Muslims. In my tutorials we met once a week for an hour and a half. Honestly, it was terrifying sometimes! I used to have this inner fear that he would ask a question I couldn't answer. I quickly learned that most important questions in life don't have easy answers, and I've come to love these challenges. It is also helpful to have a professor pay close attention to the individual ways I can grow in my academic work. Special experiences: Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is an international program. As our first project, we're developing curriculum to help teach basic financial budgeting skills to the Hmong community in Minneapolis. It's very important for integrating the Hmong population into American society and citizenship.
EXCO [Experimental College] is another new project. At this point we're developing shorter classes or one-time classes to give community members from the Twin Cities or the student population a chance to explore subjects not offered within regular course listings. A skill-share fair kicked things off with a stilt-walking class and the retelling of an indigenous story from a Native American tradition. What she really learned at Mac: The first paper I wrote here came back covered in red ink. At a basic level, I've become a better scholar. SIFE and EXCO were opportunities to work outside of my academic interests. My involvement with SIFE and International Studies might make people perceive me as a "technician of empire," but I wouldn't call myself a capitalist in the negative sense. Capitalism happens to be the dominant form of economic organization that exists right now. I'm of the philosophy that you work with what you've got with a larger vision in mind. After Macalester: Regional governance--the idea of states pooling their sovereignty for potential goals of transnational citizenship--really interests me. Working with the EU could be a possibility at some point in my career; supporting the improvement of an organization like the U.N. would also be rewarding. Being part of a faith tradition gives me hope for a world of greater peace. A belief in a greater good reinforces my idealism and my optimism for the world. The theologian Frederick Buechner wrote about being called to "the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." When you're called to a vocation, the calling is not only a personal one, but also one that is done in service to the world's deepest needs.
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