Story and photos by Logan Jackson
- Graham George – sophomore German and international studies (peace studies) double major
- Mentor: Seth Howes, associate professor of German
After graduating high school, Graham George decided that he wanted a bit of adventure before beginning his collegiate journey. Through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) scholarship, George was able to spend a year in Germany where he learned the language and was exposed to German culture.
“I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study after high school, and I really wanted to take my time on the decision,” George said. “When I found the CBYX scholarship, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to expand my knowledgebase and dive into another culture. The experience was incredible, and when I returned home, I was definitely interested in continuing to learn more about Germany and its culture.”
When George made the decision to attend Mizzou after returning from Germany, it was only natural that he chose to study German and international studies. He just completed his freshman year and, this summer, George is developing a creative nonfiction project to build on his interests.
“I’m developing a braided lyric essay, which basically means that I’m writing about a couple of different, seemingly unrelated topics and working to find the common ground and juxtaposition of certain themes,” George said. “I’m primarily writing about politics in America and Europe – mainly Germany – and weaving in themes like cancer, biology and geography.”
The theme tied to cancer hits very close to home for George. Just before he left for Germany, his mom was diagnosed with cancer.
“Thankfully, my mom is in remission, but throughout my time in Germany, cancer was at top of mind,” George said. “There were a lot of political changes happening while I was there, too, so a lot of those experiences kind of informed what I’m working on now.”
George’s project is made possible by the Cherng Summer Scholars program. A nine-week research or creative scholarship program for Mizzou students who are pursuing the Honors Certificate, the Cherng Summer Scholars program allows students to participate in individually designed projects under the mentorship of a Mizzou faculty member. The program is supported by a gift from Peggy and Andrew Cherng and the Panda Charitable Foundation.
“I am beyond thankful for this opportunity,” George said. “Being in this cohort with these brilliant students and learning more about what they’re doing has been really motivating. It’s been cool to see students from so many backgrounds share what they are passionate about. The program offers a great snapshot of the awesome projects that Mizzou offers.”
George said a big portion of his project has him reading and taking notes on various materials, as well as taking notes on his thoughts overall. He’s also studying various stylistic devices to see what he could incorporate, especially ones tied to German literary works.
“One of the most interesting observations I’ve made is focused on how young our country truly is,” George said. “In Germany, it’s so normal to walk past a 14th century cathedral every day. It’s just really, really fascinating. You can also see some German influence in various places across Missouri. I’m excited to continue this project and gain more insights into the world at large.”