GJ Sevillano

Politics, Class of 2019

I’m a Politics major with a certificate in American Studies.

Role(s) held in the Humanistic Studies Program:

Behrman Society

Activities on campus:

Residential College Advisor, Frist Campus Center Welcome Desk Attendant, Princeton HighSteppers, Mellon Mays Residential Associate Fellow, PIIRS Undergraduate Fellow

Honors:

Dale Summer Award to trek in Nepal

Why I decided to study the humanities:

I decided to apply to the Behrman Society for three reasons. The first, despite my concentration in a social science, I intend to pursue a Doctoral degree in American Studies or Ethnic Studies, two fields within the humanities, so Behrman gave me a chance to flex those intellectual muscles every month. The second, is that I wanted to be engaged in deep, meaningful conversation with my peers around humanistic topics, issues, and ideas. This was a chance for me to learn from others in a low-stakes environment. Lastly, I wanted to bring a sense of diversity to Behrman and the humanities field writ large. As a QTPOC, first-generation college student, my personal experiences have shaped the way I think and engage with literary and theoretical material, and so I wanted to share my unique perspective with other Princetonians interested in the humanities.

What I have gained from the humanities:

Studying the humanities has pushed my research and thinking beyond single-solution problem solving. I have learned to think creatively, but critically. It has allowed me to see connections between high theory and grounded evidence in multiple ways; observing and analyzing the multiple nodes of intersection between seemingly disparate ideas.

Independent work:

My senior thesis focuses on the grounds of coalition arising from the college student-led demonstrations, rallies, and protests during the Marcos regime in 1960s and 1970s Philippines.

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