Beckett Christensen ’25 is studying peace and conflict studies under the Fulbright Finland Tampere University Graduate Award.The Fulbright Tampere University Graduate Award is given to U.S. students who have completed at least a bachelor’s degree and want to complete a full master’s at Tampere University in Finland. The award pays for travel, covers two years of tuition, and provides a monthly living stipend for the first nine months. After that, the grantee pays their own living expenses. There are also alumni and network activities scheduled for grantees. Christensen’s program started this past fall and will last two years.
Christensen’s area of study, peace and conflict, is closely related to both his Cornell major in religion and his minor in politics and international relations.
“It can be a hard field. I’ve got classmates studying genocide and abuse of power,” Christensen said. “But there’s this sort of progression, from things like the body as an individual versus the body as a state, to more and more abstractions of what the body might be and how we interpret it.”
While it can get depressing, Christensen pointed out that it can be fascinating to expand his viewpoint and understanding of the world. This growth also happens outside of the classroom, with Christensen learning a lot about the cultural differences as he goes about his new life in Finland. Classes are available in English, but constantly hearing a foreign language in public can be challenging. When he went to play some casual basketball, he discovered that spontaneous games didn’t really happen.
“You have to join a team, and then you're on a regular, very specific schedule at the recreation center,” Christensen said.
Perhaps the biggest difference, however, is the small talk.
“There’s a culture of reservedness. If you don't have a preestablished, shared interest, people are less likely to find something to talk about.” Christensen said. “Class serves sort of like a natural bridge into socialization, so it's not so isolated.”
Christensen said that Cornell, and the international travels he participated in while attending, helped him adjust to this new environment after his Mount Vernon upbringing.
“It allowed me to pick myself out of this Midwestern town mindset and deconstruct my notions of what the world looked like and grow more accustomed to other ideals and such,” Christensen said.
When it comes to his future plans, he’s not sure what’s next. His top choices, for now, are to look at further education or a job in the European Union. As for his fellow Cornellians, he has this advice to share.
“Take advantage of the opportunities that are there. Have the gumption to apply for things, even if you don’t think you’ll get it. Take the less obvious routes and don’t be afraid to pursue obscure interests, because you never know how it’s going to work out,” Christensen said.