Gavin Carr

1. Please state your full name, your home university and area of study?
Gavin Carr, Arabic and Political Science major at the University of Mississippi
2. Why study Arabic?
I found the culture to–in many ways–mirror the southern culture in which I was raised. The more about it I learned, the more I felt at home. I hope to be able to build bridges between our cultures based on our commonalities that can often go unnoticed by the general public.
3. Why participate in the Flagship program?
The Flagship program was the best way to ensure that I could obtain thorough linguistic and cultural competencies.
4. What are you looking forward to the most during your Capstone year in Meknes?
I am most looking forward to the opportunity to wholly focus on developing my knowledge of Arabic and Arab culture.
5. What are your future goals and how does this experience fit in to them?
I hope to pursue a career in the U.S. Foreign Service. The Capstone program will be instrumental in further developing the intercultural competence and understanding that have long been considered the cornerstone of effective diplomacy.
6. What advice would you give to future Flagship students?
Find what drives you, what you want to do in life, and pursue that with everything you have. Everything you do inside and outside of the classroom should point to that in some way, shape, or form. A cohesive resume
that clearly signals a passion for something will be far more beneficial in the long run. People should be able to read your resume or cover letter and know exactly what you are about and what drives you.
7. Share something fun and interesting about yourself.
I transferred to the University of Mississippi after my freshman year of college to study in the Arabic Flagship Program.