“When I started my journey at the University of Michigan, I was conflicted about what I wanted to study and do with my time here. After taking a wide variety of classes, I found my passions in domestic and global politics, international human rights, and conflict resolution. The Program in International and Comparative Studies (PICS) and International Studies major allowed me to combine these interests, and more, through an array of courses in Political Science, Sociology, History, and core International Studies classes. I am so thankful for the PICS major for helping to create a comprehensive program and course plan, that also allowed me to refine my Spanish language skills.

With one side of my family being from Argentina, I learned early the benefits of engaging with the politics and history of other countries, and how it could shape our understanding of our country and region. In my PICS classes, I was further exposed to history and laws throughout different regions, and how those compared to laws and current issues in my own region. Learning how certain policies were so influential on communities and groups throughout the U.S., as well as the rest of the world, I was really drawn to the law and its functions in society. After graduation, I will be starting law school this fall, with eyes on a career in public interest. I want to use my skills from all areas of my studies to help create change in communities, and work to better our system. Go Blue!”

Eleanor Hirschman

BA International Studies (International Security, Norms and Cooperation) ‘21

Hometown: Saginaw, Michigan

Affiliations: MUNUM, K-Grams, Michigan Medicine

Future plans: “I will be attending the University of Connecticut School of Law to pursue a career in public interest law.”

Fondest memory of her experience in PICS: “My INTLSTD 401 class with Dr. Melanie Tanielian!”

Is there anything you would like to express to your peers, parents, professors, or others?: “I would like to thank my parents for all their support over the last four years (and the eighteen before that!), and to my peers in PICS for creating such an enriching academic environment that has challenged me and allowed me to grow as a person.”