January 31, 2024
Q: Tell us about yourself!
Hi! I’m Julia Arciola (soon to be Julia Hier in June 2024!), a first-year master’s student in DAMES. I’m originally from Boca Raton, FL. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for my undergraduate degree where I received a B.A. in Global Studies in August 2023. Fun Fact: I’m the Feature Twirler with the Marching Tar Heels, so I perform at many athletic events around campus including football, basketball, and soccer games!
Q: What program track did you choose in DAMES, and why?
I chose the Chinese track in DAMES because I’ve studied Mandarin for 8 years. I knew that in my master’s I wanted to narrow into U.S. & China relations and learn more about East Asia.
Q: What are you hoping to gain from your experiences here in DAMES and at UNC?
I hope that I’m able to broaden my perspective and become more understanding of other positions relating to world politics. Since most of my schooling was within the U.S., I come into the master’s program with an American viewpoint, and I know in DAMES I will be introduced to other perspectives.
Q: For fun: what’s your favorite food, favorite animal, or favorite book?
I’m a big foodie so I don’t know if I have ONE favorite food, but I’m a big fan of most desserts and birria tacos.