G rant Van Den Berg

What city are you from? I am from Pretoria, which is in the northeastern region of South Africa.

What is your major? I’m getting my B.A. in history.

How many years did you study at Georgia College & State University? I have studied here for four years.

How does Milledgeville’s weather compare to South Africa? It gets much hotter and colder in Georgia than Pretoria. Pretoria also does not get so humid.

What’s your favorite food at The Max? I like the burgers. 

Which clubs and organizations did you belong to? I was involved in the International Club and University Housing.

How did they help you grow? The International Club connected me to so many great people, and University Housing helped me grow as a person and leader.

How helpful was the staff at the International Education Center? The staff at the International Education Center was super helpful. They were welcoming and kind. They made sure I was doing well and always were there to listen.

Who is your favorite professor and why? My favorite professor is Dr. Aran MacKinnon, because he helped me grow as a student. He has also spent time in South Africa and did his dissertation on South African history, so it’s cool to talk about South Africa with him. 

What did you learn from this professor or GCSU that you can apply in your profession? Dr. MacKinnon and GCSU taught me to be more confident in my abilities, which will help me in my profession.

What are your plans once you graduate? I am going to get my master’s in history. 

What profession would you like to pursue and why? I’m planning on becoming a historian, so I can pursue my own research.

What inspires you and why? I’m inspired knowing I can constantly grow and gain knowledge so I can achieve anything that I set my mind to.