Allie Frickert in the classroom. Aida Ghorbani / MOUNTAINEER
She grew up in Singapore, spent her childhood traveling through Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines, but spent vacations with family in Georgia and Texas. Allie Frickert, with an extreme case of third-culture identity, is not your average history professor.
“Part of my identity is being a global citizen,” said Frickert.
Frickert cites her international background as a big part of her identity. “Growing up overseas made me the person that I am in a lot of ways. I’m global-minded,” said Frickert. “Being raised in another country makes you appreciate America more but it also teaches you that there’s more than one way to do things.” Travel has been a priority in her life.
“I sort of have a thing, like a virus. I find myself itching if I haven’t left the country in three or four years. You cannot help but be affected and changed by travel if you’re open to the experience,” Frickert said.
Frickert labels herself a traveler for her ability to adapt.
“There are tourists and there are travelers. Tourists go somewhere and are still in their bubble. They see things, but aren’t very affected by it at all. They’re still in their own world and don’t immerse themselves. A traveler tries to see it in another perspective. They immerse themselves in the culture.”
Her adaptability shows not only through her travel book, but also through her playlist.
“I have really eclectic music taste. I tend to like indie rock, indie folk, and electronic music. I like weird music, like experimental rock. My favorite bands are Radiohead, Grizzly Bear, and Deerhunter,.” With a playlist as unique as her personal history, students see the side of her that is just like themselves. “She is very easy to relate to. She was very approachable. Whether it was before or after class or during office hours, she was always open to answering questions, helping students out, or clarifying things in her lecture. She is a very funny person, too,” said Rafael Manansala, 20, communications major.
Sann Nishino, a 22-year-old theatre arts and communications major, said that she goes out of her way to help. “She’s a very open-minded professor. I’ve asked her questions that she couldn’t answer and she’d go home, research and get back to me about it the next class,” said Nishino.
Frickert has been able to take her own personal story to teach her students to have multiple perspectives on things. “There’s a saying that you should see things from someone else’s shoes. But she hit the nail on the head! She’s gotten me to think more critically about modern issues and government, environmental issues, and just overall with history. I gained a lot more respect for it,” Manansala said. Frickert said she sees things in multiple and unique perspectives because of her third-culture identity.
“There’s actually a category of kids raised overseas. They’re called third- culture kids. They don’t embody the culture of their parents and don’t entirely embody the culture of where they’re born. That third-culture identity is a part of who I am.”
- Aida Ghorbani
Staff Writer
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