Max Lantz
B.A. Alumnus
Biography
Brazilian Army Commission, Washington, DC; Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva, Switzerland
Max’s journey since graduating from Tulane has been a long one. He initially stayed in New Orleans after graduating. He spent a year helping to promote the city‘s tourism industry by translating marketing materials for the Latin American market at the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. Later during his time in New Orleans, he repaired computers and worked at Restaurant August. He then moved to Washington, DC where he found a job at the Brazilian Army Commission‘“a branch of the Brazilian embassy. Most recently, Max was accepted into a Master‘s program at the Graduate Institute for International and Development Studies (IHEID) in Geneva, where he is currently studying.
Max’s LAST major brought him to Switzerland…
Why did you choose to major in Latin American Studies?
To say that I was a below average high school student would be an understatement. The only exception was Spanish class, which I thoroughly enjoyed. So much so that I even went on a summer exchange program in Paraguay. After high school I took several Latin America-related classes at City College of San Francisco. I applied to transfer to several universities. My Latin American Art History teacher said that Tulane would be the best choice because of the Stone Center.
How has your background in LAST helped you since graduation?
It got me a great job. While many people who studied fields that are considered more practical or job oriented are left out in the cold, Spanish and Portuguese language skills are in high demand. Despite the fact that 2010 showed the highest unemployment numbers in a quite a while, I was hired as a local employee at the Brazilian embassy on a renewable contract with great pay and benefits (and home cooked Brazilian food every day for lunch). LAST also helped me get an internship with the US Embassy in Brasília‘“not to mention a master‘s degree with a scholarship in Switzerland.
In hindsight, what would you have done differently as a LAST major?
I wouldn‘t have been worried so much about class choices. I remember thinking ‘these two courses are too closely related‘ (that‘s usually a good thing), or ‘this one is not in my area region of focus‘ (it doesn‘t matter really). We are lucky to go to a school where we have a variety of options‘“my European colleagues are always jealous when I tell them this. Take advantage.
Any words of wisdom for LAST undergraduates?
TUCLA is not that bad. You will survive. Also, go to Birmingham for the conference‘“and for that matter jump on any opportunity where Tulane will pay for your travel. Just because you have ‘Studies‘ at the end of your major doesn‘t mean you are unemployable or your degree is worth less than someone who studied Business. It‘s all about how you can sell yourself. And speaking of selling yourself… Do not ever sell yourself short. This is an order. I did not believe I would get into Tulane‘“but I did. I almost didn‘t go to my interview at the Brazilian embassy because I thought there was no chance, but I got the job. I thought that studying on a scholarship in Geneva was a pipe dream‘“but I am here.
