The Transformative Experience: Reflections from J-term study experiences in China and Costa Rica — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

Instructions

Student presentations must have a faculty sponsor.

Abstracts must include a title and a description of the research, scholarship, or creative work. The description should be 150-225 words in length and constructed in a format or style appropriate for the presenter’s discipline.

The following points should be addressed within the selected format or style for the abstract:

A clear statement of the problem or question you pursued, or the scholarly goal or creative theme achieved in your work.
A brief comment about the significance or uniqueness of the work.
A clear description of the methods used to achieve the purpose or goals for the work.
A statement of the conclusions, results, outcomes, or recommendations, or if the work is still in progress, the results you expect to report at the event.

Presenter photographs should be head and shoulder shots comparable to passport photos.

Additional Information

More information is available at carthage.edu/celebration-scholars/. The following are members of the Research, Scholarship, and Creativity Committee who are eager to listen to ideas and answer questions:

Jun Wang
Kim Instenes
John Kirk
Nora Nickels
Andrew Pustina
James Ripley

The Transformative Experience: Reflections from J-term study experiences in China and Costa Rica

Name: Zachery Feldker
Major: Biology
Hometown: Bloomington,IL
Faculty Sponsor: Deanna Byrnes
Other Sponsors: Edward Montanaro
Type of research: Independent research

Abstract

The opportunity for short, yet immersive J-term study trip experiences while attending Carthage College allows students to encounter the ideals and practices of other countries. These encounters provide an opportunity to experience foreign practices that may be overlooked, criticized, or misunderstood when compared to a personal perception of the practices of one’s own nation and local culture. This project seeks to reflect on insights formed from personal J-term study trip experiences in China and Costa Rica. The focus of these insights examines some of the national ideals, both researched and personally observed, of the countries visited and considers how these ideals shape the national goals of a particular country, which affect the national polices enacted by a government. Additionally, this project seeks to reflect on the personal transformation experience that results from applying the insights formed from J-term immersive study trips to a renewed personal perception of one’s native country.

Poster file