Whether through an internship, mentored research, study abroad program, field school, community service, campus engagement, or other learning opportunity outside the classroom, experiential learning helps students expand their horizons.
“Experiential learning is engaging experience in a way that helps us identify what we need to learn and then learning that thing,” says Danny Damron, assistant dean of experiential learning and professional development in the college. Students set specific intentions for what they hope to learn, reflect on what they learn, and integrate what they are learning during and after the experience.
At BYU, experiential learning becomes inspiring learning when students receive inspiration while engaging in hands-on efforts to answer questions, solve problems, and serve others. Inspiring learning builds students’ character, strengthen them spiritually, increase their intellectual horizons, and prepare them for a life full of continuous learning and service. We are grateful for the generous donations that make many of these experiences possible. Here, students from the BYU College of Family, Home, and Social Sciences reflect on their inspiring learning experiences.
Field School
Isabella Valdizan, Anthropology Seoul, South Korea—Studied international intercultural integration
“The friendships I made with Korean individuals during my research were pretty impactful for me. I learned about Korean culture and became friends with people with very different cultural perspectives from me.”
Maura Boley, Anthropology Terrace, Utah—Studied socioeconomic differences in a 19th-century railroad town
“Being in the field taught me how to work with fellow students, think critically, and respect the history and culture of the site. Learning about the history is one thing, but seeing it for myself was an unforgettable experience.”
Mentored Research
Mackenna Grimshaw, Family Life Denver, Colorado—Researched media effects on child development for Project MEDIA
“We’re assigned to go to participants’ homes, interview parents, and do activities with the kids and parents. This experience taught me how important it is to pay attention to the small details in research so you can have the best data possible.”
Ashton Blake, Political Science Germany, Poland, Hungary—Researched threats to democracy
“Conducting research in Europe helped me decide that I want to focus my future research on similar trends in America. It’s given me a path forward in my major as well as an interest I can pursue further down the road.”
Internship
Ryan Hales, Geography Riga, Latvia—Latvian Institute of International Affairs
“A major highlight was attending a closed-door diplomatic discussion involving leaders from Latvia, Palestine, and Israel. Seeing diplomats work together on real-world challenges reaffirmed my desire to contribute to global solutions.”
Katelyn Boyer, Political Science Cambridge, UK—Woolf Institute
“I contributed to several projects focused on interfaith engagement and the study of religion in public life. This helped me deepen my understanding of how religion and identity shape political and social dynamics around the world.”
Study Abroad
Jamie Aloisio, Psychology New Zealand—Pacific Islander Faith, Cultural Renewal, and Leadership Seminar
“[I live] in a place . . . where seeing someone from our Pasifika community who is well established is pretty rare; this opportunity was one that filled me with hope. After personal conversations with each of the leaders we met, I knew that my dream of becoming an effective leader in my community was more than possible.”
Emma Marx, History Minor Italy, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro— The Renaissance in Italy
“I went into the experience reflecting, ‘How is this shaping me? What will I make and take from this?’ I ended up making a book of haiku on what I learned academically and personally.”
Academic Conference
Samantha Bedell, Economics St. Louis, Missouri—Population Association of America Annual Meeting
“I realized how important it is to get straight to the main findings and talk briefly so people can actually understand my research. It was huge for gaining confidence when presenting. I learned how to take feedback from amazing scholars and forced myself to talk to people I didn’t know.”
Sophie Smith, Sociology Chicago, Illinois—American Sociological Association Annual Meeting
“I was overjoyed to present at a meeting with so many amazing scholars. Not only did I get to travel with my professors to present our research, but I gained confidence in my abilities as a researcher and had my eyes opened to possibilities that exist in my future.”