Building relationships in Northern Ireland
Graduate student Ashton Nelson took part in a study abroad opportunity this summer to Northern Ireland in the School of Communication led by Dr. Rebecca Dumlao and Dr. Sachiyo Shearman. Nelson joined seven other students on the trip and found out about the trip through a bulletin board post.
“I heard about this opportunity from a flyer hanging on a corkboard in the upstairs hallway of Joyner East. I was intrigued by the fact that I could complete two graduate school courses within 10 days abroad, and that there were scholarship opportunities available,” said Nelson. “I was fortunate enough to receive two scholarships to cover the cost of this trip.”
A nontraditional student, Nelson was a bit wary about the trip, but her concerns turned out to be unfounded.
“My initial communication with Dr. Shearman and Dr. Dumlao also aided in my decision to attend this trip,” she said. “I felt very welcomed and even encouraged – which I was slightly worried would not be the case given I was considerably older than the other students who attended. I now have friendships that will last a lifetime.”
The 10-day stretch featured structured activity that Nelson found related directly to her coursework.
Ashton Nelson stands in front of Carrickfergus Castle in Northern Ireland. (Contributed photo)
“For the most part, we experienced four things per day — an educational attraction, a tourist attraction, a speaker — and then wrapped each night with service at a youth center,” said Nelson. “We experienced the Belfast Peace Wall, Ulster Museum, Botanic Garden, Titanic Museum and Giant’s Causeway, among others. With the speakers, we were fortunate enough to be able to sit down and discuss openly the impact The Troubles had, and still has, on Northern Ireland. The conversations directly related to our coursework in Conflict and Communication, as well as Media, Culture and Society.”
Working with the youth at St. Peter’s Immaculate Youth Center made a major impact on the Ayden native.
“My favorite experience was forming relationships with the staff, volunteers and young people,” said Nelson. “During my evenings at St. Peter’s, I was able to work with an art therapy program, plan recreational activities and be part of a small-group session with teenagers who were completing leadership courses that would allow them to take a trip with their youth center to the U.S.”
Nelson was invited to reunite with the small group at the end of July when they visited Boston.
The experience was life-changing for Nelson, who discovered a potential postgraduate career path as a professor.
“At the farewell dinner we discussed future career aspirations after graduation. I expressed a desire to teach with a focus on nontraditional adult students. Dr. Shearman looked at me and said, ‘I think you’d make a great professor,” to which Dr. Dumlao responded, ‘I agree.’ I took it as a sign. I knew graduate school would help me figure out exactly how I wanted to be involved in higher education.”