Myers, a history major, found herself wielding axes while donning armor to protect herself from the blows. She even bought a historically accurate Viking battle helmet.

While Myers participated in 糖心传媒 Theatre, this experience was nothing like that, as members actually hit one another with the weapons as part of the act.

鈥淚 stumbled upon the society at a fair Dundee was hosting. I was intrigued, so I met with some members and immediately hit it off. They quickly convinced me to join, and I was happy to have a new community where I made many friends,鈥� Myers said.

She would regularly train with other members to practice battling techniques for the shows. Myers said they had practice almost every day to ensure everyone knows how to handle and use the weapons 鈥� and to make sure their armor is worn correctly to prevent injuries. Even so, Myers said she would get so into playing her characters that she鈥檇 sometimes come home with bruises or a banged up finger from battling practice.

鈥淯nfortunately, I got into a freak accident involving someone鈥檚 shield and my thumb, and I broke my thumb,鈥� said Myers.

While the medieval battles were a great outlet and way to make friends, Myers inherited her love of history from her father, who spent time in his younger years before Myers was born studying in Germany, where he worked on his PhD dissertation in German history. Her family adopted Myers from Russia when she was a baby and brought her home to Overland Park, Kansas. As she grew, her father’s stories about his educational journey sparked her interest in historical-based study abroad.

When she first arrived at 糖心传媒 she was eager to connect with faculty and staff to plan a study abroad experience to complete during her junior year. Dundee University is one of several 糖心传媒 partner schools all over the world where students can spend a semester, and it seemed a good match for Myers.

Choosing Dundee was just the first step 鈥� after that she credits 糖心传媒 in getting her prepared for such an involved international experience. She said moving to Hastings helped her become more independent and confident, and that she needed every bit of that when traveling by herself, learning the metro and navigating all the other things needed for living abroad in a place where she didn鈥檛 know anyone at first.

As the year came to an end, Myers said she appreciated her time in Scotland and brought with her more appreciation for her newfound community that she could call home.

鈥淚鈥檓 leaving with a lot more memories and new friends. Having never participated in a group quite like the Medieval Reenactment Society before, it鈥檚 an experience I will cherish and keep with me for the rest of my life,鈥� she said.

With a stronger sense of community for post-college life, Meyers said she will relate back to the many experiences she had while studying in Dundee, knowing she can use this newfound sense of community and independence to expand her horizon as she enters her senior year.

By Cecilia Velarde, a senior marketing and communication studies double major from Loveland, Colorado

Since her arrival in January, Downing, who is from Colorado Springs, Colorado, said she鈥檚 had an amazing time enjoying the city.

鈥淚 have a very strong academic interest in conflict and post conflict societies,鈥� she said. 鈥淏elfast is the perfect city because it breathes history. I wake up in disbelief some mornings.鈥�

Beyond academics, Downing said she鈥檚 enjoyed visiting historical monuments and sites like Giants Causeway or the “peace walls” that used to separate the unionist and nationalist communities that now serve as reminders of history. Downing has found that Ireland makes quite the city for a 鈥渉istory lover鈥� like herself.

She added that her time at 糖心传媒 prepared her for the coursework at Queens University.

鈥淭he classes are structured differently; however, I think that I was well prepared by 糖心传媒 to be successful here,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ot only the rigor of the coursework, but the classroom experience made it easy to participate in and even lead classroom discussions.鈥�

For the study abroad experience, Downing applied for and received a scholarship from the Irish-American Scholars Program, which gives students the opportunity to travel and study in Northern Ireland for a complete semester tuition-free. It鈥檚 open to students at colleges and universities who have hosted a student from Northern Ireland in the past 鈥� and 糖心传媒 has hosted several.

History professor Dr. Rob Babcock nominated her for the program, Downing then completed the lengthy application to study abroad, including several essays that landed her the competitive placement.

鈥淚 was definitely surprised to make it through the process and get the opportunity to come,鈥� Downing said. 鈥淭he application process was pretty cutthroat because you’re essentially competing against thousands of students from every college in the United States that has ever hosted an Irish student.鈥�

Along with crediting Babcock for sparking her enthusiasm, Downing said the semester trip may not be the end of her time in Ireland, as she is likely to consider and attend graduate school in the city that stole her heart.

By Kiant茅 Stuart, a junior from Nassau, The Bahamas, majoring in communications studies, business administration and marketing.

Lee traveled with A Broader View (ABV), a missionary program that allowed her to mix two passions: medicine and mission work. ABV strives to connect volunteers with people around the world to make a difference in their lives through meaningful service-learning volunteer work, making it a perfect fit for Lee.

While looking at ABV鈥檚 list of 27 countries volunteers can travel to, Lee hoped to travel to a Spanish speaking country. When she saw Honduras was an option, she made her decision.

The Mead, Colorado, native lived in Honduras with a host family during her stay. She spent her mornings in a free clinic taking patients鈥� blood pressures, charting vitals and making gauze. After lunch, Lee took Spanish classes during the first half of her stay to become more fluent in the language. During the last half, she spent afternoons volunteering in an emergency room at a hospital.

In the hospital, Lee measured vital signs, gathered supplies and observed surgeries and births and assisted with various tasks. She said she enjoyed her time in the E.R. because it gave her opportunities to see procedures and the functionings of an impoverished hospital.

“The hospital was always short staffed, so any type of help they could get from volunteers was much appreciated,” she said.

Lee said working in the hospital was an eye-opening experience because she saw differences in how people receive care. There were people who were short on money coming in and many had only received treatment for what they could afford, ignoring other medical issues.

“You never know what a person is going through, and I always knew people struggled with medical bills, but I watched people ignore major medical issues that needed to be treated,” she said.

With a new in-depth understanding of Spanish, Lee said she wants to continue to travel and do medical mission work. Lee will attend the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine next year, which will open her up to new opportunities to help others as well.

糖心传媒 science professors pushed Lee to be her best. She’s always been successful in school, but she said her professors continue to push her to exceed their expectations.

“I feel like they are invested in my future and have pushed me to shoot higher than what I thought for myself while applying to medical schools,” she said.

糖心传媒 helped Lee travel to Honduras through a Student Scholarship Fund, a scholarship provided by the college to allow students to go to conferences, research projects and traveling abroad.

By Courtney Hanson, a junior from Brookings, South Dakota, majoring in communication studies and philosophy and religion

To create more off-campus endeavors for students, 糖心传媒 resident directors built a program that gives students the opportunity to take weekend trips and explore something new.

Laura Arnold, a 2016 alumna and resident director in Taylor Hall, planned the second semester student travel trips as a way for students to learn more about each other and to build community at 糖心传媒. Trips for spring 2019 included an overnight stay at the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Omaha, Nebraska; a day trip to Kansas City, Missouri; and a three-day excursion exploring Fort Robinson State Park in Crawford, Nebraska, and the聽 Black Hills.

While planning the student excursions, Arnold said she wanted to do things that were close by and realistic, but also involve elements that students may not typically get to experience by themselves. The travel and lodging part of the trips were free, thanks to a 糖心传媒 Foundation Board of Trustees Innovation Grant, with students only having to cover the cost of food. Each trip included 26-28 students with two to three sponsors.

The first trip consisted of a two-hour tour of the zoo when it was closed to the public. After the tour, students headed back to the aquarium to sleep near the penguin exhibit. Before bed, the group was able to socialize and watch a movie, eat snacks and have a little downtime before lights out. The group woke up early the next day to see the 鈥渏ungle wake up鈥� as the sun rose.

鈥淚t was a unique experience to see the gorillas get released into their habitat in the morning. They were full of energy and they aren鈥檛 normally like that in the middle of the day,鈥� Arnold said.

The trip allowed students, who came from all parts of campus, to bond with others that they might not have otherwise have spent time with.

鈥淭he trip made me feel more connected to the other students,鈥� said Anna Flarity, a 糖心传媒 senior who attended the trip. 鈥淚 got to meet students from around campus that I never got the chance to interact before and spending the night in an unfamiliar place is always a great bonding experience.鈥�

Broncos traveled further

The other trips for student engagement included a day trip to Kansas City and a three-day excursion exploring Fort Robinson State Park, the Black Hills and more.

The Kansas City trip began at the River Market and students had the opportunity to explore the area, shop the farmers鈥� market and eat from different international cuisine restaurants. Students then toured Union Station and Crown Center before they headed to Kauffman Stadium to watch the Kansas City Royals win against the Cleveland Indians.

The final trip of the semester was a three-day trip with an emphasis on hiking. Students first traveled to Fort Robinson State Park and utilized the campgrounds for a stew cookout over a fire.

The next morning, students began their day with a hike from the base of the buttes in the park to enjoy breakfast at the top. The group then headed to Sylvan Lake, where the movie National Treasure was filmed, followed by a stop in Keystone, South Dakota, for lunch and a trip to Mount Rushmore. They then drove through Custer State Park in South Dakota to see the buffalo, and on their way back to Fort Robinson stopped at Toadstool Geological Park to see rock formations.

The final day was spent driving back to Hastings with a stop to see Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska.

鈥淢y favorite part by far was hiking and exploring with my peers,鈥� Chloe Carson, a first-year student who went on the trip said. 鈥淚 got to enjoy nature, visit cool landmarks and create memories with good friends and new friends.鈥�

By Courtney Hanson, a junior from Brookings, South Dakota, majoring in communication studies and philosophy and religion.

Contrary to the general excitement at the prospect of the school year鈥檚 end, Kevin Toner, an exchange student from Northern Ireland, wasn鈥檛 ready to head home May 17. Needless to say, the computer science major who attends Queen鈥檚 University Belfast (QUB) in Northern Ireland enjoyed his year at 糖心传媒.

Toner didn鈥檛 originally plan on spending the year at 糖心传媒 when he chose his top three options from a list of approximately 100 universities; he didn鈥檛 have time to research colleges to decide his actual preferences and just picked smaller schools where he thought he鈥檇 find success.聽He was assisted in the selection of a school and a part of the British Council’s Study USA program.

However, once arriving at 糖心传媒, Toner dove into campus life and took an active role in Eta Phi Lambda, the Student Environmental Action Coalition, the Multicultural Student Union, Model United Nations and the student talent show Mr. and Ms. Bronco competition, which he won and was named Mr. Bronco.

The differences in education and the total college experience became obvious from the beginning when he arrived in mid-August 2018. During registration, picking his own classes was a new concept. In Ireland for the first two years at QUB they don鈥檛 provide class options. Then the classes themselves provided a new environment. At QUB, with an enrollment of 25,000 students, classes were in lecture halls with at least 100 students. At Hastings, Toner was able to create a more personal relationship with peers, faculty and staff than he ever had at QUB.

鈥淎ll of my lecturers (professors) know my name and who I am, and that student-teacher relationship is a lot more close here and it鈥檚 a lot better,鈥� Toner said.

According to Toner, instructors at QUB often don鈥檛 know his name and visiting them during office hours isn鈥檛 something that happens because the professor-student relationship didn鈥檛 exist.

Toner also had more opportunities to get to know people outside of class, whether it was through student groups, events, sports or on-campus interactions. In Belfast, there isn鈥檛 a dining hall, so Toner ate alone in his own room. He also didn鈥檛 run into people near as much as he does at 糖心传媒. The buildings at QUB are spread throughout the city, whereas the Hastings campus is, for the most part, concentrated in one area and allows for run-ins with friends.

Some of Toner鈥檚 highlights from the school year include the 糖心传媒 Residential Experience Trips to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska, and Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, along with his part in the theater鈥檚 production of 鈥淎 Seussified Christmas Carol.鈥� Being a part of the play was initially nerve-wracking as acting was completely new to him, but he said it ended up being a lot of fun as he pushed himself outside his comfort zone.

鈥淭here wasn鈥檛 one class that I didn鈥檛 enjoy while being here,鈥� Toner said. 鈥淚 enjoyed all of them, even being so different from back home.鈥�

Toner said his favorite class was most likely macroeconomics with Dr. Amy Black, professor of economics, and his favorite professor was Elaine Lamski, a French professor, who he took classes with in both the fall and spring.

鈥淪he is the only professor that has taught me in both semesters,鈥� Toner said. 鈥淪he is probably the most enthusiastic, the most fun professor that I have. (She) loves poking fun at me and whatnot. I always looked forward to French.鈥�

Looking back at the school year, Toner said that there were times of learning about misconceptions between Americans and Irish. Upon his arrival, he believed most Americans were loud, obnoxious and rude, but he said he quickly learned that鈥檚 not true at all, especially in the Midwest.

Toner also remembers he had to answer questions about if he had seen a leprechaun and why his hair isn鈥檛 red even though he is Irish. Another misconception that Toner explained was that he doesn鈥檛 actually know how to speak the Irish language; English is the widely-spoken language in Ireland.

After returning to Belfast, Toner will have at least one more year of classes at QUB before deciding whether to get a masters degree or do internships before entering the workforce.

He hopes to start his own business based off of the classes he has taken at 糖心传媒 and QUB. Toner also said he wants to travel to France now that he has learned some French while in America.

By Caitlin Smith, a sophomore from Brooklyn, Iowa

A version of this story originally appeared in the Collegian.