Echoes from the Blackfriary

My STEP signature project involved participation in an Irish Medieval History course. I spent 4 weeks in Trim, Ireland, studying the history and archeology of the medieval Dominican friary in that small town. Additionally, I worked with the 15 other students on the trip to create a podcast which documented our historical and folklore study over the course of 3 episodes.

In anticipation of my study abroad, I expected my worldview to change somewhat, if only from being in a country other than the United States for the first time. What I could not have anticipated was exactly how my understanding of the world would change. While in Ireland, I gained perspective on the type of student that I am and the challenges I would face in myself and my career.

Before my trip, I thought I was a rigid learner who could only study by reading the textbook and taking detailed notes to understand material. In Ireland, I had no archeology textbook. I learned by working with my peers and advisors and we determined the most successful and unsuccessful strategies to complete our project. The less I talked and more I listened, the more I understood that every person I met on the trip, whether they supported or challenged me, had something to teach me. I left the United States without any expectation for our final project, and returned with something I could be proud of, knowing that it took great effort and a creative transformation to complete.

Our first week in Ireland, we were presented with an academic challenge: how do we contextualize the archeology of the Blackfriary in Trim using local folklore? In our initial brainstorm, we decided it would be exciting and accessible to use audio interviews of Trim locals sharing their personal connection with the town and its history to create a podcast about our work at the dig site. This led us on an unpredictable and transformational journey.

Our student team worked tirelessly to follow the historical trail of breadcrumbs, compile the relevant interviews, and create a podcast that was engaging, informative, and accomplished our goals. The mere process of meeting and interviewing Trim’s citizens is what initially altered my view of learning. It was so fun to hear more about the incredibly unique relationship each individual had with the town and the dig site, I often forgot I was working on the project and my education became effortless. I saw the value in this and simply began listening, asking questions, and engaging my new community to determine the best path for the project.

Despite my newfound learning technique, completing the podcast wasn’t always easy. There were plenty of roadblocks that often seemed insurmountable. Sometimes, great audio was brought into question due to miscommunication with collaborators. Some students working on the project lost focus or motivation along the way. Our time constraint became a real worry during the final days leading up to the presentation. However, all of these forces pushed me to find solutions and complete my commitment; the project leaders never lost hope, and encouraged us to work around our apparent challenges.

In the end, I realized it was both the positive experiences of working with passionate, motivated people to create something worthwhile and the countless hurdles between us and the finish line that helped me abandon my black-and-white perceptions of the world and become a more creative, keen student. Not all of the answers are in the textbook. However, creating our podcast in Ireland taught me that the solutions were present, if I paid attention to the world around me.

As a student who hopes to become a physician one day, I often hone in on my academic performance and focus only on studying and homework. I can work myself into corners where I’ve pored over material for hours with no clear answer in sight. This could also present a challenge later on when I need to come up with innovative solutions to help a patient achieve their best outcome. Instead of limiting myself to what I know I’m comfortable with, I can remember to seek out those around me who have experiences distinct from my own. Whether they challenge or encourage me, I will be stretched to find the best solution to any problem I may encounter.

Our podcast can be found here.