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Destiny Eames

Bio Summary
Cohort Year: 
2016
Home Institution: 
Carlow University
Heinz Programming Area: 
Arts & Culture
Study Abroad Country: 
South Korea
International Experience

Destiny Eames spent six weeks in Seoul South Korea, studying at Yonsei University, one of Korea's three top tier universities. Monday through Thursday she studied East Asian Art History and Korean Language from one to six in the evening. On weekends she enjoyed exploring the city. Throughout her stay she was able to eat delicious foods, meet amazing people, and view beautiful sceneries. However, Destiny spent most of her time meeting and talking with as many native Koreans as she could. One of her goals was to understand South Korean's view towards the Korean and American LGBTQ+ community. Through conversation with the many Koreans she met, she accomplished this goal. She was surprised by how many misconceptions Koreans had about Americans, which she happily corrected. Spending six weeks in Korea forced Destiny to reevaluate and confirm her own values as an American. She plans to incorporate Korean elements with her American culture to develop herself as a true global citizen. Upon her return, she looks forward to sharing her experiences and encouraging others to embark on a global journey as well.

Community Engagement Experience
CEE Title: 
Approaching Ethical Dilemmas with a Global Perspective

Our CEE was called "Approaching Ethical Dilemmas with a Global Perspective", and we defined it as a seminar for future leaders. We started with a brief presentation defining cultural competency and its importance, especially in positions of authority. The presentation was followed by student-led roundtable discussions. Each table was comprised mostly of university students in an attempt to encourage student discussions. At these roundtables, we had several cases of ethical dilemmas written out on cards. One person would read the case study and follow-up questions, then the entire table shared their answers, ideas, and opinions on the matter. The discussions often led to other topics in ethical dilemmas, which was great. We ended our CEE by coming back together as a group. This allowed people from the roundtables to ask questions and share insightful thoughts and opinions they had discussed. By providing insightful information and discussions, we gave students the chance to share their opinions rather than telling them our own, which is an effective practice in cultural competency. Our CEE was a combination of sharing knowledge and empowering the community to effect change. We used our knowledge and our personal international experiences to educate and encourage students to change, or at least reconsider, the ways that they interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds in their specific fields of study and work.

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