Ben Carstens' Global Education
As Castleton students loaded their cars and swarmed back to campus in the August haze, senior communication student Ben Carstens '14 (pictured, far right at Chimney Rock) headed west for Santa Fe, New Mexico. Through the college’s study away program Carstens and 14 other students spent the fall semester of 2013 exploring and studying in the American Southwest under the direction of Professors Paul Derby and Liza Myers.
Although today he calls Vermont home, Carstens has previously lived in Ireland and Germany and says it was the “wanderlust” inside of him that ignited his inspiration to leave the Green Mountains.
“I’ve always been a traveler,” he said.
While in Santa Fe Carstens became engulfed in a mix of Spanish and Native American cultures and had the opportunity to experience sites that differ greatly from the luscious green of Vermont.
“It was like being in another country,” said Carstens.
A number of excursions, including a rafting trip down the San Juan River, allowed Carstens and his classmates to appreciate the natural world away from the distractions of technology.
“It was awesome because we spent three days away from texting, social media, and even calling,” he said. “It was a really great bonding experience.”
Carstens was also awe struck by his visit to the Grand Canyon.
“You just have this hole in the ground with layers of history,” he said.
For the academic portion of the semester, students had 12 required credits and then had the opportunity to take other credits in their own majors. To fulfill credits in his communication major, Carstens made a documentary about sustainability with a focus on building a pueblo with adobe. [View the Documentary]
In collaboration with Professor Derby’s Community in American Society class Carstens filmed as they assisted in the restoration of an old adobe hut and converted it into a dancehall. The seven-minute long documentary serves to describe this natural restoration process and displays the cooperative work of students and community members.
“I kind of showcased the class with the video,” he said.
After returning home in December, Carstens took off again in January. This time he and Derby were bound for Croatia to show the documentary at a sustainability conference.
According to Carstens, the week he spent in Croatia provided him with a great deal of positive feedback on his documentary as well as networking opportunities with others attending the conference. He plans to continue expanding his piece for other conferences and to focus on the influence of sustainable building on the future.
Carstens will complete his Castleton degree next fall while spending another semester in the Southwest. This time he plans to take 12 credits of advanced courses as well as 6 credits towards a proctorship in which he will organize trips and manage funds.
“I think it’s going to be different in the sense I’ll see it in different eyes,” he said.