Final Draft
Catholic college
1. Community members
“The Father, the son and the Holy spirits…” At the beginning of the philosophy class, the professor prays and students follow him but I do not. Because here is a small catholic college in KS, most students are catholic and some classes start from the pray. My ex roommate put picture like right one on the wall. However, there are some not catholic in the college such as athletes, international students. I am from Japan and not catholic, so I am included in the international student category when students are classified to small groups. These students usually don’t pray and go mass that held almost every day. We even do not have to go all school mass that cancels classes for the day though we are required to take some theology class as general education requirement. In this condition, I have spent good time here to study for two years. Although the difference I feel daily is the difference between Japanese culture and American culture, sometimes, like in the class, I feel that I need to pay more attention to myself as a member of the college community but has a different background.
To focus on the proposition, I need to understand well the college community I belong. What is its value, belief or practice? I started from observation phase, making field note, then I did an interview.
2. Characteristics of the community
As first step, I conducted observation with jotting down any words or phrases I think it would help my work. Often, I wrote down in my native language, Japanese since it is easy to write right after I realized the information. I bring pen, note and smart phone that is used to take picture whenever I go college. As we learned in the course this week, I tried to write down just what I see not what I feel when I took the note. The word and phrase could be short enough to reminds me what happens there. Then I started to write in full sentence with detail as field note. The following information is some of what I found from the observations.
First, about prying custom, some students pray before they eat, others do not. The pray is shorter than pray in the class. The percentage of students who do not pray in café seems higher compared to that of in the class. Most of students in the class follow the professor prays before the class. Include me, international students and athletic student do not pray.
Next, I focused on students. I saw students who wear an accessory that has Christianity motif such as cross, the Holy Mother and Jesus Christ. Students use items such as key ring or T-shirts that has design related to Christianity. I know students who major in theology though it depends on students if they get their jobs related to the major. There are students who minor theology as well. I also know there are choirs who sing for the mass that is held almost every day. The choir is not request a special condition. You do not have to be music major, catholic or Christian to join the choir.
Third, when I looked the campus, I realized that our college shop sells an accessory or ornament that is used in Christian life. There are some statues of famous great Christian. Some buildings are named from Christianity such as Mother Teresa Center, St. Benedict’s Hall and St. Michel’s Hall. I could find priests who have class like intro to theology, sisters and a student who wears sister costume on campus. I also found there is an office that is for ministry in student union building and students can meet priest there. In the place, there is a poster that tells us information about mission trips to other countries and introduces students’ experiences. In the classroom, I could see some classes have a poster that shows college value based on catholic faith. Its index is Jesus Christ, Community, Conversion of life, Love of learning, Listening, Excellence through virtue, hospitality, Stability, Stewardship and Prayer and work. In addition, some classes have cross on the anterior wall.
As you can see, there is a lot. What I could see from my observation is how much our school have access to Christianity. You can easily imagine how much the place I am is unique. Frankly speaking, I was surprised at this environment and I was worried about isolating from the community or forcing to be a catholic at first time because I am not catholic. Before I came here, I knew that here is catholic college, but I did not pay attention to it so much. I chose this college based on the information given from an agency. It said, this college is liberal arts college located in small town, people are so kind and their way of speech is slower than east coast. I didn’t care how the religion would affect my school life. In my home country, Japan, we also have university related to a religion, but its school spirit is more casual. There is a church, however, a few people go. So, I was surprised at real, catholic college’s school spirit and students there. Contrary to my worries, I have never been isolated and forced to be a catholic. I will take theology class to graduate, but I do not pray. I go mass only when my friend takes me. There are a lot of access to Christianity, but I do not have to be catholic. I can be here as myself. This is another characteristic of our college. There are athletes and international students whose advantage to come here is not catholic. Include myself, we don’t have shared background with them, but students welcome to know each other as friends. When I cannot understand why they do it or why they value it, I ask a question and they look so happy. I also try to find something in common between us. For example, we do not pray before meal, but we have a phrase used before meal and it has the same meaning as pray, thanks to the food. It is interesting to find something in common in differences, so I enjoy it and being here. The video below shows our campus.
After I added details to jotting, I classified to some categories to analyze deeply and prepare for next step, an interview. The main four factors that compose the community are students who are catholic (people), students who are not catholic(people), catholic related custom (pray) and catholic related equipment (environment).
3. Catholic students
As I mentioned above, I am included in not catholic group. So, the analysis above is the view from one of the member of community who does not see catholic as own value. I need another view who see it as own value to understand our community well. For this reason, I planned an interview to a student who has catholic background. Questions were prepared based on the information and analysis conducted above.
I interviewed a catholic student who is 24 years old, female, major in elemental education, transferred from public college. She was born in Catholic and baptized a month after she was born and then she received first communion and first reconciliation in 2nd grade. When she was high school student, she was received confirmation. These four are called sacrament that is one of solemn Christian rite. For her, god is a creator, mercy, all loving and father. Being catholic means learning catholic. As her attitude to teaching of catholic, she said that she tries to understand what she was told in church and confirm if the teaching is right or not and works or not. So, catholic teaching is a practical way to make her decision, direct her action and Catholic faith is one of her core value. Her ground mother who values faith told her to respect others. Her parents’ expectation also guided her value.
In theology class, she learns about catholic more deeply. It helps that she considers why she is doing what she is doing. Because she wants to become elementary school teacher in catholic school, the opportunity to learn about catholic will be a good experience for her future job. According to her, catholic education is a class for teaching religion, mass, saint, prayer and social study. To my question if she likes the value she has, she answered “yes” with smile. The faith is helpful to her. She said, feeling be loved by god, knowing that god gives us gifts and relationship with god makes her happy and going Sunday mass means to be a member of the community. She once went to “World youth day” held in Poland.
I asked then what she thinks of pray before class or meal and if she likes our college. She loves the pray before classes because it makes her feeling better. About pray before meal, she feels gratitude to the meal and food. She loves our college and said, people (students, professor, priest), opportunity (theology class, mass and so on) and practice of faith is good experience to her.
Finally, I asked how she feels the person who is not catholic and this is a main question what I want to know from the interview because it tells me what catholic students feels about us. She answered, to the person who is not catholic, she shares her faith. Also, tries to have relationship with them hearing their culture and share cultures each other, knowing them. When she has experienced conflict with others who has different background including those who is not catholic, she has tried to learn them and have time to know them and pray for them. This is her effort to try to understand people’s background and define herself again.
What I learned from the interview is how they became catholic and how they lived and be living as catholic. Usually, I just know what they do now. I didn’t know there is pray (I thought people repeat the famous phrase in the Bible). I didn’t know they learn it in catholic school. A string of religious beads with a cross, called rosary is used when they repeat pray for Holy Mother. I felt that Christianity helps her a lot in her life as her core value and a base of moral and ethics, but at the same time she tries to make sure what she is told in practical way. She also tries to know well the person who has different back ground.
4. Conclusion
Being a student here, I learned a religion is not so simple but gives us an opportunity to think about our lives carefully. In general, our Japanese values are composed by Buddhism, Confucianism and Shinto (animism), but we are told the value as common sense of our society rather than from these religions teaching. I am in the generation experienced it surely. In 1995, when I was four years old, there was a terrorism that were carried out by a group of a new religion in Japan. Since then, Japanese are so sensitive to a religion. We have been told over and over that a religion has a power to take over someone’s ability to think. I think it can be true and hurts people if people who is a member of the religion stops to think by themselves. I have heard the story about a Japanese girl who went other country. When she talked that she is not Christian, her host parents regretted and told her that she cannot go to heaven. If I were told the same thing, I would be so sad. Fortunately, the community where I am is not like that. People think carefully by themselves even they have a strong shared value. I like their attitude. Again, I am not catholic, but I have same attitude to thinking with them as a member of the community.
Catholic college
1. Community members
“The Father, the son and the Holy spirits…” At the beginning of the philosophy class, the professor prays and students follow him but I do not. Because here is a small catholic college in KS, most students are catholic and some classes start from the pray. My ex roommate put picture like right one on the wall. However, there are some not catholic in the college such as athletes, international students. I am from Japan and not catholic, so I am included in the international student category when students are classified to small groups. These students usually don’t pray and go mass that held almost every day. We even do not have to go all school mass that cancels classes for the day though we are required to take some theology class as general education requirement. In this condition, I have spent good time here to study for two years. Although the difference I feel daily is the difference between Japanese culture and American culture, sometimes, like in the class, I feel that I need to pay more attention to myself as a member of the college community but has a different background.
To focus on the proposition, I need to understand well the college community I belong. What is its value, belief or practice? I started from observation phase, making field note, then I did an interview.
2. Characteristics of the community
As first step, I conducted observation with jotting down any words or phrases I think it would help my work. Often, I wrote down in my native language, Japanese since it is easy to write right after I realized the information. I bring pen, note and smart phone that is used to take picture whenever I go college. As we learned in the course this week, I tried to write down just what I see not what I feel when I took the note. The word and phrase could be short enough to reminds me what happens there. Then I started to write in full sentence with detail as field note. The following information is some of what I found from the observations.
First, about prying custom, some students pray before they eat, others do not. The pray is shorter than pray in the class. The percentage of students who do not pray in café seems higher compared to that of in the class. Most of students in the class follow the professor prays before the class. Include me, international students and athletic student do not pray.
Next, I focused on students. I saw students who wear an accessory that has Christianity motif such as cross, the Holy Mother and Jesus Christ. Students use items such as key ring or T-shirts that has design related to Christianity. I know students who major in theology though it depends on students if they get their jobs related to the major. There are students who minor theology as well. I also know there are choirs who sing for the mass that is held almost every day. The choir is not request a special condition. You do not have to be music major, catholic or Christian to join the choir.
Third, when I looked the campus, I realized that our college shop sells an accessory or ornament that is used in Christian life. There are some statues of famous great Christian. Some buildings are named from Christianity such as Mother Teresa Center, St. Benedict’s Hall and St. Michel’s Hall. I could find priests who have class like intro to theology, sisters and a student who wears sister costume on campus. I also found there is an office that is for ministry in student union building and students can meet priest there. In the place, there is a poster that tells us information about mission trips to other countries and introduces students’ experiences. In the classroom, I could see some classes have a poster that shows college value based on catholic faith. Its index is Jesus Christ, Community, Conversion of life, Love of learning, Listening, Excellence through virtue, hospitality, Stability, Stewardship and Prayer and work. In addition, some classes have cross on the anterior wall.
As you can see, there is a lot. What I could see from my observation is how much our school have access to Christianity. You can easily imagine how much the place I am is unique. Frankly speaking, I was surprised at this environment and I was worried about isolating from the community or forcing to be a catholic at first time because I am not catholic. Before I came here, I knew that here is catholic college, but I did not pay attention to it so much. I chose this college based on the information given from an agency. It said, this college is liberal arts college located in small town, people are so kind and their way of speech is slower than east coast. I didn’t care how the religion would affect my school life. In my home country, Japan, we also have university related to a religion, but its school spirit is more casual. There is a church, however, a few people go. So, I was surprised at real, catholic college’s school spirit and students there. Contrary to my worries, I have never been isolated and forced to be a catholic. I will take theology class to graduate, but I do not pray. I go mass only when my friend takes me. There are a lot of access to Christianity, but I do not have to be catholic. I can be here as myself. This is another characteristic of our college. There are athletes and international students whose advantage to come here is not catholic. Include myself, we don’t have shared background with them, but students welcome to know each other as friends. When I cannot understand why they do it or why they value it, I ask a question and they look so happy. I also try to find something in common between us. For example, we do not pray before meal, but we have a phrase used before meal and it has the same meaning as pray, thanks to the food. It is interesting to find something in common in differences, so I enjoy it and being here. The video below shows our campus.
After I added details to jotting, I classified to some categories to analyze deeply and prepare for next step, an interview. The main four factors that compose the community are students who are catholic (people), students who are not catholic(people), catholic related custom (pray) and catholic related equipment (environment).
3. Catholic students
As I mentioned above, I am included in not catholic group. So, the analysis above is the view from one of the member of community who does not see catholic as own value. I need another view who see it as own value to understand our community well. For this reason, I planned an interview to a student who has catholic background. Questions were prepared based on the information and analysis conducted above.
I interviewed a catholic student who is 24 years old, female, major in elemental education, transferred from public college. She was born in Catholic and baptized a month after she was born and then she received first communion and first reconciliation in 2nd grade. When she was high school student, she was received confirmation. These four are called sacrament that is one of solemn Christian rite. For her, god is a creator, mercy, all loving and father. Being catholic means learning catholic. As her attitude to teaching of catholic, she said that she tries to understand what she was told in church and confirm if the teaching is right or not and works or not. So, catholic teaching is a practical way to make her decision, direct her action and Catholic faith is one of her core value. Her ground mother who values faith told her to respect others. Her parents’ expectation also guided her value.
In theology class, she learns about catholic more deeply. It helps that she considers why she is doing what she is doing. Because she wants to become elementary school teacher in catholic school, the opportunity to learn about catholic will be a good experience for her future job. According to her, catholic education is a class for teaching religion, mass, saint, prayer and social study. To my question if she likes the value she has, she answered “yes” with smile. The faith is helpful to her. She said, feeling be loved by god, knowing that god gives us gifts and relationship with god makes her happy and going Sunday mass means to be a member of the community. She once went to “World youth day” held in Poland.
I asked then what she thinks of pray before class or meal and if she likes our college. She loves the pray before classes because it makes her feeling better. About pray before meal, she feels gratitude to the meal and food. She loves our college and said, people (students, professor, priest), opportunity (theology class, mass and so on) and practice of faith is good experience to her.
Finally, I asked how she feels the person who is not catholic and this is a main question what I want to know from the interview because it tells me what catholic students feels about us. She answered, to the person who is not catholic, she shares her faith. Also, tries to have relationship with them hearing their culture and share cultures each other, knowing them. When she has experienced conflict with others who has different background including those who is not catholic, she has tried to learn them and have time to know them and pray for them. This is her effort to try to understand people’s background and define herself again.
What I learned from the interview is how they became catholic and how they lived and be living as catholic. Usually, I just know what they do now. I didn’t know there is pray (I thought people repeat the famous phrase in the Bible). I didn’t know they learn it in catholic school. A string of religious beads with a cross, called rosary is used when they repeat pray for Holy Mother. I felt that Christianity helps her a lot in her life as her core value and a base of moral and ethics, but at the same time she tries to make sure what she is told in practical way. She also tries to know well the person who has different back ground.
4. Conclusion
Being a student here, I learned a religion is not so simple but gives us an opportunity to think about our lives carefully. In general, our Japanese values are composed by Buddhism, Confucianism and Shinto (animism), but we are told the value as common sense of our society rather than from these religions teaching. I am in the generation experienced it surely. In 1995, when I was four years old, there was a terrorism that were carried out by a group of a new religion in Japan. Since then, Japanese are so sensitive to a religion. We have been told over and over that a religion has a power to take over someone’s ability to think. I think it can be true and hurts people if people who is a member of the religion stops to think by themselves. I have heard the story about a Japanese girl who went other country. When she talked that she is not Christian, her host parents regretted and told her that she cannot go to heaven. If I were told the same thing, I would be so sad. Fortunately, the community where I am is not like that. People think carefully by themselves even they have a strong shared value. I like their attitude. Again, I am not catholic, but I have same attitude to thinking with them as a member of the community.
Rough Draft
Catholic College
“The Father, the son and the Holy spirits…” At the beginning of the philosophy class, the professor prays and students follow him but I do not. Because here is a small catholic college in KS, most students are catholic and some classes start from the pray. My ex roommate put picture like right one on the wall. However, there are some not catholic in the college such as athletes, international students. I am from Japan and not catholic, so I am included to the international student category when students are classified to small groups. These students usually don’t pray and go mass that held almost every day. We even do not have to go all school mass that cancels classes for the day though we are required to take some theology class as general education requirement. In this condition, I have spent good time here to study for two years. Although the difference I feel daily is the difference between Japanese culture and American culture, sometimes, like in the class, I feel that I need to pay more attention to myself as a member of the college community but has a different background.
To focus on the proposition, I need to understand well the college community I belong. What is its value, belief or practice? I started from observation phase, making field note, then I did an interview.
First, I conducted observation with jotting down any words or phrases I think it would help my work. Often, I wrote down in my native language, Japanese since it is easy to write right after I realized the information. I bring pen, note and smart phone that is used to take picture whenever I go college. As we learned in the course this week, I tried to write down just what I see not what I feel when I took the note. The word and phrase could be short enough to reminds me what happens there. Then I started to write in full sentence with detail as fieldnote. The following list is some of what I found from the observations.
Fieldnote before classified
What I could see from my observation is how much our school values to have access to Christianity. Before I came here, I know that here is catholic college, but I did not pay attention to it so much. In my home country, Japan, we also have university related to a religion. However, its school spirit is more casual. There is church but a few people go. So, I was surprised at real, catholic college’s school spirit and students there. My attitude to catholic here is quite like them. I will take theology class to graduate, but I do not pray. I go mass only when my friend takes me. There are a lot of access to Christianity, but I am not forced to be catholic. This is another characteristic of our college. There are athletes and international students whose advantage to come here is not catholic. Include myself, we don’t have shared background with them, but students welcome to know each other as friends. Whenever I ask a question, they look so happy. The picture and the video below shows our campus.
As you can see, I am included in not catholic group. So, the analysis above is the view from one of the member of community who does not see catholic as own value. I need another view who see it as own value to understand our community well. For this reason, I planned an interview to a student who has catholic background. Questions were prepared based on the information and analysis conducted above.
Interviewee: 24 years old, female, major in elemental education, transferred from public college
Interview Questions and Answers
In 1995, when I was four years old, there was a terrorism that were carried out by a group of a new religion in Japan. Since then, we are so sensitive to a religion. We have been told over and over that a religion has a power to take over someone’s ability to think. I think it can be true and hurts people if people who is a member of the religion stops to think by themselves. I have heard the story about a Japanese girl who went other country. When she talked that she is not Christian, her host parents regretted and told her that she cannot go to heaven. If I were told same thing, I would be so sad. Fortunately, the community where I am is not like that. People think carefully by themselves even they have a strong shared value. Again, I am not catholic, but I have same attitude to thinking with them as a member of the community.
Catholic College
“The Father, the son and the Holy spirits…” At the beginning of the philosophy class, the professor prays and students follow him but I do not. Because here is a small catholic college in KS, most students are catholic and some classes start from the pray. My ex roommate put picture like right one on the wall. However, there are some not catholic in the college such as athletes, international students. I am from Japan and not catholic, so I am included to the international student category when students are classified to small groups. These students usually don’t pray and go mass that held almost every day. We even do not have to go all school mass that cancels classes for the day though we are required to take some theology class as general education requirement. In this condition, I have spent good time here to study for two years. Although the difference I feel daily is the difference between Japanese culture and American culture, sometimes, like in the class, I feel that I need to pay more attention to myself as a member of the college community but has a different background.
To focus on the proposition, I need to understand well the college community I belong. What is its value, belief or practice? I started from observation phase, making field note, then I did an interview.
First, I conducted observation with jotting down any words or phrases I think it would help my work. Often, I wrote down in my native language, Japanese since it is easy to write right after I realized the information. I bring pen, note and smart phone that is used to take picture whenever I go college. As we learned in the course this week, I tried to write down just what I see not what I feel when I took the note. The word and phrase could be short enough to reminds me what happens there. Then I started to write in full sentence with detail as fieldnote. The following list is some of what I found from the observations.
Fieldnote before classified
- Some students pray before they eat, others do not. The pray is shorter than pray in the class. The percentage of students who do not pray in cafe seems higher compared to that of in the class.
- Most of students in the class follow the professor prays before the class. Include me, international students and athletic student do not pray.
- Students wear an accessory that has Christianity motif such as cross, the Holy Mother and Jesus Christ.
- Students use items such as key ring or T-shirts that has design related to Christianity.
- The college shop sell an accessory, ornament that is used in Christian life.
- There are some statues of famous great Christian.
- Some buildings are named from Christianity. We have Mother Teresa Center, St. Benedict’s Hall and St. Michel’s Hall.
- Some students major in theology. It depends on students if they get their jobs related to the major. There are students who minor theology as well.
- There are choirs who sing for the mass. The mass is held almost every day. You do not have to be music major, catholic or Christian to join the choir.
- I can see priests and sisters on campus. The priests have class such as intro to theology. I see a student who wears sister costume.
- There is an office that is for ministry in student union building. Students meet priest there. There is a poster that tells us information about mission trip to other countries. The poster introduces student’s experience.
- Some classes have a poster that shows college value based on catholic faith. Its index is Jesus Christ, Community, Conversion of life, Love of learning, Listening, Excellence through virtue, hospitality, Stability, Stewardship and Prayer and work.
- Some classes have cross on the anterior wall.
What I could see from my observation is how much our school values to have access to Christianity. Before I came here, I know that here is catholic college, but I did not pay attention to it so much. In my home country, Japan, we also have university related to a religion. However, its school spirit is more casual. There is church but a few people go. So, I was surprised at real, catholic college’s school spirit and students there. My attitude to catholic here is quite like them. I will take theology class to graduate, but I do not pray. I go mass only when my friend takes me. There are a lot of access to Christianity, but I am not forced to be catholic. This is another characteristic of our college. There are athletes and international students whose advantage to come here is not catholic. Include myself, we don’t have shared background with them, but students welcome to know each other as friends. Whenever I ask a question, they look so happy. The picture and the video below shows our campus.
As you can see, I am included in not catholic group. So, the analysis above is the view from one of the member of community who does not see catholic as own value. I need another view who see it as own value to understand our community well. For this reason, I planned an interview to a student who has catholic background. Questions were prepared based on the information and analysis conducted above.
Interviewee: 24 years old, female, major in elemental education, transferred from public college
Interview Questions and Answers
- How and when did you become catholic?She was born in Catholic.
She was baptized a month after she was born and then she received first communion and first reconciliation in 2nd grade. When she was high school student, she was received confirmation. These four are called sacrament that is one of solemn Christian rite. - For you, what is god, Christianity, catholic?
For her, god is a creator, mercy, all loving and father. Being catholic means learning catholic. As her attitude to teaching of catholic, she said that she tries what she was told in church and confirm if the teaching is right or not and works or not. So, catholic teaching is a practical way to make her decision and direct her action. - How faith has influenced your value? belief?
Catholic faith is one of her core value. She learned from her ground mother who values faith to respect others. Her parents’ expectation also guided her value. - How your student life is affected by faith?
In theology class, she learns about catholic more deeply. It helps that she considers why she doing what she doing. Because she wants to become elementary school teacher in catholic school, the opportunity to learn about catholic will be a good experience for her future job. According to her, catholic education is a class for teaching religion, mass, saint, prayer and social study. - Do you like the value, belief, you have?
When I asked the question, she answered “yes” with smile. The faith is helpful to her. She said, feeling be loved by god, knowing that god gives us gift and relationship with god makes her happy and going Sunday mass means to be a member of the community. She once went to “World youth day” held in Poland. - Have you experienced any trouble with your value or belief?
- How did you overcome or fit in the situation?
She has experienced conflict with others who has different background including those who is not catholic. In the case, she has tried to learn them and have time to know them and pray for them. This is her effort to try to understand people’s background and define herself - What do you think of pray before class?
She loves the pray before classes. She feels better when she prays. - What do you feel when you pray before meal?
When she prays before meal, she has the feeling of gratitude to the meal and food. - Overall, do you like our College?
She loves our college. People (students, professor, priest), opportunity (theology class, mass and so on) and practice of faith is good experience to her. - How do you feel the person who is not catholic?
To the person who is not catholic, she shares her faith. She also tries to have relationship with them hearing their culture and share cultures each other, knowing them.
In 1995, when I was four years old, there was a terrorism that were carried out by a group of a new religion in Japan. Since then, we are so sensitive to a religion. We have been told over and over that a religion has a power to take over someone’s ability to think. I think it can be true and hurts people if people who is a member of the religion stops to think by themselves. I have heard the story about a Japanese girl who went other country. When she talked that she is not Christian, her host parents regretted and told her that she cannot go to heaven. If I were told same thing, I would be so sad. Fortunately, the community where I am is not like that. People think carefully by themselves even they have a strong shared value. Again, I am not catholic, but I have same attitude to thinking with them as a member of the community.
Assignment
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