In Stage Three students will be assigned a series of Primary Reflection Exercises (3-5) throughout the semester. The purpose of these exercises is to help students reflect on how the current experience they are having that is informing their understanding of themselves in relation to the lenses and core values of the other Centers of Commitment rather than the one they are connected to this semester (that reflection is in Stage 1 and Stage 4).

For example, if you are studying abroad through CGEE then your primary exercises will ask you to reflect on yourself through the lenses of vocation, local citizenship, and meaningful work which are central to the work of the other Centers of Commitment.

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The Primary Reflection exercises might ask you to think about:

Vocation Questions – Augsburg University’s Christensen Center for Vocation is committed to helping you discern your vocation. Your vocation is the way in which you are uniquely called, equipped, and compelled to help your neighbor and the planet thrive. No one has just one vocation, we always have many and they are always evolving.

• • How do you think you are being called, equipped, compelled, and challenged to help your neighbors and/ or the planet thrive?
  • What are some of the sources of suffering or problems you see in our world that you want to work to solve?
  • What are some of the solutions to these problems you would love to participate in?
  • Why is this so important to you?
  • What events or people in your life have played a role in you wanting to show up in the world in this way?
  • How do you think this semester-long experience you are starting might change these views you have?

Global Cultural Competencies Questions – Augsburg University’s Center for Global Education and Experience (CGEE) is committed to helping you to develop global cultural competencies, which include global awareness and intercultural communication skills.

• • What do you think “global cultural competencies” are?
  • What do you identify as your most important cultural identities, and what are the most salient values that you have developed as a result of these cultural identities?
  • How have the cultures to which you belong shaped your preferred communication styles and your approaches to conflict?
  • What do you see as important intercultural communication skills?
  • Which ones have you already developed, and which ones would you like to develop further?
  • Finally, how do you think that these cultural identities and values have shaped how you view your role(s) as a citizen of a particular country and your responsibilities to the global community?

Local Citizenship Questions – Augsburg University’s Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship is committed to helping you learn how to address public issues, make change, and build democracy. Democracy is a way of life and we each have a role to play as local citizens seeking to make our communities better places to live our lives.

• • How do you currently see yourself as a local citizen?
  • How are you engaged in addressing local public issues, making changes in your community, and helping to build democracy?
  • If you aren’t currently engaged in these things, how might you like to see yourself become more engaged in them?
  • Who and what played a role in you thinking about local citizenship in these ways right now?
  • How do you think this semester-long experience you are starting might change these views you have?

Meaningful Work Questions – Augsburg University’s Strommen Center for Meaningful Work is committed to helping you move into a career of meaningful work. Meaningful work is work that does more than just pays the bills. It is work that allows you to create, build community, and participate in making the life you want to live.

• • What are your current views on meaningful work?
  • What would make work meaningful for you?
  • What type of work environment most appeals to you?
  • Who and what played a role in you thinking about meaningful work in these ways right now?
  • How do you think this semester-long experience you are starting might change these views you have?