Student Spotlight: Erdenetsogt Enkhtaivan
Erdenetsogt 鈥淪ogo鈥� Enkhtaivan is a Senior currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Outside of his academic interest he is usually involved in campus activities and giving tours of the 暗网视频campus to incoming or prospective students. Beyond his academics, Sogo might be found adventuring in the mountains, backcountry skiing, backpacking, or hiking.
Erdenetsogt 鈥淪ogo鈥� Enkhtaivan sat down with us to discuss his thoughts on being a College of Arts and Sciences summer camp counselor and his adventures of bringing the Arts and Sciences to the middle school campers.
Explain how you assisted the College鈥檚 summer camps and tell us about the experience.
鈥淚 worked with Dr. Mallory Anctil on the Bone Detectives (Anthropology) camp with middle school students for two sessions. This was part of a broader summer camp program that the College of Arts and Sciences organized for students in Anchorage. This summer camp introduced the campers to forensic anthropology, and it provided them with the opportunity to collect plastic replicas of human skeletal remains and personal items from a field setting, as well as conduct laboratory analysis of these items.鈥�
What were the most rewarding aspects of working in your camp and/or with its campers?
鈥淭here are so many rewarding aspects to working with my campers, but the most fulfilling part for me was seeing their enthusiasm and motivation grow as they learned. It鈥檚 truly amazing to watch them channel their energy and focus into something they鈥檙e genuinely interested in, all while having fun.鈥�
Do you feel like our CAS camps provide a unique experience for the campers?
鈥淭he Bone Detectives camp was an unique program where the kids learn about forensic anthropology through a variety of interesting hands-on activities and actually get to set up as well as solve simulated crime scenes. I felt fortunate to be a part of such a dynamic program.鈥�
Did you notice a collective takeaway that the campers had at the end of their camp?
鈥淭he primary takeaway for the kids was an understanding of forensic anthropology and a genuine interest in the field. But beyond the academic side, they also formed lasting friendships with their peers. Socializing and teamwork were essential components of the camp, so I鈥檇 say teamwork was another key takeaway for them.鈥�
Was there a specific instance that stands out to you where a camper had that 鈥渨ow鈥� moment when discovering what the Arts and Sciences can be about?
鈥淵es, one moment that really stood out was during a simulated crime scene activity. One of the campers, who had been a bit quiet earlier in the week, suddenly became fully engaged when asked to analyze 鈥渆vidence鈥� using the techniques we had practiced. You could see the spark in their eyes as they started making connections between the clues and what we had learned about bone identification and forensics. They even took the lead in their group, asking thoughtful questions and guiding their peers. It was a clear 鈥渨ow鈥� moment鈥攏ot just for the camper, but for me as well. It was inspiring to see how exposure to real-world applications of anthropology and science could light a fire of curiosity in a student. It reminded me how powerful hands-on, engaging learning experiences can be in shaping a young person's interests.鈥�
How has your opportunity as a CAS summer camp counselor reinforced your passion for your major?
鈥淢y experience as a CAS summer camp counselor has significantly deepened my passion for psychology, especially in working with youth. Guiding middle schoolers through the Bone Detectives camp allowed me to see firsthand how impactful early educational experiences can be on a student鈥檚 interest and confidence. Watching campers engage deeply with the material, work together in teams, and grow more curious each day reaffirmed my desire to work as a school psychologist or counselor. This camp was not just a rewarding experience鈥攊t was a clear confirmation that supporting middle and high school students is what I want to do with my career, both here and when I return to my home country of Mongolia.鈥�
Thank you, Sogo, for your time and we wish you a good upcoming school year!