Junior Jack Fredricks of the Rutgers University-Newark men's volleyball program traveled to Prague (Czech Republic) during the summer as part of the Honor's College study abroad program, gaining perspective during the month-long trip.
 

Jack Fredricks

A Psychology major with an interest in Philosophy as well, Fredricks took a great deal from his time abroad that lasted from June 22 – July 25th.
 
"It was really an eye-opening experience for me," said the third-year Scarlet Raider who is currently in the middle of the team's fall season. "The views in Prague were very different than what we are used to here, some good and some not-so-good, and at times it was a challenge to communicate."

Upon his arrival, it took Fredricks a while to adjust and get used to things that in the states would be bizarre and definitely not "the norm". He needed to almost to force himself to be open to the way of life in an entirely new country and culture.
 
"I needed to remind myself that this is a new place, with new people, and I had to remember the history of what they have been through – both somewhat recently and in the past," he said. "I had to put myself in their shoes a little bit and keep an open mind."
 
As a volleyball player, Fredricks experienced a great deal of success as a sophomore, playing a major role on a team that reached the 'Elite Eight' of the NCAA Tournament, earning All-Tournament Team accolades for his part in the Scarlet Raider run to the Continental Volleyball Conference crown.
 
Now, as an upperclassmen, newcomers to the team may be looking to him for advice on anything from classes, training tips, volleyball and more, and he hopes he is able to apply his experience abroad to the team this season and beyond.
 
"I think going to a new country and experiencing such a different lifestyle and such contrasting views will help me as a volleyball player and as a leader," commented Fredricks. "We will have a bigger team this year from all over, so I am sure there will be a lot of different personalities, interests and things like that."
 
He expanded further.
 
"On the court, expectations will be high. We want to win and expect to win, but there will be adversity throughout the season that we will have to deal with. Seeing and experiencing a different culture and the way they go about life may better prepare me to deal with injury, a tough loss or anything really."
 
In addition to taking classes in Prague, Fredricks was able to take many weekend trips, experiencing different parts of the city, the Czech Republic and more.

 
"That part was incredible," he said. "The history, the architecture, it was really something else and an experience I will never forget."
 
Now back in the states and wrapping up his first semester as a junior and looking ahead to his future, the East Brunswick native wants to keep his options open moving forward.
"I am a research assistant in the Computational Cognitive Development lab and definitely want more experience in the research part of psychology," he said. "Beyond wanting to gain more experience, I guess I would say military psychology seems really interesting to me and could be a direction I want to go in."
 
Fredricks played in 29 matches for the Scarlet Raiders as a sophomore after starting every match as a rookie, totaling 196 kills and hitting .285. He was fourth on the team in kills and fifth in blocks, saving some of his best volleyball for his team's march through the postseason.
 
The 2016 men's volleyball season begins on January 16 with The Golden Dome Classic. In the opening match, the Scarlet Raiders will battle defending national champ Stevens Institute of Technology in a phenomenal early-season matchup.

STORY COURTESY OF RUTGERS-NEWARK SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE