Op-Ed
Learning for Life
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One Year Out
January 19, 2007 - 1:00amIt is at this time of the year, with the start of the semester inching closer, that I remember my addiction, the one that consumed me through the first three weeks of classes. For days, I pored over the course catalogue, dissecting descriptions and mapping my route to listen to lectures and amass syllabi. I was a professional course shopper.
Reassuringly, I was not alone in my addiction. I learned my method of madness from an upperclassman and was joined by peers who saw both the beauty and curse of it. “Shopping for courses is a lot like dating before you are committed. You see something attractive, but when it doesn’t work out, you move on to the next class,” shares David Choi ‘04. Of course, there were students whose schedules were pre-set by their major, and they were content. Still, others who chose classes months before confidently stayed with them.
So, what turned me into a course shopping addict? It was not because I wanted a schedule with no Friday classes or courses that would give me an easy “A.” In fact, it was just the opposite. Over the course of four years, I knew I would be exposed to new subjects, brilliant minds, and unlimited resources. I wanted to learn as much as I could in the limited time I had — approximately 34 courses and 120 credits worth of it.
After all, how could I not be drawn towards the possibility of hearing Mars research from the astronomy professors leading the mission; distinguish between symptoms of limerance versus love in Human Bonding; and drink and critique wine on Wednesday afternoons (I missed this!) Brushing aside the stress of exams and burdensome reading loads, learning in college was an amazing opportunity. For 12 weeks, we were immersed in new worlds of knowledge, guided by an expert and a syllabus .
Now, as alumni, without these guides, what are our avenues for pursuing learning for learning’s sake?
There is an exhilarating feeling once you graduate and walk into a bookstore, realizing for the first time that you can read anything on the shelves without an exam or essay afterwards. It is seemingly the perfect opportunity to tackle that list of books you hoped to read someday. Yet, there is not always as much time to read as anticipated. And, after reading, you wonder, with whom can you discuss your ideas? Despite the memories of TAs pulling teeth to begin discussions, section suddenly does not seem as bad. As alumni, we now seek to simulate those environments with our peers. It’s not your grandmother’s book club anymore.
Our reading can be supplemented by lectures delivered by authors, government representatives and professors at museums, community centers or alumni clubs. Thankfully, for those who seek the classroom continuity without the grades, websites, such as OpenCourseWare a recommendation of former Sun Columnist Jim Shliferstein ’06, offer free lectures for courses, from nuclear science to urban planning.
We can also travel beyond the classrooms of Cayuga’s waters to the setting of our research. Emily Sharpe ’05 is studying in Kuwait and Qatar on a Fulbright, building upon research from study abroad in Morocco. “This is the perfect time to explore any intellectual interest without the constraints of a formal educational environment. Though it can sometimes be overwhelming not to have structure, in the end you realize the beauty of pursuing knowledge and experiences on your own terms…you begin to ‘own’ the learning process, instead of it ‘owning’ you,’” she explains of her experience. Her candid observations are indicative not only of research experience, but the learning potential of our first jobs as well.
For those of us who hit the workforce, learning takes on a new meaning. Rather than intellectual knowledge, we gain pragmatic skills — hands on material in an ever-changing classroom where “pop quizzes” have returned to keep us on our toes. In his job, Andy Riesenberg ’05 gained experience “meeting deadlines [and] learning to anticipate my project managers’ and our clients’ needs, and developing an expertise with Excel.” While our initial projects may not seem independent, we can cultivate these opportunities by suggesting new responsibilities and project ideas.
Of course, there are moments when we wonder how four years of college could lead to making copies, fact checking or running crazy errands. But everything is a learning experience and the way in which we approach it can change the outcome. Take Lauren Weisberger ’99, author of The Devil Wears Prada, as an example. Her hectic and unusual time spent working as an Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue inspired her best selling novel. Not bad for turning lemons into lemonade.
Surely, the knowledge we are acquiring is different. Yet, the more I talk to working alumni, the more anxious we are to return to the classroom. The books, lectures and hobbies seem too part-time to substitute for full learning endeavors. And with work, well, sometimes, “your brain starts to shut off when it isn’t receiving the constant stimulation that college provides … you don’t notice it happening, but after only a few months you discover your mind doesn’t make connections as quickly or as powerfully as it used to,” Jim Shliferstein ‘06 describes. The secret to reversing this potential damage might just be finding the job which sets your brain on fire and the life outside of work to complement it.
The course shopper in me wonders if there might be a syllabus to learn for life. Four years from now, what will I have learned from the real world?
This semester, please join me to discuss topics associated with this column at http://juliaoneyearout.blogspot.com/
Oh, yeah, and if you made it this far, please indulge my plug, show school spirit and vote for me in U.S. News and World Report’s Best College Columnist contest. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/tools/papertrail/070109/best_college_pa...
Julia Levy ’05 graduated from the College of Arts and Sciences in 2005. She currently works as a Research Assistant at Tanner & Co., Inc. She can be contacted at jml82@cornell.edu. One Year Out appears alternate Fridays.