Written by Haley Fowler, Graduate Assistant, USI GWEP
When I was growing up, my parents placed a lot of emphasis on the importance of a good education. They made sure I understood that school came first, and, if my grades were not looking very good, they would make sure that I found a way to improve them. However, studying books was not the only thing that I learned that would provide me with a good education. I was also taught the saying, “Experience is the best teacher.” At first, I was not sure what my parents meant by this saying; however, as I have gotten older, I have understood what they were trying to teach me: sometimes, education is not just from books or a classroom environment. Sometimes, experiences can teach us just as effectively as if we were taking a class.
While I have graduated from four universities over the course of my academic career, there are concepts I have learned both while in class and outside of class. I have learned so much, not just in the schools I have attended, but also with the experiences I have had.
Many of these experiences that I have learned from, I have sought out on my own. While my schools provided some of them for me, others I had to research and work for in order to participate in them. Some of these experiences were life-changing, such as traveling to different countries. Others were closer to home, such as volunteering at local organizations. Even though some of these experiences were vastly different from others, I learned so much by participating in each one.
I encourage you to seek out opportunities to acquire more education. Whether that is volunteering nearby or traveling to distant places, experience everything you possibly can. You can learn so much both in a classroom and through experiences outside of a traditional university.
If you have any ideas, recommendations, questions, concerns or just want to talk, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at hlfowler@eagles.usi.edu. I’d love to hear from you.
