Yet, I NOW find it hard to claim that I received a liberal
education without having an experience like I did at Wartburg West. Until this
fall all of these ingredients that build a liberal education –
an opening world view and thirst for knowledge – have been fulfilled by reading and
studying in a traditional classroom. While it’s no surprise to anyone that higher
education can be a slow moving process not many schools are taking steps to try
and innovate how students are learning. The exception: Wartburg.
For 32 years Wartburg has been thinking outside of the box
and taking an unconventional and equitable approach to innovating liberal
learning.
While at Wartburg West I took courses about the intersectionalities of art and diversity, the religious
traditions of immigrant communities, and the convergence points of sustainable
cities and gained work experience at an internship related to my core major.
All of these courses were experiential based and hands on. Rather than doing
traditional readings, lectures and notes in the classroom, we did that learning
on our own as preparation for guest speakers and site visits meeting with
professionals.
We met with a trans activist about her experience in coming
out, heard from a Buddhist monk about immigrating to the United States decades
ago, and listened to advocates for a growing homeless population in Denver and
so much more.
All of the social problems and topics we learned about are real. There are faces that should and can be connected to our knowledge. I know that this empathetic connection to our coursework made the information much more retainable and meaningful than traditional schooling.
I have friends at prestigious universities across the nation
–
UNC Chapel Hill, Georgetown, American, Columbia, San Jose State –
that have not had these opportunities afforded to them, and definitely not at
the size and location of Wartburg College.
This past summer I really worried about not being able to
compete in the PR job market in a large city after graduating. I pondered
needing to transfer to a large university or school in a city in order to be
prepared for life after college. Spending a semester in Denver helped me to
value the intimacy of relationships that are nurtured at Wartburg and the
challenging hands-on content delivered in programs across campus.
My semester ‘out west’ enlightened
me to see an expanded world view and understand the lifestyles and beliefs of
those unlike myself.
I’d urge anyone interested in liberal learning in a hands-on
environment to apply for the program!
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