On my last day as an adviser with the College of the Liberal Arts, I am looking back over the past years and reflecting on all the interactions I have had with students. So many good conversations, a lot of fun times, some difficult ones too, but ultimately each moment was special and meaningful. It is my hope that I have been able to help students’ academic, personal, and professional growth and development throughout their time at Penn State, and it is my turn to offer one final piece of advice.
After meeting with thousands of students for a number of different reasons, I have come to realize that the best learning opportunities are those that were least expected (and sometimes the most difficult). Whether it is taking a course that you never would have expected to take, earning a ‘D’ on a paper for the first time in your life, joining a club or organization that you had never heard of, or getting busted for something and needing to go to a student conduct hearing – these are the stories I have heard and conversations I have had with students through which they have learned the most.
So while my last words of wisdom are not going to be to get yourself in trouble (although you will definitely learn a lot from that situation!), they are going to be to step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself to try something you otherwise wouldn’t. If you have never taken advantage of a professor’s office hours, stop by to say hi and chat about the course. Take a course in Religious Studies or Women’s Studies to fulfill your general education. Stop by the LGBT Resource Center to learn about the resources they have to offer. If you are thinking of studying abroad, challenge yourself to choose a location that you are less comfortable with. Join a club or organization that you have never heard of. Then, after you do this, meet with your adviser to discuss the situation, the opportunities you took advantage of, and what you have learned.
Ultimately, this will not only help to build your resume and make yourself more marketable in the future, but it will also facilitate your personal development. Hopefully this will allow you to reflect introspectively on your identities, take into consideration the diverse backgrounds from which we all come, and think more critically about current events in today’s society. So try something new, step outside your comfort zone, and take a risk! You won’t know how much you can learn until you try!
Wishing you all the best,
Greg