Journal 10: Post-Class Conceptions and Learning Experience
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| (Photo: Megan Salt) |
My learning experience really didn't alter my pre-class perceptions because I originally had a pretty good handle on what to expect from this class. Looking back on my Journal 1 post, I had no idea how writing intensive this class would be. With my four other heavy engineering courses and full time job, it was a lot to handle. I believe that with my major and obvious passion for the environment, the additional journal posts, reflections, essays and the like were almost unnecessary and more of a nuisance. I already have a predisposed love for the environment and constantly felt that I had to defend or prove this was true in all these assignments. I was hoping for more a laid back approach to Colloquium, but I think that due to the constant demand for assignments and repetition validation, I am glad this course is over.
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| (Photo: Riley) |
That being said, I absolutely loved the field trips, but my rigorous schedule made for long days that turned out to be grumpy. However, my favorite field was definitely the Campus Nature Walk for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, I believe it was a great bonding experience for the class and we all got to spend some time together in the unpredictable water, tripping and splashing each other along the way. I think it relaxed some under the guise of 'fear' of what we were doing in that we all had at least a handful of good laughs. Furthermore, the final cypress dome we saw was unbelievable and I cannot wait to go back. As I've said in previous journals and reflections, I was flabbergasted to learn that this place existed and existed on campus. There is definitely no other school like FGCU that has such convenient and unique access to this experience.
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| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
I found my Everglades reading to be interesting and so juicy given it's right in our backyard. It sparked a lot of conversations between my parents and I as they were aware of what was going on at the time but I was not yet born. I enjoyed hearing their take on the situation and what they remembered from it and then likewise educating them on my reading and what I had researched. While my group may not have been as passionate as I was, I enjoyed presenting in front of the class and having the opportunity for people to listen to me more than their preconceived notions of me as some hippie girl (because I am probably the most conservative environmental engineer in the entire FGCU program). I even got a few compliments on my no-nonsense approach to presenting my information from fellow classmates which is comforting because that means they actually listened to the presentation. I enjoy public speaking and I think that in those moments, it really showed.
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| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
Service Learning:
As stated in my Essay 3, my service-learning was very helpful in the development of my analytical skills that helped me to decipher and interpret data that pertained to my report writing for New Mission Systems International. Between my work with them for this class and Wastewater Microbiology, I have become good friends with some contacts there and feel comfortable in contacting them for further service learning opportunities or inquiries about a future internship or some involvement. They stand for great things and are a unique way for environmental engineers to work with others of so many various disciplines and put their knowledge and hard work to good use.
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| (Photo: AfricaHope) |
Plan B:
My Plan B reading was particularly interesting because it reaffirmed what I already knew in terms of the earth truly having the capacity to feed 8 billion people. As recorded in discussions, journals, reflections and presentations, it is just a matter of managing the limiting resources that go into the production of the food. A particularly interesting section to me was the question of governmental involvement and where is the line between personal responsibility and responsibility from a higher power and who decides that line. If later on I choose to take detour into environmental politics perhaps through the EPA or even private sector, I believe this knowledge will help shape my way of thinking and help me later on.
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| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
Future plans/ECHO:
As far as how my learning experience connects to my major and future plans and with regards to my Journal 1, I have found that environmental engineers have a lot more career options that just crunching numbers. The various locations we visited for field trips have opened my mind to the plethora of opportunities I will have upon graduation. One of the most vital places I believe we visited was ECHO. After hearing about their 10 month intern program, I was immediately intrigued. Growing up in the area, I visited ECHO when I was younger but haven't thought of it much since then. However, with their intern program, if I am to apply and be accepted, I will be given an opportunity like no other in terms of knowledge, experience and creativity. These three entities will no doubt have an impact on me and how I choose to live my life and use my talents to the best of my ability.
Overall, I did enjoy this class despite the alarmingly large workload for a class that I was under the impression is supposed to be a relaxing experience. I gained some knowledge about the place I call home and am even more proud to call the place I was born and raised. Now when I'm driving around town, I can point out some factoids about here or there (especially downtown Fort Myers) and hopefully leave a little lasting impact on my friends and family. I hope to complete the Pachamama Alliance Awakening the Dreamer over winter break (if I make it) or perhaps over the summer. If all Colloquium sections demand this much work, I will probably not recommend someone to take it as their fifth class.
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| (Photo: Lauren Lukasik) |
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