{"id":111,"date":"2019-03-01T19:33:02","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T19:33:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centerforliberalartsintheworld.me.holycross.edu\/?p=111"},"modified":"2019-03-01T19:33:02","modified_gmt":"2019-03-01T19:33:02","slug":"five-things-ive-learned-from-experiential-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.holycross.edu\/centerforliberalartsintheworld\/2019\/03\/01\/five-things-ive-learned-from-experiential-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Things I\u2019ve Learned From Experiential Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Kara
Kara Cuzzone ’19<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Kara Cuzzone ’19<\/strong><\/p>\n

Between three community-based learning (CBL) sites and two internships, I\u2019ve had my fair share of experiential learning opportunities during my time at Holy Cross. It\u2019s ironic because when I started college, it wasn\u2019t even on my radar. Sure, I had chosen a Montserrat course with a CBL component, but that was more about wanting to pursue a service opportunity, not an interest in learning outside of the classroom. Considering I\u2019m writing this blog post, it\u2019s safe to say that I\u2019ve come a long way. That\u2019s why I thought I would share some nuggets of wisdom I\u2019ve picked up along the way. Below, find the five things I\u2019ve learned from experiential learning.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll Never Feel Fully Prepared, Go for It Anyway<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is one factor that scares students (and even professors). Because classroom environments can be planned and structured, they are a lot more predictable than an experiential learning environment. As a result, you probably won\u2019t feel totally ready before your first day, or even your first month, at you CBL site or internship position. That\u2019s okay. In fact, these are often the experiences where deep learning occurs because lessons aren\u2019t rigidly planned, so there\u2019s room for discovery.<\/p>\n

Be Open to What You Can Receive in CBL, Not Just What You Can Give<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you had told me in the beginning that I\u2019d still be visiting my CBL site, St. Mary\u2019s Healthcare Center, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d believe you. After all, I wanted to do <\/em>something, not just sit and talk with my resident. I doubted that I was even making an impact there. Then, I started to just show up and be present. Almost immediately, the experience changed. I realized that not only was I forming a relationship with my resident, but she was having a profound impact on me. I always left our visits with a new perspective on life and a smile on my face. There is always something to be gained when engaging with those who are different from us, you just have to be open to seeing it.<\/p>\n

Not Everything Can be Learned in the Classroom<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s just true. You can read, study, and analyze a subject all you want, but until you get out and engage with it, you won\u2019t get the full picture. I noticed this particularly through the Education Department\u2019s Student Mental Health seminar I took this fall. In part of the course, we learned about trauma-informed teaching practices, and how to implement them to create a safe, welcoming environment for all students. That said, I didn\u2019t fully grasp the importance of these practices until I witnessed them firsthand through a site visit at Woodland Academy. It took the conceptual and made it real.<\/p>\n

Take Advantage of the Holy Cross Network<\/strong><\/p>\n

I know you\u2019ve heard this one before, but I mean it. The New York Semester Program opened my eyes to how not only willing, but genuinely excited Holy Cross alumni are to mentor current students. Almost every week during the program, we attended a lunch or dinner colloquium where we heard from an alum about their career path and their current role. Through one of these colloquia meetings, I met an alumna who has provided me with invaluable advice and even helped me secure a summer internship.<\/p>\n

Make Time to Reflect on Your Experiences<\/strong><\/p>\n

During my Montserrat course, we were required to write weekly reflections about our CBL experiences, and while I don\u2019t do it weekly anymore, this is still a practice that I come back to. Experiential learning in itself is great, but sometimes I don\u2019t even realize the lessons I\u2019ve learned, or revelations I\u2019ve had, until I sit down and write about them. By taking time to slow down and unpack what you\u2019ve experienced, you\u2019ll be able to gain new insights that you might\u2019ve missed along the way.<\/p>\n

Kara Cuzzone \u201919 is a senior Anthropology major. Read more of her work at\u00a0karacuzzone.com<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Kara Cuzzone ’19 Between three community-based learning (CBL) sites and two internships, I\u2019ve had my fair share of experiential learning opportunities during my time at Holy Cross. It\u2019s ironic because when I started college, it wasn\u2019t even on my radar. Sure, I had chosen a Montserrat course with a CBL component, but that was … <\/p>\n

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