What educational intuition has done for me...

Intuition: a) The act or faculty of knowing or sensing without the use of rational processes; immediate cognition.  b) Knowledge gained by the use of this faculty; a perceptive insight.  c) A sense of something not evident or deducible; an impression. 

I could talk for days about all the intricacies fate and intuition has had in my life but this post will focus mainly on my educational insights. My mother learned the value of education through challenges her life presented to her. This shows that I was raised with the encouragement of education and after a couple years of putting off my pursuit of a bachelor’s degree I came to the personal truth that I would never be happy with myself if I did not complete my degree. This truth is the #1 bottom line why I went back to school & how I have managed to stay in college. Without this personal drive I can’t say that I would definitely finish.

However, after personal reflection I can say that there are hundreds & thousands of reasons why my college experience has been invaluable to my life. I would also say that the vast majority of these reasons are still unknown to me. They are such a part of me that I don’t recognize their effects within myself and my life. So here are just a handful of intuitive decisions that led me to a better more passionate life.

This post is directed for those of you who need a reminder of why you finished your degree, are about to start spring semester & those who still aren’t sure college is for you. I believe college isn’t for everyone, but I do believe everyone has something to gain by attending even if they never finish

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I have always thought I’m a pretty intuitive person. I don’t know how my skills compare to others or what factors play into it, but the bottom line is that I have been ‘lead’ to certain opportunities, people, experiences and places because of intuition.

• Just days from my 16^th birthday I decided to eat lunch at Arby’s, having only been once before & not caring for the food it was an unusual occurrence for me. While there I noticed a couple managers and thought to myself that I should ask for a job application. They had me interview later that day and my start date was set for the week after my 16^th birthday. I worked there for two years and saved money for my first year of college.

 

• Weeks before I was meant to start attending college at the University of Utah (Go Utes!) I had the impression that it would lead to a life I wouldn’t ultimately want and instead I made the arrangements to attend Snow College instead. I met the first love of my life & discovered International Language Programs which lead me to teach English in Voronezh, Russia for 6 months at just 18.

 

• After returning to college to complete my bachelor’s degree in Communications I came to the realization that I didn’t have the drive for my classes the way I did while getting my Associates degree. Looking for a new class led me to plenty of class I could take but none pulled at me until I saw The History of Genocide in the Twenty-first Century. I wanted this class, upon receiving a cautionary warning from the teacher that this was a writing intensive senior level course and not to be taken lightly I joined the class. This led me to a paid research trip in Washington DC & ultimately into pursuing a degree with History.

 

• While taking my History of Genocide class I was taken aback by our professor Kat Brown who inspired me. She is the one who took me to Washington DC, taught me in a one on one research course, she is on my thesis board and she is always ready & willing to challenge me. Among her many influences in my life she also recommended I take a Public History course by Abby Chandler.

 

• Professor Chandler’s class was a mystery to me but I trusted Kat Brown’s opinion, enrolled in the class and my life was changed. Here I learned the importance of Public History, how information is presented, the challenges of modern museums, the value in volunteering and that while History is a liberal art there are thousands of career opportunities available no matter the field we’re interested in. She also had a way of expressing her value in me, she let me know that I had potential and that I had the ability to pursue my dreams. Invaluable quality in teachers!

 

• When enrolling in classes I noticed an Integrated Studies course titled US/ Mexico Borderlands and felt compelled to take it. I wasn’t completely sure what to expect from the course, it taught me to recognize my ignorance when it came to immigration, foreigners, culture and integration. This course taught me more than I could EVER share, it was an experience and those just can translate literally. This class led me to find the degree that I could be passionate about.

 

• I’d enrolled in a Peace & Justice course, quite honestly because it sounded interesting without appearing to be a super difficult course. I was wrong. It was difficult, deep and philosophically challenging. I was completely in over my head but felt I should remain in the class and learn as much as I could grasp. This course led me to my current belief that killing humans is wrong. (Yes, in all circumstances)  I’ve attempted on several occasions to express how and why I believe this and as of yet, have failed miserably to translate my experience in this class with someone else. Too much goes on during class time, the readings and feelings that come with truly life altering classes.

 

• In my Peace & Justice course mentioned above I had the opportunity to meet some fantastic people. I say opportunity because if I had not pursued the opportunity to become friends and not just class mates then I would have missed out on one of the BEST experiences of my life. There was a boy named Aaron who I am still beyond impressed by; I used to sit in awe over his insights and perspective. I pursued a friendship with him and ultimately received an invitation to travel to the West Bank of Palestine with him.

 

• During my last semester at Utah Valley University where I will be graduating upon completion of my senior thesis; I took a Buddhism & Science course which discussed the correlation between these two subjects. Why I enrolled in this course wasn’t so much about intuition as it was merely because I’m interested in Buddhism. The course is taught by Wayne Hanewicz, a wildly interesting man whom I could spend days with just listening to his stories. The subject was so deep & complex that it would be over my head and on several days we would walk out of class dumbfounded, enlightened and wishing the class was hours longer. This course only further instilled my love for a simple life, my wanting to distance myself from attachment to possessions and desire to learn more about Buddhism.

In closing I would like to say that my college experiences are priceless. I will NEVER be able to share what I have learned because it goes beyond the education I received. This may be the single largest reason I encourage others to attend college. With student loans coming due soon I can say with complete assurance that the high cost (while painful) is already completely worth it!  There aren’t any words to express my absolute love for what going to college has done for me.

 Have you had experiences like this? Do you have anything you'd tell a hopeful college graduate?

Comments

[Meredith]

Great post! I agree that it's amazing what happens when you follow your intuition/promptings/whatever you want to call it :)

Those little "gut feelings" or thoughts led me to lots of things that I wouldn't have normally done but have been so glad I did! The ITP was a big one for me too!

[Heathers Harmony]

Thanks Miss Mary! haha Funny now that I think about it, Snow College is how I met your husband & ultimately how I met you! Love it!