A Lesson vs. an Experience

I had to give a speech for a fundraiser for Engineers Without Borders the other day on "engagement" and what that means. It's a bit unrelated to what we are talking about now, except Dr. Sexson tells us that everything is related........anyway I thought I'd share it with you all since my primary idea for the speech came from a quote of Dr. Sexson about the difference between a lesson and an experience. 

So the theme for this year’s Jubilee is the four E’s: Engineering, Empowerment, Education, and Engagement. I want to look at that last word: Engagement. Over the past years of my involvement, I’ve given countless presentations and talked about who we are, what we do, and how we do it, but I haven’t talked much at all about how this group affects us students. I think it’s a topic that’s usually overlooked, but extremely important to bring up. And this topic is not small by any means, two members of EWB actually did their Honors Senior Thesis on the topic of engagement, but I’d at least like to give you all a little food for thought.

What is the difference between a lesson and an experience? This is a question Dr. Michael Sexson asked us in the seminar I am taking from him. A lesson, he said, ends; it closes. But an experience never ends. This is exactly what has and is happening to students in EWB-MSU. Their experience with this club is never ending, and often changes how they view the world.

On Wednesday night, I started thinking about what I might say to you all. I got a little stuck, as usual when I try to write something, so I sent out an email to about 15 club members. Keep in mind this was about 9’olock at night. And within two hours several people had responded with fantastic perspectives. Now first of all, this shows the kind of support network that is created within this organization or perhaps that we spend too much time checking emails….) but it also demonstrates the wide variety of experiences members of EWB commence in. They were all of such quality; I’d like to share some with you.

One member said traveling with EWB opened his eyes to how the world can be enormous and intimate at the same time. There are so many places, each different and unique in so many ways, but everywhere you go you can find a human element that is fundamentally the same, which allows you to connect with people a world apart.

Another member told of how the EWB culture grows leaders by pushing people to take on more than they might be able to do, letting them do what they can, and being there to support them when things don’t quite go as planned. It is not often college students get the opportunity to take on the responsibility that we do, and interact in an environment much beyond our years. It is the support network that allows students to succeed at this, or at least the best chance to do so.

Another member described the joy she gets out of watching the moment with it just clicks for students. They go from being unsure of themselves and their ability to contribute good ideas, to facilitating meetings, making sure their voice is heard, and mending mistakes members before them have made.

One member touched on the fact that EWB is not a group of people that are satisfied with their idea of doing “good” for another person. Our members are constantly trying to figure out the good that is best for something they know nothing about. This allows us to be sensitive to the impact culture has on everyone’s outlook. The most important lesson to gain is to realize that our idea of “better” in not right for everyone, and that we should strive to make someone else’s idea of “better” a reality.

My experience has been a combination of every one of these. EWB has given me perspective on life and appreciation for the value of education, culture, and community, in every sense. EWB-MSU is not just an organization, we are a family. Some of my best friends I have made because of my involvement in this group. And I am constantly surprised by our ability to solve the problems put before us, both in the community in Kenya and here in the states. I’ve found myself often putting my work with EWB before my schoolwork, which has its downsides, but the benefits I’ve received go beyond all my expectations. This is what an engagement experience at EWB gives students. As one member puts it: EWB is an acceleration of the lifelong process of gaining a view of the forest. Previous to EWB, the focus was on a few trees and shrubs.