Want some experience? Get some.
Earlier this semester in EDI 419/519 a student asked me how I got all of the experience I have. That question got me thinking.
I’ve spent significant time abroad. I’ve studied two foreign languages. I’ve lectured at major universities and I’ve consulted for government agencies (including the U.S. Department of Education and the National Research Council). Outside of academics I worked three summers at IBM and supervised VIP services at the 2002 Winter Olympics. I don’t mean to brag – it’s humbling looking back at all that – but I must admit that I have had a great deal of experience in my adult life.
I trace all of these experiences back to a long-term service commitment I fulfilled in a foreign country during my undergraduate studies.
I have a colleague at American University in Washington, D.C., whose experience is comparable to mine. During her undergrad she spent a year with the Peace Corps in Moldova – a former Soviet state between Romania and Ukraine. After that she majored in History and eventually earned her Ph.D. in International Education from NYU with an area focus on Moldova.
When the BBC Radio Service needed an expert on Moldova’s student revolt, they called her.
Why do I bring this up? Because there will be Peace Corps “Lunch & Learn” on Tuesday, October 6th, from 12:30-1:30pm in 220 Seymour. At the very least there will be free food. At the most, it may change your life. You need to call to reserve a spot (395-2159).
