What is an Educated Person?

I was at a crossroads in finishing my bachelor's degree. I was either going to dropout or find a way to make it through this hurdle of a mid life crisis I was experiencing. I felt there was something missing from my International Business major. Having traveled abroad before pursuing my degree, the things that were being discussed did not seem relevant. There was something missing. After awhile, the courses were turning into the same discussing topics of globalization, outsourcing, China and India merging as the next leaders of the world. When I went to China, I already knew this by what I saw. So I was at the point of, "yeah we all know this, tell me something new?" The professors did not talk a lot about how the United States can set the example as a good superpower bringing people together by using its knowledge and expertise to better nations. While building long lasting relationships before and after the business transacts. What is the United States going to do so they don't get left behind? I was wondering.

I began searching at the Metropolitan State University website (http://www.metrostate.edu). I knew I had more of a talent and interest in art than science. At the same time, science and the questions and answers it presents still interests me. I looked at traditional majors to change to and then an Liberal Arts major. I could only include 8 credits of business courses. The classes I took I felt were important and more than 8 credits should be included. If I could include certain disciplines, this degree would be great. Except I didn't know it was possible. With more searching, I looked into the individualized degree program. I finally met my match. I e-mailed my adviser as to what I was thinking about doing. What disciplines I wanted to include, the reasons why. I was trying to justify my decision to her for this was not a traditional thing to do. I was out of my comfort zone.

I was actually trying to convince myself I was not crazy and it was a good decision. She e-mailed me back with a quick response, "Do you want to be transferred to First College?" I was stunned. I at first thought she was trying to get rid of me. I starred at the screen for a couple of minutes and then responded with a, "yes." She again responded quickly it was done, but added that her second degree was an individualized degree and what areas she studied. I was relieved. I registered for the required class for the individualized degree program that night. Next week was the first day of school. What was I doing? I was off into the unknown.

Walking up the stairs to the 3^rd floor library room 310 was like starting my very first day at college 7 years ago in June 2000. It was scary for I am thinking, "What am I doing changing to an individualized degree? Am I doing the right thing? I am 26 years old and I can't keep on changing my mind...etc., etc." Walking into the room was like leaving a bad situation and going to a positive environment. I felt positive energy in the room. Was it the room or the professor I was to meet? I think both. My senses and analyzing was in progress. The minute Dr. Kirk spoke, I was at ease. Calm, collected, and surprisingly excited and motivated like as it was starting college at 19.

What I got out of Dr. Kirk's lecture, I call it, was that it was okay to be different. A new word "non-traditional" was added to my vocabulary. "To come up with your own path in life that works for you. For not everyone is the same and not everyone responds the same", was some of the things she said during her presentation. Seeing the statistics on the graduation rates of the traditional and non-traditional degree plans, I was amazed that the Individualized BA was at the top for graduation. "Why didn't I do this in the first place?" I asked myself. I had to finally be fed up and recognize that I am smart and have experience. Along with knowledge and learning from the university. This degree will compliment those skills already learned from life and work.

The people I took this class with I already liked. I felt like I was at an AA meeting on the road to recovery with a great support system from the professor, First College, the students and the institution itself. That is very hard to find the whole package. It was a great first day. I almost cried from enthusiasm. This would be the first to become many on the journey from a traditional to a non-traditional student. I had no idea what was in store for me, but it would end up being a life changing experience and discovering another form of spirituality that came from within. This was for the first time about me.

There are many ways in which to describe an educated person. The educated person is no longer about just having a piece of paper in hand showing you are now qualified to get a "real job" and make money, but about obtaining knowledge and learning and making use of what has been learned. An educated person has a hunger for learning. Seeking resources such as books where a person could self-teach themselves, seek a mentor to be taken under that person's wing of who they admire, pay for knowledge in the from of taking a class, seminar or a conference. For many, this starts at the institution. Using the institution and its available resources can open up opportunities for more learning during and after college. Pursuing a degree can be a guide into opening many doors and seeing what is behind them. Some of the doors can be: volunteering, studying abroad, grad school, work and life experience and spirituality.

An educated person is taken on a path. To some, it is known. To others, they go on one path that turns onto a completely different one. It may not be clear as to where they are headed, but with each step forward, they get closer to finding what their calling is in life. The first question many of us ask is, "what do I want to do?" From there, the individual looks within themselves finding things of interest that lead into picking a major of study. In order to go on this journey, I believe an educated person first has to have an open mind with the ability to look at things with a conscience of the mind. To see how the world is transforming around them and figure out how they fit into that world. For the world we live in and all its contents of people, different cultures and religions, experiences and history are all interrelated.