agro-ecology | life lessons | dreams | personality | spirituality
University Snapshot:
Loving my degree
I like school and am enjoying my university degree in Agro-ecology. Right now I’m doing a direct studies project and it allows me to pursue my interests.
Just to explain a little about Agro-ecology, it is the science of sustainable agriculture. Agro-ecology draws up the interdisciplinary knowledge of ecology, conservation and economic social patterns. In Agro-ecology we study how to make minimal impact on the environment while providing economic equity for everyone. (Equity that is socially just and environmentally sustainable).
Because I’m less scared of trying new things than I used to be, I also love expanding the horizon of my mind. I love discovering how everything fits together. For example, I find it very interesting how current economic policy affects agricultural practice and how it affects environmental welfare.
It's important to be open to new ideas and to not immediately judge one as right and the other as wrong. Sometimes they are two perspectives of the same mountain. To get a view of the whole mountain we have to take both into consideration. The objective is to view the big picture and access a framework to hang all the details in.
Doing interdisciplinary studies helps me access "the big picture" because it offers a balanced approach to practice and theory. I’m learning how to value and enjoy this balance. Interdisciplinary studies care about the academics as well as the practical details that are more applicable in the real world.
Back to top
My greatest university lesson:
I’m learning to control my stress, particularly in the area of school. I've finally got it through to my head that getting an "A" is not the 'end all and be all' of life and that it’s ok to hand in a paper even if it doesn't receive the best grade. For me, it's about learning to just enjoy life and enjoy the relationships I have with people instead of always worrying over the details of school and work.
Advice to first years students:
>Try new things but then decide on how much time are you willing to devote to them. For example, if you want to spend time with a friend but you also need to study, you can do both! Make arrangements so that you can study together, go to the library and bring along some food. Study and eat together. The important thing is being able to make time for both.
>When your professor says read a paragraph, you should do it even if you don’t think you have time to do it. You never know if it will show up on a midterm.
>Spend your spare hour doing chemistry problems. Also make the extra effort to write a practice essay for a midterm. Don't just write it, but analyze it afterwards.
Back to top
Dreams Snapshot:
Overseas Work
I want to be able to apply my knowledge and skills in agro-ecology in long term projects such as agricultural aid in overseas missions work. My dream picture of my career would be working overseas and getting to know the culture and language of the local communities. I dream of being involved with agriculture-environment type of research or community work while being deeply involved with God and the lives of other people.
Back to top
Personality Snapshot:
A love for exploration
I feel like a figure skater in my mind. I really love being able to turn ideas inside out in my mind. I find such joy in investigating and exploring the world I live in. When I'm learning or meditating about something, even just having thoughts and ideas float through my mind and connect together, is very exciting. The joy I feel in the explorative process of learning, is like the joy I see in a figure skater who graceful moves in and out of new steps.
Back to top
Spiritual Snapshot:
Living a different way
When someone first explained to me how I can have Jesus in my life, I didn't understand what that meant. I was five years-old when I prayed and asked Jesus into my life. In my mind, I knew God was present in my life but I did not turn to Him. I did not become a conscious follower of Christ until I was older and began to realize that being a follower of Christ didn't just mean not reading ghost stories but it meant turning to God for strength in every circumstance in life.
Having a relationship with Jesus gives me a choice to live in a different way. He gives me the power to live a new spiritual life that I otherwise would not able to do on my own. For example, sometimes I have a problem accepting myself but because of my relationship with Him, I can know that God accepts me. Understanding his acceptance has helped me to stop worrying unnecessarily.
Back to top
Heather's fasincation with Islam leads her to compare it withChristianity 1.2.
Related reading:
Copyright iamnext.com 2004. May not be reprinted without permission.
