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One of the best times I have had in a while was on the IIT Student Leadership Retreat, when we went to Michigan last weekend. Although I was going to go anyway, I was sent by WOUI to learn more about being a leader. I learned much more.There were more than just students there. There was faculty and staff up there like Peter Johnson and the Dean of Students Office, and a few extras like Ian from Housing. The mix was enlightening. Our first session we got to know everyone up in a barn loft. The ride had been too long for a Saturday morning and we needed the room to stretch and relax while we got to know one another. After lunch we started group sessions where we discussed leadership, our university, and what a college should be. Some of our discoveries were kind of surprising. The discussion I enjoyed the best was talking about what a university should be. 
We talked in small groups with students, staff and faculty. I learned that our faculty does care about us students. They want us to talk to them about their classes, and they are willing to listen to any comment or criticism we have. The next time I like or dislike something about a class, I will go see the teacher, because they care. Most students seem afraid of their teachers, they complain but don't want to go talk to them. 
We need to realize the faculty is here for us as much as we are here for them. We all learn from one another. This leads us to education. For all the money I spend on tuition I want to get more from college than just the classroom education. I have already worked in the "real world" and know a little about what Corporate America wants from new students. They want individuals who know their field but also know how to learn new ideas quickly and can solve problems. These skills are not always taught in the classroom, but can be learned at school. There are many places to learn the problem solving skills you will need after college. One good place is in a Student Organization. Our Student Organization here at IIT can be fun and educational. Being on the Exec board of WOUI, I have learned how to better manage large pieces of information. Talking to music company representatives develops my communication skills. Helping manage the station builds my leadership skills. Most of us who went on the retreat were already members of Student Organizations, and we had many positive things to say about them. The most frequent was that you can be active at IIT and still do well in school, like run an organization while making the Dean's List. 
I hope I can go next year. Michigan was such a great place, the stars were incredibly bright and the bonfire was warm, the horses come right up to you. I have already tried to use some of the things I've learned at WOUI and in my classes. So go out and get involved, because there is more to learn here at IIT than in the classrooms! We all felt the retreat was a success. The farm was a great place. |
