Ecologue

“What if our journeys truly begin when we do not know where we are going?”
– Bayo Akomolafe

As I approach graduation, without much of a plan as to what I’ll do after that, I exude enthusiasm for my future – even though it’s unknown. That may be terrifying for some, but I’m PUMPED.
When I stumbled into a workshop session on Via Campesina accidentally, I embraced my mistake – having intended to go to the Grassroots Organizing session at the Economics of Happiness conference. I was pulled in by the intriguing and thought provoking content about curriculum that isn’t taught from textbooks regarding food sovereignty for local, rather than globalized, food systems. The role-plays and poster-making brought me back to the simpler days of high school and middle school, but the critical mindset the workshop leaders (themselves high school educators) encouraged excited me! Mostly because it means high school students are being introduced to a type of thinking conducive to social change, reminding me of the importance of my appreciation for access to higher education.
As always, I found the content of the conference thought-provoking and insightful, but the people who I was surrounded by and able to meet were the truly valuable outcome of my attendance. The diversity of perspectives and experiences at this conference included individuals of differences in age and race, but with a common passion. There are always great people at these things: this time I ended up meeting an extremely interesting woman with just a few more years of experience under her belt. Canadian Carmelle, after matching my desire for informed discussion in our group, casually asked me what I studied to which my typical response followed: “Communication and International Studies.” After some brief conversation with Carmelle between the workshop’s group poster presentations, we realized the common bond and serendipitous reason we’d ended up sitting next to each other: she studied in Cuba for two years, the same country I’ll be going to this June through an IE3 Global 2-week study abroad program. When we were able to continue talking after the workshop, inspired discourse came from sharing our mutual excitement for my upcoming trip. I’m even more enthused than ever and can hardly wait to experience the culture and learn about Cuban society from the people who live, eat, dance, and work there. This is bound to be a very different experience than my life in the “WEIRD” (Western Educated Industrialized Rich Democratic) culture I have grown up in. To learn about how Cuba and its people have sustained themselves will be an Edventure (Educational Adventure!) built on what I’ve learned and experienced throughout my entire life – but especially by my courses, work with the Student Sustainability Initiative, professional development and travel opportunities, as well as so much more I’ve taken advantage of through my university education here at Oregon State University.
Although my future isn’t certain, I’m certainly excited to see what it leads to and develops into. The journey is just beginning.
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Emily Boyer graduates in 2015, you can check out her blog This Remarkable Life to see what she’s been up to.