克里斯蒂·舒尔茨·布劳顿文科征文比赛

看世界的新方法:文科教育的价值

文科教育的目的是使你的世界观多样化, 拓展你的视野, 并为你准备广泛的知识. This education should grant you the flexibility and intellectual skills to deal with the complexity of our ever-changing world. Is there a specific moment from your experience at 亚博体育 in which your liberal arts education encouraged you to change how you think about your community, 你的社会责任, 或者你在世界上的位置?

这是关于人民的

米娅·特拉弗斯

“全面发展的学生”，“整体方法”，“基础广泛”.” These are all phrases that I’ve heard when referring to a liberal arts education. 很长一段时间, 我曾经认为这个词等同于“基因”,”,, 说实话, 我的反应是呻吟和翻白眼. 对于一个很早就知道自己想要追求的事业的人来说, having to spend time in areas outside my current interests seemed like a waste of time. However, upon coming to 亚博体育, I soon found that many 人 were not exclusive in their passions. 事实上, there are many other music majors such as myself who have deep interests rooted in subjects outside of the arts. It wasn’t until recently when I was talking with a friend that I realized the true purpose of a liberal arts education was less about classes and subjects and more about the 人 and ideas they share. 这样的互动让我非常感激能在亚博体育学习, where the experiences that take place outside of an academic setting are just as impactful as the lessons learned within a classroom.

                One of the greatest discoveries that I’ve made in my own liberal arts education is that the most meaningful lessons are typically those that are not in a traditional classroom or academic setting. 而, these usually take the form of experiences found in everyday interactions. 有一天，当我和朋友共进晚餐时，我就表现出了这一点. 亚博体育一起在中城餐厅吃饭的时候, 亚博体育讨论了一系列的话题, 从音乐到学校再到生活. It was a very engaging conversation, and he constantly asked for my thoughts. 在某一时刻, 亚博体育谈到了资本主义的问题, 这是一个他知识渊博、充满激情的话题. 他问我:“你知道我的意思?“不幸的是, 我没有, and I avoid absent-mindedly pretending to understand something that I actually do not. 我诚实地回答说我缺乏知识, 接着请他向我解释他的观点. It was that moment that I realized even though I had not previously cared about the details of capitalism, I 做了 关心他的想法. 我上的是另一种类型的大学吗, 一个音乐学院, 例如, 我可能不会有这样的对话. Even though I love music, I also love being able to discuss life concepts outside of that. Thus, while my interests lay primarily in music, I am even more invested in 我的朋友们, and that expands my view beyond my own world and opens it to others’ perspectives.

            My experience with my friend is not an exclusive one; I have since found many instances in which I almost missed the bigger picture – cases where 人 have something to say outside of our academic degree. I realized that being so focused on a single goal can blind an individual to the bigger, 美丽的图画. 如果我一心只想成为一名乐队指挥, I might miss the unique encounters and opportunities that lay upon the path to get there. I’ve learned that I have 同学们 who speak several languages as a result of an intersection of different cultural backgrounds, or professors who deeply care about their students more than I ever anticipated, or friends who have their own distinct way of saying phrases that it’s become a defining characteristic. All of these little details are of utmost importance to understanding those around me. As an education major, I learn how it matters to understand students’ lives outside of the classroom. 给予孩子那种优雅和兴趣是很容易的, 但有时, it can be easy to forget that the same principles apply when working with peers. 然而,, such a difference it makes to know even just a few facts about 人 that lie outside of school! 世界是由人组成的, 而文科就是要强调这一点, 打开学生的眼睛，以广泛的视角.

            一直以来，意识到如此重要的一课似乎很有趣, that’s been something I’ve always valued in my relationships with others. 事实上, my favorite professors have not been those who are most knowledgeable in their subject, 而是那些对我的生活感兴趣的人. 例如, I have a professor who often asks me about my dogs and will even tell me stories of his own pet. 真正的, 重要的不是那些大动作, 但是那些小的时刻, 因为这位教授懂得同一性不是单一的. 对他来说，我不仅仅是一个学生或音乐家, but someone who had a personality and interests beyond my role in the classroom. 像他这样的人使别人感到被重视, 而文科教育是为了帮助亚博体育看到亚博体育周围的世界. I believe understanding others beyond surface level relationships is key to expanding our viewpoint and getting a bigger picture. Unlike what I previously thought, this doesn’t diminish the value of your personal interests. 而, it gives them more meaning because they are now placed within the context of the world around you.

            我的教授曾经告诉我，“这是关于人的.当我在生活中与他人互动时，这句话一直伴随着我. I’ve come to realize that, yes, liberal arts is focused on connection outside of your own interests. 然而，它的定义比我最初设想的要广泛得多. 这是关于联系的, 不仅仅是学科之间, 而且——可能更重要的是——人与人之间. 去亚博体育学院和教授交流, 同学们, 和朋友, 我意识到我在音乐之外确实有兴趣. 我感兴趣的 人, 只要这是我人生哲学的核心, I will continue to lean into and be grateful for the experiences and connections that 亚博体育’s liberal arts education provides.