Before last Wednesday when I arrived at Rookery Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, I had not at all been excited for Colloquium, just another of Florida Gulf Coast University's requirements for graduation. I am an Education major and I really love all of the courses that my degree requires. I didn't want to take time out of my schedule and away from these other courses for a class that I wasn't interested in. Besides, I had heard so many negative things about "that mandatory Colloquium course." Touring the facility, however, has lifted my spirits considerably. It's made me realize that I am actually very excited for the hands-on experiences, service learning opportunities and field trips that this course will offer. In college, it's rare to have these experiences! I also believe that, unlike the university's other required courses, the things I learn in Colloquium will be applicable in my daily life. I am looking forward to our class field trip to ECHO in Ft Myers, Florida as I have been very interested in gardening lately. I'm looking forward to volunteering within the community because I believe there is so much history in Southwest Florida that I still am not familiar with. I'm looking forward to discovering my sense of place and reflecting on why I love the outdoors.
Although there are so many things about the course which I am looking forward to, there are also things to come which I am skeptical of. I love nature and spending time outside but I'm not exactly the type of girl to give up bug spray, meat, or my car. I'm hoping that I will be able to learn how to conserve resources while not being expected to completely give up the life I've become accustomed to. I also find myself hoping that this course is not aimed to "scare us into action." I do not believe that conviction is the best motivation and personally, I do not respond well to fear. I don't want to come to a class every week knowing I'm going to leave feeling panicked or guilty.
I'm hoping that this class can be factual but also inspiring. I'm hoping that rather than abrasive nagging, the course materials and field trips will offer gentle reminders that we need to take action and give ideas for how to do so during this stage of our lives.
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