WHAT STUDENTS SAY:
Caitlin
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PROGRAM
Reconciliation was an amazing experience for me. It allowed
me to realize myself in a way that other programs could
not. I learned to rely on my colearners and myself more for
information, rather than just the faculty. The faculty were
very helpful, especially through the reconciliation website and email
group, however due to the nature of the program they could only help so
much. With so many students, each doing very different
things, they could only really supply guidance, no syllabus or plan to
fit us all. The freedom of this program is the best and
worst part. It forces you to be responsible while also
allowing you to answer to no one and move at your own pace.
The fluidity of the program is definitely a strong suit, giving
students the ability to change their minds in the middle of a project
and shift focus to something else, ultimately making her or him more
comfortable with the end result. I feel that this program
allows us to effectively teach ourselves, which will continue to be our
mode of education throughout the rest of our lives. It
makes sense. That said, I would not recommend the program
for those who cannot work and be functional without a structure already
in place. For everyone else, it’s an opportunity to do
exactly what you always wished there was a class for.
"Reconciliation, I have found, is a dynamic and inspirational course
carefully designed with the students in mind. The incredible support
and dedication of the faculty to encourage students to have their
power, voice, and choice to learn what they want to learn and how they
are going to learn it, has created a pathway for students to reconcile
many of the patterns and impressions left by today’s school systems.
The faculty highly emphasized that it was more important to be out in
the field, living what we as individuals or as small groups decided to
learn, rather than to be in class each day we met.
Early in fall quarter I had a thirst for community
and I realized that it wasn’t just going to be handed to me. I had to
create or find it with my own ingenuity. Which inspired and drove me to
take a hold of my learning and my life. I found community on my own
within the Writers Guild student group and Eagle’s Ballroom swing
dancing. I found this course to be the perfect pathway for me to pursue
writing my novel and studying nature and philosophy. Without outside
forces dictating what, when and how I was going to learn, I was free to
pursue my passions meanwhile maintaining my full health and wellbeing.
Allowing me to develop more fully as a whole person rather than just
the intellectual portion of self. This allowed for my self and many
other students to attend other programs outside of Evergreen, getting
hands on experience with much of what we set out to learn. In addition
the class allowed students to explore a vast array of topics by
allowing for travel to Peru and other place around the world.
Most importantly, this program allowed me to fully
take hold of my life. I could chose when to work and when to build
community or take care of myself. I had an idea of what I wanted
to learn from the beginning, and I found that the program and its
faculty pushed me to see the bigger picture and to go deeper into my
studies. I didn’t just learn what I set out to learn, I began to live
it. I began to Praxis all I was learning, I logged hours and hours of
experience."
Justin H
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"This program is immensely important to Evergreen. In this program I
was able to combine multiple facets of my desired education. It would
have taken multiple contracts and internships on top of regular
academic work to achieve what I have for 22 credits in two quarters. I
was able to combine Adult Basic Education, teaching English as a Second
Language, Latin American History, and Dominican Cultural Studies in to
one focus. This would have cost a fortune in tuition to do this on my
own, and as a result could have forced me to give up my dream. I think
this program stands exactly for what The Evergreen State College was
created for. I feel the education that I have gained in this program
has not only prepared me for the world beyond College, but also
equipped me to make a splash when I get there. I hope that Evergreen
never restricts a program like this because they are where difference
maker’s visions get shaped."
Matt W