Hi, Friends
I hope all is well and the weather doesn’t pull another
“Winter is coming” joke on us….
I am still in shock that we have only five weeks of
undergrad left. That’s quite a big deal and somewhat nerve wrecking, right? We
all have been lucky enough to be in school for SIXTEEN years! And it’s finally our turn to be fully in charge of
ourselves and make things happen out in the “adult world”.
So how are you? Tell me about yourself and what you’ve
learned in the past four years?
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Thanks! I feel awesome. My name is
Tony. I’m a senior student at Kalamazoo College, graduating with a chemistry
and environmental studies degree in June. I’m currently unemployed and have
about ten years’ worth of student loan to pay next. I might seem like a hot
mess, I know, but let me explain what I’ve gained from the last four years and
why college was worth investing.
To put it
shortly, I would say that I find myself very helpless, frustrated, and confused
the majority of times I leave my classes. Whether it is issues dealing with
environmentalism or social justice, there are so many messed up things out
there in the “adult world” that are way out of my control. I am fed up with the
awkward silence from discussion groups, and I want to DO something productive rather than just talking about these
dreadful topics. That being said, I think college has challenged me to change
my attitude and outlook on several things in life. My perspective on the
concept of “waste” had completely changed since my involvement through the
composting program. If it weren’t for the actual DOING part of composting, I never would have encountered the
valuable lessons and healthy community that it cultivates. Now that I’m leaving
college soon, I see so many potentials and work that need to be done about all
of the frustrating challenges that we’ve been discussing in class.
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I want to invite you all today to join me on a tour around
campus, learning about the physical process of composting and its application. I
would like this class session to be self-reflective on our individual experiences
at K, and think about how we will expand our journey beyond K.
Before coming to class, please answer these questions and watch
the following video in the links below:
- What is one topic that resonates with you the most? (ex. food waste, food insecurity, etc)
- What skills have you learned at K? And what is one thing you learned about yourself?
1. I think waste is one of the topics that resonates with me the most. There is so much waste, and yet there remains so much need for food. Utilizing waste effectively I think is a key aspect to building better sustainability, and like in the second video talked about, there are ways to use technology to better dispose and reuse the resources we already have.
ReplyDeleteI've only been at K for two years, but I definately have been exposed to a wide spectrum of viewpoints I hadn't seen much of beforehand. Sometimes they were shocking, sometimes they were inspiring, but they all reminded me that the world is much bigger than me and my viewpoint. K has taught me to be able to see things from many perspectives, whether or not I initially agree with that perspective. It also has taught me that its okay to disagree, and its okay to not think the same--that's what helps challenge everyone and provide a more holistic view on things, pushing everyone to really think about why they think the way they do.
1) I think one of the topics that resonates with me the most is the topic of climate change in food production, which is pretty broad, I know. I guess I'm just feeling that gen z anxiety about the destruction of our one home. Everything from soil to seeds to composting and waste falls into this category, but I think a common theme I have noticed is the idea of working within natural cycles to reestablish a connection somewhere in the circle where it has been broken.
ReplyDelete2) In my time at K, I think one of the most valuable skills I have learned is to consider varying approaches. I grew up in a relatively wealthy, mostly white suburban town (though not everyone who lives there is rich, most people have enough wealth to live without worrying about needs like where their next meal is coming from) obviously, this breeds a certain amount of conservative thought, even amongst more liberal thinkers. The community is so homogenous that we have a difficult time thinking from a different point of view, especially regarding ideas of food production and consumption and the environment. When I first arrived at K, I quickly realized I had to question my own assumptions about the world and understand that I do not have all the answers to everything. Where high school taught me to talk, K has taught me to listen, and I think that's especially pertinent to everything we've been learning on the farm and in class about being observant and asking questions.
1.) Hmmmm, there are so many good topics its hard to pick just one! From the growing/ production side, it has been exciting to learn more about soil and how we can tend to it in a better, more sustainable way. Most of the science goes over my head, but learning about seeds and reproduction/ biodiversity has been really interesting too. Then, tying responsible agriculture into responsible living/ social practices has done some resonating as well.
ReplyDelete2.) K has taught me to think about everything but also that I should never think I know too much about anything. Mostly that the world is complex. If we think we know too much there will always be other ideas that will be better or different or offer something else that is valuable. So it is good to be open to other ideas and to learn more about different perspectives. In highschool, I probably thought I knew everything, or that I would one day maybe be capable of having a good grasp on it all... So this has been quite a change for the better I think
1) I know you'll be shocked to learn that seed sovereignty is a topic that has been calling to me over the past few years! But aside from that, I'm also really interested in exploring more deeply how the arts--music, poetry, dance, visual art, storytelling, all kinds of creative acts--intersect with farming or could intersect with farming. I know that for many cultures that live close to the Earth, cultural practices that involve art and ritual are essential parts of their food and farming traditions. I wonder how I might (re)create new artistic traditions with my own farming practices and how they might change or deepen my work with the earth.
ReplyDelete2) I feel very blessed to be a part of the K community and to have the opportunity to learn from students, staff, and other faculty who share this community with me. My worldview has certainly broadened, and there are conversations I have had about race, gender, and culture that I can't imagine I would have had anywhere but at K. Also, working at K gives me hope because of all of you. Seriously, I would be so depressed about the world if it wasn't for the fact that I get to spend my working days with such bright, creative, loving students who genuinely want their lives to make a positive difference in the world. When I came to K from a larger university, I did not anticipate the richness that K students would bring into my life and how much I would treasure my relationships with them. So thank you all for being awesome!
1. In studying food waste, food insecurity, and the exploitative agricultural system (of land and bodies), to name a few, I am becoming increasingly interested in how we/I can help create or support sustainable, local food economies and production. And how can it be done in a way that is economically (as well as physically) accessible as well?
ReplyDelete2. It's funny, I was just talking to my roommate about this earlier today. We were saying how we need to remind ourselves that we have learned valuable things at K, in an effort to make our loans feel worthwhile (haha... but really). That being said, my time at K has taught me many things. In the same vain as my answer to question #1, one of the things I've been reflecting on recently is the importance of imagining and creating solutions. It is easier to criticize than to build (which has become apparent through patterns in my classes). But I think K has taught me how to listen, critically examine, and imagine new solutions or possibilities. In addition to that, I've been realizing (rather ironically) just how important interdisciplinary work/diversity of thought is to these kinds of collaborations. This is super hard! But I appreciate classes like this one where we can all contribute to and come at the material in our own ways/from our own frameworks.
1. I think the topic that has resonated with me the most is how do we make food production healthy and sustainably within local communities... I recognize that that is very broad. Or perhaps not broad but complex? Healthy local food systems encompass the producers, consumers, and the environment. I think I am drawn to this issue for it's multifaceted nature.
ReplyDelete2. I think the most valuable K thing has taught me (both related and unrelated to food) is how to look through other perspectives. I have learned how important it is to not just look for other viewpoint but truly engage with those views. I feel that by truly engaging in other perspectives I feel more empathetic and I have confidence in my chosen belief systems (because I have explored alternates).
1. Recently I have been talking with some of my closest friends (most of them are in AnSo, CES, and English) about how we talk about certain topics like food waste, food insecurity, among other things in very rigid and detached ways that decenter bodies. I love poetry, music, film, theory, etc. I think as of the past year, however, my interest has been in how we talk about these things and why it is that sometimes we talk about them like we aren’t part of them/ have relationships to them, why we ignore social locations, etc.
ReplyDelete2. I think K has taught me to think critically and find creative solutions. I have also switched departments many times, so that has inevitably made me think of ways in which different areas of study connect. I think personally, I have also learned a great deal of patience and finding alternative communities within the student population that can support me in ways K cannot particularly as a non-binary person of color. I think that when I leave K that will be something that I will always think of: that sometimes we have to build our own family that will help us grow and sustain each other through new situations.
1. I am still stuck on how much of our crop biodiversity has been lost. It is worrying to think about especially as we consider how to feed a growing population and one that includes such an economic disparity. People who are just trying to feed themselves and their families may not have the time, money, or energy to investigate varieties of produce they've never heard of because they just need a basic, well-rounded meal. Thinking about solutions that address the environment and poverty are really important, I think.
ReplyDelete2. I think the most valuable thing I've learned at K is that everyone comes into their views from somewhere and that these views are often so nuanced. No more lumping people into "liberals and conservative," "racists and not racists," "misogynists and feminists." Where I'm from, this happened a lot. Learning about the intersectionality of everything has really changed not only my views on the world, but on myself and family as well, which is just so crazy and valuable. One thing I learned about myself is that I am endlessly curious and that I have such a strong desire to keep learning things in every subject and seeing myself exist in new ways and spaces.
1. The topic that resonates most with me is the implications of climate change on agricultural (meat and dairy included) systems and vice versa. Climate change is an issue that I think about daily and its implications, both short and long term and encompasses almost every topic we have touched thus far.
ReplyDelete2. I don’t know how to begin writing everything I have learned from my time in Kalamazoo, I have had some of highest highs and lowest lows and every day I find myself learning something new. There are a few overarching lessons I see when reflecting on my learning. (1) There are social and cultural effects of every decision, policy, etc. Kalamazoo teaches you to question these decisions and forces you to become aware of these implications in hopes that a more conscious decision can be made. (2) Nothing exists in isolation. Every problem you encounter, every lesson you learn, and every person, place, organism has a connection. This is crucial in teaching us to consider different points of view and sources of knowledge because we are exposed to so many disciplines during our 4 years. (3) Honoring others experiences and your own. We are all citizens of earth and our current climate of dividing everyone into categories is not productive and further serves the narratives of people who encourage these divisions. In the same vein, acknowledge yourself. You have done incredible things, messed up and learned a hard lessons, and are deserving of love. It took an incredibly bad situation at Kalamazoo to realize that being kind to myself is okay. If I am not taken care of emotionally, I cannot pursue my passions and be an effective participant in positive changes in the world.
1. What is one topic that resonates with you the most? (ex. food waste, food insecurity, etc)
ReplyDeleteAs far as my own K experience goes, food waste has really taken up residence in my mind because of my involvement in Food Recovery Network. That being said, I have loved every opportunity that has brought me closer to understanding and being able to reconstruct healthy relationships to food, both on the production and consumption side. It is hard to choose just one issue, I have felt that each time I learn about a new topic I am equally as passionate about it. The challenging thing about K is that we do a lot of deconstruction without much rebuilding. That is why I am so appreciative of the DOING aspect, like Tony. Whether it is the hoop house, composting, or FRN, I resonate with the everyday actions of this community that work towards the remediation of the issues we have discussed.
2. What skills have you learned at K? And what is one thing you learned about yourself?
I think the most important thing that K has done for me is that it has given me frameworks to understand the issues I am confronted with. Moving out into the real world with the ability to think critically about topics gives me hope. Another component to thinking critically is thinking creatively. I will never forget one of my professors talking about how we cannot just deconstruct, because we can do that forever and then we are left with nothing. We must build and create as we deconstruct.
What is one topic that resonates with you the most? (ex. food waste, food insecurity, etc)
ReplyDeleteSurprise surprise, the topic that resonates with me the most is food insecurity. For many reasons, some which are very personal and others that pertain to research I completed in my SIP. I do care deeply about making sure that youth have enough access to food in school settings, and at home. I want to centralize the body and locations in which food insecurity takes place. I wish food insecurity was not such a lofty and dynamic problem to combat… or that people would dare to explore creative solutions to food insecurity that do not cater to the emergency charitable food industrial complex. It is challenging but we need to live humbly and carry forward.
What skills have you learned at K? And what is one thing you learned about yourself?
Wow, this is a challenging question. I have learned so, so much at K being that I am a English, Environmental Studies and Film and Media Studies person… I have hopped around many departments and I truly to resonate with the “liberal arts education” framework that K has been promoting all along. Would I send my kids here? For sure. K has payed off, and will continue to pay off even if it means paying back loans for the next ten years. Sure… it is not ideal, though at this point I would not have it any other way. Maybe I am illusioned into the ploy of paying for higher education or something along those lines… but then I remember all the wonderful friends I have made, teachers, and faculty as well. The eagerness to make strides in the community does come from a really genuine place of people who want to work through complex systems to make strides (even if we do not all agree with the strides taken). K for is a place where I learned that it is good to be humble, live generously, advocate for yourself and be a loyal friend. I was never good at school, I have always struggled, yet my education has taken me to places I did believe existed. I wonder what a reflection like this would look like 10 years from now?! I hope to stay in touch with many of you.
It's difficult for me to choose only one topic that resonates above the rest because of how connected everything seems to be which, as it happens, is one of the most important things I think I've learned at K. One way, among many, that I think food waste and food insecurity are connected is that both of these things could be, in part, traced back to a privileged part of our society's relationship to food; as disposable, abondant, and easy come, easy go.
ReplyDelete1) Soil depletion is something important to me.
ReplyDelete2) Here I am learning time management. And I have learned that there are multiple sides to most issues, and it’s often the case that neither side is flat-out, clear-cut right without a lot of context and background information. So I don’t value one way of thinking or another; I value deep thinking.
1)I think that one of the most resonating topic for me is that of waste. I never really thought about it and have been thinking so much about my footprint since the beginning of this class.
ReplyDelete2)At K, I have learned to think about everythig as a part of a larger interconnected highway of knowledge. What I learned about myself goes in tandem with that and it is that I believe heavly in kinship that is not necessarily biological and that is also intergenerational and that this means that my interconnectedness of knowing is that much more convoluted and prioritized. I have learned that I am stubborn and fair but very passionate. I value critical love over unconditional one and actualy believe that the only way to love someone unconditionally is to also be critical and hold accountable. All of these lessons have combined to truly equip me to build and sustain community that is entangled and commited to one another.