Another class is coming to a close--making me 3 credits closer to obtaining my advanced degree. I would like to take this time to thank the members of my class for their insights, their input, and their support during this process. This includes members from other groups, as I tend to jump around to see what other groups are discussing and get their perspectives as well, even if I don't always comment.
I wish you all much success as your journey continues!!
Kathy
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Groups
When I was a teenager (many, many years ago) I participated in a program called the International Student Leadership Institute (ISLI). It was a program that ran for 4 days and 3 nights in which participants were split into small groups made up with people they didn't know, or at least didn't know well. During the program each group completed a number of tasks--some easy, some difficult, and some very personal. Each group had a facilitator or 2 to make sure they knew what they were supposed to be doing and to guide them along the way. Saying goodbye at the end of the program was heartbreaking--such strong bonds were formed during such a short time. I went back and was trained to be a facilitator myself, and continued to participate in the program for several years. Each time, saying goodbye was tear-filled. The closing ceremony was a mass during which the "sign of peace" took about 20 minutes because everyone was running around hugging each other. You were also given a packet of notes that the members of your group wrote in which they told you how they felt about you--what they liked, what they admired, and what they were going to miss. Now, over 3 decades later, I still have every note ever given to me during those ceremonies, and I am still in contact with quite a few people I met there.
Finishing my program at Walden will not have the same impact on my life, as the connections made do not have the same emotional pull. Because I took a short leave from the program, the people I began with are no longer in the same classes as me, and I am now interacting with an entirely new group of people. There is one person I connected with from the very beginning. Her name is Nikki, and we have never met. We live at opposite ends of the country, and it is unlikely that we ever will actually meet in person. But, we still check in with each other--our progress, our kids, our lives. If I were to attend the graduation ceremony at the end of the program, it would only be to meet my friend in person. While I do believe that adjourning is an important part of a group--to review, to recap--to provide a sense of closure, I doubt that I will be able to afford the trip, nor will I be able to get enough time off to go.
Finishing my program at Walden will not have the same impact on my life, as the connections made do not have the same emotional pull. Because I took a short leave from the program, the people I began with are no longer in the same classes as me, and I am now interacting with an entirely new group of people. There is one person I connected with from the very beginning. Her name is Nikki, and we have never met. We live at opposite ends of the country, and it is unlikely that we ever will actually meet in person. But, we still check in with each other--our progress, our kids, our lives. If I were to attend the graduation ceremony at the end of the program, it would only be to meet my friend in person. While I do believe that adjourning is an important part of a group--to review, to recap--to provide a sense of closure, I doubt that I will be able to afford the trip, nor will I be able to get enough time off to go.
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