Learning Beyond the Classroom at EMU: How a Simple Decision Changed My Career Path Emily Kindred Here’s something I’ll (not so proudly) admit: when I first learned about Eastern’s LBC requirement as part of their General Education Program, my first thought was, “Great, another hoop I have to jump through to graduate.” As a naive freshman with only a vague idea of what I wanted the next four years of my college career to look like, it didn’t even occur to me to think of this as a valuable opportunity. As I became immersed in college life, I found that my mind was constantly changing when it came to deciding on a major. It wasn’t until my first semester sophomore year, when I received a mass email about an LBC volunteer opportunity, that I really found what I loved. This opportunity came in the form of a small, EMU-­‐
based nonprofit called Art Around Town. AAT’s student coordinator was looking for students to help her with various projects like social media, marketing, fundraising, etc.— I was in desperate need of some solid, resume-­‐building extracurricular experience, so I emailed her back immediately, introducing myself and offering my help. A few days later, we met in her office, and that was that: I was a full-­‐fledged member of the Art Around Town team. As the semester went on, I found myself becoming more and more involved in AAT’s activities. I more or less ran the organization’s social media pages, helped brainstorm fundraising ideas, and found myself attending every event. AAT’s basic mission is to help fund local arts programs in the public schools, especially those within the Ypsilanti community, which meant that I had regular contact with passionate, young students who were constantly grateful for the support we gave them. There was something really fulfilling about seeing these kids so excited about something we were doing for them, and that’s when I realized that I needed to be doing something that made a difference. Working with Art Around Town has made me realize that I wouldn’t be happy working for some big business or corporation, and the thought of being confined to a cubicle every day for most of my adult life actually makes me nauseous! Inspired by my peers, leaders, and the students I’ve had the privilege to work with because of AAT, I finally came to the decision to double major in Communication and Political Science. Ideally, I envision myself working in Washington, D.C. someday, making my voice heard about issues that really matter, like gender equality and the importance of the arts. Additionally, as a result of being such an active volunteer with AAT, I was recently offered a paid position as its new student coordinator beginning the fall semester of 2015. Not only will I be continuing to do something I love, but I’ll be able to put it on my resume as my first “big girl” job! Who knew that something I pursued simply to fulfill an LBC requirement would end up determining my entire career path?