Dear Mr. Turner,
I am like a pigeon... however depressingly unglamorous that may sound. A behavioral ecologist would call me a generalist. I have no specific niche, only an inherent quest to be fed, taste everything, and inhabit every corner of the globe. I, filthy Ms. Pigeon, am fauna supreme. Sure my feathers are gray and my feet are scaly, but please, do not judge a creature by its coat. Beautiful but naive Mr. Panda, with his fluffy black and white fur and adorable big black eyes, specialized in gathering only bamboo. Not an intelligent evolutionary move. In fact, specialism can be viewed as a significant evolutionary disadvantage.
It is not uncommon for climates to change, plant distributions to shift, and competitive species to move into new areas, leaving narrow-niched animals helpless in their efforts to adapt quickly enough to survive. Endangered Mr. Giant Panda is experiencing all of this firsthand. His single habitat and food source is rapidly being depleted, mainly due to urban sprawl and climate change. With respect to his endangered status, I bet he wishes he’d evolved more like me!
This may be true in the human kingdom as well. A liberal arts education equips us students of the 21st century with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and appreciations, that don’t limit us to one particular field. Perhaps we should learn from the endangered Panda’s mistakes. In today’s corporate world, companies are faced with demographic changes, wealth distribution shifts, and competitive industries moving in. If the collective knowledge and skills of the employees at a company faced with a scenario akin to this is too narrow, said company may not survive either.
I chose Skidmore to provide me with that well rounded liberal arts education I need. Skidmore is perfect because while it is situated in a small town, I can spread my wings and seize the chance to explore another part of the globe by doing the FYE London program abroad this semester. My quest for knowledge has always been ruled by the idea that “what you have to learn to do, you learn by doing.” By actually being IN London while learning about classic architects, contemporary politicians, and the ethnic tapestry of Europe, I will obtain a much longer-lasting appreciation for the knowledge I obtain. Every fact I am taught, will essentially have a memory tied to it. This I simply cannot wait for.
My two favorite subjects in high school were ecology and environmental science because I could observe what I was learning simply by stepping outdoors. I also appreciated government and economics, because what I learned was contemporary and pertinent in my everyday life. In retrospect though, I realize what all of these great classes shared in common. They all exposed me to various environmental, economic, political, and social injustices around the world and they all evoked some sort of passion within me to make my opinion be heard. The small class sizes and vibrant personalities of the Skidmore faculty and student body will make it easy to engage in spirited group discussions. The only learning environment I’ve ever participated in that seemed like everyone was a part of by choice, was when I took Spanish lessons in Costa Rica. It was a life changing experience for me because everyone around me was a teacher! The Belgian girl who sat next to me in class, my surf instructor, and the home-stay family I lived with were all were there to enrich me! And I shared what I knew with them. I can’t wait to finally be surrounded by equally enthusiastic peers at Skidmore.
At this point, I’m not sure what direction Skidmore will take me in or where I will be a year from now. Will I follow the environmental science route, like I’d originally planned? Or should I challenge myself and try out economics, or even political science? I do like photography. But I don’t think I’ll major in it. Perhaps Spanish...
This is why I chose Skidmore. I have NO idea what I want to do with my life. I just want to enjoy the ride. Without being pigeonholed.
Sincerely,
Olivia Anna Miller
