Category Archives: Life-Long Learning

Life-Long Learning by Dillon Gadoury

Dillon Gadoury is the A.S. Director of Communications. In this Spartan Voice by A.S. Blog, Dillon shares his story on Life-Long Learning, one of eight Core Values in the Associated Students Strategic Plan. Read more about our organization’s values in the A.S. Strategic Plan here.

A Love Letter!

There was only one thing about school that reassured me in knowing that everything was going to be okay. It was never because of the friends I made or the good grades I never got. It wasn’t because of that FAFSA check or the cute girls in any of my classes. It was the understanding that there was always another year to look forward to. Whether it was the jump to being the big 5th grader of my elementary school or the long-anticipated move of being a frosh in college, there was always a future version of me to chase.

As I write this now in my final year of school, higher education or whatever you want to call it, I know now that the future served as a symbol of a second chance. A second opportunity to prove myself or at least be that person I wish I would’ve been. These past seventeen years of learning are now coming to a close as I get ready to graduate on what seems to be the scariest stage of my life; a stage that once I cross is going to end the only constant theme in my life: school. And as much as I got into trouble, failed tests or lied to my teachers, school somehow wrapped its arms around me and quite possibly gave me the best childhood that I could have ever imagined. 

I think some of us take it all for granted. What a joy to learn and grow up alongside my childhood best friends simply because of the same school we go to; and then we get to repeat that all over again. Everyone told me to “make the most of your college years.” They said “it’s going to fly by,” and those people were absolutely right. Four years later, I look back now and see my inner child rooting for younger Dillon in all those moments I doubted myself. 

Despite the chaotic journey that school has shown me, I’ve been able to actually learn quite a few things. Here are some of those things I wish younger Dillon learned sooner.

Put Fear in Your Daily Toolkit

Fear gets a pretty bad rep. When was the last time someone said, “Oh I love fear!” or “Fear is the best thing ever!” Probably never. Fear holds you back from a lot of things. It makes you second guess yourself and puts anxiety on the forefront of your actions and any decision making. But if you’ve ever dipped into that fear, you’ll realize that fear is the only thing in this world that is constantly looking out for you; leverage that.

I’m a firm believer that the best things in life are placed on the other side of fear. When we allow fear to dictate our actions, we limit ourselves and miss out on potentially life-changing opportunities. That’s why the point of maximum fear is also the point of maximum growth. You’re now challenging yourself to be in an unfamiliar environment doing something you would have never done; and that is amazing. Finally joining that one club you’ve been telling yourself to join, traveling to an unfamiliar city or even letting that girl know you have a crush on her, these are moments filled with fear, but also pure bliss. There were many times I let fear dictate moments of my college experience. It all started four years ago moving away from my chosen family to SJSU, with a stranger for a roommate, and no friends to fall back on. Until you realize that everything about college elicits fear, you’ll then realize that nothing can hold you back. 

Every day we hope to grow into a future version of ourselves that we can be proud of. Leverage fear in your daily toolkit as a reminder that you are challenging yourself and taking strides towards that future version of yourself you’re chasing. 

Chase that future version of yourself

It’s funny the way life works. I always dreamed about going to school in New York City, and if not that, maybe the idea of living there one day when I graduated college or figured my life out. That dream was always there in high school and stayed in the back of my head throughout college. Crazy thing is, here I am 25 days before I graduate college, and 28 days before I move to New York City to start my dream job. Yet, here I am still chasing a version of myself that I am not yet satisfied with. I’m chasing the future version of me that is already there in the city with all of his friends, maybe in his cozy apartment and working hard at his new job.

A year ago, I chased the current me. The Dillon that was about to graduate college, the Dillon that had a good head on his shoulders, and the Dillon that is currently writing this blog. Chasing the future version of ourselves is a great thing, maybe the best thing. It leaves us unsatisfied with what is, but goes after what could be. It’s a gentle reminder that no matter what has already been said and done, there will always be another page to look forward to in whatever chapter you’re in. I learned to chase that future version of me every year of school on the baseline of a K-12 school system. 

Everyday, week, month, and year of my life, I was always looking forward to another version of myself; a future me that was maybe more successful or even a little happier. My hero was that future version. I’m never going to be my own hero. I’m never going to attain that, and that’s just alright with me. That future version of myself will always be 10 steps ahead in my timeline. That version of me who I could have only dreamt of days, weeks, months or years before, keeps me chasing. 

Dreaming with eyes wide open 

So many of us, myself included, give up on our passions and aspirations because they seem unattainable or don’t fit within our given timeline. We imagine a future where we have achieved our goals, where we are happy and fulfilled. But the truth is, a lot of us only see these dreams when we close our eyes. Screw that. Having a dream or passion that you love is so rare to find, never give it up.

I always hear people say “I wish this” or “I would do that but.” They already lost. High school me loved making music, graphic design, film, art, all of the above! In the middle of everything college threw at me, I gave up on a lot of those things. I got caught up on homework, my social battery, professional development, and everything that comes with growing up. Underneath it all, I always craved that inner-child of mine who loved creating art! I always craved living in a world where I could just focus on those passions and nothing else. Dreaming with your eyes wide open means holding onto those aspirations and working towards them every day. It means believing in yourself and your abilities when nobody else will. 

If there is one person reading this or maybe even 10, please please, please, be selfish about doing what you love! Bet on yourself! Be your biggest advocate! You gotta do what makes you happy, no one is going to do it for you. 

Conclusion

I recognize that everything I’ve mentioned here is a lot easier said than done. It took me 21 years of hard-earned empathy, challenging perspectives, and lots of listening to get to where I am now.

I’d like to extend my unwavering gratitude to everyone that has been a part of my journey, big or small. 18-year-old me came into college timid and scared of what could be. I leave now full of ambitions with an attitude in my willingness to learn and grow. 

To my childhood best friends Mike, Ti, and Nam, I love you guys more than life; thank you for constantly being my rock.

Self-Awareness and Life Long Learning by Kai Rapanot

Kai Rapanot is the A.S. Vice President. In this Spartan Voice by A.S. Blog, Kai shares his story on Self-Awareness and Life Long Learning, two of eight Core Values in the Associated Students Strategic Plan. Read more about our organization’s values in the A.S. Strategic Plan here.

​It’s a tall task to go out on a limb and write a blog post for an audience with the magnitude that a university campus provides; hard enough that I am in a position that can pique the general population’s curiosity in what I have to say. Yet regardless of it, we push forward; we do the things we are asked to do; we are expected to see it as a courtesy, as a sign of respect that we can meet the expectations that others place on us.

​The oft-quoted line “heavy is the head that wears the crown” is interesting to me, because in a modern society that colloquially calls themselves “Kings and Queens” do we now not all bear the crown of responsibility? It’s no wonder this generation has back problems. We have to carry the weight of our own aspirations, while shackled by the weight of living life for past generations and/or setting up for future ones.

​People always ask how I managed to become what I’ve become, as if following every minute detail of my life would ensure success in theirs. I am not a worthy enough person to mimic, nor are my accomplishments a doctrine of success. We treat success and moreover successful people as a pedestal of life. My titles and organizations are good for a resume. It lends me the credibility to stand before a group and take charge, but what good does it do for my character other than to pervert it in some vainglorious attempt to reach the pinnacle of success?

​I am aware that a title can make a person nowadays. Some seek a piece of paper that deems us valid enough to warrant a second glance in the eyes of employers and god-willing larger corporations. We have transcended past the need to be a good person, and to teach those around us the ability to be generous, respectful, and kind. We are instead flooded with ways to be alpha, to be perfect, to be fake.

​I often stare at a picture of myself from the 5th Grade, and I wonder if I truly have become someone that he would look up to; if I have achieved this whimsical ideal of success in his eyes. I think a lot of us do similar things. My hesitations with success are not because I do not seek financial freedom for my parents, it’s not because I don’t understand the steps it took for my ancestors to supplant themselves in a foreign land. My hesitations are bred off the back of my life-long commitment to be authentic to myself.

​Authenticity means that you should strive to be substantial enough that your shadow doesn’t regret following you. But that doesn’t mean you have to have fancy titles or give grand gestures to be substantial. The people we claim to be in our memoirs will always be overshadowed by the characters we play in other people’s narratives. This is self-awareness, to understand what is expected of you, to understand that in life there will be many boxes attempting to mold you, some of them good, some of them bad. But nevertheless, you act according to you.

​I always chuckle at the fact that some of the most revered quotes in the modern era come from fictional sources. In that same vein, I believe that it was Master Oogway that said, “One often meets their destiny, on the roads they take to avoid it.” So maybe sooner, maybe later, we all eventually will come to the crossroads of deciding who we are going to be, and that’s a decision that we have to make. Whether we choose to be the next someone else or be the first of our own kind.

Life Long Learning by Carole Dowell

Carole Dowell is the Executive Director of Associated Students, SJSU. Here, in the inaugural blog release of Spartan Voice by A.S., Carole shares her thoughts on Lifelong Learning, one of eight Core Values in the Associated Students Strategic Plan. Read more about our organization’s values in the A.S. Strategic Plan here. 

“What you knew yesterday got you to where you are today. However, today is only the starting point for tomorrow.” – *Gary Burnison

I was not a straight-A student in high school. I didn’t like reading; school books were so hard for me to get through, and I could not remember much about what I was reading. I didn’t really like school for that matter except for PE. Sports was what I excelled at, no matter which one. I learned the rules as quickly as I could, went to bat, and put 100 percent into it. It was the perfect arena for me to be competitive and so it become my number one focus. In actuality though, I was doing just the bare minimum and getting by academically to finish high school.

Fast forward to college, I moved from my home in France and went to CSUN to pursue an undergraduate degree in Business. Attending an American University to get a degree became a goal of mine. I was motivated and excited for a new adventure halfway across the world.

With English as my second language, trying to understand the professor, the class, and taking notes all at the same time was a challenge. I had to focus on a basic understanding of the lesson, leaning on my books and notes, do my homework and pass the tests! This was learning at a whole new level for me. It took an entire semester to get used to taking notes in class in English while listening to the professor at the same time. 

But I was getting better and more comfortable with it. I took English 101 in the Pan-African Studies department my first semester. I had to read books quickly and do reports. Remember, reading wasn’t my thing! Ha! Well, I suddenly found myself enjoying reading a lot! This was the beginning of my relationship with books, connecting to the stories and reflecting upon what was shared. This led to a realization: Here I was at 20 years old, in a new country, in school and getting excited about, of all things, books! I was learning to better myself! 

“Be aware of not just what you know but, more importantly, what you don’t know.” – Gary Burnison

It’s a misconception to think that we learn only in the classroom and once we graduate, it’s over. After school, we get a job and learn as much as we can about it: the duties of the position, the processes, and the systems, and the people. The longer we’re at a job and the more we do it, the more comfortable and better we become at it. I’ve taken it upon myself to do more than the minimum; to get ahead of the curve, bring new ideas and solutions in the ways of doing things. 

When I mastered my job – meeting expectations and improving performance — it felt great. As it became routine, I knew I was ready for a new challenge. This was my internal sign to move forward with what’s next in my professional journey.  

I believe we all learn through our experiences, be these be positive or negative ones, but what we choose to do with the learning is up to us! I chose to keep moving forward in my journey because my experiences helped me to grow and develop as a person. The more mature I get, the more opportunities I have to pick and choose what’s next in my journey. In Higher Education, I see staff as educators and lifelong learners because, as our students change, the needs and expectations change too. Professional staff continuously adapt to these changes to best serve students and help them succeed in life in college and beyond. 

This is what we at Associated Students strive to do: continuous improvement — revising, refining, stopping, adjusting and starting services and programs to best fit the needs of our current students. We keep up with the trends in the field by reading journals, attending workshops, asking students for feedback, and communicating with our networks of colleagues. We want to exemplify the value of Lifelong Learning. 

Learning continues way beyond the confines of the four walls of a classroom or a Zoom call. I have evolved both personally and professionally in the years following CSUN. But each step forward has been the result of lifelong learning. We can be mediocre and get by, sure, but I challenge you to aim for excellence and learn every day! We, students and professionals, deserve the bounty and rewards that learning through life can bring us! 

*Gary Burnison is CEO of Korn Ferry, a management consulting firm based in Los Angeles. He has written a number of books including The Leadership Journey, among others.