Meet Genie Walters, a student at Ivy Tech’s Fort Wayne Campus studying liberal arts and criminal justice. In addition to being the Student Government Association president, she’s also a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow. As a part of the fellowship, she attend the its National Convening last month, in Boston.
She takes over Green Light to talk a little about the convention.
The National Convening gave myself and other fellows an opportunity to network with one another and to gain a better understanding of how the governing body functions. Walking into the lobby of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, it was a very energetic atmosphere. I was immediately swarmed by other Fellows with questions like, “Where are you from?” “What’s your name?” “What school do you attend?”
Next door the to Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is the John F. Kennedy Presidential Museum, which was one of my favorite stops. During my visit, the museum was celebrating JFK 100, a special yearlong exhibit remembering the life and legacy of the 35th president through historic milestones in his career, administration, and personal and family life. One of the more touching pieces was a letter he had received from his father regarding his poor college studies, in 1934:
Now Jack … I definitely know you have the goods, and you can go a long way … I will not be disappointed if you don’t turn out to be a real genius, but I think you can be a really worthwhile citizen with good judgement and understanding.
This advice resonated with me as a current college student. I think it is important for all students to know not everyone is going to have a 4.0 GPA, and yet they still have the ability to go on and do great things.
In addition to this amazing conference, I had a chance to sightsee around Boston. The rich history of Boston is captivating. There are many landmarks, museums, and tours – unfortunately too many for me to visit in such a short time. However, I did get to visit the
site of the Boston Massacre; the site of the Boston Tea Party and the infamous “shot heard round the world,” which led to the American Revolution; the Freedom Trail; Paul Revere’s house; the New England Holocaust Memorial; Salem, Mass.; the Salem Witch Museum; the Salem Witch House; and Harvard University.
Harvard holds the title as the oldest university in the country. Not only is Harvard an academic powerhouse but also a popular destination for visitors from around the world. As I walked into Harvard Yard, I just stood in awe as I took in the classic beauty and reflected upon the centuries of history it has witnessed. I thought back to my first semester at Ivy Tech and the high standards I have set for myself. My motto has always been “From Ivy Tech to Ivy League.” And through Ivy Tech, there I stood at an Ivy League institution. Talk about the power of speaking something into existence!
Sadly, the campus was on fall break so it was relatively quiet. Nonetheless, I ventured around and saw some of the iconic buildings on campus. I also took the opportunity to study and submit homework due in my Ivy Tech classes, because when else would I possibly have to the opportunity to say “I studied at Harvard!”? It was a surreal experience and one of the best memories that I will forever cherish from Ivy Tech.
Are you a student or graduate who has had a fantastic experience at Ivy Tech? Would you like to tell us about it? Email your idea to jgarver2@ivytech.edu, and you could get to write a Green Light blog post!
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