This is the first entry in my journal for this class. I recently reread what I wrote and was struck by how nervous I was on day one. I may not be the most qualified individual to speak to some of the subjects we cover in class but it is very important that we learn these things as we become the “movers and shakers” of our generation. In whatever capacity I find myself, I will be mindful of this planet I call home.
Entry 1.
This will be good. This is good for you. You are learning.
These are all things I kept reminding myself after the first day of class. It was only day one and I could already tell this was going to stretch me. First, the subject was far beyond the things I have spent the last two years of academics focused on. I’ve spent too long worrying about profit margins, determining management strategies, and arguing about business ethics. Discussing global policies, human interaction with themselves and their environment, and the earth’s carrying capacity have not been on my radar since freshman year. I knew this was something I cared about and would like to take to the business world, but maybe I shouldn’t have jumped into the deep end with this class. Every student seems to have a broader and deeper understanding of political theory and environmental policy. Who am I to fit into such a specific scope? I fully support these students and professor but am totally a fish out of water here. As soon as someone needs help piecing together a national advertising campaign or formulating public relations notices about these subjects, I’m your guy! I know this class will be good for me. I know a different perspective of the world outside the business worldview is important. Often it is far too easy to live in a business-minded bubble. Thinking Capitalism, markets, and profits are the only thing to motivate people or get anything done. It is easy to forget there are entire disciplines, some much larger and older than business, that focus on OTHER things. I miss these perspectives. I miss seeing the world from someone else’s view. I miss asking myself to stretch and grow and question and doubt the intentions of myself and other business people. The world needs these students to keep the rest of us in check. It is the result of decades of no accountability that have lead to the importance of this class. I am so excited. A little scared but very excited.
-Robin Dean