Having Fun Isn't Hard, When You Have (Four) Library Cards

Yes, I do have four library cards. And yes, I’ve used every single one of them.

Has my education been made the better for it? I can’t say for sure; I am a proponent of quality over quantity, after all. However, as we wrap up the last week of the academic term here in England, I can happily say that one of the most important aspects of my time here was the ability to completely immerse myself in Oxford's culture of education.

This semester, I have learned and grown as a student in a more profound and influential way than I would have at Hendrix. I mean, who knew that within two month’s time, I would be able to carry my (slightly tipsy) weight in a conversation about health equity with a doctor studying at the University of Oxford? (Hi, Rob)

I think this has come about for a few reasons. Without the additional burden of extracurricular activities, meetings, deadlines, etc., I was able to concentrate my entire attention on my studies, spending extra time learning, digesting, and enjoying the material in a way I could not at Hendrix. This has given me a heightened appreciation for and knowledge of the topics I’m studying.

My education has also had a more well-rounded quality to it, thanks to the teaching structure that the University of Oxford offers. I have discovered that the Oxonian tutorial style balances two types of American collegiate education: while the students gain detailed and sophisticated knowledge within their specific concentration of study (the advantage of large, state universities), they are also learning to express their ideas with clarity, as well as challenge the arguments of others (the advantage of most private, liberal arts schools). It really is the best of both worlds, and I benefited from it immensely this term.

Of course, along with library cards and studying and reading comes some important lessons to be learned. The lessons I have learned through my studies at Oxford can be split into two parts: academic and personal.

Academically, I have learned to synthesize information quickly and present my ideas more thoroughly and cohesively. Structuring an argument has always been a weak point of mine, but after this semester I can navigate the most advanced research in the field and articulate its meaning without blinking an eye. At this point, I could probably whip out an essay outline in twenty minutes, tops.

Personally, the tutorial style has forced me to stand on my own two feet, in more ways than one. For starters, teaching myself complex economic theory was no easy task, but I was surprised at how much I could learn with a book, a pencil, and long hours in the library. Furthermore, a one-on-one meeting with an expert in the field every week certainly required me to "know my stuff" and be prepared to defend it. While my tutors challenged my arguments, probing my mind to test the limits of my knowledge, they were also conditioning me to expand my worldview. I am thankful that I took the time to explore and question and be curious about the world over the course of these past few months; my unquenchable thirst and curiosity has been satisfied, and a travel bug has been awakened in me. Undoubtedly, the list of experiences and places to see has only grown since I arrived, and I don’t know my travel bug will ever return to its slumber. But I do know that through my newfound independence through traveling and studying, I am now standing firmly on my own two feet.

It has been a good semester, Oxford. So many important lessons have been learned. As the academic term wraps up for the year, I think it is time to close the books and put away the library cards.