Finding My way

Being a first-year college student presents a number of new possibilities and opportunities. Inevitably, said college student will make some mistakes. Maybe making mistakes is not necessarily as bad as many of us think. Every mistake, no matter how small, always seems to teach us something.

One of the best experiences I’ve had at The University of Toledo is serving as a campus tour guide. I love everything about it ok, maybe sometimes the weather becomes a touch irritating. I am so proud of this campus, so showing it off to prospective students is truly exciting for me. Of course, this is not to say I have not had my stumbling points… literally.

Immediately following my interview with Nick, my current supervisor, he suggested I shadow a tour that was just about to leave the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. I enthusiastically accepted this proposal, ready to gain the experience I needed to eventually lead my own tours. Now, it is more or less an unwritten job requirement of a campus tour guide that you walk backwards while showing campus to the families on the tours. So, being the industrious tour guide in-training that I was, I decided I should walk backwards with the tour guide leading the group. I wore clogs that day. I wore backless clogs that day. Mistake Number One.

The entire tour, I spent more time trying to keep my feet in my shoes (while walking backwards) than learning the tour route around campus and picking up on new and interesting facts about the university. At one point, my shoe came almost completely off my foot. Cue embarassing trip. Lesson Learned Number One: Do not wear backless shoes when one’s job requires walking backwards.

This may be a silly example, but it goes to show that every little mistake can lead to a lesson learned. With so many new opportunities presented to us as college freshmen, the opportunity for mistakes grows with it. I’ve come to realize the opportunity for mistakes just gives more opportunity to grow, and nothing could be more beneficial as one walks through life. In my case, I just so happen to be walking backwards.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 10:35 am and is filed under Uncategorized.
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