Returning to Evergreen after 25 years of life experience was inspiring and it turns out the perfect time to answer The Query. I did not know at the beginning but this time in my life I had the courage to work through and let go of the outdated, unworkable educational parameters I was taught that I had to adhere to. I allowed myself to challenge the norms, the way education is supposed to look. I allowed myself to play, discover, see where my curiosity took me. It was challenging and more rewarding than I could have imagined. I am happier and more content than I can ever remember being.
When I decided to return to school The Query was not clear to me, it had been rattling around in my brain for many many years, in hindsight it’s been there my whole life. But here I was ready to complete my education, having very little clue as to what path to take. I knew I wanted to write and share about people and food in some way. I didn’t come to school with clarity and openness. I thought to legitimately and responsibly return to school in my mid 40’s as a single mother I would need to know exactly what I wanted to do and it had to be a concrete career path that would have good job prospects, The Query did not look like a responsible path. Having transferred with 2 years of credits, I only had 2 years to figure this out and the pressure was on. My real interest, The Query, though not a “responsible” career path was there, poking its way into my dreams and begging to be paid attention to. I was too busy at the beginning making sure that I fit the mold – education with a clear end goal to a good paying job and career – no room for exploration. I took some courses in Food Policy, Writing and language hoping I would fall into a concrete path. During this time, I took a class with Carmen Hoover in the Native Pathways Program: World of Writing. One particular assignment had The Query smiling at me, reminding me that it was there, waiting. I wrote an essay on Sobremesa, a cultural practice in many areas of the world meaning the time spent after a meal, talking and connecting with loved ones around the table. It had me examine for myself the importance of taking time to ponder, wonder, work out ideas and thoughts in a relaxing and open way. I began to look at what it would look like to apply this concept to my education and learn in a way that worked better for me, a different way than what I was taught I was supposed to – what would it look like to allow myself discovery?