Albertus’ 12th annual Experiential Learning Day (ELD) was met with great success and praise, and members of the community share what they were able to take away from the educational presentations.
Ashley Angeles ’22
Reflection on Felix Rodriguez’s presentation: Pedro Pietri, Labor, and the Boricua
Experiential Learning Day has always been a little difficult to navigate for me, as there are various presentations I would love to attend. I opted to attend Felix’s presentation on Pedro Pietri’s work, hoping to find some semblance of my experiences as a Latine. From the start, Felix’s natural charisma shone through and I was enthralled. His interpretation of Pietri’s work was exceptional, likely due to the unfortunate experience Pietri describes that many boricuas and Latinos can relate to. Felix discussed themes from Pietri’s Puerto Rican Obituary such as infighting, which he explained as the predicament between working tirelessly or starving. One line from this poem especially stood out to me and reminded me of my own parents: “They never took days off that were not on the calendar.” Latinos – especially those who are undocumented – know this experience all too well, and it’s disheartening to see family work so hard yet rest so little. The struggles faced by Latinos in the 70s are still prevalent today, and Felix was able to flawlessly intertwine his own experience and Pietri’s work to truly demonstrate this reality. Ultimately, I was glad to see Felix share some of these difficult experiences to enlighten those who are privileged enough to not know of this struggle.
Earl McCoy ’17, ’18
Reflection on Germaine Center’s presentation: Inclusivity in Writing
Reflection on MAATC presentation: Birth of a Community: Learning Through Connection
Experiential Learning Day holds a special place in my heart. Being an alumnus of Albertus Magnus College, I have the privilege of being a staff member and seeing the tradition live on. I get excited when students get the opportunity to speak about their experiential education publicly, beyond the classrooms. This year, the two narratives that I enjoyed were the MAATC program and the Germaine Center. These two, both community-based innovative approaches, warmed my heart knowing that the students are taking the lead to elevate their respective communities. The MAATC established a Master’s level club/organization that helps the outside community of Albertus with a therapeutic approach using art, and the Germaine Center implemented “inclusive writing” in their writing center. As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion advocate, I strongly believe in serving one’s community and allowing each person to be seen and heard. Using inclusive writing techniques and community-based assistance in counseling, I know the Albertus Community says true to the mission. Experiential Learning Day is about sharing the fruits of one’s contemplating with others and giving our community a universal look at education and learning.
Professor Sarah Wallman
Reflection Germaine Center’s presentation: Inclusivity in Writing
ELD is one of my favorite days of the year, because it reminds me that learning isn’t like gravity: it doesn’t always flow from top to bottom. It doesn’t always keep us tethered where we stand. One of my favorite examples of this premise came from the Germain Center leaders’ presentation on inclusivity in writing. The leaders presented an urgent but compassionate (and highly detailed) case for why and how we should all do better writing about identity, whether it be race and ethnicity, LGBTQ+ issues, ability, or mental health.
Rules change. The English language evolves to keep up with our evolving understanding of the human experience. And what better way to appreciate that fact than to let the students take the stage? I so appreciate the chance to listen.
Check out highlights from Experiential Learning Day here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wQeadaPxK4