Centralight

Connections Experience from Learning From CMU to now, most important lessons come from involvement By Marcie Lehr Otteman, '87 Executive director of alumni relations Recently I posted the following as a facebook status: "2012 is shaping up to be the year of experiences with lots of travel plans and events. Instead of buying things, I am going to enjoy these experiences with photos and memories." While I know this statement is true today, I am amazed to reflect that it was true for me some 25 years ago as a college student. Now don't get me wrong. I loved a pair of Reebok high tops and some stone washed denim with a Forenza sweater as much as the next co-ed. As a CMU undergrad, I was all about spending my hard earned dollars to go somewhere with someone and do something. Even if that experience was a speaker on campus, a student organization's event or an athletic competition. I was fortunate to learn so many wonderful skills from these experiences – time management, networking, public speaking and much more. Even though I was going to these events for fun or to gain new experiences with friends, what I really did was hone my skills as a leader and develop the work ethic and attitude that would carry me into my career with the incredible experiences I have had since graduating in 1987 from CMU. During my years at CMU – both as a student and staff member – I have been humbled to hear speakers like Allen Ginsburg, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Maya Angelou. I have seen everyone from Spyro Gyra to Ozzy Osbourne to Dave Matthews in concert. I have listened to senators, congress members and former presidential candidates. I have danced to Zydeco music, been moved by the symphony and cheered with the Marching Band. And it has been these experiences at CMU that have had the greatest influence on me. When I talk with current students about their life at CMU, I am not surprised to find their experiences are shaping them in the same way mine did me. Only their experiences are mind blowing as they travel on $66 for a week on an alternative break to help AIDS patients five states away or clean up natural disaster sites or help deliver meals to the poor in the Appalachian mountains. I am truly amazed at their study abroad experiences or hearing about how they start their own nonprofit organizations or win New Venture competitions. Every day their experiences in and out of the classroom are shaping them, molding them and changing them. centralight spring '12 33 Calendar March 23 Young Alumni bowling party, 7 p.m., Riverwood Resort, Mount Pleasant 24 Opus XV School of Music gala, 6 p.m., Midland Center for the Arts 24-25 CMU Pow wow, CMU Events Center 26 SAA/Career Services Speaker Series, Mount Pleasant campus 28 through April 1 Central Michigan International Film Festival, Mount Pleasant campus and throughout Mount Pleasant April 14 Scholarship Luncheon, noon, Student Activity Center Threads Fashion show, CMU Events Center May 4-5 Commencement ceremonies, CMU Events Center 12 CMU event at Arizona Diamondbacks game in Phoenix 15 CMU Baseball Clash at Comerica Park 18 CMU Night at Comerica Park June 15 CMU event at Great Lakes Loons Game in Midland 15 Chippewa Challenge Golf Outing, Mount Pleasant 20 through 22 Grandparents U, Mount Pleasant campus 25 GLBR Golf Outing, Apple Mountain in Freeland, Mich. 30 CMU event at Tampa Bay Rays game in St. Petersburg My point is the "things" don't shape, change or mold. Only experiences can do that. At least that is what I have discovered. So call (or Facebook) some friends and come back to campus for an event. Or plan and cross something off of your bucket list. Do it now. So you can share your story with us later. Marcie (Lehr) Otteman

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