I knew that India would provide me with opportunities outside the classroom that I would not receive here at the University of Wyoming, but I could never have imagined the effect to which I would experience this opportunity and how long-lasting it will be for me.
The people I met in India are incredibly inspiring and they value education so much, which inspires me to try harder every day in my studies, in and out of school, now that I am home. There is such an emphasis on the engineering way of thinking for the people we interacted with. Creativity and problem solving were an emphasis during the presentations and conversations we had with many individuals. There was also a major focus on taking the stakeholders’ lives, priorities, and cultures into account when trying to plan projects and create ways to improve aspects of agriculture and sustainability. I not only gained experience and knowledge that applies to both of my majors (Rangeland Ecology & Watershed Management and Environment and Natural Resources), but now I have a large web of brilliant and creative-minded contacts who are involved in projects involving sustainability, agriculture, and cultural aspects on the other side of the globe.
On this trip I kept a journal of personal reactions and as much information as I could remember to write down by the end of every day. I was even inspired to brainstorm about how to implement some of these ideas and methods of sustainability into my own lifestyle here in Laramie. I have already started finding ways to fit the little things I have learned into my life, and I have bigger plans for this upcoming summer.
The most important idea I still carry with me from my experience in India is that sustainability is a way of life. It isn’t just a description of required practices to help businesses save money and meet EPA requirements, it is something I can do every day and something people in Auroville base their lives on in more ways than one. Sustainability has a large presence in agriculture for sure, but the potential does not stop there. Adapting sustainability to my own life has been a great challenge, but I live for the challenge and every day I am excited to see what my goal of becoming more sustainable can push me to find out, to imagine, and to do.
Turning my college experience into an opportunity to travel to India – a place I have wanted to go for my whole life, and an educational experience – is more than I ever could have imagined I would do with my education at the University of Wyoming. This opportunity was made possible by my professor Dr. Strauss, who taught the course, and the University itself through different scholarships I was able to receive. The College of Agriculture’s Beyond the Classroom Scholarship was most helpful, and I am so grateful to have had this support to make my education work for me. The financial and educational encouragement I received from UW to go to the other side of the world and learn about sustainability and so much more makes me wonder, if I have already made it to India, I wonder where my education can and will take me from here on out? I can’t wait to see the opportunities that await!
~BJ Bender~
