Lessons learned

EDGE has ended and the academic year is back in session. It always brightens my day to see an EDGE-er on campus, especially when I see many of them together. I know that the friends I made in EDGE, with the University of Glasgow students, the high school students, and the Columbia students, are ones that I can count on and keep in touch with for years and years to come. Especially for the Columbia students who got to know each other a lot better, there's something notable about being placed in a different environment with 16 people from your own community, and then coming back to sustain those friendships.

This summer was a learning experience, to say the least. I'll spare you and give you the brief version of things I learned from EDGE 2008:

1) There are few things as precious as connecting and being able to relate to someone from a very different background and lifestyle.
2) Anyone can be a team leader, but what really drives the success of a team is the ability for individuals to be team players.
3) Sometimes, to help yourself, you have to help others. It was very rewarding to see the high schoolers mature and grow; investing a little bit of time to help them gain presentation, communication, and technical skills went a long way.
4) Working to live is quite different from living to work. The Scottish mentality of "working to live" demonstrates their ability to accommodate for their personal life, family, and friendships.
5) When in a different environment, step outside of your comfort zone. Sometimes, it's fun to live life on the wild side, to explore a city by bike or foot, to try things you would never try before, and to realize your capabilities by pushing your limits.
6) You are the architect of your own experiences. If a situation turns awry, make what you can of it, and take control of the matter.
7) If things are ever bad, search for the sense of humanity innate in everyone; it's what drives people to care for each other.
8) It's okay to mess up. We learn by growing from our own mistakes.
9) Never underestimate how satisfying a home-cooked meal can really be.
10) Be yourself, and everything and everyone will fall into its proper place.