Breathe

03/16/2016

[Every once in a while, Wednesday Words will be written in collaboration with an Ei Teammate or Leaper. Today’s note was written with one of the incredible year-long Fellows, Claire Jencks. Take a peek!]

Last Tuesday, I found myself sitting on a stage next to the owner of the largest ski mountain in the U.S, a Forbes 30 under 30 in Education, and a world-renowned architect. Thanks to one of Experience Institute’s close friends, Lilian Asperin-Clyman, I had been invited to speak at the Society for College and University Planning Conference in Tempe, Arizona. As I anxiously sat and waited to represent Ei, the moment felt surreal. Didn’t they know I was only a student? What could I possibly contribute to a group of Architects and University Planners? When would someone kick me off the stage? While staring at the sea of faces I took a deep, slow breath and acknowledged those fears.

In that pause I was able to reflect on the time I’ve spent at Ei since becoming a Fellow last September. I’ve gained more than I expected in terms of confidence, trusting myself and others, and feeling part of something larger than myself. I’m incredibly grateful for those gifts. And with a dose of reflection and preparation, I was able to share the following thoughts to the packed room of remarkable attendees:

1. Place matters.
Your “place” grounds learning and provides a safe space to reflect and grow. But the place doesn’t have to be a school. It can be a company, a project, or even a team. Find the place(s) you learn most and visit them often.

2. Mindsets are more valuable than answers.
It’s easy to claim a destination (ie: I’m going to x point). It’s much more difficult to define how you’re going to get there (speeding car, scenic walk, first class seat on a flight). The latter are mindsets – the vehicles we use to navigate and view life. Ei is great at building these. We create frameworks for staying positive, building quickly yet thoughtfully, communicating clearly, and caring for ourselves and our communities. These are essential to not only becoming more knowledgeable, but also growing wiser. It may seem popular to discuss your destinations, but what mindsets help you get to where you want to be in the way you’d hoped to arrive?

3. People before projects.
Relationships are the greatest engines for change. And supporting people throughout their highs and lows are the crux of moving ideas into reality. The more closely you’re tied to the needs of the people closest to you, the more life you’ll find in whatever you pursue. If you’re losing sight of who you’re serving, it may be time to pause and recalibrate your perspective and relationships.

All of that sounds way better when I write it here. During my talk, however, the microphone immediately fell off my lapel, the slide clicker refused to work and I almost knocked my water bottle off the stage. Still, I loved every second of it. Ei is easy to talk about. I believe in the journey my classmates and I are on this year, and I know firsthand how powerful purposeful experiential learning can truly be. I live it every day.

And so, in the spirit of learning by design, collaboration and place, a few friends and I have teamed up to launch something new. It’s called The Forge and it will be an artist residency program and maker-workshop in a renovated house in Detroit, MI. Over the course of each year-long residency, five emerging artists and designers will live, work and bring their ideas to life. In addition, The Forge will be open for the local community to come in and take workshops, learn new skills, and explore their ideas. Our Indiegogo launched last week. We buy the house this summer. We renovate this year, and in early 2017 we open applications for those five talented people. If you’re interested in contributing to the campaign, click here.

In any case, the next time you find yourself feeling uncertain about what you have to contribute, take that moment to breathe and reflect on your experiences. Chances are, you’ll have more to say than you thought.

Have a great Wednesday,
Claire Jencks

PS: Ei is thrilled to open applications for our new 3-month college program (Leap Summer) and the fourth iteration of our 12-month Fellowship (Leap Year). If you know someone who might be a great fit, nominate them here: www.expinstitute.com/nominate/. Thanks for building Ei with us.