We completed our two-day orientation program last Thursday and Friday. The days were full of typical orientation activities: we met our cohort members and professors, the directors briefed us on the pedagogy of the MMIAM program, we were introduced to the library and other resources on campus, and an alumnus who is now Executive Director of a local theater company shared his insights and advice with us over lunch.
At the end of the day Friday, our fundraising professor, Alex Turrini, took us on an unofficial tour of the arts district downtown. It was fascinating to learn how that district was developed and to start analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of its funding and design. I anticipate we’ll learn a lot more about that project and the philanthropic culture of Dallas, so I’ll save my thoughts for a future post. Suffice to say, though, this stuff gets my juices flowing and my mind is already swimming with thoughts (a great indication I’m where I should be, doing what I should be doing).
Our cohort had a special moment after the tour when we stopped by an Irish pub and got to know each other on a deeper level by sharing more personal information about ourselves over drinks. It felt good to learn more about my peers and become more connected. We each have an interesting story to tell and I’m looking forward to writing our next chapters with them.
The part of orientation that resonated with me most, though, was a session led by the founding Director, François Colbert. He gave us advice on how to truly succeed as students during this program and as arts managers of the future. His presentation centered on always staying humble and curious; recognizing your blind spots and amending them; constantly challenging your beliefs and perceptions; taking risks and being willing to be wrong. This message further reinforces for me that I am exactly where I should be, doing exactly what I should be doing, because these principles are the same that I apply to my life modality. François closed with this quote:
“If you never ask questions and you never experience anything new and you never enter any crucibles, your model becomes stale. You don’t really build any new awareness of the world. But if you seek out things that you don’t know, and you have the courage to be wrong, to be ignorant–to have to ask more questions and maybe be embarrassed socially–then you build a more complete model, which serves you better in the course of your life.”
Jeff Wilke, CEO of Amazon Worldwide Consumer
The crucible is an especially apt metaphor, given the oppressive heat in Texas lately (though I’m sure I’ll long for these days when we’re shivering in Montreal in January). Today is the first day of class: the official start of my educational journey. I’m excited to begin this challenge and to think about the changed person I’ll be when I emerge at the end. I’m fired up!
What are some of the core principles you use to guide your way of being? How do you fight stagnancy and correct your cognitive biases? Comment below!
My MMIAM Journey 