First day at MPC – D1

The day finally arrived. After happiness, skepticism, joy, anxiety, and excitement, it was our first day at the Michael Polanyi College. The day started perfectly. I woke up around 5:15 a.m. and was at the College just 10 minutes before 7 a.m. We all had breakfast together and just chat, getting to know each other a little better. There were a few students who I already knew and of course many others that I was seeing for the first time. Also there was Bert and Ingrid, our mentors throughout this journey. After breakfast, we made a dynamic about the 7 dispositions, questioning, and habits of mind we will be working through the next three years. It was interesting to see how different opinions were given although we only knew each other minutes before. Then, Bert gave us our “survival kit” for the MPC, which contained play dough, a couple of laces, a small Rubik’s cube, tissues (for cleaning the future tears I assume), a notebook, a pencil, an eraser, and post-its. We then, discussed the use of each element in our survival kit and gave a true meaning to each of them, which at first seem to be random objects. 

Later, we read our first assignment, a two-minute speech about our dreams. We also had to read before this day "Let your life speak", by Parker Palmer. This book is about finding your true vocation, your mission in this world, the meaning of your life. It was great that we started the MPC doing this, because this way you can get to know each member a little more, you can share your dreams and passions, and start building a culture of respect and support toward the mission everyone has. By the way, here is my speech!

On the afternoon, we saw the documentary, "Anatomy of a dancer", about the life of Gene Kelly, one of the best dancers in the XX century. To be honest, before watching this film I didn’t like nor appreciate too much dancing, but something changed my mind after this film. It was Gene’s passion for everything related to dancing. Dancing was his world, his life. It made me wonder if people could really find their true vocation and passion, as Parker Palmer’s book is about. I wonder how many people live without ever finding what’s their true vocation and only do what they think society think they should do, such as getting into college, finding a nice work that probably they don’t like but that pays enough to live well, creating a family, and settling for the rest of their life. What about what they like? Have they forgotten what is really their passion? Have they lost their creativity and settle with how the world “needs” them to be? Are they happy? Will they ever be happy? I don’t know any of those questions, but I certainly know that I don’t want to become one of them. I want to live every day of my life doing what I am passionate for. I want to explore my creativity, grow my intellect, and be really good at what I do, fulfilling my goals and dreams throughout my life.

So, this is how my day ended, a little tired but good tired. Like those days you know you are productive and feel no regrets at all of having wasted not a single moment of your day.