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By Garrett Kasey
One of the first orders of business as a McConnell scholar is the completion of certain reading materials before freshman retreat. The reading list includes several essays, a book related to the location of the retreat, and most importantly (in my opinion), Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’Amour. Education of a Wandering Man is the memoir of Louis L’Amour, one of the most popular writers of the western genre in American history. While
Education of a Wandering Man is drastically different from the books that gained fame for L’Amour, it offers life lessons that I have not forgotten.
This summer, I have had the opportunity to travel to China for a month-long educational experience. I have been lucky enough to spend time in the cities of Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing.
Our program has included lectures from Chinese professors and tours of major cultural and historical sites. While all of these occasions have been great, I have learned the most in this country via unconventional means. In Education of a Wandering Man, L’Amour offers his belief that there are three ways to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting. L’Amour’s learning opportunities include reading, travel, and speaking to strangers. While the travel aspect relates to our trip quite directly, I did not even think of the other two means for education when embarking on the trip.
L’Amour’s lessons seem to have certainly been right in my life so far. I hope that everyone will at least take the time to read his memoir and take some important lessons from it. You may not need the lessons I have gained from the book, but there are many others to be found.
Garrett Kasey is a McConnell Scholar in the Class of 2020. He is studying economics, political science, and Spanish at the University of Louisville.
Commentary presented here is not necessarily a reflection of the McConnell Center. Thoughts are those of the author.
One of the first orders of business as a McConnell scholar is the completion of certain reading materials before freshman retreat. The reading list includes several essays, a book related to the location of the retreat, and most importantly (in my opinion), Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L’Amour. Education of a Wandering Man is the memoir of Louis L’Amour, one of the most popular writers of the western genre in American history. WhileEducation of a Wandering Man is drastically different from the books that gained fame for L’Amour, it offers life lessons that I have not forgotten.
This summer, I have had the opportunity to travel to China for a month-long educational experience. I have been lucky enough to spend time in the cities of Shanghai, Xi’an, and Beijing.
Our program has included lectures from Chinese professors and tours of major cultural and historical sites. While all of these occasions have been great, I have learned the most in this country via unconventional means. In Education of a Wandering Man, L’Amour offers his belief that there are three ways to learn outside of the traditional classroom setting. L’Amour’s learning opportunities include reading, travel, and speaking to strangers. While the travel aspect relates to our trip quite directly, I did not even think of the other two means for education when embarking on the trip.
Travel
As I mentioned earlier, L’Amour believes that travel is a great way to learn about geography, culture, and relationships. Before traveling to China, I had never been outside the United States. I definitely needed to adjust to a different way of life when I arrived here in China, but I have learned so much about adaptation and understanding in the few weeks that I have been here. Being in a country where English is not the predominant language is a struggle at times. I have taken the time to adapt and pick up many Chinese phrases to help me during my time here. L’Amour was correct in believing the travel can serve as a meaningful way of education.Reading
While our class required some reading before our trip to China, I have learned the most from the reading I have done in this country. With our travel times on the van between tourist attractions and our classes, I have been able to sit down and read more often that I have been able to at home for the past few years. One of the most unfortunate aspects of higher education is the lack of time students have for leisurely reading. During my time here, I have been able to take my time and enjoy reading for the first time in months. The education you can gain from books is endless. Reading allows exposure to countless ideas and experiences, and I am grateful for the reading I have been able to enjoy in China.Speaking with Strangers
While everyone has been told not to talk to strangers, L’Amour offers very different advice in Education of a Wandering Man. He encourages conversations with strangers, and after traveling outside of the United States, I now understand why. I have been able to hear some incredible stories and personal narratives during this experience abroad. I have found that people are very eager to share their meaningful experiences with those who are interested. At a small restaurant in Beijing, I had the opportunity to hear the interesting story of a man who grew up in the U.K., moved to Vietnam to become a freelance journalist, and was currently vacationing in China. Simply taking the opportunity to ask someone about their life went a long way in my educational journey.L’Amour’s lessons seem to have certainly been right in my life so far. I hope that everyone will at least take the time to read his memoir and take some important lessons from it. You may not need the lessons I have gained from the book, but there are many others to be found.
Garrett Kasey is a McConnell Scholar in the Class of 2020. He is studying economics, political science, and Spanish at the University of Louisville.
Commentary presented here is not necessarily a reflection of the McConnell Center. Thoughts are those of the author.