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“There are some pleasures which are almost impossible to account for and very difficult to describe.” - C.S. Lewis, Hedonics
At the end of every summer, the McConnell Scholars all pile into cars and vans and proceed, from every corner of our Commonwealth, to gather together at one of our state parks. This Retreat gives the Scholars the chance to unwind, relax, catch up, and prepare for the semester ahead. On its face, it is evident that such a retreat would clearly be enjoyable. But there is more here. Whether it is a hike with the one and only Reggie Van Stockum, or a conversation with the evergreen Dr. Kleber, there is a unique euphoria to the McConnell Center Retreat. There is something in the air that brings back alumni year after year to “help chaperone” and implores 3 dozen college students to drive hours into areas of the state they may never have traveled.
My thesis is that the unique characteristic that defines a McConnell Center retreat is not some complicated mix of nature and exhaustion, or the cause of exhaustion from the early morning meetings after long nights spent discussing life. I believe it is simply the people.
The pleasure that I find in our fall retreats does not end there. I reclaim that feeling every time I walk into the McConnell Center seminar room and see the faces of some of my best friends in the world, knowing that I am going to think things I have never thought before, hear ideas my mind could never create on its own, and dig deeper into the meaning of this life we live. I feel it even in moments as simple as popping into the Weber Lounge and seeing the face of Will Randolph or Alli Wade, or hearing “Good morning” from Ms. Sherry -- all the little things that make the McConnell Center feel like home.
It is hard to pinpoint the source of what really makes such a feeling occur. How do you take a bunch of nerds from around the state and turn them into lifelong friends? I think that some of it may come from the shared love for Kentucky or the fact that we all meet each other a few weeks before school starts and we pretty much have to be friends anyway, but there is something more there that creates a truly lasting bond. My belief is that it comes from the shared pursuit of knowledge; inside the Seminar Room, there is a seal that has the phrase “Quaerite Vitatem” -- Seek the Truth. Few times in life do you get to be surrounded by capable, motivated people and have no goal other than to simply seek the truth. A literary society built not simply on academic merit but on friendship and community, where membership leads not only to individual growth but to a greater collective experience. Most people will never have the chance to partake in such a group, but few people would have the desire to, anyway. Look back at history and see the results that such groups have made -- groups like the Inklings, Stratford-on-Odeon, the Harlem Renaissance -- can shift society; Look now to the impact that the McConnell Center is already making across Kentucky and the United States -- leaders in politics, business, medicine, philanthropy, etc.
Machiavelli wrote about how he would conclude his days in exile by “(entering) the ancient courts of ancient men” in order to learn from them and reflect on the world. This practice of studying led him to creating some of the most influential works in the history of leadership and political science. Now imagine how much greater that practice of learning and reflection becomes when an entire group partakes on a journey together. A group of young Kentuckians all taking the effort to dawn themselves with the robes of the ancients, and head down that path of questioning that leads to a greater understanding of the human experience. It is here, exploring truth with some of my best friends, that I find that indescribable pleasure that C.S. Lewis made mention of.
If you are a young, aspiring leader or thinker in the state of Kentucky, there is simply no better place to be. If you are an educator in Kentucky, there is no better place to learn from. If you are a Kentuckian who cares about the future of your state, there is no more important group of young leaders to keep your eye on.
Bryson Sebastian is a McConnell Scholar in the class of 2024. He is studying political science and business at the University of Louisville.