Journal 1

Overall my sense is place is obviously my campus. I feel almost special knowing that someone designed a place for me to live, learn, and sustain. Also I take into mind that that even though the building of Florida Gulf Coast University were put in a specific place by architects to know that each tree, plant, or animal was placed there by human nature. That they were not disturbed or uprooted but they are in their natural habitat. In some tours that are used, some tour guides say that the animals were here first and we came after, so therefore we respect them and what they have built. I believe that; we are on eight hundred acres and we will only building half of that keeping the other four hundred in its natural environment. Who does that? Florida Gulf Coast University does. Even though they are made objects here at Florida Gulf Coast University, they are here to better sustain this land. Even with our building like now called, Seider Hall being Leadership in environmental & energy design is helping or environment by having nontraditional air condition units, the showers to reduce carbon foot prints, recycling 70 percent of its waste and 20 percent of the waste was recycled back into the building to make the floors.  It helps me understand not only our university’s mission statement of having a university that prides itself on public service and environmental sustainability.  That makes me feel like I am a part of something bigger than going to an university to get an education but by doing service learning, learning about all the natural habitats, environments I am making a difference in society. Moreover, because I am in the classes like colloquium and foundations of civic engagements, I am also learning these aspects in class, I am taking the initiative to go to my community and helping. Thus, passing the idea of service learning down to later generation, which ultimately will create a better society for the next people coming up in the world. You do not see that at any other university that puts so much inferences on the idea of service learning, the idea that you need to give back to your community to be able to reap the benefits. That if you want something in life you actually need to help someone else before you get there. That whole idea just makes the sense of place so much stronger. The idea that I can just look out my window at a pond surrounded by trees maybe see some type of wildlife bird and then the next day see a baby alligator. How blessed am I to experience that .Even though I do not understand everything about Florida Gulf coast environment, it is something that I am excited to learn. I feel at home at Florida Gulf Coast University because this campus is so special and unique in itself. Not only does it care about the students, academics, etc but also the small things like the animals, the trees, air. Which in turn are actually huge because that’s how we survive.