“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education” – Mark Twain

This is one of my favorite quotes and it is a motto that I have taken to heart during my time at OU. When I interpret this quote, I do not take it to mean that I should do away with schooling and instead take on a life of adventure (though that might sound appealing around midterms). Rather, I take this quote to mean that it is important to focus on both schooling and experiences outside of the classroom- two realms that I call theoretical learning and experiential learning.

I love that the University of Oklahoma provides opportunities for and excels in both theoretical and experiential learning. When it comes to theoretical learning, I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the most intelligent, insightful, and inspirational men and women I have ever met. I’ve taken classes during my life where I sat and stared at the clock, waiting for the seconds to tick bye until class was over. But, at OU, I feel the opposite. Whether I’m in President Boren’s “American Federal Government” (in which one learns all the juicy secrets of the Senate), Dr. Landis’s “International Relations in the Middle East,” Dr. Harper’s “Law and Justice,” Dean Ray’s “Disillusioned Intellectuals in American Literature,” or Dr. Boyd’s “Culture, Religion, and the Meaning of Life,” I am always engaged in the material. I enjoy my readings and look forward to going to class. Theoretical learning at OU is top notch.

The second aspect of learning that I love at the University of Oklahoma is the experiential component. This is where I have gotten to apply (or not apply) what I have learned in my classes while getting to engage with the broader OU or Norman community. OU has over 200 student organizations and over 50 study abroad programs that allow for students to step out of the classroom, gain skills, make a difference, and be exposed to entirely different cultures. During my time at OU, I have been involved with many tremendous opportunities. I have studied in Italy, taken a class at Oxford University in England, and been on a medical mission trip to Ghana, Africa. Here on campus, I have been in organizations that provide pro-bono consulting services to local nonprofits, that created a business plan to help fight fluorosis in Ethiopia, and that debate hot political and constitutional topics with lawyers, professors, and students. Though I have been a part of just a few of the wonderful organizations and opportunities that OU has to offer, there are many more that our 20,000 are a part of. Experiential learning at OU is endless.

Here at OU, I am so grateful that I have been able to do much more than just study in the classroom and library, I have gained real experience that has prepared me for my future and for my career. Come visit OU and see how you can be a part of all the wonderful things we have to offer!

Sam Clancy
Letters Major
May, 2013
Tulsa, Oklahoma