Failing Forward: 4 Life-Changing Lessons from Community-Based Learning

Community-based learning is an incredible educational experience that overcomes our textbooks and classroom lectures. It's a journey that can be both enlightening and challenging. From my experiences, I want to share four candid and invaluable lessons I learned during my research engagement with the Tuscarora Nation in Lockport, New York this summer. My work involved collaborating with community members and providing gardening resources and exercises. These are lessons that offer a candid reflection into the world of hands-on community-based learning.


1. The Second Goal


As complicated as it sounds, don't allow your research to overshadow your entire internship experience. In every internship, there's what I like to call the 'primary goal'—in this case, genuinely engaging with community members and building meaningful connections. Then, there's the 'secondary goal,' which involves collecting data to assess program effectiveness. My summer engagement with the Tuscarora Nation emphasized the challenge of balancing these goals. When I found myself prioritizing surveys, attendance documents, and other data forms, I slowly realized that my 'second goal' was overshadowing my 'first goal' destructively. The key takeaway here is the importance of maintaining a balance between these goals. While data collection is undoubtedly important, it should never outweigh the value of forming meaningful connections and actively engaging with the community.


2. Readiness


This has been one of the more challenging lessons I've learned. It's about letting go of the idea that you can predict slip-ups by preparing really hard because in reality, it doesn't work that way. During my experience, I made it a habit to arrive at the activity site at least 10 minutes early, often 30 minutes early when possible. By keeping up this routine, I felt that I had a better grasp of what to expect. I soon found this routine was not foolproof. In one lesson, a community member voiced that the lesson seemed too lecture-oriented, and I found myself frozen in response. A million questions and responses raced through my mind at high speed before one of our master gardeners stepped in to address their concerns and adjust the lesson. I thought I was ready, ready to answer questions, ready to engage in the exercise, but I wasn't. I’ve since learned that this is also a valid response to unpredictability and it had no bearing on my readiness. The key takeaway is this: feeling unprepared at times is normal; you can't be 100% ready for everything. So, focus on the information you have and don't dwell on imperfections.


3. Remembering Why


In community-based learning, it's common to feel discouraged or lose sight of your goals. Experiential learning is far from a simple one-and-done process; it immerses you deeply in a specific community, emotionally and intellectually. You confront real-world issues and witness unlearned problems, which can be overwhelming, especially if you've primarily relied on textbooks or classroom teachings. This is why I encourage self-reflection or remembering why. Remember why you took on this opportunity and the significance it holds for you. Be honest and ask yourself tough questions. Did you unintentionally find yourself in this specific internship? Was this opportunity your second, third, or even fourth choice? Understanding your purpose is crucial because it shapes your connection with the community. When I posed these challenging questions to myself, I began to reevaluate my objectives. My initial goals centered on researching ways to enhance the Seed to Supper program, essentially collecting data. Through self-reflection and “remembering why”, I discovered new goals. I wanted to learn about community building, delve into the local agricultural practices, and explore my personal connection to these topics. I aspired for this experience to be more than just a report.


4. Failing Forward

In every experience, there is the bad and the ugly—and even though I've discussed the ugly, there is goodness in acknowledging your mistakes. Being genuinely aware of your mistakes demonstrates your willingness to grow, and that, in itself, signifies progress beyond what our textbooks could have prepared us for. These moments of self-reflection and acceptance contribute to our determination and strengths.
Toward the end of the program, we conducted a listening session, where we paid close attention to the community members' needs and gathered their suggestions for improving the program and strengthening their connection with Cornell's resources. Through this, I learned that the participants gained valuable information and felt heard during the exercises and lessons. Despite any mistakes I may have made, I embraced them and moved forward. Our missteps pave the way for better experiences in our future endeavors in community-based engagements and beyond. Always remember that experience provides an opportunity for ongoing learning and growth, serving as a testament to our commitment of self-improvement.