GAETI DAY 8

Today's agenda was slightly different. First we had to move across campus to the MSU Extension Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy. I must say that I gained more insight in to what an Extension service does. Besides, I was elated to know more about the rapport that this particular extension service has established with local community interest groups and school districts. This, I think, is a phenomenal thing as we all strive to empower lives for a more meaningful and sustainable development. Sometimes, the divide between community service and community development can be so thin and unclear. Personally, I gained more insight into the fact that for any community endeavor to be meaningful, it should entail a win - win situation both on the part of the service learner and the community in which service - learning projects are being implemented. This, in essence, is teaching the community how to fish instead of providing fish for them. I was glad to know that my knowledge of economics had not evaporated in thin air. I must however say that I need to do a better job when it comes to the economics of managing my resources taking into account today's me and the me I would like to be tomorrow. I almost forgot to mention that the video conference with Mr. James Wilcox from Southern Mississippi was very cool and informative. In a nutshell, I enjoyed the presentations today. My task now is to figure out in what ways I could become more involved in such service-learning projects.