Experiential Learning has been a wonderful thing for me throughout my college career. Most of

my classes within Organizational Communication have been EXL classes. On MTSU’s EXL website,

experiential learning is defined as a “learning process that takes place beyond the traditional

classroom and that enhances the personal and intellectual growth of the student. This education

can occur in a wide variety of settings, but it usually takes on a ‘learn-by-doing’ aspect that

engages the student directly in the subject, work or service involved” -- Experiential Education

in the College of Arts and Sciences, Northeastern University, 1997. This means that classes

involve activities that incorporate real-world situations and experience. These types of activities

have made me feel much more prepared to enter the work-force. Too often, college graduates

are not fully capable to be thrown into real-world tasks. I feel that experiential learning classes

have given me the knowledge I need to succeed after graduation.

  I have done many assignments through EXL classes that incorporates the real-world. In

Interview Communication, I went on an actual interview and had it evaluated by the interviewer.

This gave me practice with my interview skills and feedback on ways to improve them. In my

Communication in Communities class, I not only participated in several non-profit events, but I

also helped plan an event with VSA Arts for children with special needs. This gave me extensive

knowledge with non-profits and what it takes to participate in this type of event. In my

Consulting and Auditing class, I was able to experience what it is like to be a consultant for a

company. I evaluated how the company was doing currently and found possible improvements

that I felt could be made. In my Special Event Planning class, I was able to actually plan and

participate in several events from beginning to end. This gave me many skills that I will need if I

decide to go into event coordination or promotions. These are just a few examples of the many

important things I have learned from EXL classes.

  Another important benefit in having this real-world experience is that it can be a résumé

builder. These EXL activities may be the only actual experience a student gets before

graduation. I am grateful to have these assignments and experience to put on my résumé to

show that I am more qualified than a typical recent college graduate. These classes may put us

ahead of the other possible job candidates that we are up against.

  In conclusion, I am very excited to have had the opportunity to be a part of the experiential 

learning program. I feel that this program has helped prepare me for tasks that I will be faced 

with later on in life. I am very happy that this program was available to me, because I know 

that it is a new program. I will recommend this program to all college students that I come 

across, because I believe it would be beneficial to anyone.