As we have begun to discuss in class, any object, person, or place can serve as a shining beacon for civic engagement. We all experienced the beauty and natural serenity that the Arboretum at Penn State reflects, and we became a small-scale example of the influence that it can have on those who visit. I firstly see civic engagement in the way that the community interacts with the Arboretum as a “civic artifact.” Each year, couples get married at the Arboretum for its scenic landscapes. Not to mention the hundreds of fantastic photo opportunities that it provides. In fact, a friend of my mine in the Blue Band, upon seeing my field trip pictures on Facebook, noted that she had her senior photographs taken at the Arboretum as it is relatively close to her home. I commented as we walked through the decorated paths of the botanical gardens that I would love to study there due to the quiet serenity of the place coupled with the natural scenic beauty. The physical nature of the Arboretum itself draws people to experience it together, but so do the many programs that further ties Penn State University to the local community. Childhood’s Gate and the Children’s Garden are perhaps the most compelling examples. The area provides a plethora of activities for children to engage in, from the edible plants to the multiple playground-type areas. Beyond the opportunities for children, the Arboretum further connects with the community by donating food it grows in the garden to a local food bank. Childhood’s Gate itself is symbolic: the words are taken straight from the Penn State Alma Mater. For as it goes, Penn State guided us from Childhood’s Gate and shaped us into the civic leaders we will ultimately become. And as thousands of alumni proudly sing those words in a packed Beaver Stadium, what greater community engagement could there be?

Photo Taken by Me at the Arboretum, 9/8/15

The image of the person climbing the stairs most resonates with the way that I learn. I am a very regimented person that thrives on breaking down a task into incremental pieces. When I look at the stairs, I feel that each individual step is one of those pieces that “builds up” towards an end goal. Additionally, I am a very goal oriented person. When I climb the “stairs” towards a goal, I feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of each flight, and a sense of resolved finality when I actually reach the top. While each step might seem like a small and minute detail, it helps me take greater pride and pleasure in reaching the success waiting for me at the top of the metaphorical stairs.