Back to School
I have completed my first week at Central Saint Martins and will be off today testing a new project with some of my team members.
First, to describe CSM: This building is insane. The people are eccentric. It is highly international. The way I get to class is worthy of a video at some point because it’s just…. impossible. I’m sure there has to be a shorter way. But it’s in an attached building where you have to walk up and down stairs in the main building to the bridge and up an elevator (or walk 10 flights!) to get there. We definitely have to build in extra time for the elevator – as there is only one large one and usually a huge line for it. Ridiculous!
Second, my classmates in the full time course by stats:
35 total full time students
28 female
7 male
20 countries represented
– largest contingents from Hong Kong and South Korea
– there are only 2 Americans, a girl from NY and me.
28 is my guess at average age
Currently, we are working on our first project, which divided us into teams by a process of drawing a colored marble. We are working with the part timers in the course, which makes meeting times a little more difficult since they have full time jobs. However, it’s great to have working people in the mix because they are used to having to collaborate, rather than students who have worked on more individual tasks and cannot see past personal agenda.
The first project is to “make something extraordinary happen.” GO…
What?!
So after some discussion, we have finally come to a plan we have all agreed upon and are headed to Trafalgar Square this afternoon to see what happens. In short, we are handing out 1p (penny) to anyone who wants to make a wish in the fountain. While there is nothing actually extraordinary in it for us, we can act as the facilitators for others. We will document it and see what comes back. We cannot predict the response or by our actions how that will affect others to join in, but the idea is to maintain an openness so that we can receive whatever comes back and hopefully magnify that into a positive thing for all involved.
Do I sound like an art student yet?
Well, to be truthful, this was my idea. It came from listening to others and bringing in a sense of whimsy. I say that an extraordinary event cannot happen if you seek to find it. It happens only when you’re in the right place and at the right time and are open to the possibilities.
I told a story to my group that emphasized my point:
I once bought a lunch and sat by myself to eat it. An older gentleman bought his lunch and looked around at the empty seats and then walked to my table and asked if he could sit with me.
What followed was an amazing conversation between strangers of different ages and personal experiences.
I dont often approach strangers. But what if I did? What if I sat down, said hello, and shared a sandwich with a bum on the street? What if instead of putting in my earphones on the bus, I spoke with the person next to me?
So being extraordinary means to remove the norm and be willing to be in the moment. I have these little events that happen daily that I think are special – maybe it’ s only to me because the feeling that one gets is a personal response.
When’s the last time something extraordinary happened to you?
