By James Hahn ’06
Reprinted from the Boynton Society Newsletter, a publication for supporters of Björklunden vid Sjön.
When Professor of Biology Nick Maravolo suggested that I apply for the Hopfensperger
Scholarship to spend a week taking a seminar at Björklunden, my initial
thought was “I just finished four years of school. Why would I want to
spend a week taking a class during the summer?”
Since he has come to know me well, I simply trusted his judgment that it would
be an enjoyable experience, and I decided to apply. If nothing else, I thought,
it would be a week in which I wouldn’t need to cook for myself.
When I flipped through the seminar guide, I realized that I would not be disappointed.
As a biology major, I have spent much of the past four years studying the natural
sciences; I was pleased to see that the Hopfensperger Scholarship would give
me the opportunity
to learn outside of my comfort zone of studies. With that, I chose to broaden
my horizons by attending the Politics in Washington: The War at Home and
Abroad seminar, taught by Time magazine correspondent Doug
Waller. (Pictured, above: Doug Waller, left, and James Hahn.)
Upon arriving at the lodge, I quickly noticed a difference between myself and
every other face that I met. I was the youngest seminar attendee by at least
four decades, I thought to myself. That rough estimate would prove to not be
terribly off. This difference in age soon proved to be little more than a number,
as my fellow students made me feel quite at ease.
While our morning classes were clearly learning experiences, so too were the
meals and afternoon and evening free time. During those periods, I was able to
know my fellow participants
better and hear the incredible life stories that each was more than willing to
recount. As eager as I was to hear their stories, I found them to be equally
eager to hear of my
plans for the future. It was as if I served as the adopted grandson for the week.
Another marked difference between my visits to Björklunden as a student
and this one was the staff. For the first time, fellow Lawrence students were
serving my meals and cleaning after me and making my bed. As uncomfortable as
I was to have friends waiting on me, I learned to adjust.
The seminar class sessions, led by the personable and knowledgeable Doug Waller,
were, in typical Björklunden fashion, a series of casual discussions rather
than lectures. It was great to hear the political issues that most affected the
older seminar participants, which as a recent college graduate had not crossed
my mind. I can confidently say that I will never again need to ask about a doughnut
hole. Most intriguing, however, were the candid “war stories” that
Doug told the group. For example, I’m willing to assume that most Americans
don’t know which politicians have what tattooed where, but after a week
talking with Doug, I do.
Much of the learning that week occurred not in the classroom but at mealtime
and free time by the lake, talking with Doug and with the other participants.
While I went to Björklunden with the intent to learn a little bit about
politics — and I did — I also left with an expanded knowledge of
life.