May Program Turns 50!
Celebrating half a century of life-changing, experiential learning By Director of Marketing and Communications Alicia Bowers
May Program, a hallmark of an Oldfields education, began in 1971 with special two-week programs called capsule courses. In 1972, abroad trips to Paris and Madrid were introduced for foreign language students. The other students, who remained on campus, were offered a wide variety of experiential learning experiences that included everything from Stock Market Practices to Beginning Shorthand. Just like today, the programs were designed to provide real-world experiences that complement the academic curriculum. This hands-on experience provides a rich opportunity for students to learn more about themselves, their peers, and the world at large. May Program has come along way since the 1970s, growing into an integral part of the Oldfields Experience, with 20+ programs offered in a typical year. Everyone looks forward to the two-week culmination of the academic year as faculty program leaders share 10
a personal passion or area of expertise outside the traditional curriculum, and students enjoy the freedom to focus on an area which they want to explore. Students often discover interests that eventually become careers and/or life-long passions. A constant, year after year and decade after decade, is the use of the phrase "life-changing" when the students describe their experiences. The new perspectives they gain and strong friendships that form stay with them long after they graduate. May Program provides an opportunity for self-discovery, leadership, and confidence-building. Galloping across the plains of Iceland, soul searching on the beaches of Normandy, nailing drywall for local Habitat for Humanity homes, watching the sunrise from a mountain top in Maine even, learning how to change a tire—it's incredible to think of all the powerful lessons learned, near and far, over the past fifty years. OLDFIELDS MAGAZINE
