Harvard Bound! (Can you teach an old dog new tricks?......)

Can you teach an “old dog” new tricks? Well, that is what Ed attempted to find out in a month at Harvard University, as part of the Senior Executive Fellowship program. Along with 80 other government executives from the U.S., as well as China, Hong Kong, Australia and other countries, he was once again a college student - sitting in a classroom all day, (8am to 6pm) and many evenings, and then reading late into the night to prepare for the next day. Discussions, lectures and presentations covered a wide-range of topics…..policy formulation, leadership techniques, negotiation/persuasion skills, decision-making approaches, and other people/process/organizational lessons, with case studies galore. One of his professors is one of the few living members of the Kennedy White House staff, and in addition to lessons on government and decision-making, he shared priceless stories about JFK and life at that time.

Ed had the time of his life, although too little sleep, and too much eye strain caught up with him; he clearly missed his occasional naps! :-) With the little extra time available including the weekend, Ed also enjoyed the sights around Cambridge and Boston. He took a trip with classmates to Lexington and Concord, visited the residence of John and Abigail Adams, had dinner in Chinatown, watched the annual Head of the Charles Regatta, had a tour and dinner at the JFK Library, saw where George Washington took command of the Continental army, and enjoyed many other sights. A very memorable highlight of his experiences involved the Harvard Club complete with a fabulous dinner, outstanding speakers and talented entertainment. The ambiance of the Harvard Club was beyond belief! What an honor and a privilege to be a part of that evening.

Who knows if this may lead to the long awaited return to school and a graduate program for Ed? Watch out world – with now both a St. Michael’s College and Harvard University perspective, who knows what type of person Ed has become. :-)

So to answer the question: Can you, in fact, teach an old dog new tricks? .... The answer is a resounding YES!