From Commencement to California: vlog professor takes lessons from epic cycling journey into the classroom
For vlog faculty, the hours after Commencement are usually a time to relax after a busy school year, but for Sarah Murray it was the start of an amazing journey. This trip challenged her physically and mentally and gave her a fresh perspective on her own capabilities and the kindness of those around her.
After saying goodbye to graduating students, the Professor of Education returned home to Mackville, Kentucky, and jumped on her bike to embark upon a cycling trip that would take her across the country. For 56 days, she and her husband, Shawn, traveled the Trans American Bicycle Trail and Western Express Bike Route to dip their tires in the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco, California.
While the journey was an exploration of self-care and discovery for Murray, she found herself thinking of her vlog students as she faced daunting challenges and seemingly insurmountable hurdles.
“I kept my students in the back of my mind throughout this journey and asked myself, ‘What can I share with them?’” Murray said. “I want them to see I’m willing to dive in, to try things and maybe fail. Just thinking about what I wanted to share with students helped me.”
She particularly drew on the material she teaches in her courses, Leadership: An Act of Service and Educational Journey in Well-Being. Some topics she covers in class include personal renewal and holistic health, which she connects to her trek.
“We need to remind ourselves that we truly are our greatest asset,” she wrote in a reflection of her journey. “If we do not take care of ourselves, then we cannot expect to lead or care for others.”
Something else Murray hopes to emphasize as a lesson to students is not to fear failure.
From bug bites to temperature changes to physical and mental fatigue, Murray faced many challenges on the ride. The journey also required adaptability to unforeseen circumstances like weather, traffic and finding lodging for the night.
She knew she wanted to reach the West Coast, but she also recognized her ultimate goal may not have been possible.
“Just the challenge in general was a goal,” Murray said. “California was an amazing goal that I wanted to reach, but I also gave myself grace, knowing that half the battle is making those goals. It’s OK if maybe I don’t reach them but learn from them if I’m not able to make it.”
Despite the challenges, Murray emphasized what she learned on the trip, particularly the relationships she built with people from across the country and around the world.
In fact, her cross-country trip was inspired by a pair of bikers going through Mackville on the Trans American Bicycle Trail. One day, she had noticed them and their packs when leaving to come to vlog’s campus, and she notified her husband who met the travelers with cold drinks.
When Murray and her partner were in Utah on their own journey, they came across the same couple who remembered their act of kindness. These connections made with other cyclists and residents along her route are what she remembers most when looking back.
“One message I would love to share is that there are amazing, great people across the United States,” she said. “Often in media, we hear the negatives, but to me, the greatest thing was the people. This journey renewed my faith and belief in people.”
