I couldn’t really tell you when I decided to put together a team to compete in the Up to Us competition. I think the idea had been in the back of mind since last year’s winning team was announced at CGI U 2014. I figured it couldn’t hurt to enter – at the very least I would learn something about the national debt (hopefully).

Application time rolls around and I still have no team or any idea how to recruit people. Luckily, I brought it up at work and four co-workers jumped at the opportunity. Somehow (I mean it very literally, this was a pure strike of luck) I ended up with four other people who were embedded in different corners of campus and who were already very involved, with experience planning and executing large-scale events. The only problem was that none of us ever studied economics and had no substantial knowledge of the workings of the national debt.

Luckily, we were able to play off of each other’s strengths to compensate for any lack of knowledge we had going into the competition. We quickly learned that it was better that we came from such different backgrounds and areas of study — our approach was less about teaching students the fine economic details of the debt, but facilitating a conversion about how it affects us. In order to do this, we sought to show students that, whether they know it or not, they all have a stake in the issue: an interdisciplinary issue requires an interdisciplinary solution.

I’m surprised that after all is said and done, I’ve learned more about organizational leadership and what it means to unite people behind a cause than about the actual debt. Don’t get me wrong; the last few months have seen non-stop studying of economic trends, theories, policies, and other things I thought I’d never have to look at. I think the transferable skills our team has gained from participating are even more useful. The experience of putting together a comprehensive campaign in a relatively short time, involving all corners of campus, and making the events educational have prepared me to tackle just about any professional scenario.

It wasn’t all about hard work, though. Throughout it all, we actually had fun. It was a great way to get to know my coworkers better than I had before. There were ups and there definitely were a few low points, but the structure of the competition is conducive to strong group dynamics.

When I start reflecting on this experience, I’m not sure I would repeat it (to be honest, stress during senior year is extremely undesirable), but whether I was working with my campus community to “Take the Plunge”, or dressing up as zombies for “The Walking Debt”, it’s something I’ll never forget.