Tag Archives: Trinity University

Community is Opportunity

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A close friend and I were aimlessly talking one night and stumbled upon the topic of what our lives would be like if we had never met. A brief silence of wonder and curiosity followed, but was soon interrupted by an intense rebuttal of laughter at the realization that such a reality could not be imagined.

That very realization is the root of what it means to feel connected to someone, and is further experienced on a larger scale with the various groups and communities in which we associate ourselves. Think about the numerous clubs, organizations, programs, and other group related experiences that we have all been a part of. What would your life be like if you never played a sport, were never elected for student government, never pledged a sorority/fraternity, or never attended Trinity University? It becomes quite ridiculous to even imagine a life without the various people, events, and experiences that make us who we are. Since that collection of experiences becomes something so personal, it naturally develops into a universally meaningful experience that inspires us to want to create future memories and participate in future experiences together. That’s how societal communities form. The realization that values, beliefs, interests, passions, and experiences in this life are shared “in common” or are personally “familiar” brings out an identity that is mutually defined, widely recognizable, and can be further developed into a sense of prideful belonging. That’s also why ethnic cultures, political parties, religions, and biases toward professional sports teams have such strong influences in the way people relate to the world; we are proud of who we associate ourselves with, we are proud of what we believe in. That, or our apathy causes us to be alienated from connecting to anyone or anything altogether.

As college students, the opportunity to form and join communities is constantly at our fingertips, so how can we ensure that every opportunity to feel connected, and every opportunity to ensure that everyone feels connected, is not lost? Many campus projects and events do involve students providing experiences and opportunities for each other, but how many of those were for a grade, and how many have felt as if its overall effectiveness was limited to the select number of faces on campus already belonging to your club/organization? As a university community in its entirety, what can we do to further develop a visible and intrinsic sense of campus intimacy, and why does it even matter?

(McLean 2nd hall community gathering for resident mentor Tim DuVarney’s early graduation farewell What-A-Burger run)

The truth is, the more faces and names we know on campus, the more connected we feel to the greater university community. The more we share experiences together by interacting and working together, the more we discover that although we are all very different, we do indeed share many things in common. Once we come to discover our various talents and perspectives, the more number of opportunities arise in which we can fully realize that we as a university community can be each other’s closest support system, and we as a university community can be each other’s closest creative resources.

Feasible steps to take synergy within our campus community to the next level:
1) Venturing out to new clubs/organizations by attending their events or programs
2) Organizing stimulating, hands on, and engaging events that involve participants to share their thoughts and work together
3) Collaborating with multiple clubs/organizations for events; bringing in new faces and larger crowds to spark new relationships
4) Expressing your interest in TU Speaks to meet other passionate peers, to start hatching out ideas, and to start planning new initiatives

The future of the university community is in our hands, and we can have as much fun and use as much creativity as the number of experiences, insights, ideas, talents, passions, and perspectives each of us has to offer. It starts with meeting a stranger, and continues with the consistent exchange of passion and ideas between all members of our community.

Let’s get to know each other!
Let’s make the Trinity University campus community stronger than ever before!

P.s. Here are some cool quotes on community!

Community cannot for long feed on itself; it can only flourish with the coming of others from beyond, their unknown and undiscovered brothers.
Howard Thurman

Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy, and mutual valuing.
Rollo May

The Importance of Culture on Campus

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Take a moment to think about where you come from. Think about the foods, the sounds, the languages, the colors, and the essence of what it means to be a part of the culture from which you were raised. What does culture mean to you? How does it make you feel? Is it important to you? Why or why not?

In some way, shape, or form, we are all missing it; missing home, missing those environments that hold our childhood memories, and our annual celebratory traditions. Where we come from is so beautiful, so deep, and so special that ignoring it can be equated to losing a limb or vital organ. It is a bizarre concept to be geographically re-located and immersed into an entirely new culture, like taking Abraham Lincoln and dropping him onto the streets of modern day Tokyo. I think he would find himself asking questions like, how do I adapt? Where do I begin? and What do I do? College students go through similar subconscious freak outs every day, and it is important to keep in mind that in the midst of all this cultural transition and turmoil, our blood and skin are inherent parts of us that will never change.

Have any of following thoughts ever crossed your mind since you have been on campus?
■ “No one understands me”
■ “I feel alone”
■ “I feel discriminated against”
■ “I just want to be back home”

These sentiments are normal, and almost everyone feels similarly at some point in their collegiate experience. The big question we have to ask ourselves next is “What can I do about it?”

Here are a few tips to making your culture a more integral part of campus living:

1. Look into Trinity’s large array of cultural clubs. Join one that fits you, and attend at least five other cross-cultural or social events to attend throughout the year to expand your global perspective.

2. Meet someone new every day, ask them about their culture, and become comfortable with sharing your values and experiences. When conversing with peers and good friends, make culture an iterating topic of discussion.

3. Begin noticing the similarities between your culture and others. Recognize the similarities in values and beliefs while respecting differences and using them as a means of gaining insight into another person’s understanding of this world.

4. Organize cultural food nights in your hall’s kitchen. Exchange recipes, involve everyone in the cooking process, and talk about the history of your dishes and its relevance to your family.

5. If you are still not feeling understood, get a small group together and create your own cultural group. If you are passionate enough, it will become a reality, and Trinity will provide you with the resources necessary to get you going.

The only way we are going to truly understand each other is by openly sharing our perspectives, experiences, and cultures. We often forget that each and every one of us has a story, so it is important that we start to get comfortable with actually sharing ours. You never know how your life story can inspire someone, shed crucial insight, or provide an opportunity for you to grow as an individual.

What if I run into conflict with another student’s worldview or perspective?
It is important to have a sense of cultural awareness before expressing biased judgments against particular social and cultural groups. The truth is, words can hurt, and prevent us from growing as a cohesive campus community. Put yourself in their shoes first, and ask progressive questions that uncover why someone would believe or act in such a way in the first place. How would you feel if condescending remarks were made about your culture, or about you in general? Instead of slamming, actually attend a group meeting and become immersed in a new way of looking at the world. Empathy enlightens understanding, cultivates self-reflection, and inspires collaboration.

What if I am the victim of hurtful remarks or circumstances?
If we are presented with such remarks or circumstances, remember that it is okay to be upset, but the real challenge resides in how we react. At this point, we need to drop our defensive shields, start empathizing, and speak truth from the heart. Letting a remark or circumstance hinder our true potential or ambition only allows for the perpetuation of such ignorance to occur. Conversely, allowing a circumstance to drive us to act abrasively in defense only perpetuates the notion of conflict and tension, when clarity could have been discovered through civilized discussion. Address situations of ignorance respectfully, question the intention, context, and derivation, and move on. As Einstein said, “Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds,” and our human spirits are stronger and more beautiful than any ignorant remark could ever be.

Culture is our means of adapting to this world. Culture is who we are.
Respect, share, learn, and that will make all the difference.