By Kevin Stockbridge, College of Educational Studies, Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Department of English
I will tell you a secret. I always walk into the first class of the semester with one thing in mind: “How can I break down the walls of these people so that they can authentically shine?” By the end of that first class I am singing a tune from a Disney movie, jumping around the classroom as I excitedly describe what we will be learning, and sharing a good laugh. Why? Because I don’t want robots in my classroom. I want real people! I want people to be free to share themselves so that we can learn TOGETHER!
You see, I have come to realize that all of us hold a multitude of identities that we choose to reveal or hide in different situations. These may include gender, ability, sexual orientation, religion, race, political affiliation, socio-economic status and a host of others. If you have successfully found yourself in the seats of Chapman University, then I imagine that one of your identities is student/learner. You know the identity: “Quiet note-taker who asks just the right amount of questions during class pertaining to the material but never bringing up personal issues or uninformed opinions.” Normally, the expectation is that the professor is the expert and the students are being molded by the wisdom imposed upon them. I was a pro at the student/learner identity when I was in University. I am not saying that this isn’t a REAL part of you, but I am willing to bet that being a student/learner is only a PART of you! And, truth be told, Chapman needs ALL of you (both inside and outside the classroom) if it’s going to make a truly life-changing impact in your future. Why? Because, whether you know it or not, you are an expert too. An expert on the experiences of your life and lessons they have taught you. So welcome, Expert!
At Chapman you will experience a multitude of differences you may have never experienced before. In the classrooms and offices you will meet quirky professors who might confuse you. In the dorms you will meet people who have different routines. In the piazza, library, and hallways you will encounter students who speak other languages, join different groups, celebrate different holidays, embrace different political views, and express gender differently. And all these people will experience differences when they see you. But, if you get to know each other (students, staff, professors, etc.) by being authentic, then you may discover that you will be surprised who you have more in common with. Don’t take all things at face value nor assume you can pigeon-hole people based on their appearance or actions. That’s called stereotyping. Rather, be open! Get engaged with student life, interact with learning in the classroom, talk to people, and be honest about who you are.
Each semester I give my students a project to present the class with some of the most central aspects of their identity. The stories that are shared never cease to surprise. It is very common for students to say: “I had no idea that you went through such and such.” Sometimes students will respond to a presentation by someone they never knew and say, “I have been through the same thing,” or “I am a fan of that such and such too,” or “I have that same issue with my family.” This validates, creates bonds, and changes the classroom and campus into a place of friends. I consider my students to be like a family. While not every class will have time set aside to talk this way, you can still be yourself in the class and connect with others (even if that isn’t part of the curriculum). It’s always easier to learn with people you know than to feel like you are competing with strangers!
Here is another secret: you will never know everything. As you pick up facts, philosophies, skills, friendships, and other tools for life, the hope is that you will be learning more about WHO YOU ARE in deeper ways. You will also come to learn much about the unimaginable diversity that exists in the world, both in the courses of study and in the people who make this campus their work/study home. You will come to know one thing very well, that there is a lot still to do and learn in the world, but that we only move forward when we see things from many different perspectives. You will learn the art of being challenged and of challenging in ways that promote growth. When you walk across that stage for graduation, we don’t send you into the world with professors and notes. We send you into the world with only one thing: yourself! So be yourself coming in. Let others be themselves. Listen and share. Be open and inclusive of difference. We are all becoming something new and learning more together here in this Chapman community. Who knows what great things will come when you let down your walls and shine!