Now that I'm on the other end of college, I've spent some recent time reflecting on the experience. I invested three years of my life--virtually 24/7--into a piece of paper and an education. I got a mixed bag of returns. The culture shock returning to the States was horrifying. My peacebuilding education was phenomenal. Yet much of what stands out now are amazing people I met who changed my life for the better, who saw the best in met, and who inspired me.
Gloria: Gloria was my academic advisor in the Applied Soci department, and is one of the most amazing people I've ever met. She saw my interests and helped my with classes and projects which fostered these. I wouldn't be in peacebuilding if it wasn't for Gloria, and I wouldn't have graduated if it hasn't been for Gloria or feel understood at EMU.
Terry: Terry is the strangest prof known to man. We'd write down his outrageous comments in our notebooks, such as "terrorism is like porno, you know it when you see it." But Terry understands social movements and international development and he shared his massive practical and academic knowledge in all five classes I took with him. I would not love Mennonite community development if it wasn't for Terry.
Nancy: I never had a class with Nancy but I'm sure I would have loved it. Nancy was my mentor for a peace speech I did and she helped me develop my thoughts into a solid piece. But Nancy is memorable because she's traveled around the world. She's strong, intelligent and humble, even after her promotion as dean of EMU. I aspire to be like Nancy one day.
Sarah: Sarah saved EMU for me. She's the sweetest, thoughtful, sincere, and utterly humble Mennonite farm girl from Idaho turned peacebuilder. She transferred in mid-year, mid-semester like me and listened to me process through all my culture shock. Sarah inspires me to love building peace as much as she does, and that local food and farming is ultimately superior.
Lorraine: Lorraine also save my sanity. The aunt of church members in New York, Lorraine adopted me and saved my soul from disparity. Lorraine took me to church and then back to her home in the Virginia countryside where she would use her professional chef skills for a beautiful lunch. I stayed with her on holidays and I made her home my home. I love Lorraine immensely.
Kaylee: Kaylee was my sounding wall. A non-Mennonite transfer peacebuilding student, we bonded in "History and Philosophy of Nonviolence" and have been inseparable ever since. Together we figured out EMU, and together we survived happily. She became a fixture in my life. Along with Sarah, we constructed the transfer trio, a force of kindness and silent thoughtfulness.
Jakob: I would have never composted before I met Jakob. But when you live in the same house with EMU's composting point-man, well, at the end of the semester I started taking out the compost myself. Jakob helped me rethink sustainability beyond a fad to a lifestyle...and I took back my comments about people from Goshen Indiana.
Mark: Mark was a photography major with three or four minors. I didn't think we'd be friends because our vast political differences but my co-ed house led to some interesting friendships. I learned that respect and civility can cross many differences and lead to good discussions, and that photography is indeed a beautiful art.
Kari: My dear Kari was an art major. All through the spring semester, I watched her paint her senior show in her bedroom, three massively large pieces. Kari's energy is infectious and her joy for art is contagious. I watched that senior show come together and Kari's journey with it, and I saw myself and my own life story. And then we have such a beautiful friendship.
Jon: Jon shouldn't be at the end of this list. Some people think finding a significant other is a mandate of uni attendance. I don't think so, but meeting a precise and thoughtful bio-chem major who appreciates my TCK-ness, makes me very happy. And I can say he's inspired me to appreciate different types of music.
The list could go on...as I write, more people come to mind who have blessed my life and the people I will miss as I venture into the future. And then the benefits of uni instantly seem so much higher.
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