Students everywhere are returning to their campuses for the terrifying and exciting start of the new semester, braving cold, foul weather and the occasional snowplow. The woes of last semester are behind them, and they’re staring down the barrel of new classes to stress about.
As a student goes through their college career, it can be a long four-year process with many interesting people to meet and become acquainted, new classes and lots of different opinions and experiences to learn from.
These opportunities are there to challenge and expand how we see our world — an opportunity one may not have had a chance to experience earlier in life. With professors well versed in their respective fields and experiences, exchange students from vastly different backgrounds and even local individuals from around the area that simply lead a different life, there is a plethora of people to exchange ideas with.
As students of such a large and diverse university, we have an incredible chance to expand ourselves, challenge how we see the world and think critically about ideas and topics. This is the time to take past experiences, an informed opinion and an open mind and use the tools given to us to create a unique worldview.
Taking some time to sit down with a professor and open a dialogue about the ideas that interest or confuse them can introduce students to a new outlook or opinion on a subject. Shedding some new light on a subject can change how effectively we interpret new ideas and the world around us.
The same can be true of our peers, who have lived different lives and bring different parts of the world with them. The opportunity for different cultures and lifestyles to mingle creates a playing field for vastly different ideas to come together that may never have been presented before.
Discussing and criticizing the thoughts and opinions of others, critically and intelligently, can develop lasting friendships, skills to interpret our surroundings and change the way one thinks about a topic completely.
Changing like this isn’t an easy or pleasurable process sometimes — it can be quite scary and difficult. As I have traveled through the university, my thoughts and the way I look at topics in the news or classrooms evolved, I think, for the better. I have gained the ability to analyze and interpret information given to me and make my own decisions about their implications
There may be a bit of trepidation when thinking of discussing topics with others, and rightly so. Something so important should not be taken lightly. However, staying informed, well-versed and having the ability to listen to other people’s viewpoints are fantastic tools to prepare students now for the life they lead after graduation.
Spencer Colvin can be reached at [email protected]