Student Affairs
Whether we realize it or not, humans are evolutionarily wired to favor instant gratification over delayed reward. The reality, though, is that life does not typically give us instant rewards. We have to go through four years of college courses to obtain a degree, and endure multiple interviews to be considered for a job. We …
I often find myself scrolling through Quran.com, a digital version of the Quran, moving from one surah to the next. I read the English translations and stumble through the phonetic pronunciations of Arabic words I have never learned to read fluently. I look up unfamiliar words and try to make sense of what I’m reading. …
When I tell people I’m Jewish, I get a variety of different reactions. Some people excitedly say, “me too!” or tell me about someone who’s close to them who is also Jewish. Others view me with suspicion, and immediately ask me what I think about Israel, or if it’s true that Jews do or believe …
Growing up, I must’ve moved around school districts over three times. Yet, with all the moving, I’d never met another Indian person in my grade, much less a Sikh person. It was impossible not to feel the isolation. I recall sitting in my 5th grade history class, we’d just started the unit on Asia. “Hinduism …
If you were asked to picture a ‘normal-looking’ person, a turbaned man probably wouldn’t be the first image to come to mind. But does that mean a man wearing a turban is not normal? Of course not. At the same time, should a turban be treated as insignificant, as if it contributes nothing to the …
Having blind trust is not something that many people feel comfortable with at all. It’s a concept that we generally see only in our closest relationships and often takes years of shared experiences, patience, and consistent reliability to build. Blind trust means placing complete confidence in someone without hesitation or doubt—something that doesn’t come easily …
I’ve always been a Christian, but holding on to that identity hasn’t always been easy, especially when I came to college. My parents and I immigrated from Nigeria to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when I was just one year old, hoping for new opportunities and a better life. Even though I was too young to remember Nigeria, …
In a recent Interfaith Fellows meeting, we explored an essay by Sherman Alexie titled Theology 101. The piece prompted me to think deeply about my own relationship with religion, reflecting on how my upbringing in a religious household shaped my sense of values and personal identity, even though I no longer identify with a specific …
When my uncle passed away, I felt like the world had gone still. The quiet after the funeral—the kind that sinks into your chest and stays there—was heavier than anything I’d ever known. I remember sitting in my backyard one afternoon, trying to pray but finding no words that felt right. The rosary beads tangled …
I was first taught how to make chai from a friend’s mother growing up; originally from New Delhi, India, their family had immigrated the year prior and lived two doors down from my childhood home. Needless to say, I spent a great deal of time at their home and it was a full two years …