One of the most significant events I have had during my time as an Orientation Leader is from our second week of training. During diversity training the facilitator, Dr. Art Munin, lead us through an activity where we estimated what percentage of our being or identity was made up by different qualities. For example, I said that my sexual orientation made up twenty percent of my identity and my gender was fifteen percent, while my age made up only five percent. The entire orientation staff did this activity and shared in small groups. Afterward, a few volunteers presented their responses to the entire group.

I thought this experience was very important because it revolved around a discussion of identity, diversity and perspective. We had done a similar exercise earlier in training where we anonymously read off the number of people who identified as LGBTQ, working class or part of a non-Catholic faith, but this instance was much more significant because it was an open dialogue. It took a great deal of trust between the staff members to have this conversation in a meaningful way.

Beyond simply learning the stories that my coworkers carried with them, this conversation was interesting because it showed how people, based on their perspective and the perspective of others, construct their identities so differently. For example, my roommate and I have a great deal in common but he said that his age, religion and class are much more important to his identity than I had said they were to mine. Coworkers who were of an ethnic or racial minority often said that race was one of the most prominent factors of their identity because they were constantly challenged by dominate, white culture on racial grounds. Conversely, many of our devout friends said that religion was a major part of their lives even though we live in a faith-centered community and they are part of the majority at Loyola.

This experience showed me several things about myself. Firstly, it reminded me how much I appreciate diversity in my peer groups, coworkers and classmates. Having a well-balanced group of people who belong to different religions, social-economic classes, genders and sexual orientations prevents group discussion from becoming biased. If everyone is mindful of their peers, it ensures a respectful but engaging discussion that pushes participants away from clichés and comfort zones. The discussion also made me realize that I value frank and open discussions much more than careful or cautious ones. I enjoyed the activity that we had done earlier where we talked about anonymous numbers, but this one was much more rewarding. I have a great deal of respect for the people that got up in front of the whole group and talked about being gay or black and how those social labels shaped who they are.

This activity also affirmed my belief that stories mean much more coming unfiltered from the person who experienced them and that there is a reward for both the listener and speaker when this happens. The listener gets the full effect of understanding the context of the story through seeing who is speaking and being able to engage them. Also, they more willingly trust what they are hearing. Simultaneously, the speaker gets to claim the part of themselves that they are sharing in a public space and have it affirmed through having an audience. I value these experiences so much that sometimes I get frustrated when personal testimonials are not possible because of a need to be polite or because people are afraid to be open. The experience of doing this with my coworkers made me realize that I wanted to actively work to make my Discover Loyola groups safe spaces where my students would feel welcomed to share their experiences with each other.

The experience of listening to how my coworkers conceptualize their own identities also made me realize what a unique place that Loyola University is and how the Discover Loyola Program successfully embodies the values of that larger institution. I think that this university is such a unique place because despite being faith-based the student body and faculty is extremely progressive in how it deals with diversity and social justice issues. Unlike many other religious campuses that get bogged down in political issues, I think Loyola rightfully focuses on Ignatian commitment of nurturing individuals and communities. I like to think of LUC as a place of common ground and common interest where the best of religious and secular values meet. The campus and the orientation staff, which serves as a microcosm of campus, are open to all types of people. Loyola students and employees are not only willing to listen to others’ stories but actively seek them out as a way to strengthen relationships and learn more about their own beliefs. This activity really fortified my trust in the Discover Loyola program and made me realize that our supervisors did an excellent job choosing students that live by the values of the institution.

This experience and how heavily it affected me made me realize that many of my coworkers are not necessarily thinking about diversity issues often. This is not to say that they are insensitive or bad people. They simple have not had the experiences I have had being part of a social minority or learned the things I have being a sociology student. My unique perspective allows me to be a critical voice when the need arises. During DL sessions I think I do a good job calling people out on inappropriate language or conduct and providing feedback on how programs or language could be more inclusive. More broadly, I believe I do a good job thinking of problems creatively and asking the type of questions that can lead to new perspectives and new solutions.

In the future, I hope to continue working in higher education in a very similar work environment. I think these skills would help me significantly in a position that supports student diversity and the special needs that minority students have on American campuses. However, no matter what I do professionally I want to continue being an advocate for disadvantaged groups and that includes all of the skills I have mentioned. I want to continue to make spaces where people feel safe telling their own stories to others.