Meeting #4

          I met Essa at the steps of the library. We walked over to the fountain between the library and Winston Scott and sat on the edge. I think a lot of people forget that a fountain is there. We talked about how the semester was going. I told him about my extremely busy schedule filled with exams and projects. In addition to school, I told Essa about my internship, which dramatically increases the craziness of my schedule. Essa told me that his classes were alright, but he was struggling with his statistics class. He was upset about making careless errors on his exam, which resulted in a decrease of a whole letter grade. He knows the mistakes he made and seemed motivated to do better on the next exam.

We sat by the water fountain for an hour. Towards the end of our discussion, we were talking about religion. Although we have different beliefs, we were able to have a friendly conversation, with both of us keeping an open-mind and listening actively. Instead of digging into the roots of our perspectives, we focused more on the importance of developing a personal belief – as opposed to blindly accepting a principle without consideration. We agreed that it is imperative for every person to find his or her own reasons for accepting or denying a philosophy. Then, Essa told me about a group meeting he attends every few weeks that engages in religious and philosophical conversations. The purpose of the group discussions is to learn about other people beliefs in a judgment-free environment and consider alternative perspectives from people of various cultures and backgrounds. I expressed my interest in participating in the group discussion, so Essa invited me to the next meeting.

            Learning about unfamiliar cultures and beliefs is important because it expands understanding, fosters acceptance, and counteract false assumptions. People tend to fear what is unknown or unfamiliar. Misunderstanding can lead to inaccurate conclusions and, potentially, hostility. Education is imperative because it exposes students to a wide range of opinions and perspectives. It enables people compare their beliefs with others, who may have a unique and alternative perception of the same concept. Furthermore, international education offers an even greater opportunity to give students a direct experience with unfamiliar cultures. The EIP program is an excellent example, as it encourages students of differing cultures, perspectives, and experiences to share knowledge and opinions in a friendly environment. Foreign and American students benefit from this exchange, and friendships emerge.

            I have met with Essa four times now, and our discussions have grown more insightful each time. I believe our relationship is evolving. At first we only discussion surface level topics: school, family, and food. This fifth meeting proves that we now feel comfortable talking about subjects controversial in nature that others might hesitate to discuss. Trust and understanding are the cornerstone of these types of conversations. Otherwise, people will feel self-conscious and influenced by the reactions of the conversation partner. As I go forward in this relationship with my conversation partner, I will try my best to keep an open-mind and learn as much as possible from Essa. We have a unique opportunity to share knowledge and opinions – an opportunity that many students do not have. I plan to make the most of it.