University of Dayton - MyLife

Sharper View

Wow, two weeks down here at UD. It's been a ton of fun, meeting all kinds of new people, learning a lot about people, and learning a lot about myself as well. There have been a few things in the past week that have given me a sharper view of what I want to learn how to do here at UD.

First, obviously, is the devastating effect of Hurricane Katrina. By a twist of fate, our freshman class were not only wide-eyed high school freshmen who lost too early our innocence on that warm September morning, but again these first weeks of our college career has been overshadowed by this new tragedy. The response to this tragedy was bungled on many levels, and sadly, many people lost their lives because of the inept response of government agencies. Government has always been a particular passion of mine, and again I feel that being here at UD, with all the marvelous opportunities it affords, will equip me with the skills that I need to be a force for change in the world.

Other revelations have come in simple conversation with my fellow students. Coming from a school that was predominantly white, middle to upper class, Catholic boys, it's been great to get perspective from a broader range of people, all with their own stories. Some of these stories are heart-wrenching, and are the product of circumstance that could have been rectified, if only someone in a position to help had done so. I accept that I can't save the world alone, but being here at UD is going to allow me to take the skills and talents I already have, and focus them to a positive end.

Sep 5, 2005 11:21 AM Permalink