Natalie Bruno

Explain your involvement with Dialogue Across Difference.

I have taken two DxD classes so far, and I am currently enrolled in my third this semester. I enjoy the classes so much that I decided to try to take them all before I graduate. Furthermore, I have also had the amazing opportunity to be a DxD Ambassador and a DxD First-Year-Fellow Mentor. As an Ambassador, I get to work with the DxD team and assist in facilitating different dialogic events on campus. For example, a few weeks ago I co-facilitated the October First Friday, where we invite anyone at WashU to come and talk about a topic that we decide ahead of time. We get different perspectives, introduce different ideas, and just listen to what others have to say! As a DxD FYF Mentor, I get to work closely with students who are interested in furthering their dialogue skills and assist them throughout the beginning of their DxD journeys.

Was there a conversation, activity or experience in the course that stuck with you long after it ended? Why has it stayed with you?

Last year in one of my DxD courses, we talked about body language during dialogue or when you are talking to someone. It is important to maintain eye contact, so they know you are listening. It is also important not to shake your head in agreement too much because it can become excessive and seem insincere. I still utilize these skills during conversations and dialogue sessions, as well as in my classes while I’m listening to my professor or my peers in a classroom.

Another activity that has really stuck with me was a time when my DxD professor drew a bunch of random shapes on the whiteboards around the room and told each of us to stand by the shape that felt the most like us. I really enjoyed this activity because we each got to explain our answers to the group. It was a great way to get to know each other better, even though it was just a simple drawing on a board.

How do you think your WashU experience would have been different if you had never participated in DxD?

Without DxD, I don’t think I would have developed such a passion for learning about others and hearing their perspectives. I love listening to people talk about their cultures, experiences, values and the things that matter most to them. Watching someone’s face light up as they share a meaningful part of themselves brings me so much joy. DxD gave me the tools and confidence to ask thoughtful questions, build deeper connections and engage in conversations I might not have had otherwise. It has opened my world to new people, perspectives and ideas.