Major
Undecided
Year
Class of 2030
Where are you from?
Middletown, Delaware
Before taking DxD, how did you approach difficult conversations about topics like politics, identity or religion? How, if at all, has that changed?
I always knew tough conversations were important, but sometimes I didn’t know how to facilitate them or how to ask someone why they felt the way they did.
Because of that, I would hesitate or close myself off instead of being vulnerable. Since joining DxD, I hope that when these opportunities come up, I don’t shy away and instead embrace the discomfort.
Was there a conversation, activity or experience in the course that stuck with you long after it ended? Why has it stayed with you?
Recently in class, we had an open talk about race and what we thought about it. It really struck me because race is an increasingly prevalent topic every day, and it was great to hear what others had to say. I was nervous at first, but I was glad to have this dialogue with someone I wasn’t very familiar with at the time, because it helped me understand them better and learn about their perspective on the world.
How do you think your WashU experience would have been different if you had never participated in DxD?
If I hadn’t joined DxD, I think I would have stayed hesitant about having deep conversations with the people around me. As a result, I would have closed myself off from people I now spend time with every day. This program has helped me reach out to peers who aren’t similar to me, which is something I now find very valuable.