Multicultural Environments Michael Pollak

Interpersonal Communication Style February 5, 2015

The struggles in one’s life can take you to different places, but if you have family to help

you, then those struggles will lessen as time goes on. My struggles with religion and culture are

about relating to others and finding exactly who I am and what I believe in. Being raised in a

family of mixed religions (Catholicism and Judaism) is not difficult but is not always the easiest.

One of my parents wanted me to grow up in their religion, while the other wanted to teach me

about both religions. Learning about different religions can be a good thing.

Every religion or culture portrays its own beliefs, customs, and practices which affect

how it interacts with others. It is important to realize that others may misunderstand me or think

differently of me based on their perceptions, generalizations, or prejudices which affect how they

view the actions I take and the things I say. Likewise, people of other cultures may think or act

differently from me and should not be criticized because of that. In doing this series of papers, I

have come to realize that many religions share similar values.

One thing I value a lot is family. The culture of my family is that people support and help

each other and share both the good times and the difficult times. I have learned in the last several

years to be appreciative of what I have, although I have gone through medical treatments and

more. I have family members by my side who care about me and try to help me when needed.

My family has also taught me that when others are struggling, we try our best to jump in and

help them, whether it be by donating money to them or just listening to them and providing a

helping hand when we can.

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One reason I enjoy football very much is that it brings my family and friends together. I

like that it can also bring enemies together, even just for one day. My family loves sports, and

several of us don’t like the same teams. When watching football, when Auburn versus Alabama

comes on, there is a huge debate about who will win and for what reasons. There will be a win-

ner and a loser, but in the end we enjoyed watching the game together. Sharing game day helps

us catch up on family news and stay connected. Although the game may put us down, we still

have one another at the end of the day, and that is very important.

My family, from the beginning, taught my sisters and me how to love one-another, enjoy

being with each other, and what it was like to celebrate birthdays and other special days together.

I can recall moments that are saved in photos of one of my sisters kissing me, with apples around

us. This was a staged moment, but these type of events can teach you that love is more than just a

phone call every now and then. Spending time with family is important to stay united with each

other.

A religious aspect can also be seen in this situation, and that is with both Catholicism and

Judaism. These religions both teach the importance of friends and family, and treating others

with respect, kindness and fairness. My parents taught me the Golden Rule of treating others

how you would want to be treated. This teaching is very important on any day of your life, wher-

ever you might be living. Different religions believe in different things and live differently, but

that doesn’t mean they don’t follow this rule. In fact, some form of the Golden Rule is found in

every one of the world’s major religions. The Golden Rule is almost universal, and was an im-

portant part of my upbringing..

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Freedom of speech is another very important value to me. Just as I am blessed to have a

supportive family, I am also blessed to live in such a great country where we can speak the truth

and show others what we believe in. I was taught growing up that voting and community service

are important. Freedom of speech is how we get to have a say in presidential elections, office

elections, and even whether or not specific construction in different cities should be done or not.

My beliefs in my own culture are positive in that I believe we are very strong as Ameri-

cans and can make do with what we have when in struggling times. There is the saying, “Live

the American Dream.” For me, it is tough to understand that saying. We can live the American

dream by being who we are each and every day, but is that the dream we want to live or were

meant to live? How do we know what this dream is until we understand the struggles others go

through? Many may not fully understand this concept, as I believe that is what it is, a concept,

right now.

The American culture is also amazing as we can work together not just with each other,

but with other countries. My worldview is that we all are a family as multiple countries work to-

gether to help provide for each other. An example here is China and the United States. Our work-

ers are being sent to China to work there and to learn how they live in their culture. This means

there are more job opportunities with a friendship with another country. Also, without China,

many of our products such as clothing and technology, would be very expensive. The bulk of our

product parts come from multiple countries, and are then put together and sold here in the United

States at a lower price. We are paying for the labor, but without China, the overall price would be

much higher. Without our leaders and government department members learning about other cul-

tures, the United States would not be what it is today.

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Other cultures may not fully understand Americans as we don’t live the same way as they

do, and our religion, education, sports, music and more are different. People from a different cul-

ture might look at me not understanding my religions feelings based on how I live my life. If

they knew that my family is split between two religions, and that I celebrated both Hanukkah and

Christmas when I was younger, they would question what I fully believe in. For many people,

this is hard to understand.

In America, most are known to celebrate within one religion, not multiple. As I went

through my younger school years, people looked at me differently as I was raised as a Jewish

child, but went mostly to Catholic schools. I am strongly unsure of the reason they looked at me

differently as I then learned that Jesus was Jewish as well. Within religion, it is sometimes very

tough for me to understand issues that people have with other religions that are not their own.

For myself, I tried my best to ignore others and move on as it was not worth my time. As we get

older, we become more mature, and being in college now, although at a Catholic college, I am

happy that my faith is not questioned at all.

I find it much easier to communicate with people who share my values and culture than

those who are very different from me. However, it is likely that throughout life I will interact

with people from other cultures, sometimes without even knowing it. At times it is hard to know

whether or not someone was born in a different culture, or just lived there a part of their life.

Knowing what their actual culture is though is not as important when communicating. We can

learn to work through our differences when speaking. If something happens that was not meant

to happen, with good communication, we will get over that mistake and learn from it so it does

not happen again.

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While we may think we understand our culture and live by our own culture’s standards,

this does not mean that when people from other cultures view us, their feelings towards how we

interact will be positive. The way we communicate, our celebrations, religions, and our values

can be entirely different from other cultures.

I have been misunderstood many times, whether it be in text messages, or emails. The

way we speak in both of these may come out wrong when the receiver reads it. The person on the

other end of an email I sent to them felt that I was being very rude to them when clearly I did not

see that. The way we email others can portray standing near them yelling to them, but in an email

it is not always like that, but it can be read that way.

I recognize that I have not fully learned how to communicate very well in life, and how to

speak what is on my mind when I have information to share. When I communicate with others, I

attempt to stay calm during conversations, by giving my full attention to them, although it does

not always look that way. An example of this is when I am listening to a friend or a coworker, I

may glance or even use my phone for a moment or two. This can be looked upon as not caring

about what the other person is saying, and almost immediately in doing that, the conversation

can be over, ending badly for me. I am working to improve that skill, but in the meantime I

sometimes struggle with that. . In communicating within my own culture, this is much easier

Each of us is a product of the things we have learned from our family, community, coun-

try, religion, race, etc. We can’t help but filter what we see and hear based on those things. We

each have our own struggles with our known weaknesses and prejudices. We can work on those,

but what gets us into the most trouble are the weaknesses and prejudices we don’t recognize in

ourselves. Will our communicating ever be perfect? No, but we can be sensitive to the cultures

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and lifestyles of others and learn and understand them. We can be understanding when someone

from a different culture or lifestyle says or does something we find hurtful or inappropriate.

For a paper about a culture different from my own, I chose to learn about Buddhism,

which is most definitely different from the two religions within my family, Catholicism and Ju-

daism.Buddhism is a religion, but it is also much more than that. “It is a pragmatic description of

life that details our very existence and shows methods for eliminating the dissatisfactory nature

of many everyday experiences.” (Clarke Scott) Buddhism teaches that “by following this path

anyone can gradually transform his or her mind from its present confused and self-centered state

into the blissful mind of a Buddha.” (What Is Buddhism)

Looking at the history of Buddhism helps us understand its meaning and influence in the

world. Buddhism was founded on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha

Shakyamuni. He was born as a royal prince in between 600-700 BC in a place called Lumbini,

which was originally in northern India but is now part of Nepal. “According to the most widely

known story of his life, after experimenting with different teachings for years, and finding none

of them acceptable, he spent a fateful night in deep meditation. During his meditation, all of the

answers he had been seeking became clear, and he achieved full awareness, thereby becoming

Buddha ("enlightened one” or "the awakened”).” (Buddha Biography)

Buddhism is more than 2500 years old, making it one of the oldest religions practiced

today. From its founding in the 6th century BC to the present, Buddhism has divided into three

major branches — the Theravada ("Doctrine of the Elders"), the Mahayana ("Great Vehicle), and

the Vajrayana ("Diamond Vehicle," also called "Tibetan Buddhism"), and there are many sects

and groups within each of these branches.

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During the time since the creation of the Buddhist religion, a vast assortment of Buddhist

writings, consisting of a group of texts that cover philosophical, devotional, and other matters,

has been created. Each of the major divisions of Buddhism has its own distinct version of what it

considers to be canonical scriptures, but all the divisions share certain fundamental beliefs..

While it had its birth in India, Buddhism now can be found in virtually every corner of

the world. As it has spread, it has influenced and integrated local practices and beliefs. Although

Buddhism is a distinct religious tradition, many people in the contemporary West have incorpo-

rated certain aspects of Buddhism into their religious and social practices; thus there are people

who identify themselves as "Buddhist Christians," "Buddhist Jews," and "Buddhist Atheists.”

The Buddha is the central figure in Buddhism. The word Buddha means "awakened one"

or "the enlightened one.” “The teachings of Buddha reveal a step by step path to lasting happi-

ness.” (What Is Buddhism) Buddhists do not look at the Buddha as a God, and do not pray to

him. He was a human being who found his perfection in Nirvana, a transcendent state in which

there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of

karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.

When given the title ‘Prophet,’ the Buddha was asked a specific question, “Are you

God?” His answer was clear, “No.” One of his students asked Buddha, “Are you the messiah?”

“No.” answered Buddha. “Then are you a healer?” “No.” Buddha replied. “Then are you a

teacher?” the student persisted. “No, I am not a teacher.” “Then what are you?” asked the stu-

dent, exasperated. “I am awake.” Buddha replied. “The Buddha is a teacher because he under-

stood the true nature of things and taught others.” (Buddha)

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Siddhartha Gautama is regarded as the Supreme Buddha. He taught a Middle Way be-

tween extreme self-indulgence and severe self-deprivation, both common in his region at the

time. Accounts of the life of Gautama, his discourses, and his monastic rules are believed by

Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Many col-

lections of Gautama’s teachings were passed down and were determined to have been put into

writing 400 years later.

Unlike most religions, in Buddhism, the concept of God simply does not appear at all.

Buddhists believe “Man is a potential master of himself.” (What Buddhists Believe) This man is

the Buddha, who has full responsibility and fulfillment to himself. Buddhists use prayer to find

happiness and strength from within themselves. “Buddhism gives full responsibility and dignity

to man. It makes man his own master. According to Buddhism, no higher being sits in judgment

over his affairs and destiny. That is to say, our life, our society, our world, is what you and I want

to make out of it, and not what some other unknown being wants it to be.” (What Buddhists Be-

lieve)

Buddhism is interesting when it comes to its form of prayer. Prayer in Buddhism is a

practice of reconditioning the body, pulling new energy or influence to us, and not having fear.

Those who practice Buddhism believe it opens their hearts up and shows them their strength, and

if they want something, then they will “become what they believe.”

Solving problems or seeking answers to tough questions can be done through self-thera-

py, but in Buddhism that is done through meditation and prayer. When Buddhists pray, they are

actually doing a form of meditation that doesn’t ask for anything or seek forgiveness, but it “re-

places the negative with the virtuous and points us to the blessings of Life.” (Buddhist Prayers).

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“Meditation is at the heart of the Buddhist way of life. It is a method for understanding and

working on our own mind. We first learn to identify our different negative mental states known

as ‘delusions’, and learn how to develop peaceful and positive mental states or ‘virtuous

minds.” (What Is Buddhism) “Prayer therefore frequently has the function of being part of a de-

cision-making process.” (Buddhist Prayers)

Many have seen Buddhists holding their hands together near the heart when praying.

Joining the hands in prayer arouses a feeling of faith. “Our whole-hearted faith is represented by

the eight petals of the lotus flower. This is also called the ‘lotus of the heart’ or the ‘white lotus’

and it depicts our Buddha nature. In joining our hands in prayer, the eight petals are represented

by our eight fingers, and the two thumbs symbolize the father and the mother or the principles of

‘reality and wisdom’ and ‘practicing for spiritual stability and wisdom.’” (Basics of Practice)

When meditating or praying, Buddhists sometimes sit or stand in a particular way with

their hands together near their heart. When they put their hands together, they usually raise them

up to their forehead. and attempt to block out all actions and sound around themselves. This is

the Buddhist way of cultivating loving-kindness and strengthening themselves to see other hu-

man beings as good people who are free from suffering.

Prayer and chanting for the Buddhists “are guided meditations used to remind the con-

templative of the internal knowledge that prayer can render.” (Clarke Scott) While praying or

meditating, Buddhists may recite a mantra over and over. At times, you may hear repeated phras-

es like “May all beings be well; May all beings be happy.” That is not a search for any forgive-

ness or benefits, but only to know that life is better for all and they don’t need to worry. Repeat-

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ing the words or phrases is a technique for peeling away the layers of the outer world and going

inside themselves in the search for spiritual stability and wisdom.

In order to keep count of the number of repetitions when chanting, they use what is called

the Mala, or prayer beads, just as they “have been used for thousands of years in Tibetan, Indian,

Chinese, Japanese Buddhism and Hinduism.” (Meher McArthur) There are a number of ways

one can hold the prayer beads, but generally it is worn as a bracelet. “The basic function of the

Mala is to allow one to think about the meaning of the mantra as it is chanted without having to

also concentrate on counting the repetitions. Each time the mantra is repeated, the fingers move

to the next bead.” (Meher McArthur) The Buddha at times is depicted holding a Mala. Not only

are these sacred for the Buddhists, but they give them the comfort they need while praying or

reciting phrases.

The practice of Buddhism often leads its followers to live a lifestyle which may be de-

scribed as living daily in simplicity, peace, gratitude, wisdom and compassion. “However, we do

not just decide one day to live in this special way, it is the natural result of a process of faith, de-

votion, practice and then more practice. It is often said that ‘commitment is primary, lifestyle is

secondary.’ That is to say, effort and dedication to Buddhist practice is the only way to live an

authentic Buddhist lifestyle. Through daily practice and attending fellowship, the lifestyle will

take care of itself. When we engage in daily practice, our lives will be transformed into the sub-

stance of Shinjin, the experience of awakening.” (G.R. Lewis)

Simplicity of life impels Buddhists to want or possess fewer things, appreciating more of

what they have and using what they possess in the service of others. “When we have fewer dis-

tractions in our lives then we can concentrate more in our inner realm and truly live the Buddha

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Dharma and manifest the Nembutsu.” (G.R. Lewis) The purpose of Nembutsu chanting is to al-

low all human beings to go to a “pure land” and to “live in a peaceful and happy state in this

world. At its core, simplicity is the living practice of reality as it is.” (G.R. Lewis)

Prayer in Buddhism does not seek to gain something from a power outside yourself but

rather to improve the person you are and how you interact with the world. By praying for happi-

ness and the end of suffering, and working to achieve those things, Buddhists release the tension

that they have with the world and find happiness within themselves and others.

After learning these things about Buddhism, I chose to examine how Buddhism and Ju-

daism are alike and different. I discovered that Buddhism and Judaism are both ancient religions,

thousands of years old. Both have evolved over time, and are still widely practiced in many parts

of the world today Both have become divided into multiple sub-denominations, but there are ba-

sic ideas shared by the sub-denominations within each of these great religions which are dis-

cussed here. While they share many commonalities, as well as many differences, there is one ma-

jor difference which separates the two in a significant way. As we have seen, in Buddhism, there

is no belief in God or a spiritual being of any kind, whereas in Judaism, the belief in a single God

of all the world is a central teaching. Because of this significant difference, prayer in Judaism

and in Buddhism have different forms and purposes. Yet, in spite of this difference, prayer in Ju-

daism and in Buddhism have some remarkable similarities, as well.

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Judaism was founded on the belief in a single, all-powerful God. Abraham was the first to

adopt this belief, making Judaism the first monotheistic religion. The peoples of his time and

place worshipped many gods and idols, and the idea that there could be a single omnipotent God

was revolutionary. The central teachings of Judaism are found in the Torah, hand-written scrolls

written in ancient Hebrew, and also known as the Five Books of Moses, and its later writings and

commentaries, known as the Talmud and the Tanach.

Consistent with the belief in a single, all-powerful God, Jewish prayer carries the aware-

ness that one is speaking to God. Not only are the words of Jewish prayer important, but so “is

the kavannah (intent), the manner that we pray, that completes it.” (Caryn Meltz) When Jews

pray, they have to direct their hearts to heaven. In Judaism, the importance of prayer is not just in

itself, but it “helps the people to draw closer to God, avoid sin and to thank Him for the many

blessings in their lives.” (Judaism Prayers) Many, if not most, Jewish prayers focus on praising

or thanking God, rather than asking for anything other than God’s blessing.

Even while praying silently, some Jews mouth the words. This ensures that they are con-

centrating on what they are saying and they know that they did not miss a word. Many Jewish

people begin the day and end the day with a prayer. They strive to do their best each and every

day, and the first prayer of the day addresses just that. A central belief in Judaism is expressed in

a prayer known as the Shema, which means “Praised are You, oh Lord our God, the Lord is

One.” This prayer has multiple layers of meaning. It affirms the existence of God, the oneness of

God, and with its accompanying prayers, it affirms the eternity of God. This reinforces the idea

that Jews pray to only one God, one Creator. Within Judaism, it is always forbidden to pray to

anyone else but God.

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We have already talked about the use of mantras in Buddhism. A similar tradition in Ju-

daism is what is known as a niggun, which is a short phrase, a wordless tune, which is sung over

and over. This is done to get oneself in a prayerful state, and can be thought of as a kind of medi-

tation. Eliezer writes, “It was also deemed not proper to use words from the Torah or from the

prayers when one was not either learning or praying, so the wordless tune was created.” (Shmuel

Ben Eliezer)

The Buddha says that when Buddhists want something, prayer is simply not enough. If

one wants to make it across a river with ease, he can pray for safety and guidance to give him the

belief to do what he seeks, but this does not give him what he needs. Just seeing himself reach

the end of the river is not enough. He still needs the materials to build, for example, a raft to

‘guide’ himself across, but what helps him is strengthening his mind through prayer.

Judaism also places importance on action, as well as prayer or belief. It teaches that you

must live the things you believe. You can't say one thing and do another. Jews are taught that

they are God's hands in the world. There is a concept called Tikkun Olam, which means “to re-

pair the world” or “to improve the universe.” Therefore, an important belief in Judaism is the

obligation to be God’s partner in making the world better in some way.

Both individual prayer and communal pray are important in Judaism. Some Jewish

prayers are recited in prayer groups. Others are intended to be recited in the synagogue. Some of

the most important prayers are recited at home or in another place away from the synagogue.

Also, certain prayers cannot be recited except with a minyan, which is a group of 10 or more

Jewish men (Orthodox) or men and women (Reform and Conservative).

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Buddhists can pray alone or in a group, “before a shrine containing an image of Buddha

or a bodhisattva, usually with a candle or incense.” (Worship) When praying within themselves,

they are seeking enlightenment. No matter where they are, though, together in a group or at

home alone, they will pray “in his home or in the Shrine Room of a Temple; a Buddhist will re-

cite the 3 jewels and the 5 precepts to renew his commitment to Buddhism.” (Worship) Accord-

ing to the Buddha, there are special methods for overcoming suffering and attaining happiness.

“Kadampa Buddhists begin every practice by reciting a special prayer to Buddha composed by

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.” (Prayer To Buddha)

In Judaism, every service has a set order of prayers. There are differences between week-

days and the Sabbath, but the basics are the same. The major elements include preliminary

prayers, Shema and its blessings, Amidah (a core part of the service, done while standing), and

concluding prayers. These prayer services are substitutes for the sacrifices made in the Temple

prior to its destruction in Jerusalem between 69 and 70 C.E.

Both Buddhism and Judaism have a Sabbath day. In Buddhism, it is called the Uposatha.

“Uposatha are days marked by a full or new moon that are observed with intensive practice by

Theravada Buddhists.” (Uposatha) This day was started by the Buddha in order to honor the re-

quest of King Bimbisara. The Buddha said that the Uposatha was created to “purify the polluted

mind which would in turn lead to inner tranquility and happiness.” (Uposatha)

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In Judaism, the Sabbath is from sundown Friday night until sundown Saturday. It is

meant to follow the Torah’s account that in 6 days God created the world and rested on the sev-

enth day. Therefore, on the Sabbath, Jews are not supposed to work, but are supposed to pray and

study and perform activities which make that day holy, or different from the other 6 days of the

week.

Buddhism and Judaism also share the practice of fasting at certain times for spiritual rea-

sons. For Judaism, the purpose of fasting is a means of repentance. It “fits well with the idea of

performing penance for any sins committed during the year and restoring one’s soul to a state of

wholeness.” Some may not eat food, drink, brush their teeth, etc. Others may refrain from food

but not water or bathing restrictions.

In Buddhism, fasting is one of the methods for practicing self-control. “By fasting and

sacrificing a meal once a day or for any period, we can contribute our food to those who are

starving or who do not have even a proper meal each day.” (What Buddhists Believe)

In Judaism, bowing is done at certain points in services, but is not expected by visitors.

They bow as a way of showing reverence toward God. Some Jews cover their eyes during certain

prayers as a way of shutting out the world and concentrating harder on their connection to the

Holy One.

Bowing during their prayers is also very common to the Buddhist religion. This is a way

of showing their appreciation to the Buddha and examining their own mind, “Manifesting kind-

ness and compassion,” (Alan Peto) and renewing their vows to remove any life struggles that

may hold them back from becoming enlightened.

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“In order to express deep veneration, a Buddhist may bow or prostrate before the image of the

Buddha, members of the Sangha and the masters of the Teaching.” (Buddhist Studies) Bowing

before an image helps the Buddhist overcome egoistic feelings and they become more ready to

listen to the Buddha’s teachings.

Many Jews wear a tallit, or prayer shawl, traditionally made of blue and white wool fea-

turing four tassels, one at each corner, and each containing a blue thread, which indicates obedi-

ence to a passage in Numbers 15:37-41. In it, Moses asks that the tallit be made and looked at,

specifically noting the number of tassels to include "so you will remember all the commands of

the Lord.” (Religious Use of Beads) Therefore, the four tassels include a total of 613 knots, hand

tied in a particular pattern, which represents the 613 commandments from God to the Israelites

found in the Torah. Some Jews also wear a head-covering known as a kippah or yarmulke. In Or-

thodox Judaism, only men over the age of 13 would do these things, but in Reform and some-

times in Conservative synagogues, some women choose to follow these practices as well.

For Jews throughout time and throughout the world, praying in Hebrew has been stressed

as being important; however the Talmud states that Jews are allowed to pray in any language that

you are able to understand. Hebrew was once considered a dead language, used only for tradi-

tional Jewish prayer, until 67 years ago, when it was decided to adopt Hebrew as the official lan-

guage of the state of Israel. It is now written, read and spoken fluently there and in a few other

places. A combination of Hebrew and the local language is used in many synagogues today.

For Buddhism, monks and scholars pray in a language called Pali, which is a language

that is also considered dead now. However, many of the chants and prayers have been translated

to make them more palatable to the “bookstore Buddhist” crowd.

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Both Jews and Buddhists use chanting and music to enhance their worship experience.

However, it would be unlikely that either one would be mistaken for the other, as each has its

own flavor which reflects the culture, history and beliefs from which each arose.

Buddhism uses chanting as a form of music, as well as instrumental music and dancing.

“Music can act as an offering to the Buddha, as a means of memorizing Buddhist texts, and as a

form of personal cultivation or meditation.” (Buddhism and Music) For Jews, music can be high

art or popular song, group participation or even solo music. There are multiple religions “that

sprang from Judaism” which “have all used music and chant as part of the experience of wor-

ship, and there is every reason to assume that this was influenced by the practice of the parent

religion.” (Rabbi Dr. Reuven Hammer)

When the Torah is read, there is chanting involved at times, applied by those who careful-

ly preserved what was written inside the Torah. There are also multiple modes for prayer itself,

each mode for a different day or holiday. These modes are called nusah, which “refers to the mu-

sical motifs that are utilized in various combinations when chanting the prayers.

The nusah sets a pattern for a particular service, much as a leitmotif does for a character in an

opera.” (Rabbi Dr. Reuven Hammer)

We have identified important ways in which Buddhism and Judaism differ in their beliefs

and therefore in their prayer traditions. In spite of those differences, we have discussed many

common practices when it comes to how and why their followers pray. In both Judaism and

Buddhism, prayer often becomes part of a decision-making process, a way of gaining insight and

understanding. Therefore, prayer becomes a very personal experience, as each individual finds

his or her own meaning through the practice of his or her religion.

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Likewise, communal prayer in both religions builds cohesiveness and a collective understanding

of the religion’s teachings. Together, individual and communal prayer in both Buddhism and Ju-

daism direct their followers toward practices that will improve their lives and the world at large.

Although Spring Hill College was not chosen by me, and only a few schools were looked

at, the size of the campus and how close it is to my home has been perfect. Being able to go

home with no issues was something I wanted to have the opportunity for, and only an hour away

made that possible. As SHC is a private college, and as I did not have the grades or test scores to

successfully get in, I was still granted the opportunity, but to continue being a student here I had

to prove myself to the school that I could do the work and pass the classes. This was stressful,

but I was able to do it and have been working hard at it ever since.

My first semester at Spring Hill College I did not have a known major set in my mind,

therefore I took classes that were required no matter what major I had. Several of these courses

were great to take for anyone, such as history classes as we can learn about how this world got to

where it is today. However, in my opinion, religion classes were very hard for me to be forced to

take as I am not very religious. To my surprise, I found out that years ago as a student at SHC,

students were not required to take religion if they were not Catholic. Coming to this school, I

honestly did not know what I was getting myself into, as far as the religious aspect. Some of the

religion classes I took, it almost felt that the professors were trying to convert the student, al-

though that was not one bit what they were trying to accomplish. Although the religion classes

were a good thing for any student, no matter what their religion, I wish they was not ‘required.’

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Understanding my struggles and issues as a student in middle school and high school

were good things to remember once college hit. However, I didn’t take advantage of what the

school had to offer. I can remember going into the tutoring office for the first time for a math

course I was taking. After I was done and I left the office, I felt even more confused than when I

first walked in. I didn’t fully take advantage of any type of tutoring service until my medical is-

sues hit me. This is when I signed up for student accommodations. Without this, several courses I

may still be taking to this day. Sadly, some teachers here, without accommodations, may not un-

derstand their students issues. Once I showed my teachers the form with my medical and ac-

commodations I would get, many of them showed support for me and worked with my one on

one. Many teachers, but not all. Yes, money is important, but working with the students to help

make sure they understand the material for the tests is far more important.

When I first arrived on the campus at Spring Hill College, I did not pay attention to any

types of qualifications the teachers may or may not have. However, as the years went on, I no-

ticed that some of the new teachers did not have the proper qualifications to be teaching at a col-

lege level. One teacher that was hired in 2013 never taught in his life. As he was teaching, he told

his class, that I was in, that he didn’t know how to properly teach, and was scared out of his mind

lecturing in front of us. Of course he told us, as time goes in he will get better, but this is not

what should have happened. A brand new teacher, never teaching ever in his life, is horrible to

bring into a college level academic environment.

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The career services office at Spring Hill College was outstanding, and they went beyond

my expectations to help me with my career during and after college. They explained what was

important to do in college, such as building a resume, setting up a LinkedIn account, and meeting

new people in my field that I am interested in. They provided notes with information such as

what to include or not to include on your resume, and they even setup resume workshop days for

you for them to review what you have done thus far. Without their support, I may not be where I

am today. Although I am still looking for a job for after college, I now know ways in which em-

ployers look for their employees, and what they expect from them after getting hired.

Here at Spring Hill College, academic support from my advisor and others has been out-

standing, and without them my stress level would have continued throughout each semester. I

would go visit my main advisor every Friday just to visit with her and talk about school, and

even just life in general. This got me out of the school talk and helped destress me, although I

knew I still had school assignments and tests to get ready for. Being stressed in any grade, let

alone college, is not good for the body. Going into a test very stressed may cause you to not do as

well on the test. With the support I received from the career services office, my advisor and oth-

ers were amazing, and I may not have passed all my classes if it wasn’t for them.

Overall, although there is good and bad at the same time, Spring Hill College has a great

staff of teachers, advisors and other campus support to get their students further and further each

year. Time goes on, and so do our lives. The staff understand that, therefore they have done as

much as they can to support me and teach me how to make my life the best it can be and more.

�20

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