The Beginning

Some things you just know. And this was one of those things.

---

Orientation started with some bonding activities (that I missed) and then we had our first "Community Meeting." Honestly the whole experience felt eerily similar to NewTech's pedagogy, but the most poignant moment for me came when we split up into our residence groups and began talking about our "shared values."

There were students from literally all over the world. They came from Ukraine, Brazil, Vietnam, Slovakia, Denmark, India, Bangladesh, China, and I could go on. All of us sat on the floor of this big art studio in a circle-esque shape. Slowly, one by one, we began talking about things like respect, and communication, and compassion- the general things.

But as time passed we ventured into a curious territory. One kid mentioned that we should all be empathetic and openminded towards understanding all of these other diverse cultures that we've been thrown into. Another said it was fine to learn knew things but we shouldn't lose our own culture and identity in the process. And yet another pointed out that we are all here together, and no matter our differences, some fundamental part of us is the same. And that little piece is what brought us together- to Minerva.

The conversation wasn't mind boggling or earth shattering, but as each student spoke, I could see that little spark of something in them. Somehow they all have very distinct and different personalities, but that same aching for exploration, or as I used to say in highschool, a yearnin' for learnin'.

It was inspiring, to say the least.

Even all the staff have their own little nuggets of quirkiness that not only made me excited to get to know them, but it made me excited to learn from them. How to be a human, and furthermore, how to be a good human is what they want to teach us, and nothing ever sounded more important or challenging.

Our community values are what define us. They are what push us to treat not only others, but yourself with respect.

Minerva. A place of "unconditional belonging" they said.

I'm ready. Let's begin.