1.

The idea of diversity completely permeates scripture, and this fact must infuence our views
and ideology as Christians of how we need to interact with the world around us. Unity through
diversity is seen in everything from the Trinity to the myriad of difference existing in the
natural world. The Bible tells of God's desire to redeem people of every tribe, tongue, and
nation to Himself. Since believers are called to refect the nature of Christ in everything we do,
we need to pursue God's call to diversity right where we are in the present. This is probably
the biggest impactor on my views about diversity at Wheaton we're a very white campus,
but diversity in culture and race does exist, and exists vibrantly. It's so important to hear
about and explore the experiences of our brothers and sisters who have experiences and
stories that are different from our own. Doing so makes us more well-rounded people and helps
us see a clearer picture of who God is and what He is doing through us.
2. When I came to Wheaton, I didn't have very clear or developed views on diversity. If anything, I
just sort of assumed that everyone is ultimately the same on the inside regardless of what
color their skin is, and that being colorblind is the best way to be fair and treat everyone as
equals to ourselves. While I was at the clubs and activities fair at the very beginning of my
freshman year, Alaina Berg, last year's chairperson of Solidarity Cabinet, started a conversation
with me about diversity and how Christians should respond to the systemic prejudice and
racism that exists in our society, and since then I have been hashing out my views on this issue
through dialogue with other students and faculty members. My time at Wheaton has defnitely
infuenced my views on this topic, and while I am still learning, there is a clarity that now exists
in my mind regarding my role in pursuing the glory of God through diversity in all aspects of my
life. This is exciting, and while it's actually a little diffcult to quantify the tangible ways I have
been affected by this relatively new understanding I've come to, it is something worth
proactively pursuing and working out in real life.
3. Living with a culturally diverse group of brothers and sisters in Christ is a very attractive
premise to me. I want to gain a deeper understanding of the cultures the people living in the
Shalom Community there's only so much one can learn from conversation, living with and
alongside of someone else is the best way to truly get them. Furthermore, I want to invest
myself in something I feel to be worthwhile. Having the chance to contribute to a community
of intentional, like-minded individuals seeking to come to an understanding of each other and
use what we learn about other people to make a measurable impact in the world around us is
something I want to be a part of. This might be the only time in my life I have the opportunity
to do something like this, depending on what ends up happening after graduation. Not knowing
all the people I would be living with is a potential concern, but is also a reason to be excited (at
least for me). Nobody in my close group of friends/potential roommates is applying for the
Shalom Community, so it would be interesting to see how those relationships develop, but I
trust that any true friendships will continue regardless of living situation. I feel called to be an
agent of change, and living in the Shalom Community will help me fgure out what that actually
looks like.
4. I work at Wheaton Phonathon as a team captain and caller, and will very likely continue my
involvement in music ministry in some form next year (I currently play bass for the sophomore
class worship band and help lead worship for College Group at College Church).