Author's note: This is a short article I wrote for the Broad Street Journal, Messiah College's Philadelphia Campus monthly publication.
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Messiah College should make a semester in Philadelphia a requirement for all students.
For someone who was born, raised, and lived in a city (Hanoi) for 18 years before flying across the globe to the village of Grantham for college, it sure feels great to be back in the city again. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the past two years of rural lifestyle; I love the tranquility, finals week's midnight scream notwithstanding, and the proximity to nature that Grantham campus offers. But deep down, I'm still a city boy, for better or worse.
But that's not the reason why I'm lobbying for a semester in Philly to be made mandatory.
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| Totally intentional... Photo taken in Philadelphia. |
As a lot of Messiah students who have studied at Philly campus can attest, Temple University is very diverse. And with diversity comes a wide array of backgrounds and personalities. I don't mean to criticize the Christ-centered atmosphere in Grantham, but when 99% of the student body share the same worldview, it's not exactly what you would call a hospitable environment for mixed opinions. Groupthink also becomes a problem in certain cases.
Other than the theories and skillset that help students get ready for future employment, one of the great things about college, and also one that often gets overlooked, is that it gives students the ability to think critically. This is not to say critical thinking is non-existent at Messiah. It's just that the very nature of a Christian institution will always hinder the possibility of critical thinking. Because there's simply no need for it. Why challenging your own faith when those around you are perfectly fine with it?
This is where a semester in Philly can come in handy. Being exposed to a variety of worldviews can not only help you think critically, it can also strengthen your faith. Temple is a secular school; so Messiah students will be around those who don't view Christ as part of their lives. But keep in mind that as a Messiah student, you still get to spend the majority of your time around other Messiah students, in the same building. Best of both worlds, right? You won't understand how wonderful it is to get exposed to different sets of worldviews until you experience it yourself. You'll grow a lot.
Been there done that.
I know it's not that simple; and I'm also aware that MCPC currently doesn't have the capacity to house a few hundred of students in one semester. But if and when such scenario becomes a possibility, I don't see why not.
Other than the theories and skillset that help students get ready for future employment, one of the great things about college, and also one that often gets overlooked, is that it gives students the ability to think critically. This is not to say critical thinking is non-existent at Messiah. It's just that the very nature of a Christian institution will always hinder the possibility of critical thinking. Because there's simply no need for it. Why challenging your own faith when those around you are perfectly fine with it?
This is where a semester in Philly can come in handy. Being exposed to a variety of worldviews can not only help you think critically, it can also strengthen your faith. Temple is a secular school; so Messiah students will be around those who don't view Christ as part of their lives. But keep in mind that as a Messiah student, you still get to spend the majority of your time around other Messiah students, in the same building. Best of both worlds, right? You won't understand how wonderful it is to get exposed to different sets of worldviews until you experience it yourself. You'll grow a lot.
Been there done that.
I know it's not that simple; and I'm also aware that MCPC currently doesn't have the capacity to house a few hundred of students in one semester. But if and when such scenario becomes a possibility, I don't see why not.
