First, I believe that it is short-sighted to consider that the only way in which we can learn from one another is through debates about Machiavelli or Aristotle. Similarly, I do not think that the intellectual capacity of my fellow students can be directly correlated to the time they spend in the library. For me, the conversations through which I am the most challenged and enlightened are those outside of any academic context. These are conversations where a friend or an acquaintance's personal background, plight, family or outlook on life proves to be different from that of my own. When initiative is taken to explore the College's diversity, Amherst offers unlimited opportunities for growth and intellectual stimulation.
Just this week I sat down to dinner with a group of girlfriends and, granted, our conversations included chatter about boyfriends and new purses, but other important aspects of our lives were revealed. I learned about the religious background of my friends and how that aspect of their lives has influenced their decisions. I learned about our diverse experiences in private schools versus those in public schools, and I learned that I still had much to receive from interacting and connecting with these people. I do not pretend to know the subject matter that other students focus on in their personal debates and reflections, but I, for one, continue to be impressed on a daily basis by the unique perspectives of Amherst students that are constantly revealed through our relationships with one another.
Thus it has become apparent to me that my education here at the College is twofold. I have the privilege of being exposed to a challenging academic environment, in which reading, classroom discussions, and the leadership of professors provide me with an unparalleled education. However, I have become enamored with Amherst not only because of my classes and their ability to engage me in new forms of thought, but because of the laid-back nature of its students, who have the rare ability to fuse intellectualism with humor, spontaneity and humility. This is a unique capacity that I do not think could be found in a more typically homogeneous elite institution.
I believe that criticism is a healthy and necessary element to membership in an institution, but I challenge my fellow learners to broaden the scope upon which we are judging the intellectual capacity of our peers, and I hope that through such an expanded lens the truly outstanding Amherst students that I have come to know will emerge.
Tanika is a first-year. Emails will reach her at tvigil10@amherst.edu.