Celebration, Not Discrimination!

The Origin of Diversity

There are theories to how diversity and differences within man came about. The Bible says that God scattered a homogeneous people throughout the Earth after the people endeavored to build a great tower. 

"Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language... So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the Earth." (Genesis 11:7-8)

Modern evolutionists pose the theory of "Out of Africa." This theories "genesis" was posed in Charles Darwin's Descent of Man. 

This theory states that anatomically modern humans evolved within the confines of Africa and then spread through the rest of the world. Under this theory humans would split into different groups and be exposed to different environmental pressures and would therefore accumulate changes that would set groups of humans apart. 

Despite all the theories and debates over the origin of human diversity, I believe that it matters very little in a non-research context.

Discrimination

So many conflicts arise that are based on the differences within mankind. So much pain  and horror is caused by discrimination. Everything from enslavement to the Travon Martin Shooting to the Holocaust have been caused by hatred, fear, and discrimination. 

What is gained by discriminating? Nothing. 

Celebration

What can be gained by the destruction of discrimination? Many things. Including a more unified world.

"Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them." (Genesis 11: 6) 

The Bible says it well. If the people are united "Nothing...will be withheld from them." 

Though the human race can never realistically hope to have a common language (other than math), if we can tear down the walls that separate us (that is discrimination and fear) we can learn so much from one another. So much more would be possible and many ills would be averted. 

If diversity is celebrated and discrimination abated. Th world becomes a better place. 

A Place to Lay My Head (and the money that'll get me there)

When planning for my housing for next year there are several issues and considerations I have to make.

1) I'd like a better place to sleep.

I love living here in Sundy, it's been a true privilege to live in my own room so closely associated with great people like my suite mates (Kevin, Bryce, and Dalton); however, I think that it would be nice to live outside of the dorms. It can get noisy and busy around here at odd hours of the night which means that I have issues sleeping (and maintaining a regular sleep schedule).

2) Money

The biggest concern for me is the money involved in housing. For a while I was thinking of living in town (and outside of Drury housing); however, I am not sure that I actually can do that. Apparently, a person must be at least 21 or have a FAFSA report that indicates they are allowed to do so. I don't think that my FAFSA would allow me to live off campus.

My Options

My first choice in housing to hopefully to stay off campus with a group of guys that I met here at Drury. If that doesn't pan out I"ll hopefully end up in University sweets with my current suite mate (Kevin) and a couple of guys to be predetermined. And if that doesn't pan out, I'll probably attempt to stay here in Sundy.

Financial Aid

Though I have money issues, I wouldn't be here at all  if it weren't for my Trustee Scholarship I received from Drury. The scholarship actually allowed me to come to Drury, otherwise I couldn't have came up with the student loans to be here.

Meaningful Involvement

Entering Drury, I felt that it was important that I be involved with individuals with similar interests; therefore, I applied (and was obviously accepted) to join the pre-health Living Learning Community. Though my desired vocation (i.e. coaching) is not one that most would associate with health services, it is a health related service, and at a higher level my vocation will require knowledge similar a doctor's (i.e. the desired vocation of almost every other student in my LLC). This is important because it means I am involved with those that will be taking similar classes and think in ways similar to myself. 

I spend a lot of my time cooking for a large number of students, to be precise, every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock. In other words I am a student worker here at Drury. I work at the Findley Student Center commons; for the most part I'm the guy who grills in the evenings. Surprisingly enough, this is a great job to  meet people. I have actually made several contacts working there; I even met an individual that I might share an apartment with next year. 

Lately, I've found that I have a keen interest for chemistry (mostly due to a certain excitable chemistry professor) and because of this I am contemplating a chemistry minor and joining Drury's American Chemical Society. Joining the society would give me access to information about the professions in chemistry and give me opportunities to inspire the next generation of scientists; their informational site on Drury.edu states, "Our regular activities include magic shows for elementary school children. We believe that fascinated and intrigued children are likely to pursue higher ends." 

Getting involved is a process. One that I am going about in a controlled manner. I will only ever be involved in the things I am genuinely interested in (baring someone twisting my arm); therefore, in everything that I do I put my full attention or all my effort into, because that's what I do, only the meaningful things.

P.S. I am going to a ACS (American Chemist Society) meeting tomorrow.