Bursting our own bubble

By Lisa Moreno

Whether or not we want to admit it, as students at Santa Clara we share a common thread that admits us into the cultural bubble that exists on campus.

The secluded, safe environment and pristine living conditions that Santa Clara offers are two of the main selling points for prospective students and their parents. Yet, once a student enrolls, great lengths are taken to push him or her out of the supposed "Santa Clara bubble."

Based upon the Jesuit ideals of conscience, compassion and competence, the mission of the university is to "offer challenging academic programs and demonstrate a commitment to the development of undergraduate students who seek an education with a strong humanistic orientation in a primarily residential setting."

This bursting of the bubble comes in many forms, one of which is participation in the Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education and the Arrupe Partnerships for Community-Based Learning. Classes primarily within the College of Arts and Sciences require Arrupe participation as part of the course curriculum.

College is the quintessential time for personal discovery and growth, but as we find ourselves (theoretically), we can also find ourselves (literally) unwilling to venture outside our comfort zone.

I have a personal aversion to change, and, even if given the opportunity, there are few new and different things that I would explore or participate in willingly.

But, should it be the responsibility of the university to force students to become more socially conscious and worldly through Arrupe participation, even if the student begrudges the requirement and has his or her heart in the wrong place?

For my arts and sciences classes, I have completed two Arrupe placements. Though they provided an interesting glimpse into the broader community, I couldn't help but feel that they were more of an inconvenience rather than a learning experience.

As a student, it is difficult to appreciate anything that disrupts and adds to an already crazy schedule of classes, work, internships, extracurricular activities and homework.

Make no mistake, this is not a critique of policy or the mission of the university, and I understand the necessity for experiences that make us uncomfortable so we can grow and learn more about who we are.

But perhaps we could all be more willing to burst our own bubble, rather than leaving it up to the university to do for us. If we initiate our own learning about the community and the world around us, we will achieve greater rewards than if we had been forced to expand our horizons for a grade in a class.

Lisa Moreno is a senior communication major.