In today’s fast-paced and evolving world, there is a variety of subjects about which people are caring to discuss and put out their thoughts, especially on a college campus. However, it is not all that take part in these hot arguments. Sometimes, it’s anxiety or the fear of being disagreed with that could be the reason not to be speaking out. A very primitive example is to actually raise your hand to say something in class — 48 percent of students restrict themselves because another student might judge them.
Knowing myself, nine out of 10 times, if I need to ask or talk about something with my professor, I still choose to hang around after the lecture is over, rather than say what I need to in the classroom. This doesn’t seem to be the best of practices, as I realize, but starting small can go a long way; there are several places on campus to start allowing yourself to be heard. This can help you create an appropriate atmosphere at college to best serve your needs.
As I read in a recent Technician news article, the African American Cultural Center (AACC) holds a weekly discussion on Friday afternoons called What’s on the Table. It’s an informal environment that gives NC State students a chance to express themselves and get across their points of view regarding different issues.
I think programs like these are a great platform for people to analyze what they feel about something and bring it up in the presence of other individuals who may or may not agree. However, the AACC strives to maintain a safe and judgement-free zone while this event is being held, which makes students feel welcome to share their thoughts.
In the article, a student mentioned that the most important thing they liked about What’s on the Table was the fact that all the participants, including the organizers, were usually quite vulnerable. This allowed other people to be comfortable enough to open up and trust their peers. Being vulnerable enables us to trust, and that’s exactly what What’s on the Table is going for — a place where you can express yourself and trust that you will be heard, and not ridiculed.
A similar event I read about, called Feminist Fridays, is held in Talley Student Union. Hosted by the Women’s Center, this event is a student-facilitated discussion about a wide range of topics related to equity across cultures. Topics such as body positivity, cultural relativism and gender gaps in the workforce are among the many that are spoken about. Fri Momin, the student programmer for the Women’s Center mentioned that the program isn’t just for women, but for anyone and everyone to come forth and give their inputs on feminism.
The idea of feminism is gaining quite a lot of social consideration, and there are many who are passionate about various aspects about it, so this is an engaging way to interact and share your thoughts. Another student stated that the Women’s Center created a friendly and supportive environment, and so it’s also an educational way to meet new people and make friends.
This semester, I needed to enroll in a course called College Student Development (ECD 220) as a part of my requirements to become a Resident Advisor on campus. This course, along with my responsibilities as an RA, has forced me to get out of my shell and reach out to people. Taking on courses and positions that push you to express your thoughts in public can help develop communication skills for your future career. Although being introverted is an inherent personality trait, it’s important to be able to articulate opinions, especially at work.
NC State has been encouraging self-expression since the 1960s, when the University promoted the Free Expression Tunnel on Main Campus as a place for students to spray-paint graffiti on its walls. This was a concept that intrigued and fascinated me in my freshman year, since there was something new to look at every single day. Students spray-paint opinions, promote events, support organizations or just leave their mark. Though this permission was an attempt to cut down on illegal graffiti around campus, it’s being used for many forms of artwork today.
I will also mention that writing for the Opinion section in Technician has helped me by giving me an opportunity to voice my thoughts — this platform had been beneficial for me by stimulating personal growth. I didn’t even realize there were ideas I had an opinion about until I started looking up different sides of stories, analyzing them and writing about them.
Self-expression can be unfamiliar and scary; I have always found it difficult to put forth what I think due to the constant anxiety of self-doubt and second-guessing. However, my time at college so far has given me experiences that have opened my eyes to the knowledge that learning is not impossible. I still feel weird about raising my hand in class, but then I remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. With time and the right resources, self-expression and communication can enhance your life with opportunities to give and receive insight.
