So I'm at work right now. I got a job and this computer lab really close to my dorm, and I basically do nothing. Pretty sweet...get paid for really doing nothing and I get free printing.
Let's talk about...challenges.
I think one thing that I don't like about AAIV is how much they baby their freshmen. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about getting to know the freshmen and stuff, but not letting freshmen on leadership? Fresh-fridays being really the only thing that they can do to feel like they are doing something for part of the fellowship? When I was a freshman I didn't have an urgency or the will to really do anything for AAIV. I felt as if I didn't need to, that that was the role of an upperclassmen.
Sure. Many freshmen (including me when I was on), really should have spent more time getting to know my fellowship. But for the ones who are comfortable after Focus ends, who considers AAIV their home...it's time to go back out. Freshmen year is such a key time to getting to know people, I wouldn't want those opportunities to fade just because people don't feel like it's their duty.
I don't know what it'd look like, honestly. I remember talking to Cathy my ...senior year? And she was telling me how her fellowship believes that putting freshmen on leadership will help them get acquainted more. I don't doubt it. CSA, TASC, KASA...fraternities, sororities all take in freshmen and put them into leadership roles, why not AAIV? Not saying that we have to be like them, but I'm just saying the freshmen aren't silly underclass who are just looking to have fun. Placing people in roles makes them feel like they truly belong, they have a purpose in that group, rather than just simply going on Friday's.
Alternatively, placing freshmen in leadership roles can be very discouraging to non-Christians. It's a way of (unintentionally) stratifying the class and causes people to think that they are "behind" on the whole religion thing, putting a lot of pressure on them concerning an activity they are not necessarily committed to, but rather are simply checking out.
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of pros and cons on both sides, though...ultimately it depends on the fellowship's mission and whether they can afford to have freshmen not serving. It frustrates me too, but also puts in perspective the reason why I go, humbles me when I see others serving who are so much more competent than I, and motivates me to work on developing peer relationships and growing my understanding of God in the meantime.
Let's talk sometime!
True. Very true.
ReplyDeleteI just don't like constant message of "babying the freshmen." Like everyone gets year off. I don't know. I think I just didn't like getting babied when I was a freshman.