Readership WT Selections: 2006 - 2009
Dino Griego
Staff Reporter
The Plans
Walking down the streets of Turkey, each student feels a sense of awe, wonder and excitement.
As they meet the family they’ll be staying with, another emotion sets in–doubt. How will they accomplish all of their goals? Are they ready both emotionally and physically? Is their capacity to understand the world around them already at its limit? Did their class adequately prepare them for the road ahead?
Without letting them falter, their leaders encourage them, allowing the students to believe in themselves and empowering them to see the scope of the world through a different lens.
The Ideas
The goal of Readership WTAMU is to help broaden horizons.
This year, the story revolves around Khaled Hosseini’s book “A Thousand Splendid Suns.”
This program, in its fifth year, helps introduce incoming freshmen under a broad theme.
As students begin acclimating into college life, the common reader unites people in the core curriculum to share an experience. To further the educational goals of the program, two years ago WT added a traveling component that took people across international waters.
With Elie Wisel’s “Night,” Readership ambassadors went to Poland and learned about the Holocaust, visited concentration camps and witnessed a small portion of an immense suffering.
Last year, Valentino Ding visited the WT campus and discussed the hardships of being a “lost boy.” After reading “What is the What” by Dave Eggers, the Readership ambassadors went to Africa and served. They did mission projects, built latrines, and taught about water sanitation, Malaria and AIDS prevention.
In “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Hosseni opens up a conversation dealing with the lack of women’s rights in Afghanistan. The students this year will literally be creating a movement by helping change the way a whole society views a specific demographic.
“I came up with this idea based off an experience I had as a student at WT,” Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, associate provost for academic affairs and director of Readership WT, said. “I went to New York City with some fellow students and dived into a completely different world. With that idea in mind, I wanted students to see a world beyond the Panhandle.”
The Hopes
The shock that awaits these new ambassadors will only widen as they realize the cultural barriers from Turkey and how they relate to America.
“I hope to contextualize the world for our new ambassadors,” Lowery-Hart, said. “I want these freshmen to notice that the big problems over there, are really big problems over here as well. We need to focus on the ‘big picture’ and see how it affects the smaller picture.”
While the importance of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” reaches all aspects of a typical American life, this trip will open up doors to engross themselves within the culture.
“Afghanistan is a vital part of national security,” Lower-Hart said. “We see this issue on the news everyday. Right now we’re debating whether or not to send more troops into Afghanistan. By going to a city where Afghan refugees reside, we will be able to understand the conflict in Afghanistan a little better. I find this to be a very important educational journey.”
The Experiences
As a Readership ambassador to Africa, Stayce Perez, sophomore nursing major, understands the impacts such a trip can have.
“I feel honored to be called a WT Readership Ambassador,” Perez said. “Africa will always be my trip, but I’m so excited that the new freshmen will be going to help fight for women’s rights. I’m even a little envious that they get to sleep in caves.”
In order to participate in the contest:
- Step one: Be a freshman.
- Step two: Write a 1000-1500 word essay describing how the book impacted you. Not a summary, but a response. How did this book relate to your life for example.
- Step three: Meet the deadline. The reflective essay must be turned in by Sept. 24
“If I had to tell this class one thing,” Perez said, “I would tell them to put one foot in front of the other and give it their all. When I sent in my paper, I had no idea I would go to Africa. Even if you doubt yourself, your abilities or your confidence, still go for it. You never know what will happen.”
The Goals
Ultimately what this trip comes down to is a personal development and finding a small part of you in a worldwide concept.
“I think these topics are worthy of a campus community,” Lowery-Hart said. “I want students to develop a solid responsibility to improve lives.
What is happening with women in Afghanistan has an effect of the lives here in Canyon. We need to see this culture because understanding is the first step to solving.”