StoryLines@Naz

  We visited the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama on the fourth day of our Civil Rights Heritage Retreat. The bridge itself is named after a Confederate general and state-level leader of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan. Situated on the west side of Selma, the bridge leads to the state capital of Montgomery. This location was the site of three protest marches held in 1965, first organized after police shot and killed Jimmie Lee Jackson, a young voting rights activist. The first march across the bridge on March 6 was led by Hosea Williams from SCLC, John Lewis from SNCC and approximately 600 other local activists. It was dubbed ‘bloody Sunday’ after Alabama Governor George Wallace approved the police to prevent the demonstration by any means necessary. That night, the event was televised across the nation to some 50 million viewers, gaining the Civil Rights Movement national attention. Two days later, Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr attempted to lead the protesters across the bridge,...

I am not a stranger to change. Some changes are small, and some changes catapult us into an entirely new trajectory. That is the kind of change I found myself making in 2020. Prior to the Covid 19 pandemic, I spent a decade working as an actor and singer. It was a career that I loved and one that defined me. When the pandemic hit and the world paused, I was forced to reevaluate my life and career. As much as I loved performing, something was missing. I knew I wanted to make a change. I was craving a career with a greater sense of purpose; one that allowed me to be of service to others. I found that in occupational therapy. Occupational therapy enables individuals with illness, injury, or disability to engage more fully in their lives and participate in their daily activities. Occupational therapists often create adaptations that help clients live life in a way that is meaningful to them and that brings a sense of autonomy back to their lives. What attracts me to occupational therapy i...

  Ignorance is an element that runs through our blood; a toxin that can be cured by the willingness of comprehension. Our strive for equality and ability to empathize with others, will become the components that make up our “saving grace” within the survivability of humanity. Though ignorance may feel as if it is unintentional, and when presenting some circumstances, it is. When knowledge is restricted, is when ignorance is accidental in such a context. So how do we learn the acts of assured sentiment and empathy through knowledge? By accepting. Simply put, the more we are exposed to the diverse realities among us, the more knowledge we gain, and the acceptance that follows, the better off we are for it. * * * I am new to Nazareth College, as I transferred from a “notable” university – the quotations will make sense later on – after only one semester. And the two experiences have been completely unique when compared to one another. When I was first accepted into said university (...

  As a new freshman theatre arts student, I want to be involved in as many projects at Nazareth as possible, especially ones within my department. So when I heard about a volunteer opportunity in collaboration with Nazareth's School of Health and Human Services, I jumped at it. Not only would I get to volunteer within my department, but I would get to meet people outside of my program. Once I showed interest in volunteering, they gave me details about the project: It was a medical simulation to give students (future physical therapists, etc.) more exposure to working with real-life patients. I would play 15-year-old Aiyanna who had just undergone knee surgery after a bad ski accident. I thought I would be perfect for the role, as I have a long history of knee pain, and when I was in seventh grade, I underwent surgery to try and correct it. This was a long time ago, but only recently did the chronic psychosomatic pain go away. Mostly. It had been a long journey, one that has been bo...

From my first day at Nazareth College, I noticed the commitment to service that the school promotes. I think there is a huge difference between sympathizing with an idea and taking action to make something abstract come to life. I always knew that everything I have is to share. It is not about something material, but about the possibility of giving time and support to people or causes that move our hearts. Therefore, I think it is important to share three learnings about what being a changemaker means to me. I'm an exchange student so I'll be leaving Nazareth in a couple of months, but I'm sure every single experience I've had will go home with me. I have been taking part as a volunteer in educational and leadership projects with children and youth in El Salvador for more than 8 years. Being far from your comfort zone is a challenge, but it's also an opportunity to build character, learn from different perspectives, and grow. I once heard that the best place to inv...

It was that time of the year again: course selection and registration. I often dread this stressful process, as it generally involves meticulous planning and coordination so as to enroll in courses that correspond with both my personal schedule and desire to take them in the first place. Last semester, however, as either an attempt to alleviate this stress, or simply as a decision made on a whim, I decided to try something new. As a third year student, I luckily have the privilege at this point in my academic career to be able to pursue courses and experiences that are not specifically required for my major but open to anyone who may be interested. This is precisely what I decided to do when selecting courses last semester, and the personal growth and new experiences that I have been a part of thus far have been incredibly eye-opening. This process of stepping out of my comfort zone and taking classes I wouldn’t typically consider engaging with, at first, felt a bit strange; especiall...

  I remember coming to Nazareth and being overwhelmed with all the available opportunities. There were flyers on almost every wall advertising different trips students could take. I love to travel, but I remember thinking to myself that I wasn’t going to participate in any of these experiences because it was my first semester, and I was still in the swing of college life and didn’t want any more stress to be put on me. I also have several years ahead of me and will have plenty of opportunities ahead of me to do so.  A life-changing experience: Abigail Goldberg is pictured first,  wearing a mint green shirt. I received an email in about mid-November from Jamie Fazio saying that my advisor saw me as a good candidate for a solidarity and social justice retreat with the list of the different retreats below. The fact that I got this email directly was a sign to get out of my comfort zone and seek new opportunities despite my hesitation. I found St. Francis Inn on the list. The...

Students, do you have a Changemaker experience to share? How are you advocating, collaborating, or persevering? How are you having impact, embracing inclusivity, exploring culture, and becoming more self aware? What problem do you see and how are you working on addressing it? How are you engaging as a changemaker in your communities?  Maybe you started a non-profit or maybe you went out of your way to help a neighbor. Did you volunteer your time, or perhaps you joined in a local protest? We seek to give voice to a wide range of experiences. We seek non-fiction stories that celebrate us. We invite your stories for a new online Naz storytelling effort!  Guidelines for submitting your narrative:  Your story needs to refer to experiences that occurred during your time as a Nazareth student, but it can have taken place anywhere.  All submitted work must be previously unpublished and original.  You can submit one story of 1,000 words or less.  Submit your story: ...