I left my larger, private university last year knowing I wanted a change of environment, but having no idea this would bring me to OBU. When I stepped onto campus, everyone kept telling me about the community I’d find here and that there was no other place like it. Now, two months later, I can confidently say there is something special about this place. After being at another school and transferring, I am even more appreciative of the support found here; something I felt I was lacking before. From an outside eye, I think much of the community at Ouachita can be attributed to a foundation of respect. In fact, the handbook specifically states two of the values that distinguish OBU as being: Respect for scholarship, creativity and achievement by fellow students and faculty members and Respect for the rights, feelings, and property of others.
At my old school it had become the norm to receive an email at least once a week about a stolen laptop, money or other personal belongings. I could now leave my dorm room unlocked and leave my phone and wallet on a table in the caf without worry.
Before, I was at a school with students of incredibly high levels of intellect and scholarship, yet they were all seemingly weary of helping one another in a fear of losing an advantage in a class or for an internship. Now, I have become more engaged with my classmates in an environment that fosters success through cooperation not competition. I even have a suitemate who stayed up until 2am helping me study for a test when she wasn’t even in the class and multiple classmates offering me notes when I was out sick one day.
I was at a place where people only wanted to be friends with those who looked like them, acted like them, and thought like them. Now I’m surrounded by peers of all ethnicities, backgrounds, and races who tolerate and accept each other’s differences.
I came from a place where many of the “relationships” were based purely on sex and news would quickly spread across campus about who “hooked up” with whom over the weekend. Now, I’m at a place where guys and girls hold each other in a higher regard. Healthy, faith-based relationships are promoted and celebrated. Whispers around campus come from who was dropped or became engaged.
I came from a school where professors could be distant and hard to reach, and I often felt as though I was being a disturbance when looking to them for help. Now I have professors who encourage me and express genuine concern for my well being and success as a student and an individual. I have professors who are willing to stay late into the night to help me study and professors who pray over our class before big exams.
Before I came to Ouachita, I had a school, but now, based on a community of respect, I have a home.
