Editor’s note: The following is the text of the Convocation address delivered to the incoming Class of 2016 on Aug. 19, 2012. a elCo eMw and a Challenge A challenge to the Class of 2016 to use their “sociological imagination” By dr. Matisa wilbon i aM froM eastern Kentucky, from a from Eastern Kentucky, I knew my experi- small town called Hazard. Hazard is neatly ence would probably be different when I nestled in the heart of the Appalachian found out my roommate would be a woman Mountains. As I was growing up, there who was born in Sierra Leone and raised was to me something warm and endearing in England. She told me her mother was a about my community. The city is primarily Sierra Leonean expatriate. At that time, I made up of about five families. If you had didn’t even know what an expatriate was one of those last names, everyone knew of – but it sounded important. you because they knew your family. What I did know when I got to campus, So growing up, I was quite comfort- however, is what I wanted to “do.” I was go- able in my family-like community. I felt a ing to be an attorney. You see, I loved the sense of belonging. Seemingly, we were all drama, the discourse. And I loved the fact alike, and that suited us just fine. In fact, that I would be able to argue for a living – our community was so tight-knit that we you know, all of that cool TV stuff. But as the area or look with a curious gaze if some- We challenge point in your tenure, I switched my major.some of you will likely experience at some would stare when an unfamiliar car was in one “unknown” was in the local Wal-Mart you to both You see, I took one class while in col- Yes, that was our little community. I can look within and thinking and charted my life trajectory.lege that changed my world, challenged my (the closest thing to a mall that we had). I had lived a somewhat comfortable, safe, outside yourself, class was called “The African AmericanI remember it like it was yesterday. The say by the time I left home when I was 18, and – as I think back now – I would say a to embrace “the in Society.” It was a sociology class. Now, sheltered life. But thank God for college. I had no clue what sociology was. I took If I close my eyes long enough I can feel other,” and to the class for two very important reasons: myself sitting just as you are. Like many of go confidently 1) The title sounded good, and 2) All of with no idea what my experience would be in the direction superficial reasons for taking the class, itmy friends were taking it. Despite these you, I was a first-generation college student and boy was I nervous! As that young girl of your dreams. experience that I learned to think morewas during that crucial period of my college like. I was excited, exhilarated, anxious, 40 BellarMine Magazine
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