Telling Our Stories: Perspectives on Topics of Global Interest
Introducing a new global conversation series, a collaboration between the Educational Studies Department and the Global Learning Center
Everyone has a story to tell—all of us have had engaging and educational experiences that shape who we are and the lives we lead. When students come from around the world to attend Seton Hall, they often recognize great differences as well as commonalities. Communicating these differences is an important part of expanding horizons. Telling our stories enables us to learn from each other and discover new perspectives while recognizing shared experiences.
Who Can Tell Their Story?
Are you an international student? First-gen in your family to attend college? Are you a nontraditional student, returning from the work force to earn a degree, or a traditional student with experiences you’d like to share? What experiences have had a strong influence on the course of your life so far—where would you be if things had been different? What would you change if you could, or not change? These are just a few of the many possible stories we invite you to share with other students. There are no limits to what can engage an audience.
How Does It Work?
The goal of the project is to have once-a-month sharing sessions with a speaker or a topic to address. Such topics might include:
- Sharing your history
- Sharing what you’d like others to know of your country/culture
- Examining how disability is defined and addressed in various countries
- The roles of women in other countries/cultures
- Education and schooling around the world
- War/peace perspectives
- How diversity is defined and addressed
- Family structure
- Migration – movement, travelling
- Recognizing commonalities
Speakers would tell their story for about 20-30 minutes and then the audience would engage in a Question and Answer session and general discussion.
Speakers would be invited to post their stories (written or video) on the website; anyone who doesn't wish to speak publicly would still be welcome to share their story in a written or video format.