WRITING an advice column almost never comes easily. Avoiding clichés can become an impossible task. Perhaps most annoyingly, advice often follows the generic, "don't make the same mistakes I made." The problem with giving this type of advice is self-evident: Because we're all different, it would be ridiculous for me to allege that the right choice for me is necessarily the correct choice for somebody else. Further, as young adults, we're all entitled to make our fair share of mistakes -- growing up demands it. So, while personal reflection is worthwhile, it seems more appropriate in this forum to provide a glimpse into part of my experience at the University which I would, in fact, repeat if I had the chance to do it over again.
The students, faculty and staff at the University come from all over the nation and the world, combining to form an impressive talent pool and contributing to a degree of diversity that few other universities can match. But whether you are new to the University or returning, whether you are a graduate student, an incoming first year or a transfer, a professor of law or a dining hall employee, it is important to realize that you are part of a huge community -- one that extends beyond the Grounds of the University itself, one that transcends consideration of age, race, occupation or income. The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County are more than just a home to Mr. Jefferson's University -- they are also your home.
This might not appear to be the case at first. After all, relocating to a new place can be frightening. The reasons we wish to remain in our comfort zones are understandable. But all too often, we neglect to explore all that's available to us because this might take us away from people who have backgrounds or experiences similar to our own. Students tend to clump together -- undergraduates often have little contact with graduate students and professors outside of class or office hours. The faculty associate with each other but don't always extend the invitation to staff members who might not be directly involved in the University's teaching endeavor. Many of us confine ourselves to the Corner or Rugby Road, Alderman Library or first-year dorms, if only to be around others who are like us and understand us. What we often neglect to consider is that there are hundreds and thousands who, while not exactly "like" us, are interested in understanding us and open themselves up for us to do the same.
That, for me, is the magic of Charlottesville: the cultural and artistic diversity of the community coupled with a willingness to share it with others. And while we might be able to get a sense of this on a weekly visit to the Downtown Mall or by flipping through an issue of The Hook, many don't figure out their niche in the community until we've been here for a few years -- and by that time, graduation or career change might take us away from a community which we might have never fully integrated ourselves into.
There are tons of ways to go about making this community connection early in your Charlottesville experience, to remain not just a University student or affiliate, but to become instead a vibrant member of the community. Again, different methods work better for different people, but I promise that there's something out there for each of us. If you're an amateur musician, line up a gig at a local open-mic night or venue. Volunteer at an animal shelter or hospital. Take a job waiting tables or coaching little league. Tutor school-aged children or help out at the homeless shelter. Attend performances at LIVEArts, frequent the Downtown Mall or campaign for a local candidate. The great thing about Charlottesville is that it has something to offer in whatever area you're interested, whatever your background. Foder's didn't rank it the #1 city to live in the United States in 2004 for nothing.
And because University students, faculty and staff make up a larger proportion of the population of Charlottesville and Albemarle County than ever before, it's even more important that we pay attention and get involved in events happening off Grounds. Whatever you end up doing while you're at the University, make it something that has personal meaning for you. Connect with other community members, and push your boundaries. I can promise you that the results will be fruitful. It might require you to challenge yourself at first, but isn't that what Mr. Jefferson would have expected of us anyway?
Todd Rosenbaum is a Cavalier Daily columnist. He can be reached at trosenbaum@cavalierdaily.com.
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