We are always meeting student leaders who are going the extra mile to make others feel welcome and build community culture on their campuses. We realized that one great way to learn from each other is to spotlight different students who have made an impact on the lives of their fellow students.
Meet Nicolas Spencer, a student at Adams State University. He’s a Psychology and Creative Writing major, the President of Psi Chi/Psychology Club, President of Pen and Inkwell, and Research Coordinator of the Psychology Department on campus. We asked him about when he first felt most involved and how he involves new students.
What was the first moment you felt you belonged at your school?
Adams State has an NCAA required course for athletes that is geared towards academic achievement. When I arrived at Adams, I had scored one of the lowest accuplacer scores (placement test) that semester. I am a non-traditional student with a fragmented educational background. I stepped into the academic achievement course hyped to be successful. I was so motivated and nervous to be there. In the class, we would frequently have class discussions on controversial topics. I really felt like I belonged following these discussions when a handful of students would approach me and ask the questions their parents did not like to answer. They embraced me and valued my uneducated opinion. I felt great.
Have you ever helped someone go from a neutral to more engaged?
I have! I haven’t been a “5” for much of my life, and from time to time I bounce back and forth. I have a tendency to find people who reflect my teenage youth and talk to them. I try to understand their thought process, even if for a few moments. I understand the importance of being heard and I respect the people who need listeners. I met a student just a few days ago who had his arms crossed and was unwilling to talk. He would nod and listen with a stern brow. After understanding his confusion with his future major, I talked to him. Slowly, he relaxed his arms and his brow. In this case, I believe he needed information, and not listening. I hope it helped.
What’s one time on your campus you went from a meh to hmm?
I’m a natural introvert who learned extroversion via the Air Force. I have a tendency to turn inwards and shut myself up. I have to work everyday to open up and be active with my community. In fact, the Dance Floor Theory presentation with Tom is a great example. I stepped into that banquet hall and thought, “Oh my gosh!” People were so hyped and I was barely peeling myself off the couch from the summer. I looked around and thought, “Better act like I wanna be here, or I’ll be called out.” So I went from a meh to hmm, and within a few short minutes of listening to Tom, I went all in. I saw the enthusiasm from around the room and next thing I knew, I was hugging countless people and breaking my barriers.
Have you ever thrown yourself into a situation and found yourself really enjoying it, like Nicolas?
