When you enter the Interfaith Center you might be taken aback by the vastness of the chapel, the
\nway the walls feel like they are floating, or you might find yourself feeling calm, swaddled in the
\nwarmth of sunlight and quiet of the space. For everyone on campus, I can imagine the Interfaith
\nCenter takes on a different form and meaning, molding to their needs. But for me, the Interfaith
\nCenter has become a safe space on campus. The place where I feel most at peace and
\ncomfortable in my skin.
\nWhen I began working at the Interfaith Center three years ago, I was a little freshman in a new,
\nintimidating environment. I was desperately searching for a place I felt I belonged. In my first
\nyear working there, I befriended several of my co-workers, mostly seniors who were fountains of
\nwisdom when it came to what classes I should take and which professors to avoid. Alongside my
\nother, younger docents, I didn\u2019t feel so alone in braving the waves of college. And, I began to
\ngrow.
\nRaised in mostly the Jewish faith tradition, I didn\u2019t have much experience with other religions
\nand spiritual practices, but as I continued to work at the Interfaith Center I learned and allowed
\nevery bit of information to soak in. In setting for Jumu\u2019ah prayers I learned about Islam, working
\nduring Ash Wednesday taught me about Catholicism, and being present during the unveiling of a
\nnew sculptural showcase taught me about Sikhism. Every day was built on the understanding
\nthat there is so much outside of my individual worldview.
\nWhen returning to campus after quarantine, I was met with lots of anxiety and fear. After almost
\na year and a half away, I didn\u2019t have many friends and felt out of place on a campus where I was
\nnow an upperclassman. But in returning to the Interfaith Center, I found not only a welcoming
\nspace but a wonderful community.
\nIn the offices of the Interfaith Center, chaplains, staff, and docents go about their days setting for
\nservices and maintaining the building. We work so that everyone who comes and goes through
\nthose doors feels welcome, and simultaneously, I began to feel welcome too. Some of my
\nfavorite moments at Chapman have taken place within those walls. From speaking about Judaism
\nwith Rabbi Corie Yutkin to laughing with my fellow docents behind the front desk. From
\nlearning about the St. John\u2019s Bible with Reverend Nancy Brink to speaking about identity with
\nDr. Jay Kumar, each of these experiences has allowed me to grow into the person I am today.
\nCollege, as many have noted, is a breeding ground for change. These four years mold and shape
\nyou until your campus spits you out into the world as a fully formed person. Yes, my classes and
\nprofessors have taught me invaluable lessons. But who broadened my worldview? Who
\ningrained in me a love of diversity and understanding? Who taught me that there is beauty in
\nsitting beside someone unlike yourself and having a conversation? I suppose I have the Interfaith
\nCenter to thank for that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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