Inclusive Excellence

Transcript

Now, let’s head over to the dance studio and meet up with Erin. She’s a first year honor student majoring in ballet and modern dance. She’s gonna share her story of her exceptional first year at TCU and the university’s ongoing work towards inclusive excellence. Erin, please take it away.

– Hi, everyone. I decided to come to TCU because of their amazing dance program. I visited the campus to audition for the school for classical and contemporary dance. And from the moment I stepped foot on campus, it felt like home. I was able to take class with some of the first year dance majors at the time, and everyone was so nice and welcoming, which immediately stood out to me. So far, my experience has been great. Coming from Georgia with no familiar faces, I was nervous to be in a new environment. However, I love how open everyone is to meet new people. And I never feel intimidated to make new friends because everyone is so inclusive and accepting. Whether you are relaxing in the lobby of your residence hall or standing in the line for a meal, there will always be someone willing to talk to you and make your day better from students to faculty and staff. I’ve had the privilege of co-starring in the Netflix original movie, Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square. It was such an honor to be able to dance, act, and see myself on the big screen. I hope to have many opportunities like that in the future. And I know TCU is a place to get me there. As an honor student, I’m so pleased with how engaging the classes are. The professors are so nice and they wanna communicate and get to know you on a personal level outside of class, which is great. This year, I had the opportunity to live in Milton Daniel Hall, the residence hall for honor students. The facility is gorgeous and it is such a comforting environment that encourages making connections with your peers while also placing a strong emphasis on academic excellence. One thing that I love about TCU is their efforts to make everyone feel welcome and included on campus. Bringing students from different countries and backgrounds together to find common ground, have a good time, and learn from one another is where TCU shines. There are events celebrating diverse voices and a diversity, equity, and inclusion course was added to the core curriculum. Students who wanna go deeper and broader can even major in areas like comparative race and ethnic studies or women and gender studies. Learning how to listen and discovering that we’re more alike than we are different is an intentional effort that TCU built into their student experience. You can’t leave this university without being better at understanding others’ perspectives. Lastly, because of TCU’s emphasis on student involvement, there’s a place for everyone. Overall, my first year at TCU has been great. I couldn’t have asked to be a part of a greater community than my Horned Frog family. That’s my story. Now, back to Alex.

– Erin, thank you for sharing your story. I love hearing about the welcoming campus culture and everything you’ve accomplished during your first year on campus. It’s truly incredible. Thanks again, Erin.