6,000th SSTer celebrated By Jason Rhodes GC continued celebrating the 30th year of the Study-Service Term (SST) program Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 7:15 a.m. with a special convocation/send-off titled, "The Feeding of the 6000." Instead of fish and loaves of bread, however, friends and family who were there to show support for SSTers on their way to Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic were provided with juice, rolls, and coffee. Those attending the convocation also witnessed the selection of the 6000th student to be sent on SST. Director of International Education Wilbur Birky and visiting Professor of Spanish Humberto Pérez drew sophomore Sophie Histand's name from a hat that Birky had purchased in China, another SST location. Pérez was present because of his involvement in SST as a native Costa Rican and informal advisor to SST leaders in Costa Rica. Birky began the convocation with a welcoming of students, family and friends. Provost John Yordy followed with a quote from the ancient philosopher Diogenes, who when asked where he came from, replied, "I am a citizen of the world." Yordy applied Diogenes' statement to the role SST has played in the education of students, faculty, staff and alumni of GC. "Because of Study-Service Term, we can also say we come from all places," he said. "Once one has made an extended sojourn into another landscape, another family, another language, another culture, one never comes only from one place again." Yordy gave way to Ruth Gunden, former director of international education, who related the experiences of Alan Hochstetler (GC '64) who went to Vietnam in the late 1950's. In reflecting upon his time in Vietnam, Hochstetler said, "An important part of the educational process is being exposed to and aware of the many different cultures in the world around us. I learned that the development of mutual trust and understanding comes from living and learning with the people of that place and becoming fluent in their language." Through these examples, Gunden illustrated how the experiences of GC students abroad created the framework out of which SST was born. Gunden then introduced Arlin Hunsberger, former director of international education, who played an instrumental role in developing the idea of SST and making it an effective and attractive tool for international education. Hunsberger spoke about the early stages of SST and related a conversation he had with a minister of government in Haiti. The conversation highlighted the importance of the fact that host countries appreciate SSTers and are more excited about what they can give to SST students than what they can receive. Yordy then gave the convocation address which continued on the theme of world citizenship and drew parallels between the SST program and the story of the feeding of the 5,000, as relayed in Mark 6: 30-44. "Being forced to solve our own problems prepares us for the miracle of new ways of knowing. In the story, the day grew late and the disciples wanted to send the people away, but Jesus told them, 'You give them something to eat, you solve this problem.' On SST, we learn to improvise, we learn to think outside the boundaries of past solutions of problems, and we learn to become flexible. We become more open to knowing the meaning and value of life," Yordy said. Campus minister Sylvia Shirk Charles wrapped up the ceremony by asking everyone to arrange themselves in a circle and conducting a community blessing and prayer. Those involved felt the ceremony was a success. Gunden said, "I thought Wednesday was a powerful send-off for the SSTers, their families, friends and all of us." Yordy felt the meaningful blessing should be repeated in the future. "I especially appreciated Sylvia's participation," said Yordy. "Getting everyone in a circle, and praying for the SSTers as they left was a moving experience." The title of the convocation also proved to be fitting. The small miracle achieved last Wednesday was in the numbers, according to Birky. "[6000] is a large number that sort of calls attention to itself, actually an accidental achievement in the middle of the year in which we celebrate 30 years of SST," said Birky. "One thing I didn't say at the event, actually we barely made it, in that the 41 students we sent out that morning made exactly 6000 students,' he added. |