Selah Vetter / Staff Writer
Students learned about creating a better future at Q Union at Samford University on Oct. 24.
Q Union is a conference broadcasted at hundreds of colleges across the nation. Hosted by Gabe Lyons, the conference combines professional and student speakers to cause students to question issues within their community and culture. Students gathered at Harry’s Coffeehouse to listen to the speakers and respond to the talks.
The national broadcast featured professional speakers. Malcolm Gladwell, an author and journalist, spoke on human trust. Rebekah Lyons, an author and speaker, gave practical steps on reducing daily anxiety. Francis Chan, an author and pastor, addressed how bigger is not always better.
Samford’s Office of Student Leadership created a panel of three students. These students spoke on creating communities and environments that promote thriving.
Senior Lauren Center talked on seeking people and peace. Center believes humans have hearts of war, not peace. She emphasized the idea that we often fight with each other for justification, not for a solution. This does not promote peace.
“Winning does not equal peace. True peace does not leave one person feeling victorious and one feeling small,” Center said.
Center suggests to start focusing on others more than yourself.
“What if instead of defending our attitudes we took a step back and asked how we made that person feel,” Center said.
Samford students know the Samford bubble is not just an idea, but a real problem. Senior Kenya Davis wants students to break the bubble. Davis spoke on defining true oneness.
Davis struggles with not fitting the social norm at Samford. As a young African American woman, Davis lives different experiences than most of her peers. She often feels unvalued due to her race.
“I’ve been used as a data base instead of a person,” Davis said.
While struggling with her identity, Davis learned that there are other students facing the same dilemma. Davis is not the only student who does not fit within the Samford bubble.
“In the middle there are a bunch of little bubbles who threaten our community,” Davis said.
Davis hopes students will learn not to conform to social standards, but to establish their own identity. She challenges students to go beyond their own little bubbles and to reach out to people who differ from themselves.
“Learn how to be contempt while being uncomfortable,” Davis said.
Senior John Booth wants students to start living in the present. Consumed by our history and anxiety for tomorrow, Booth emphasized that we often disregard the present.
“Time is a valuable currency. Our time is constantly being cashed in,” Booth said.
For a majority of his life, Booth wanted to play football at a Division I university. Injuries and complications prevented this. Booth spent years regretting not playing football the way he planned.
“I spent a sickening amount of time looking over my shoulder at my past,” Booth said.
Booth learned to be contempt with his present despite the different outcome.
“Our todays are indeed as their name implies: presents,” Booth said.
