Cannot or will not? Ilya Winham ’03 says he cannot trace the long, twisted road back to the source of such an unfair state of affairs-the state of affairs that privileges him on the basis of his nationality, gender and race. It sure is a twisted road, but it’s not as difficult to trace as he imagines. He’s on it. I don’t think any of us need to be pointed to any formulae or tight definitions of privilege. We simply need to look at where we stand (I love that book by bell hooks!). {more}

I have found myself paging through the Macalester Course Catalog several times recently. Although I am only a first-year, I feel pressure from various people to give a definite answer when they ask me, “What are you going to major in?” I am careful to avoid the question with people who try to make small talk with me so that they won’t give me a look that says, “So you’re one of those undecided vegetarian liberal arts kids who plans to join the Peace Corps and start an organic farm with other hippies.” I want to give them a firm answer to the question for their approval and my personal sense of security about the future.

There is a song that runs through my head when I think about what I should pursue. The lyrics are: “Where your greatest source joy/Intersects with the needs of the world/Go and find that place/And hear your calling at the Crossroads.” These words comfort me by showing that my vocation after college should be something that I love to do and remind me what the focus of my work should be. Our calling “intersects with the needs of the world,” not just our own “needs” of a large salary. What makes our career decisions so difficult are the numerous issues that draw our time and attention. {more}