18 February 2019: "I told them, 'I need you all. I need help.'" --Jasmine, a student on Shepherd's Multicultural Leadership Team, talking about how, in the aftermath of a tough incident, she reached out for help and support from the rest of the team.
Someone in one of the dorms on campus left racist notes on the door of an R.A. who is biracial. Jasmine, who talked about the incident today in her interview to be on the Team next year, is friends with the R.A. and immediately reached out to her, providing love and support. But then she needed support because it upset her so much. So she reached out to the Team, who swung into action. They are taking care of each other and the victim, planning how to respond, having important conversations.
As Jasmine explained all of this, I turned to the graduate student who oversees the team. "What a great tribute to what you all have built," I said. She nodded, saying, "They're a family."
The incident itself is depressing and upsetting, but the aftermath and the way these students shined? Amazing.
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