Mark Trumbo Reflection

Having participated in this program last semester, I was both excited and hesitant to return. I was excited because of all the great people I met and valuable things I learned; but I was hesitant because I didn’t know what to expect out of another seven sessions. Last semester’s program taught me to self-reflect on my past to help guide my future, but this semester helped me to guide my future or at least try to plan for it.

One of my first big A-Ha moments in this program was with Mark Trumbo. Taking the time to write out people, places, things, and memories I couldn’t live without along with goals I have for my life, showed me what is truly important. I think it is common for people to never take the time to write down what is actually driving them to accomplish things in life. By writing these things down I was shown what I really value and what is not as

Brian Konkol, the dean of Hendricks Chapel, I have to admit I was slightly concerned. I had heard many reverends, chaplains, priests, etc. speak and they all tied what they said back to religion, which made me uncomfortable. After his talk I reached out to Dean Konkol to thank him; not only was his speech inspiring and relevant, but it was also the first time I had heard someone who worked within a religious practice speak, and not force religion onto the crowd. What Dean Konkol said about the concept of a “global village” stuck with me; I think, especially in American culture, we tend to not look outside our own communities, which is an awful way to live. This talk opened my mind to think how I was interconnected with all the people, places, and things I don’t know or have never seen but exist on this earth. In my meditation practice we utilize a concept called “Love and Kindness”. In this practice we send love and kindness to those we know and those we don’t, sending out good energy across the world in an attempt to create those connections we otherwise