ur earliest experience of school began in the latter half of the 70s, but we were too young to recall anything other than being very upset to move into new territories and memorize alphabets. A better recollection of school began much later when we moved to middle school, senior school and college. Our teachers knew everything, because they did all the talking, while we listened with awe and silence. “Never talk when your elders are speaking” was what we were told, closely followed by “unless you are asked to speak.” In the process of waiting for our turn to speak, we grew up, but never realized that we too could talk, that we too had something valuable to say whether they agreed or disagreed. Our ideas and thoughts were either ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ — there wasn’t much room for a third possibility.
Coming to seminary in the US was an absolutely novel experience; to be honest, it frightened us in the beginning as the classrooms here were different. Learning was possible through active participation of both the teacher and the students. It was no longer a one-way method where the enlightened one transferred his/her knowledge to the rest; rather it was all-ways. In this system everyone had a voice, and each brought with them a richness that was unique from the other. We realized that just as much as we learned from our professors, we learned from our classmates as well. This learning was truly global for us.
We realized that just as much as we learned from our professors, we learned from our classmates as well.
This learning was truly global for us...
It also took us a while to figure out that the professors here did not voice their opinions. Initially it was rather unusual to leave the classroom without the teacher’s conclusive thought, but that was probably intentional because that led us to seek and explore. That was when we truly began to shift from our traditional learning style and advanced, as it stretched our minds, propelling us to seek, explore, be creative, and even make mistakes in the process of learning.
Thus studying at Moravian Theological Seminary not only advanced our academic learning but also widened our perception of the West and the world in general. This has made us global thinkers (we think), and this concept will continue to guide our thoughts, relationships and ministries in the years to come. Included in this learning is the love of books, which is quite rare in our culture, and for which we are ever grateful.
Just as graceful and welcoming as the academic systems of the Seminary were the staff, faculty and students. The anxiety of being in a new place was soon over, as they became our family who cared enough to stop and listen to us or to help us in our struggles even though they had enough on their plates. We have come to love and have developed a deep appreciation of this community that walked with us in this journey of learning and growing as we responded to God’s call in our lives.
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