Senior attends Notre Dame Leadership Seminar

by Haley Harris '19

This summer, Haley Harris earned admission and scholarship to University of Notre Dame's 2018 Leadership Seminars program in American Arts, Popular Culture and Social Change. 
Over the summer, I was given the extraordinary opportunity to attend a Notre Dame Leadership Seminar. There were three different seminars offered, and I was lucky enough to be accepted into the one that focused on American popular culture and social change--a theme that fit me perfectly. The class that I took opened my eyes and thinking as it delved into an exploration of topics including freedom songs and Act Up (AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power). I examined and studied popular cultural pieces as if they were critical texts. We took a trip to Chicago where we watched a new musical about the Haymarket riot with the women’s efforts at the forefront of the narrative. We were divided into groups referred to as "affinity groups" to explore specific topics of our choice in more depth. My group was chosen at the end of the camp to present in front of all seminars and faculty on our topic of popularized minority art.

Although the class was absolutely fantastic, it was really the people there that made the experience so memorable. To be surrounded by such talented youth was life-changing. Everyone I met was so passionate. I was friends with an Olympian who played as the goalie on the unified Korean hockey team. Others started their own businesses or charities. One boy had even opened for the musical group Cage the Elephants. Their intellectual curiosity was intoxicating. The discourse was constantly being developed and pushed further. On the first day of class, we opened with a conversation about whether truth and meaning even existed. We encouraged each other to push for deeper understandings in every interaction. With our different social, political, and geographic backgrounds, the conversation was always stimulating.

This is what I want to bring back to USN: my new, genuine curiosity. I want to experience again the act of being awestruck and the audible “wow dude that’s so cool” when someone showcases their talent. I want conversations in the halls where people don’t agree with each other, but opinions are respected regardless. I want things to be uncomfortable at times. I don’t want complacency. I want growth and connection between all the student body and faculty.
 
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University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.