The thought of taking classes that weren’t related to my major seemed pointless to me. All these requirements for different course areas was discouraging because I was so ready to focus on my major of communications and media. My schedule in the fall of freshman year was incredibly out of my comfort zone. Mathematical exploration? I was the worst at math and had avoided “exploring” it for as long as I possibly could after I finished what was required of me in high school. Philosophy and Religion? Academic college and success? I was pretty confident that I was going be successful so why did I need help with that?

I hope that those thoughts that I had sound immature and ridiculous to you now because that’s what they are. Even though my initial fear was being uncomfortable, looking back it wasn’t the bad kind of uncomfortable. It was the kind of uncomfortable that makes you try something new and embrace change. After the first week of taking those classes, I knew my first feelings were valid but had already evolved into a different perspective. This new perspective, that there was a method behind Naz’s madness, helped fuel me. I was chugging through the courses and gaining insight from them. Mathematical exploration ended up not being so bad, and I really loved my professor. Religion opened my eyes to more than just what God is to everyone around the world. I found interest in understanding different cultures and beliefs, especially ones I had not been exposed to. Philosophy was still tough for me but it taught me that not everything is going to come easy on this journey and my nose might really have to end up in a book… a lot. 

All in all, my philosophy is that if there is a rhyme, there is a reason. Nazareth is known for its well rounded students who value their diversified experiences and if it’s in Nazareth’s plan to require students take Perspectives Enduring Questions courses then it is with good reason! If you’re questioning whether you’ll find meaning and understanding in PEQ courses, I suggest you ask questions. The PEQ courses you take don’t have to be the basic 101’s you don’t feel like sitting through. You could take the science of sound for your science and lab credit or youth explore the world about different worldly journeys for your literature PEQ. The options are endless and what you get from the courses is what you make of it!