Office: BH 105C
Cross-Cultural Services
Thought
Alvernia University
Life has a way of
presenting
barriers and
challenges that
can be internal
and/or external.
They may cause
some insecurities
which may force
us to think about
ourselves rather
than others.
St. Francis broke
down barriers by
embracing lepers.
What barriers
will you break
down?
Keep in mind,
breaking down
and overcoming
barriers and
challenges
inspire people to
believe.
In this issue:
Heritage
Month
Humility List
1
Quotes of the
month
Staff
2
2
Summer, 2015
Volume 2, Issue 8
Pride Month
June
June is Pride Month, but what does pride mean to you? Each individual may have a different
understanding of pride, so for this newsletter, let’s look at pride from the viewpoint of
receiving respect from others, validating one’s own dignity, and achieving satisfaction in
your endeavors.
Pride can be considered positive or negative depending upon your viewpoint or where you
stand on the spectrum of openness and understanding. We strive to be proud individuals
who are members of a respecting and inclusive environment. Yes, feeling respected,
important and having that sense of personal worth is positive! It’s a great feeling to achieve
your goals and excellence without needing affirmation from other individuals. However, if
your pride is self-serving and/or demonstrated in a way that you feel and think you are
superior to others and you fail to be submissive with humility, then one may consider that
type of pride as negative. Humility is one of Alvernia’s core values; it means understanding
the truth of our human condition and acknowledging the value and dignity of all humanity.
Francis of Assisi was a true practitioner of humility by giving up his riches and being called
a “Lesser Brother” so that he could say to the marginalized, poor, and individuals without a
voice, “I see and hear you.” Do we hear and see everyone within and outside our
communities? Do we allow pride to keep us from being humble? Do we allow pride to keep
us from seeing a changing world?
Yes, we are in a changing world that includes language, cultural and ethnic pride, gender
identity, and abilities, etc. But, does that mean that everyone is keeping up with the change?
Can pride without humility keep an individual or institution from evolving to reflect the
change? Let’s take a moment to reflect on these questions. As we acknowledge our
experiences and stories, we build self-respect and satisfaction in achievements. We, as an
institution, collectively build pride in what we do and how we serve our community.
However, there will be times when institution’s traditions and mission will be challenged.
How will the institution view that challenge? Last month, Smith College, located in
Northampton, Massachusetts, a private liberal arts Women College founded in 1871 which
prides itself on being one of the oldest women’s colleges educating women, voted to clarify
its undergraduate admission policy to include self-identified transgender women. This is a
bold move that doesn’t demoralize their tradition or pride, it displays that you can have pride
along with humility that is not superior or inferior. Per Kathleen McCartney, President of
Smith College, “the board’s decision affirms Smith’s unwavering mission and identity as a
women’s college, our commitment to representing the diversity of women’s lived
experiences, and the college’s exceptional role in the advancement of women worldwide.”
Smith has now joined a list of other institutions (Mills College, Mount Holyoke, Simmons,
Bryn Mawr, and Wellesley) that have updated and/or clarified their admission policy to
reflect the evolving world.
2
As you reflect on this article, keep in mind; we develop our lenses through our culture,
traditions, experiences, and social media. However, we have the ability to refocus or change
our lenses through understanding and respecting one another. The world is evolving and we
can make it better by improving our view from a platform of humility.
Mother Teresa’s Humility List
There are times when we may allow pride to interfere with what we know is right and wrong and
may cause petty fights. Mother Teresa of Calcutta provided spiritual counsel to the sister so that
they would be humble in their words through this list:
1. Speak as little as possible about yourself.
2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others.
3. Avoid curiosity.
4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others.
5. Accept small irritations with good humor.
6. Do not dwell on the faults of others.
7. Accept censures even if unmerited.
8. Give in to the will of others.
9. Accept insults and injuries.
10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded.
11. Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone.
12. Do not seek to be admired and loved.
13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity.
14. Give in, in discussions, even when you are right.
15. Choose always the more difficult task.
“Mother Teresa’s Humility List | The Catholic Company.” Accessed June 5, 2015. https://
www.catholiccompany.com/blog/mother-teresas-humility-list.
Quotes of the Month
“Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.” - Thomas Merton
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” - C.S. Lewis
“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.” - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
“It was pride that changed angels into devils, it is humility that makes men as angels.”
Saint Augustine
-
“If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what
you are.” - Mother Teresa
Cross-Cultural Staff
Wanda Copeland, Director
(610) 796-8437
[email protected]
Bernardine Hall 105C