This is a first in a series of posts titled "I am the typical..." based on my reaction to a number of written works.

1.12.08

I am the Typical Whitworth Student

Sparked by: 10 things Whitworth hates about you.

There is a lot of discussion on campus about The Typical Whitworth Student. Apparently, everyone knows what is The Typical Whitworth Student and no one knows who is The Typical Whitworth Student.

The Typical Whitworth Student:

• Is a Christian. Attends church. Teaches Sunday School or AWANA. Reads their Bible. Prays.
• Did well in high school. Got good grades. Did extra curricular. May have been voted 'Most Likely to Succeed.'
• Is passionate about something. Member of Acting on AIDS. Runs Relay for Life. Heads the Fair Trade Club. Travels to Seattle for Invisible Children.
• Wants to change the world. Will be a teacher. Will be a nurse. Will be a political activist. Will not burn out by age 30.
• Has too many extracurriculars. Is a member of the Jazz Band. Does theatre. Joins International club. Writes for the Whitworthian.
• Has morally conservative and socially liberal political views. No abortion. More education and arts funding. Hybrid cars. Recycles bottles.
• Comes from white, upper middle class background. Father is a doctor. Mother stays home. Has an SUV and a big house.
• Avoids conflict. Doesn't confront their roommate. Doesn't argue with professor. Doesn't speak up in group discussions. Believes 'Whitworth is nice.'
• Doesn't drink or smoke. Avoids parties. Takes long path around smokers. Thinks such things are dirty. Will have a glass of wine when they turn 21. Off campus.
• Does not think they are The Typical Whitworth Student. Does not like boxes.

After much thought on this matter I have decided I am The Typical Whitworth Student. I announced this to Jan, and she said, 'Well, you're the only one who admits it, so I guess that makes you an Atypical Whitworth Student."

There are a lot of things about me that I like to think are not typical. I get slightly higher than average grades - that's not typical, right? I lived overseas for a time, that's unique, isn't it? I know what I want to do with my life, that's different, correct?

From the outside, however, I fit the mold. I'm a Christian, I teach Sunday School and lead small group. I was a star student in high school, even in the high achieving homeschool community I gew up in. I'm passionate about service and want to change the world, even though I'd be content with just changing one life. I am a member of four clubs, hold three jobs, volunteer two places, lead small group, dance, and participate in theatre. I am morally conservative in my political views in most cases, and lean towards liberalism for social issues. I am white, middle class. My father is a CFO. We have a big house and an SUV. I am famous for avoiding confrontations in any serious situation, but am excellent at debating points that have no real influence on life. I don't drink (much) or smoke. I do not like boxes.

There, Typical Whitworth Student in a nutshell. Won't the administration be pleased that they've found one?

The thing I'm struggling with right now is simple. People will always put you in boxes. It makes it easier to handle social situations. You label people, put them in the right box, and file it away for future reference. Oh, there's Sarah, the typical music major. I should ask her if she's heard anything besides Bach lately. Oh, there's Jon, the political activist. I wonder what his views on Huckabee's tax plan are. We don't have time to stop and find out that Jon is actually the one who listen to Bach and that Sarah has very firm views on Huckabee, her ever present clarinet case notwithstanding.

And like everyone, I don't want to be in a box. I want to think I'm unique, that you've never met anyone like me and never will again. I want to be a shining example of 'different' not another 'everybody.' So I continue to point out the ways I am different.

• Is a Christian. Attends two churches. Leads small group and teach Sunday school. Takes faith very seriously. 
• Did well in high school. Got excellent grades. Did theatre, volunteer, debate, art, music, sports. Was resident 'Can Do Anything' person. 
• Is passionate about something. Hates apathy. Thinks if people cared more, the world would be a better place. Participates in every fundraiser that comes to town.
• Wants to change the world. Will be a doctor. In Vietnam. Will eat rice for the rest of natural life. 
• Has too many extracurriculars. Member of four clubs, has three jobs, has two volunteer jobs, does theatre. 
• Has morally conservative and socially liberal political views. No abortion. Believes homosexuality is a sin, but the government shouldn't legislate morality in this instance. Hates war. More funding for arts. 
• Comes from white, upper middle class background. Also member of Native American tribe. 
• Avoids conflict. To epic degrees.
• Doesn't drink or smoke. Drinks with family. 
• Does not think they are The Typical Whitworth Student. Does not want to be The Typical Whitworth Student, but admits it nonetheless.

Even my differences make me seem like a Typical Whitworth Student. It's that way in any box. If you're in it, you focus on the minute differences that set you apart from others in the box, but it doesn't stop you from being there. Maybe I'm just a Typical Whitworth Student on steroids.

So, box number 1: "Typical Whitworth Student."

Check back for box number 2: "Typical Patrick Henry College Student who happens to not be at PHC" sometime soon.

© Taryn Clark. 2008.