Difference Brings Unity

Inclusivity changes school communities for the better, writes Caitlin Humphrys, Consultant – Relationships and Engagement at Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns.

In 17 years of youth ministry, 12 years of schooling, and now two years working for a Catholic Education Office, I’ve witnessed a thing or two about the unique ecosystems that are school communities. When it comes to the role of diversity in these ecosystems, I have two memories that stand out. Halfway through Year 10, I changed high schools. What I experienced in starting at this new, affluent, Catholic, private, all-girls school was unadulterated culture shock. It was like walking into the Mean Girls movie. Just like the movie, at the top of the food chain there were the self-professed TCs, aka the ‘Too Cools’ (the equivalent to Regina George’s Plastics). There were many other cliques, and each had its special place to sit in the grounds. I found out quickly that it was social suicide to even think about crossing cliques and to talk to someone from another group.

Blending In

I fumbled my way through, slowly discovering the dos and don’ts of the established school culture. I discovered that the process was less about figuring out where I would naturally fit, and more about where I could easily blend in and not stand out. Side note: Australia’s tall poppy syndrome tends to have an effect of muting young people’s individuality. In this school community, diversity was present but definitely not encouraged or celebrated. Fast forward just over a decade and I was working in a different Catholic co-ed school as a campus minister. This school likewise had cliques and a student population with an aversion to standing out. What this school also had though was Zoe*. Zoe was many things, including Down Syndrome.

One of my favourite memories of Zoe is of being on lunch duty in front of the tuckshop in winter when the bell rang. Two female students came up to me and a colleague to inform us that Zoe wouldn’t leave the bathroom to go to class. My colleague and I went to the bathroom block and asked Zoe if she was OK. She was standing under the hand dryer because she was cold and did not want to leave. A student overheard the exchange and gave Zoe a scarf to wrap around her hands while she walked to class. My hands were also cold, but my heart was warmed. (Cheesy I know but totally accurate.) These types of moments where I witnessed empathy in action towards Zoe were frequent. I saw teenagers, who often get a bad rap for being hormone riddled and inconsiderate, continually step out of their comfort zones to help make Zoe’s life easier. When Zoe reached the end of Year 10 it was time for her to finish her formal schooling. Her year level was devastated. It was decided that they would throw her a graduation. There were speeches and certificates, and Zoe’s favourite song was played.

Standing Out

Zoe was the heart of the community. Her diversity was obvious. To engage with Zoe was to get outside of yourself and your own limited understanding of the human experience and to have a truly human encounter with this spectacular young woman. Knowing Zoe transformed our community. Even after Zoe had graduated and moved on, her cohort continued to be empathetic and considerate. Zoe’s authenticity and diversity grew the sense of community at the school in a way that was irreversible once she left. Zoe was a pure gift to us. My own experience at high school taught me that communities do not grow in strength and identity when individuals play small and lessen themselves out of a desire to fit in. In contrast, Zoe and her peers taught me that communities become lifegiving places of growth and welcome when all are empowered to be the unique person that God created them to be, and experience being loved just as they are.

Celebrate Diversity

So, celebrate diversity in your school community. Acknowledge culture. Talk about variance in ability and how to make life easier for all. Applaud acts of empathy. Encourage authenticity and individuality. And do all this, by leading by example. Bring your whole, quirky, spectacular existence into the community in its purest form. Do not, under any circumstances, play small. This might sound simple but sometimes it takes one brave, authentic soul to set the tone and show the rest of us that it is ok to be authentic. The pay-off for this vulnerability is the opportunity to experience being known and loved, no matter what diversity we bring to the table.

*Zoe’s name was changed to protect her privacy.

This article was published in Australian Catholics Magazine