We often think of college students a being very educated, often
forgetting that they are on a path to self-discovery as well. There was a bit of
intimidation in the beginning. I wondered, if only for a moment, if I would
perform well enough academically. I did remind myself that we are all seeking
the same thing: to enhance our lives through education. For most Black men of my
background college is out of reach. This deepens even further if you go to
prison. To have a college experience where students are interacting with
incarcerated men was rewarding. ~Karshara, Inside Student
While talking about
the benefits of restorative justice, the justice system as a whole, and how it
has impacted them, one of the Inside Students said, “How can we be reintegrated
into a community we were never integrated in to begin with?” This statement
really stuck with me because it was something that I have always thought about
but was never able to put into words. And most importantly, I was able to hear
it through the voice of someone who matters most when it comes to the justice
system. Not a politician, but someone who has experienced firsthand how the
system operates. ~Camryn, Outside Student
My thanks go out to the Parkside
students who displayed phenomenal courage by walking through the doors of a
prison. I admire their willingness to participate in classes with incarcerated
men. They have looked beyond the stereotypes associated with incarcerated
individuals... Thank you all for a journey grounded in the principles of love
and respect for all human beings. Thank you for extraordinary human connections
that inspire me to always be the best version of myself. ~William, Inside
Student
This class has been a total game changer for me. I appreciate being able
to take this class because it helped me learn how effective communication is
imperative in everyday life. I not only have a better relationship with my kids
but I was able to recognize my real feelings which carried over into my
relationships with my friends and family. The experience at RCI made it even
more interesting. The inside students were very kind and considerate. I learned
that everyone is human, and everyone deserves to be treated as such. ~Jennifer,
Outside Student After participating in the Parkside Nonviolent Communication
course, I can honestly say that I appreciate everyone who was involved, both
Inside and Outside students. While participating in this course we engaged in
many group discussions, which forced me to come out of my shell and speak with
confidence while expressing my needs. Learning to express my own needs has
helped me develop a better understanding of empathy and how to recognize the
needs of others... I am now hopeful that I’ll be able to communicate more
efficiently in all aspects of life, especially with my kids. ~ David, Inside
Student This class has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I appreciate the
time and effort that went into making this class possible, as well as the
participation by my fellow classmates, which made the class the unique and
special experience that it was. ~Sarah, Outside Student
What am I appreciative
about? Realizing that I have disconnected from my compassionate nature
(Rosenberg, p. 1) and I understand why I am so easily distracted, become
frustrated, and want to shut down rather than deal with adversity and conflict.
I learned that I never fully developed a working vocabulary or the intelligence
behind it in order to guide me through tough situations... The NVC process has
also explained the importance of establishing a human connection during
conflict. ~Foist, Inside Student
Overall, the NVC course has enhanced my
ability to communicate effectively. Specifically, I appreciate knowing how to
accurately and effectively label my emotions so I can better deal with them. I
also appreciate the knowledge of expressing empathy because that is a skill I
need to use frequently in my life since I work with kids. I have felt a range of
feelings about the course. At times, I have felt frustrated when I try to apply
NVC to my own life, but overall I feel happy and thankful for this course
because it has made me a better communicator. I also feel happy and thankful for
this course because I have been able to see things from my classmates’
viewpoints, which is an uncommon aspect to have in a traditional classroom
setting. Since the NVC course was set up to allow everyone to participate and
contribute, rather than just a professor lecturing, I was able to challenge the
course concepts and see my classmates challenge the concepts. This made me see
how applicable NVC can be and how NVC is not a “black and white scale” that is
either right or wrong. Rather, NVC is a process that is many shades of gray.
~Emily, Outside Student
I would like to also say how much respect I have for
those who shared their creative expression essays with the group on November
10th. It took a lot to let us all in your lives on a personal and intimate level
like that. I also want to show my respect for those who did not. I know how
something so personal and intimate can make you feel. I appreciate the debates
we all have had in class and how it never turned into an argument. I would like
to close this out by simply saying “Thank You” to everybody in this class, and
to Dr. Shailor, for being a part of this learning process and change in my life.
~Jelani, Inside Student
This has been a truly unique experience. I think being
outside of the basic lecture hall of college made everyone less tense and share
their experiences. I really enjoyed how everyone was able to build on another’s
thought and was respectful to each other. ~Lillian, Outside Student
The
discussions held in class were very informative and thought-provoking... I
appreciated taking part in the conversations, and voicing my opinions, both pros and
cons... I didn’t expect the conversations to be as deep as they were and I was
surprised by the range of opinions and emotions that were put forth by us
students. ~Thomas, Inside Student
How does one describe the feeling of
expressing feelings in an environment that was friendly, warm, and encouraging?
How does one say that in words? I am thankful and appreciative for this
course... that allowed me to exhale from a breath I took in over 3 years ago.
~John, Inside Student
