For just $40,000 a year, you can enjoy all the benefits of ACU’s campus, including Bean cookies, unlimited rowing machine use in the rec center and a whole campus of people your own age. However, many students overlook one of the greatest benefits of college life: multicultural exposure.

With a diversity of ethnicities, religions and hometowns, it’s not hard to find someone completely different from you on campus. It’s also not hard to find people just like you. Sadly, many students choose to stay in a bubble, spending time primarily with people exactly the same as themselves.

Our global economy grows more diverse everyday, so we need to be prepared to work with people outside of our cultural comfort zone. On this campus, we have an opportunity to actually live, eat and study with people from all over the world and with diverse perspectives. How can we not make the most of this opportunity while we can?

Multicultural Awareness Week, Oct. 31-Nov. 4, will provide opportunities for discussion about different kinds of people. If you don’t know anything about other cultures, you will benefit from this week. Even if you think you’re already experienced with different cultures, you can still learn something from the speakers and discussions. Topics range from Middle Eastern Culture to feminism, as the Office of Multicultural Affairs brings different speakers and activities to campus. 

According to OMA flyers, the week’s topics include:

#1 Middle Eastern Culture: Don’t believe the media. We are people just like you.

#2 Immigrants and Refugees: Do you know the difference between an immigrant and refugees?

#3 Black Lives Matter: Why do black lives matter?

#4  Feminism: Just because I’m a feminist doesn’t mean I hate men

#5 I’m from a country not a continent: A broad brush can’t paint me

Whether you’ve considered these issues or not, multicultural issues will find their way into your life. Your understanding of other cultures besides your own will affect your political stance, your tone on social media or how you do a group project with an international student. Take some time to engage in the discussions or to make a new friend this week in your dorm or class. You’re paying for this part of your education, whether you realize it or not, but more importantly, you’re experiencing a global community unlike anything you will have again.