Employed: Authentic

The moment has passed, words have been exchanged, time has transpired and suddenly, as if the sun dawns its light in the mind, a clearer picture forms in hindsight. Is this relatable, or is it just me? Often emotions blur perception during situations, though it is personally getting easier to be aware of more in each moment when a little experience is applied, and the internal state is clear. The more a moment appears threatening or potentially unacceptable, the blurrier it can get.

After introducing this column and myself as things to express health and authenticity, something important dawned on me; these writings are for more than my self-expression. They are a part of the fabric of this community because the context is within a greater conversation that Butler CC is having in the “academic world”. Does this change what is “healthy and authentic,” or are those universal concepts, standing as autonomous as any individual in a community?

If it is healthy for me, is it healthy for the community?

Writing for this newspaper, like hundreds of other positions here on campus, involves becoming an employee or student worker to participate. In the employee manual on professional conduct, it states, “You Are Butler! Since personal conduct influences the general public’s opinion of the College, it is understood that the employees shall serve as proud and positive ambassadors for Butler in both digital and face-to-face interactions. (Revised 7/15; Reviewed 10/22)”

Being an ambassador involves representing something or someone, but often only the ideal qualities of that thing, not its entirety. This creates perhaps the greatest conundrum and responsibility of any ambassador: to know and remember what is ideal, especially in stressful situations. Adding in the description to be “proud and positive” could seem to conflict with the authentic personal sentiment in certain circumstances.

Butler seemed to do its due diligence by communicating clearly the policy to have courtesy and respect for how we deal with the rights and property of others. They ask for us to have “consistent good conduct” and use “non-disruptive actions/responses,” according to the policy.

This is to support the “equally great responsibility to fulfill its mission: to develop responsible, involved lifelong learners and to contribute to the vitality of the communities it serves.” This is what they as an organization are entrusted to do by their stakeholders, students, donors and the Butler County taxpayers who provide the resources for it to exist.

Through agreement, we become a part of something interdependent, forming a relationship for fulfilling a shared ideal. Those ideals then are the things that are meant to add vitality, help us be able to respond to life consciously and spark a desire to continue learning.

Considering that diversity is essential for vitality, whether it is a gene pool or opinion poll, being positive may include being critical when ideals may not appear fulfilled.

It often feels complicated to be positive when the personal position is struggling to understand or has a controversial view on a particular issue. In the case of what is “healthy and authentic”, these agreements, relationships and the roles we fill individually are as much a part of the whole as the indoctrinations of past experiences and the lessons we are learning today. All of these are an extension of our self, so it is vital to learn ways to factor in more of the “whole self” when considering what is “authentic”.