Category: 2021-22 Page 1 of 2

Taanishi (Tawnsheh), Bon Matain (Bon Mah-tane), Cassidy Dishiniikashon (dish-i-nik-ah-shhun). Good morning, hello, my name is Cassidy. Entering CMU a total of 6 years ago, I would have never guessed that today I would be introducing myself in my ancestral language of Michif, which I think is indicative of the change I have undergone here.

I am in my fourth and final year of a Peace and Conflict Transformation Studies (PACTS) major, with a Biblical and Theological Studies minor. My CMU journey started in 2016, when I departed on the Outtatown program, bound for Guatemala.

At that point, my encounters with my faith had been fairly surface level, not really ever having been in any places where I was having to question it or think critically about it. In this way Outtatown challenged me. I felt confused as I encountered people from numerous different Christian backgrounds and ideas of what it meant to be a follower of Christ. It’s hard to deconstruct your faith when you don’t really have words for what you’re doing, but looking back, I know that’s what was happening. As hard as it was, I made it through with incredible friendship and community.

I took another year off school before starting my PACTS degree at CMU and I was enthralled. I won’t lie, high school for me was pretty miserable and tough for many reasons, so coming into CMU with 60% averages in my classes, I will never forget the feeling of my first A grade. My professors were people who not only encouraged me, but challenged me. It seems too cliché to say, but having personal relationships with my professors at CMU is really what I think helped me succeed. School was tough, but I was having a ball.

However, that’s not to say that my time here has been without its challenges and heartaches. In my second year, October 2019, CMU lost Taylor Pryor, who was on my Outtatown site and a good friend of mine. It was a loss that sent ripples of heartache and pain throughout the CMU community. But we held each other. My peers held me and I held them, and my professors were not only accommodating but held me with grace and care—for that I’m grateful.

This time marked another important point in my CMU journey, and that was my discovery of my Métis identity and heritage. As is all too common for Métis families, racism led to a disconnect between my family and my culture. However, thanks to genealogical research and archives, my mom was able to pull the threads of my family and heritage together. I appreciate that CMU didn’t just accept me as I came into my Métis Mennonite identity, but was blessed to have friends and staff walking alongside me, encouraging me to pursue this, and supporting me.

My understanding of spirituality has expanded at CMU, as I’ve developed my relationship with Christ in community. This has happened over snack, in classrooms, and in the forest.

Preparing what I wanted to write today was a helpful thing to do, as we’re in the part of the semester where it’s easy to lose sight of the good things we’ve encountered here and just focus on surviving each day. I’ve come a long way, and as much as I will never miss how slow the last seven minutes in a class can drag on, I will never forget my love for this place and these people. I want to thank everyone for being a part of my journey: Maarsi and thank you.

Cassidy Brown is graduating this year with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in peace and conflict transformation studies.

I’d like to begin by saying that I hope you’re doing really well. I really do mean that. I hope you’re managing to stay afloat as the semester comes to an end. Papers, assignments, finals, and summer job applications are just some of the stresses that students face in March and April.

If you’re a graduating student like myself, I’m sure there’s some uncertainty about what happens next year. What school are you going to go to? What sort of a job are you going to work? Either way, I want you to know that if you’re feeling stressed, your feelings are valid. School can be hard. So keep on doing your best and know that you are not alone.

I am a graduating arts and science major, studying history and biology. Yes, those are very different subjects from each other, and yes, I love both of them. My time at CMU has been both meaningful and fulfilling.

In my history classes, I’ve had opportunities to explore the history of our earth and the people that live here. I’ve explored the history of many peoples, conflicts, successes, and failures. In my biology classes I’ve learned about the many mechanisms that allow life to exist. The complexity of structures that God has woven into creation leaves me in awe and wonder. I have enjoyed these classes.

I know I only have a bit of space to write about my experiences at CMU. I could go on and on about classes (and the stress of classes) and the joys of living on campus. I could talk about the time I wrote a ten-page paper in a single evening; that was fun. However, what I really want to say—and I know this is probably going to be a little cheesy—is thank you to the staff and faculty of CMU.

As I was trying to think of an experience to write about in this blog post, I kept coming back to how thankful I am for the staff and faculty. The students make up the highest population of community at CMU, but the staff and faculty work so hard to make this a place where great community can exist.

The professors are so approachable. Often times they care about my learning more than even I care about my learning! I also live on campus, and I have seen how difficult it can be to maintain some of our buildings. The maintenance staff are so great; they are absolute LEGENDS. So, I applaud the professors, student life staff, advisors, maintenance staff, kitchen staff, and everyone else who works tirelessly to make CMU such a wonderful place. Thank you.

Christopher Epp is graduating this year with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in arts and science, with concentrations in biology and history.

1. folio café: Bright and Social

2. Library: Peaceful and Bright

3. Study room: Convenient and Private

4. Great Hall: Warm and Cozy

5. Local cafés: Aesthetic and Social

Jubilee Dueck Thiessen is a third year Bachelor of Arts student, majoring in English.