Finding the Others

Dear Team,

Here is a quick newsletter because I cannot stop thinking about a quote I came across.

This semester, I have been challenged to take the lead on UNIV 101 for freshman and transfer students. This has been a new task among my responsibilities. Looking through the curriculum, you would notice this is a class for incoming students to understand the resources at FHSU, such as financial aid, where to get medication on campus, the Writing Center, Career Development, and so on. That’s great, but the problem I see that we don’t talk about is phone usage, lack of belonging, nobody talking to each other, and lack of drive. You see it too; we are all getting comfortable with our technology and not having conversations. I recently came across this quote by Timothy Leary that I can’t stop thinking about. I’ve shared it with friends and athletes on social media, and now I am here on my couch writing about it over my lunch break as Judah tries to snag my attention.

Here’s the quote that’s sparked this reflection:

This quote has my brain buzzing! Daily, I pass colleagues and students I genuinely enjoy, yet our conversations are often limited to: “How are you? Good. How about you? Not bad, though the wind is brutal! Agreed. See you around.” Honestly, these surface-level exchanges leave me wanting more. Inspired by Timothy Leary’s call to ask thought-provoking questions like “What makes you cry?” or “What do you think déjà vu is for?”, I want to encourage students to break from the status quo and forge deeper connections.

This vision for deeper engagement reminds me of The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle, which explores how great leaders build vibrant, connected communities. For years, I’ve dreamed of creating such a culture at FHSU—whether as a boss, head coach, or even head janitor. Now, in my role at Student Engagement, my team and I have an amazing opportunity to make that happen, much like Coach Popovich did with the Spurs by fostering trust and collaboration. Over the past four years, I’ve jotted down ideas about “what I would do if I were in charge.” Now that I’m here, I’ll admit I’m a bit terrified—but let’s take the leap, do the unexpected, and find the others who share this passion for connection!

P.S. What Makes Me Emotional? In response to Leary’s question, “What makes you cry or feel emotional?”—it’s cliché, but it’s my family and the families of those I’m close to. My parents, young and poor, raised four hooligans and somehow we all came out alright. My sister powered through college as a single mom, even bringing my niece to class when babysitters were unavailable. Seeing my wife excel with her athletes fills me with pride. Little Judah waiting for me to come home from work at the window. And one thing always hits me hard: watching a dad on a campus visit with his daughter. It’s seeing a man, the protector of his family, walking alongside his most valuable possession on a college campus. I always wonder what’s going through his mind—maybe, “Will these people protect my daughter?” or “Should I keep her home where I can always keep her safe?”

Thank you for reading, and let’s work together to foster connection in our earthly race! As always, Hold Fast to the Gospel!

Brett, Kelly, and Judah