The first floor of the Lilly Library buzzed Tuesday as 30 incoming first-year students hosted a “listening party” to present their final projects of the WLAIP (Wabash Liberal Arts Immersion Program) Summer Institute.
College faculty and staff floated from one listening station to another to tune into reflective audio essays and meet the students who wrote and recorded them.
The ideas and writing styles explored in the audio essays were diverse and wide-ranging—from spoken word poetry about the power of injecting personal experiences into written works, to unlocking hidden intellect and taking ownership of one’s education.
Cesar Marmolejo wrestled with the challenges of living between two languages and cultures. Through WLAIP, he realized that writing and language are a means of survival, and that the pressure he felt for years to act as a translator and bridge for others stemmed from a passion to connect people.
“My parents tried to teach me both English and Spanish, but that created some speech impediments. It’s hard to explain, but it is difficult trying to speak in English while my thought process is in Spanish,” said Marmolejo, a native of Pharr, Texas. “Now I see writing as a space where I can bring all the pieces of my own identity to create a voice that is my own.”
Jorge Garcia was born in San Juan, Texas, but was raised in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. In his essay, he touched upon similar challenges of growing up between two cultures and grappling with insecurities about learning English with an accent. He credits WLAIP, not only with helping him improve his writing, but also teaching him to be proud and accepting of his voice.
“What surprised me about WLAIP the most was the teaching. It’s been really different. In high school, we never had conversations one-on-one on how to improve my essays,” said Garcia. “I feel like I learned more this month than I did all of high school.”
This month-long program during which they acclimate to campus and culture, learn about the liberal arts, and earn a credit in College Writing. More than an orientation, the summer institute has students engaged in the Wabash experience immediately.
“This group has been so engaged for the whole month. They’ve all really pushed themselves to participate,” said Associate Professor of English Jill Lamberton, who taught WLAIP English course along with BKT Assistant Professor of English Julian Whitney. “They came here to learn and work, and they stayed committed.
“This year’s audio essays were especially thoughtful,” she continued. “Their discoveries were more diverse than ever. Thanks in great part to Prof. Whitney’s contributions of new materials from James Baldwin and Roxanne Gay, students explored everything from language and identity to the meaning of claiming an education.”
The WLAIP is designed to give incoming first-year students a head start on earning credits toward their Wabash degree while learning and interacting with the offices and people who can help them succeed on campus and preparing for success after they graduate from college.
“Taking this course really helped me to understand what I should push myself to learn,” says Marmolejo. “It definitely pushed me to discuss more and to think in a very different way than I did in high school—reading, understanding, asking, and searching for answers to my own questions.”