My Six Words Returns to Kuyper
A beloved tradition returned to the Kuyper campus during the fall semester.
The My Six Words initiative at Kuyper is part of a global project called the Six Word Memoir. It was created by writer and editor Larry Smith and encourages people to share their lives in just six words with the hope of sparking self-expression, focus and human connection.
At Kuyper the effort was created by the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging committee (DEI-B) last year to similarly foster deeper connections within the Kuyper community, explained Jen Colin, an assistant professor of social work, the program’s director and a member of the DEI-B committee.
“The focus of the Committee is to acknowledge and celebrate the gifts and life stories that the people at Kuyper bring to our community,” she said. “It’s important that we continue to extend opportunities for everyone’s voices to be heard.”
The idea to bring My Six Words to Kuyper originated with Human Resources Director Annie Fields, who also serves on the committee.
“She shared that her daughter’s workplace had been doing it and suggested that it could be a great way for the Kuyper community to connect with each other,” Colin said. “When we started digging into it, we realized it was part of this global phenomenon.”
Participants submit their six words through a Google Document, which the committee has circulated via email and posters all around campus, in places like the DEI-B bulletin board. There is also a unique-to-Kuyper twist on the project, where each month is centered around a specific theme.
Gratitude was the topic for November, and December is focused on best-loved aspects of Christmas, said Colin.
“We all get so busy at the end of the semester. This is an easy and quick way for students, staff, and faculty to participate in spreading holiday spirit on our campus by expressing what they appreciate about this season of celebrating Christ’s birth,” she said.
As the year continues, Colin is looking forward to the opportunities the campaign creates for the Kuyper community.
“In January, we’ll be looking for reflections on the Civil Rights movement,” she said. “We hope this campaign will encourage all to share their perspectives and experiences on a variety of topics, from light-hearted to solemn. There is a lot we can learn from and about each other.”
