Reclaiming Education Through Curiosity and Diverse Perspectives

When my husband received orders to deploy to Afghanistan, it came just days after we had arrived in North Carolina. I didn't know anyone yet, and with young children to care for, the thought of staying on base alone felt overwhelming. So I packed up our things and headed back to my hometown of Cleveland, where family and familiarity could offer some stability.

But even with family nearby, a sense of loneliness and doubt crept through. Nights were the hardest. After the kids were asleep, the house was quiet and my worries grew louder. A deep feeling of guilt also weighed on me. How could I be thinking about myself, surrounded by my beautiful kids and people I loved, when my spouse was thousands of miles away, risking his life?

Then, one afternoon, I took my kids to a playground near the base. My youngest was crying while the older one was hovering on top of the slide, threatening to jump onto whoever was below. That's when another mom approached me. She introduced herself, smiled, and offered to help. That simple act of kindness was the beginning of a new chapter.

She invited me to a moms' group. When I went, I found women who welcomed me with open arms. These women came from all walks of life. They didn't care where I came from, whether I shared their hobbies, or what my political views were. What mattered was the unspoken understanding: life as a military spouse is hard, and we all need each other.

Curiosity: The Heart of True Learning

Just as I learned the importance of connection in that military community, I see the same need in higher education. Curiosity is what drives us to ask questions, to step outside our comfort zones, and to see the world through someone else's eyes. Without curiosity, education becomes stagnant.

I once worked with a student who felt out of place in a class discussion on privilege. He had grown up in a rural farming community and didn't feel like his experiences aligned with those of his peers. "I've learned to stay quiet," he told me. But one day, he decided to speak up. His classmates began asking thoughtful questions — not to argue with him, but to learn from him. That moment wasn't just a win for him — it was a win for everyone.

The False Promise of Comfort

Inclusion is often misinterpreted as comfort. But comfort is not the goal of education. Growth is. Shielding students from challenging ideas doesn't prepare them for the world — it leaves them ill-equipped to navigate it.

Cancel Culture: The Enemy of Inclusion

Cancel culture is one of the biggest threats to true inclusion. It silences diverse voices and discourages the very curiosity that education should inspire. When we assume the worst intentions of those we disagree with — labeling them as irredeemable rather than engaging with their ideas — we stifle dialogue and prevent growth. This isn't inclusion — it's conformity.

Reclaiming the Promise of Education

Education isn't about offering easy answers. It's about teaching students to hold complexity, to ask deeper questions, and to engage with ideas that make them think. Right now, we're losing sight of what makes DEI truly valuable. At its core, DEI is about building environments where diversity of thought, lived experience, and perspective can thrive. When we strip away the noise, we find something powerful: a framework for education that embraces curiosity, encourages courage, and values every voice at the table.