It's almost hard to even think about: How do you learn to think?
Rockhurst students, alumni, faculty, and staff often talk about learning how to think – or how to think critically, differently, and/or always others' perspectives in mind.
But what does that mean?
Some universities are fill-in-the-blank learning institutions. Others examine the question, the outcome, and who or what that outcome may affect.
Katie Birkenfeld, ’13 (English, Philosophy), highlighted critical thinking as a key aspect of her Rockhurst education.
“You go to RU to get skills to know how to think and how to problem-solve and how to get through situations,” she said. “Others may be ‘here’s the topic and move on.’ Rockhurst enhances critical thinking skills for the workplace because you’re having to problem-solve.
“[Rockhurst] gives you the ability to look at things from different perspectives and different walks of life,” Birkenfeld continued. “It helped me be a more worldly individual, which I think is different compared to other organizations and schools. If you’re working with diverse individuals in the workplace, RU prepares you to take in all that information and how to think through situations from all angles with respect – rather than barrel through with your own opinions.
“[Rockhurst] gives you the skills you need to be successful as a human being in a job,” she said.
Learning how to think is a common practice in humanities classes, but at schools like Rockhurst that philosophy extends to other programs.
Zach Pohlman, a 2018 Rockhurst graduate and now Notre Dame Law School alum, triple majored at The Rock. He credits his success, in part, to how he was encouraged to think differently.
“From the analytical thinking I used in my economics classes to the natural law I learned in my philosophy classes to the difficult texts I navigated in my theology classes, Rockhurst helped prepare me to read and think and write in the way that law school requires,” he said.
A by-product of thinking differently – specifically critically considering the perspectives of other people – is treating others with more grace and respect.
“In addition,” Pohlman says, “my time in Student Senate prepared me to think on my feet and debate in a respectful way – skills necessary to do well in law school.”
Rockhurst’s core values are filled with beliefs that prioritize critical thought and genuine respect for others:
- Cura Personalis: “We are committed to caring for others in and outside the classroom; therefore, we strive to help people: To understand their inherent human dignity.”
- Magis: “We are committed to excellence; therefore, we strive: To understand better ourselves and others as people loved by God… To give greater love, care, and compassion for our neighbor.”
- Reflection & Discernment: “We are committed to the examined life; therefore, we strive: To seek for a greater knowledge of all creation. To reflect on our own lived experience of the world. To discern the movements of our heart and reason. To listen to the experience of other people.”
- Contemplation in Action: “To foster openness and curiosity about all things new and different. To foster a spirit of trust, hopefulness, collegiality, and dialogue. To value different points of view and experiences.
- Wisdom: “To examine the moral and ethical implications present in each discipline and program… To foster love of the world that leads to the desire to create a better and more just existence.”
