Whoever said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” got it wrong.

Now, more than ever, words have the power to build someone’s confidence or destroy it. This concept was one of the central themes of What Will You Choose, a reading put on by nine student leaders on the final day of Ram Camp.

“Never have I been so proud of our student leaders for such an amazing presentation,” said Michael Chaney, student activities & volunteerism coordinator. “The standing ovation and the discussion that took place afterwards was proof that the students were engaged and found it insightful.”

The message of What Will You Choose promotes Texas Wesleyan traditions including civility and inclusiveness, and the reading challenged students to uphold these values. Students quoted civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Martin Niemöller, a pastor and Nazi concentration camp survivor, as they spoke of acts of incivility and hatred that have occurred at universities and colleges across the nation.

“I felt it was inspiring and I wish more people could have experienced it,” said Lauryn Dillon, a freshman religion major. “It was great to know that Texas Wesleyan shares the same values of equality.”

About Ram Camp

Ram Camp focuses on helping students make connections to other new students, student leaders and campus resources. This year, more than 150 new students attended.