What it feels like… to guide a student’s academic career path
Sara Shady discusses the challenges being faced within the Philosophy department.
By Abigail Johnson|Reporter
For the first time in her career, Sara Shady thought to herself, ‘If I had a different career, what would it be?’ Shady doesn’t remember a time she hasn’t spent a year in school. Being a professor at Bethel University for 17 years has created many opportunities for Shady, yet now more than ever, she has been challenged.
Shady remembers always being fascinated by the idea of philosophy, especially the intersection between ideas and culture. “How different ideas have the power to shape the culture that we’re living in, but how culture also influences and shapes our ideas,” Shady said. Today’s culture, however, seems to devalue the Humanities, leading to misunderstanding. This challenge has caused Shady, along with the entire Humanities department, to fight their own battle inside Bethel as well as outside the University in hopes of bringing the department to life. Showing the Department of Humanities raw significance and all that it has to offer students is a challenge being faced each and every day.
“It’s harder for students to sometimes imagine what their career could look like.” — Sara Shady, philosophy professor
It is a privilege to work along students, serving to create a pathway to one’s career; however, Shady struggles to do so for a variety of students. “Being in the Philosophy department, because there’s not a ready-made job at the end,” Shady said. “It’s harder for students to sometimes imagine what their career could look like.”
