“One of these things is not like the others; one of these things just doesn’t belong.” Do you remember those Sesame Street lyrics? Big Bird would show two apples and an orange, sing that song and a kid would pick the thing that didn’t belong. If you were to walk into 5th hour Ecclesiastical Latin here, what would you find that doesn’t belong? Me!

Ok, so technically it’s not right to say that a girl “doesn’t belong” in a Latin class. There’s no rule against it. In my two years here there’s been a girl in Hebrew and two in German. The issue isn’t about a girl being in a language class; it’s about a girl invading a SPaM class. What kinds of problems arise when this clash happens?

Much to my surprise, not too many did. Sure, I heard the occasional, “She’s trying to become a pastor,” or, “She only wants to get closer to a possible husband,” but I have to think that they were only meant as good-natured jokes. Most of the guys I am in class with are helpful and supportive, though. After readjusting my own attitude, I have come to appreciate SPaMers more than I did before.

So what if they have orange drink flowing through their veins? They’re not that much different from the rest of us. We all have those tough classes, fun classes, and downright boring classes. We all have to eat the same cafeteria food and pay the same parking tickets. But more importantly, whether we will be sharing the good news from the pulpit or the classroom, we all have the assurance of salvation through faith in our Savior, Christ Jesus. This common bond goes beyond any track division and fuels our Christian love for one another.

So are there any problems with a SEMie joining a SPaM class? Just the occasional joke, but we all need a good laugh every now and then. Overall, I think that I’ve gained more respect for the SPaM guys. They’re hard working fellows who generally mean well. If I had more time I would definitely take more SPaM classes, but as I round the corner from underclassman to upperclassman, I find that my training has only just begun. As SEM students take on more responsibilities and workloads, so do the SPaM students. Let us continue to reach for our goals and encourage each other in love.

Kelley Bushong is a SEM Sophomore

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