Since it’s Student Leadership Season, I wanted to throw this thought-process out there as another way to approach teaching our student leaders how to approach their peers who are different from themselves. Since part of the experience of student leadership is learning how to work with people of vastly different ideas, views, and backgrounds than their selves, it’s important that we give them a little guidance so they do not have awkward experiences leaving them baffled.

We all remember being taught to “stop, drop, and roll” when we were young. Of course, then it was for putting out burning clothing. Today, I hope to instill a new reason for us to “stop, drop, and roll:” when we find ourselves amidst a new culture, creed, ideology, etc. No matter how many different ways of life I study and discover, I will never consider myself a cultural guru. In my experience, it has become clear that no matter how many people of a certain race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc., that I meet or learn about, there was, is, and will always be a new experience, element, and/or example for me to take away.

When you are faced with someone very different than yourself, no matter what the difference is, try this out and see where it leads you:

1. STOP – Whatever you’re doing, stop doing it for a minute and realize what’s going on around you. How did you meet this person? Is it a resident in your hall that you’ve met for the first time? Is it someone in you class, cohort, department, etc that has introduced his/herself? Is it someone standing by you in line at the check-out who’s sparked conversation? Wherever and whatever is going on, STOP for that brief moment to clear your mind and realize your setting.

2. DROP – No matter what you think you know about this type (for lack of a better word) of person, DROP your thoughts. I don’t care if you have a PH.D in World Cultures (which, if you do, let me know so I can pick your brain!), you must DROP any and all learned stereotypes, preconceived notions, and understandings you think you have. Get rid of them. Shoo these thoughts away!

3. ROLL – Once you’ve gotten yourself ready to learn about someone new by STOPPING and DROPPING, you will be able to ROLL on with the situation/experience. Let them know that you’re interested in who they are and what they’re all about. As weird as it may seem, it does fancy people to know that someone is interested in them and (in all of my experience) they’ll feel comfortable at opening up about themselves and learning about you, too.

This version of stop, drop, and roll works every time if you’re truly interested in learning about someone else. If you don’t believe me, think about what it was like when you were a child and you just oozed with questions about the world around you … exactly. People answered you. People understood that you were just curious and you were excited to learn something that you didn’t understand. People also knew that if they opened up and explained the questions that you had as a child, you would be apt to hold a better understanding than most people, and that you would be able to defend their culture if you hadn’t asked the questions in the first place.

This may sound naive and corny, but it works.

So STOP, DROP, ROLL and learn something new– even if you think you already know it all.

Everyone has a story.

Tyler Martin is a Residence Hall Director at Valdosta State University.