Charday Ward
The
following one-on-one interview delves into the meaning and value of the Liberal
Arts field of study.
After
being homeschooled from 1st-12th grade, Charday Ward
graduated from CASL in 2010 having majored in English and minored in African
and African American Studies. She currently works as a Community Developer in
Detroit, and is convinced her liberal arts back ground has widened her world,
personally, and professionally.
Charday
shares her story below…
What
did you enjoy most about your CASL student experience?
Charday: I enjoyed my
African and African American Studies (AAAS) classes and all the perks that came
along with being in that program. The Souls of Success retreat was one of the
highlights of my college career. Also, meeting campus guests like legendary
jazz artist Ken Cox, poet and activist Sonia Sanchez, international theater
director Aku Kadogo, and renowned jazz percussionist Jerry LeDuff had a major
impact on my life. These were my professors' personal friends and they brought
them to our campus to enrich our college experience and inspire us to be world
changers and creators.
How
has your liberal arts degree helped determine your career choice/path?
Charday: My liberal
arts degree shaped my career choice/path by making me an extremely well-rounded
person who can do so many things in so many different fields. Shortly after
graduating from UM-D, I went into education and now I work as a Community Developer
in Detroit. I hope to one day serve in a political office and I know with a
background in liberal arts I have the knowledge and experiences to effectively
serve my community as a legislator.
How
has your liberal arts degree shaped you as a person?
Charday: My liberal
arts degree and the material studied in my programs inspired me to become a
community minded individual and to do whatever was in my power to positively
influence people in my community. It shaped my perspective of the world around
me and made me a great teacher of English, African-American History and
Writing, and also prepared to me effectively work in the Detroit community as a
Youth Coordinator for a community development corporation. Studying liberal
arts also awakened the creative side of me, and exposed me to literature and
humanities that inspired me to become an emerging playwright and poet.
Do
you think people misunderstand the value of a liberal arts degree? And if so,
how do you help to adjust their understanding?
Charday: Yes, I think people
misunderstand the value of a liberal arts degree. Sometimes a liberal arts
degree is mistakenly considered "easy" or "unfocused." However, I feel that it made me well-rounded, taught me the ways of the world, and
prepared me for work in the service field. I always advocate for a liberal arts
education, especially when I am advising young people. I encourage them to
study literature, history, communications and writing because it will help them
to be successful in almost any career.
Did you do
anything exciting to celebrate Women’s History Month?
Charday: Yes! I had the
opportunity to conduct a workshop with some young ladies at Alternatives for
Girls. We had a very invigorating discussion about women's equality and
what needs to be done to solve some of the inequities that women face in
America. It was an extremely inspiring conversation and it moved me to continue
the discourse in other spaces like it.
Interview conducted by Leah T. Johnson, CASL 2011