For some, this word evokes rose-colored memories of home, family, friends; for others, this word is technical terminology, one of many terms for a group of people. Others, still, consider this word stifling, a group forced together by a shared trait (like geography). In light of these distinct understandings, you’d imagine that the word would be used rarely, and with care, not with the flippancy you’re likely to see.

The Oxford American Dictionary defines community as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.” In its most simplified form, then, a community is just a method of grouping people.

This simplistic definition neglects to include the deeper reasons for, and responsibilities of, a community. Humans are social creatures who depend on each other for survival. Beyond that, what meaning could this word offer?

I’m an English nerd, so I’m fond of breaking words into its constituent parts. Bear with me! The prefix “co-” implies togetherness; to “commune” is to mutually share secrets, desires, or thoughts (Oxford American Dictionary, definition 2). As a returning Community Leader at Baylor, I hope to emphasize this second definition in the minds of those I work with and encounter daily. Buzzwords like “honesty,” “accountability,” and “respect” are easy to throw around and much harder to actually employ. Moving beyond a group of people who merely live together in a residence hall, I endeavor to foster community to the greatest degree: individuals who rely on one another, who take risks and bare their souls, and who seek encouragement and growth in equal measures.

Sadly, it’s all too easy for students to eat, sleep, and study in a cramped residence hall without ever pursuing a higher level of community. As I continue to live in a freshman hall, I aim to empower my residents to form a much richer community. Even the smallest step––greeting a neighbor, discussing assignments, or grabbing lunch together––is progress towards a worthwhile, invested community.