Our first featured Humans of the semester are Brooke Greenstein ‘20 and Nick Sepulveda ‘20. This wonderful pair is facilitating a sexuality dialogue this semester. Here’s what they have to say about IDP:
Co-Facilitators Brooke ’20 and Nick ’20
Why IDP?
Brooke: I took IDP after it was recommended to me by a couple of my sorority sisters, and I’ve gotten so much more out of it than I could have hoped. IDP has given me a new language and a new lens for looking at social justice. It’s helped me be more confident in my communication skills, but also in the concept that communicating with others can really make a difference. IDP allows me to regularly think deeply about myself and my own identities and the situations around me. I am so grateful to be a part of the IDP community and to learn from such a wonderful and insightful group of people!
Nick: Deciding to take IDP my sophomore year was one of the best decisions I’ve made at Cornell. I’ve never really been challenged about my stances on certain topics or even been exposed to them enough to form my own opinion, so it was it was eye-opening and extremely thought-provoking to be able to finally discuss these ideas. Taking the next step and becoming a facilitator felt to me like completing the “circle of IDP.” I’ve been educated and challenged in the class, and now I feel like it’s my turn to challenge and educate and to continue learning. Also, I feel like IDP decided to snatch up the most genuine people on campus and put them in one organization. The people here are fantastic, and I’m grateful to have met so many of them so far.
What is your favorite thing about your co-facilitator?
Brooke: My favorite thing about Nick is his goofy charisma. He has a way of making the whole room laugh, and he pushes me to take myself less seriously (in a good way). Also, he makes a great classic rock playlist.
Nick: Oh my goodness, let me tell you a little something about BROOKE. Absolute beast. It’s ridiculous, Brooke has to rest her back every night from carrying me so hard. I really can’t pinpoint one thing about her that’s my favorite; as a facilitator, she’s hard-working, observant, and just somehow always manages to make the right calls. As a person, she’s kind, genuine, and overall just a good human being. I’ve said this before, but when I think of an ideal facilitator, I think of Brooke, because she has such a presence in the classroom that simply allows students to feel comfortable and challenged to do their best. Though she doesn’t know what “yeet” means, it’s her one flaw that I can look past. Though this write-up may be a bit animated, I’m just really grateful that Brooke ended up as my co-facilitator.