Chris Wadibia

COL ’16
Age: 19
Hometown: Mobile, Ala.
Major: Government

What do you think Georgetown will help you accomplish?
I would say first I hope Georgetown will help me to develop an understanding of who I am as an individual, to help me solidify the virtues and the principles that I adhere to in the most intimate fashion and that I hold most dear. I hope Georgetown helps me to accomplish that. I went to a Christian non-denominational high school, and that laid a strong spiritual foundation in my life, so I hope Georgetown allows me to build upon that, and one of the greatest ways it is doing that is introducing me to the Jesuit values. I had no idea what the word “Jesuit” meant before coming to Georgetown. I was like “It sounds like Jesus,” so it must be good. But since I’ve gotten here I’ve realized it’s more about the intellectual journey that comes with your faith. It’s not just about the make-you-feel-good stuff; it’s also about the intellectual questions. 

What’s your favorite class that you’ve taken so far?
I would say my favorite class in terms of the course material that I’ve taken so far I think has been international relations with professor Matthew Kroenig. I really found that interesting to learn about realism, liberalism, constructivism, bureaucratic politics, but also to find academic ways to articulate the kind of activity that takes place in the international arena. In terms of classes that I’ve gotten the most out of, when I was a freshman I took professor John Pfordresher’s Italy in the Imagination class. When I first came to Georgetown I was really nervous because I came from Mobile, Ala., and it was a huge culture shock coming here. I was also told that the academics of the east coast were far superior to those of the South and that I would be behind from the beginning. It was an Ignatius Seminar and it was funded by a stipend, which he used to take the class out to dinner, to go Dumbarton Oaks and to go to plays written by Italian playwrights. He’s a very grandfatherly figure. He made me feel comfortable at Georgetown and like I belonged here in a community sense. But also he really made me feel like I belonged here as a student academically. I would take my papers to him and feel like I was not even close to the rest of the students in the class and he alleviated all such concerns. He taught me that succinctness can be far better than writing a bunch, that you don’t need to write nine words if you can just write one. And a second that I’m taking now is with professor Maureen Corrigan. She writes for NPR and is a huge deal. She’s so personable. She helps me to focus on things like nailing fresh metaphors, something that no one’s ever heard before, but that makes sense once you hear it.

If you could lead a protest on anything what would it be?
Protests can be effective and they can be ineffective. The Westboro Baptist Church: They’re a type of protest that I find deplorable for many reasons, including that they’re not representing the Christian values that they claim to. I would probably protest something like the Westboro Baptist Church. When they protest the funerals of marines I think that’s dishonorable, and where there’s no honor, God is displeased, and where there is honor, God smiles upon that. 

A post on Georgetown Confessions alleged that you were the nicest person in the world, and it was very well liked. Now we all know that Georgetown Confessions isn’t exactly an authority on niceness, but how do you react to something like that?
I would say I try not to focus on anything like accolades. If someone thinks that, then that’s wonderful. But I’m not going to focus on the fact that somebody thinks I’m kind. I’m going to demonstrate kindness in my life. For me, it’s not about titles. It’s about actions, about demonstration of the love within your heart. So do I think I’m the nicest person in the world? I would say I leave that for people who can answer. Regarding that post in specific, there is fulfillment in my heart that my life has been able to make a positive impact in the life of someone else, because that’s ultimately the reason why I live. I try to make the most of every day. 

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned here?
There are many great things I have learned here. I would say the most important thing is to honor the good present in all people and to never assume, “Oh, this person must be a rude person” or “This person must be a person that does not have good morals.” Never think that.

Is that hard for you? Do you see bad in people and make an effort to get past it, or do you find yourself only seeing good in others?
I would say I’m human. So I am fallible. I am imperfect. I try to view everything through the lens of my Christian faith and to filter my thoughts very heavily. So if I see someone acting in a belligerent way toward me and I don’t even know him, my first thought would be, “Man, this person is rude.” But then immediately because of the way I’ve tried to pour the Bible into my heart and mind, my next thought would be, “Well, a wise man overlooks an offense” as it says in the proverbs, or even something as cliche as “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” So I would say the greatest lesson I’ve learned here is to honor others above yourself, and to honor the good present in all people. All people have the potential to have good present within their being. 

What would you say the best thing about Georgetown is? If you were to convince someone on Georgetown in one sentence, what would it be?
If you want to attend a university that will teach you the necessary steps for you to become your best self in life, then it is imperative that you look into going to Georgetown University. 

And what could Georgetown do better?
I am blessed to have many friends on campus that come from diverse backgrounds, and I think the university does a good job of trying to hear the voices that speak for the needs of Georgetown’s diverse community. But I do think there needs to be some sort of explicit and tangible apparatus in place so that students don’t just think that the university is hearing them, but so that they know that the university is listening to them. There are many students on campus who think that administrators aren’t listening to us, but I believe our administrators have good hearts, at that they really strive to do what’s in the best interests of the students. I think there needs to be some sort of apparatus in place to alleviate the worries of our diverse student body, specifically the worry that they’re not being heard. 

Interview by Ben Germano