This is for all of you who sit with your friends at lunch in the dining hall and read The Observer instead of talking to each other, for all of you first-year students who are wondering why you don't feel like you know your roommates very well yet (maybe because you read The Observer instead of talking to each other?), for all you seniors who think you know your roommates really well. Try this little exercise: ask each other a few, or more, of these relatively random questions and see if you learn anything new. Enjoy!
If you could eat the best dessert in the world, what would it be? What's your favorite place to eat out? Why? What's the best topping on pizza? What do you like to do when you exercise? What kind of job do you think you'll have when you grow up? Why? Have you ever blamed someone for something they didn't do? How did you feel? Do you ever do volunteer work? What do you like about it? What's hard about it? Does your mother have a nickname for you? What is it? When does she use that nickname? Does your father have a nickname for you? What is it? When does he use that nickname? What's your favorite sport to play? What's your favorite sport to watch? Why? Think about a person who is your hero. What makes them your hero? Would you ever like to be president (President of what, you ask? Your pick.)? What would you do if you were president?
What has been your most memorable trip by airplane? Why? What's your favorite book? Who wrote it? Who's the best character you ever encountered in a book? Why?
How many places have you lived in your life? What have they been like? What would you do for Indiana if you were governor? What's your favorite song? Why? What's your favorite holiday? Why? Do you ever feel lonely? What do you do about it? Who are your three best friends? What do you like about each of them? What is something special that you own? What makes it so special to you? What's your favorite thing to do in the wintertime? Summertime? Do you remember your favorite bedtime book or story when you were little? What do you remember about it? What's your favorite color? Why? What's your favorite board game to play? Why? Do you have any special memories or relationships with your grandparents?
If you could invent something, what would it be? What makes you really, really happy? What makes you really, really sad? What do you do about it? Have you ever been blamed for something you didn't do? How did it make you feel? What have you prayed about lately? Philippians 4:13 reads, "I can do all things through God who strengthens me." Do you ever memorize Scripture verses? Does this one seem worth memorizing? Why or why not?
Who are some of the people you are thankful for in your life? What do you love about Notre Dame? What lasting mark do you hope you'll leave here?
Kate Barrett is the Director of Resources & Special Projects for Campus Ministry. She can be contacted at Barrett.28@nd.edu
The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not
necessarily those of The Observer
