More Than a Great Theatre Program: Why Jessica Coleman Also Wanted a Diverse College Community
Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida
Theatre
Every student has at least one “Why ORU?” story. Some, like Jessica Coleman, have
more than one. Jessica, who transferred to ORU from a Florida junior college, came
to ORU as a theatre major. That “Why ORU?” story is about her talent as a storyteller
and her God-given purpose. Her other “Why ORU?” is about diversity; it’s about finding
a college where students grow and change in a community of different cultures.
Why ORU? Because of the Arts
In high school, Jessica says she was unsure of her purpose in life. Despite her love of performance and storytelling, she doubted her future as an artist. Pushing against this doubt, she asked herself, “Why would God put me in these places to perform? Why did He make me creative if He wanted me to do something else?” With these questions in mind, Jessica decided to pursue theater. She says she decided to stop being scared.
“I stepped beyond the four walls I was used to,” Jessica said, “and this made me more confident that a theatre degree will help my career after college. Theater is important to me because I love to tell stories. I love using my vessel as an art form. There are people out there that need theater; they want to see these stories being told.”
Last August, ORU made a significant investment in the arts with the opening of the new Peggy V. Helmerich Media Arts Center. It was a big investment in the future of Christian artists like Jessica. Since coming to ORU, Jessica says that ORU’s expanding theatre program has helped her grow as a performer and storyteller.
“ORU Theatre,” Jessica said, “has trained me to tell stories from a truthful place. I’ve moved beyond just ‘putting on’ a character. The other thing that’s great about ORU is we do challenging theatre, but we also offer roles and stories for Christian artists.”
“ORU Theatre has trained me to tell stories from a truthful place. I’ve moved beyond just ‘putting on’ a character. The other thing that’s great about ORU is we do challenging theatre, but we also offer roles and stories for Christian artists.”
Why ORU? Because of the Diversity
A great theatre program … this was important to Jessica’s college search. But great theatre only checked one box. Jessica says she was also looking for a diverse university; specifically, authentic diversity. As Jessica puts it, “every college says they're diverse.”
“Diversity is important to me,” Jessica said, “because you get comfortable in the culture you grow up in. You develop a mindset based on what’s around you. In that situation, you don’t think a lot, or you’re only thinking like the people around you. So I wanted to make sure I chose a university where I could meet people who didn’t grow up the way I grew up. I wanted to explore new cultures and new situations.”
To say ORU is “diverse” is an understatement. For four years straight, ORU has been ranked the “#1 Most Diverse College in Oklahoma” by Niche, and over the last six years, students have enrolled from all 50 states and 174 nations. This checked the second box for Jessica, who says the diversity at ORU has changed her as a person.
“Being at ORU,” Jessica said, “I tend to ask more questions. When you meet a person who’s from another place or country, it’s easy to misrepresent who they are or stick to preconceived notions. The diversity at ORU has helped me grow beyond that. Here, I’ve met so many different people and developed a skill in making new connections. My roommate is from another country, and back home, it’s very difficult for her to proclaim her faith. If I wasn’t at ORU, I would’ve never experienced a story like hers.”
Nationally Ranked, Globally Recognized
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 17 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 174 nations in the last 6 years to be whole leaders for the whole world.
