Last Friday, I attended my 30th high school reunion. I was nervous, excited, tired and optimistic. I also had a lot of questions.

Who might show up? Our class of almost 700 included a wide variety of people, including all the stereotypical groups: cowboys, grunge listeners, pep squad, fashionistas, nerds, metalheads and then some. We Layton Lancers are a diverse and convivial bunch — or at least we were, and I hoped that was still the case.

What might we all be like? Time can do a lot to bodies, faces, attitudes and outcomes. I know I have more than a few extra pounds, thicker glasses and less energy than I did back then. And the amount of gray in my hair, well, I could easily be the bride of Frankenstein for Halloween without getting a wig or a dye job.

Would people remember me? Would I remember people?

My husband, Chip, and I were some of the first to arrive. I was just as nervous as when I attended high school stomps. As a matter of fact, I think my hands were just as sweaty. As we walked in, we were greeted by a larger-than-life banner alongside white, blue and navy-blue balloons. I grabbed a name tag (thank goodness for those things) and looked around a nicely decorated warehouse filled with tables, lights and music.

I was transported back in time upon seeing my sweet friend Melissa (Winegar) Pettingill. She gave me a hug and her megawatt smile, and we didn’t miss a beat. It felt like we were simply catching up from our last conversation. And that was the way it went all evening — turning around, finding someone I hadn’t thought of in decades and easily reconnecting, all while eating the World’s Best Corndogs and the tastiest tacos from food trucks that turned out the sustenance all night long.

My heart ached as we reminisced about friends we had lost along the way, including one just weeks ago. It was a poignant reminder that accident, suicides, health crises and the world in general can be tough on all of us, and yet we carry on. I noticed that we gave each other the grace we hoped to receive ourselves. I loved how excited we were to celebrate our accomplishments and cheer each other on, as well as our ability to grieve the hard times.

I was also delighted to see that, while our perspectives may have changed, our ability to connect with each other had not. Something we struggle with so deeply as a community — that ability to see each other as people when we disagree — this class seemed to work right through. Sharing our histories as Lancers united us, and our differences only contributed to the overall beauty of reuniting. I was grateful for this time.

However, the nervousness and hope I felt before my class reunion I’m now carrying with me to our upcoming diversity conference at Weber State University, where I expect to see familiar faces mixed in with new ones. Like my fellow Lancers did, I pray that those who make their way to Weber State for this year’s conference will give each other grace as we explore “A Diversity of Beliefs, Religion & Spirituality: Controversy, Conflict & Compassion.”

We live in a world of various views and belief systems that, at first glance, often seem to conflict with each other. So, the question we seek to explore is: How can a diversity of beliefs bring us together to solve problems and address issues of our day in a divided world? From atheist to devout, each worldview matters. And, given the right frame of mind, we can work with others from differing viewpoints to impact the world for good.

A student panel discussion on these themes will kick off our conference Thursday at Weber State University Davis in Layton, while events on Friday will happen at the Ogden campus with concurrent workshop sessions beginning at 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Our keynote speaker is the Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries Jr., who will present virtually at 12:30 p.m. Attendees can watch with an audience in the Shepherd Union Ballroom or via Zoom. More information is available at weber.edu/diversity/diversityconference.html.

In this annual convening, I hope to recreate that feeling of community from my high school reunion. Our communities are stronger when we create spaces for connection, reconnection and consideration — when we provide a voice to all, even those who feel unnoticed. United under the Weber State banner, I’m confident we can make room for each other to come as we are, learning with and from each other during each session. I’m excited for us to develop a space where we can not only be together but also look forward to reuniting in years to come.

Adrienne Andrews is the vice president of equity, diversity and inclusion at Weber State University. Twitter: AdieAndrewsCDO

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