Meet Chris Caldwell

Whitworth Cadre Three
'09 Communications Major
Life Christian Academy '05

The Tongue is Sharper than the Sword

With thorough research, Chris Caldwell has his battle plan mapped out. He has practiced and trained using his meticulously planned strategy. Facing his enemy, he knows his plan of attack – he's ready to strike. Chris, however, is not fighting with swords or fists, but rather, his words. And Chris' arena is not a stadium or boxing ring, but the podium. Chris is a debater. "Speech and debate is the ultimate thrill ride," he said. "I left from (speaking) events tired, hungry and mentally fatigued, but it was just so much fun," Chris said laughingly. Before every speech or debate, Chris said he contemplatively links different elements of the "Gladiator's" opening battle scene, to his presentation practice. "Researching is the battle plan and then you practice, which is training, and when it comes time to do the fight, or the presentation, you know what you're going to do and hopefully you'll end up winning."

Nerd Pride

Chris unabashedly said he is a "complete and total nerd." He said he loves being one. "I'm a nerd in the way that you see guys playing Dungeons & Dragons on a Friday night way," Chris said. "I love to pretend, I love to think about fantasy, I love to create stories and I love being eclectic."

Aside the enjoyment of playing "nerdy games," Chris enjoys reading, working out and hiking. Despite being a self-described nerd, Chris played football during his high school years, which sparked his interest in Whitworth. The summer before his junior year in high school, Chris went to Whitworth for a football camp. The following spring of his junior year, his pastor mentioned the Act Six program and how the scholarship is specifically designed for Whitworth. Chris said he always wanted to go but couldn't pay for Whitworth's educational cost.

Being Direct

Chris' style of leadership best reflects the way he talks: directly. "I found out that the best way to deal with something is to deal with somebody upfront," Chris said. But he said he hasn't always been like this. When Chris was younger, he said he hurt a lot of people by being indirect. But Chris said his specific leadership style isn't a one size fits all. "If you can be direct yet tactful, you can accomplish a lot," he said.

The Act Six Difference

"If you didn't have the Act Six program, you wouldn't have those relationships, and really, relationships are what build your own character," Chris said. When it comes to giving the message of multicultural leadership at Whitworth, Chris said being an Act Six scholar is picking and choosing when and where to reach out. "You can't treat everyone like they're morons or they're ignorant," Chris said. There will be people who say stupid things, but at Whitworth, there are people who want to learn, Chris said. "As far as I'm concerned, me being an agent of change is going to require me to be able to deal with issues in a way that is tactful, respectful, but at the same time meaningful," Chris said. "You can be respectful but if you haven't shed some light on somebody's stupid, you haven't done anything."

By YONG KIM
6/27/08

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