Humanities department implements course on love

Growing emotionally is just as important as academically.

That’s why the humanities department began a course this year that targets not only education, but also the education of understanding love.

Humanities 108, Understanding Love, is the first of its kind, created by Contra Costa College humanities and philosophy department Chairperson David “Dejarah” Houston.

Houston said love is something that should be talked about.

“We are daring to suggest that love be a more welcomed topic to talk about,” he said.

But there is more to the class than learning about love.

“This class is important, because it teaches you the right way to love and the right way to deal with relationships,” student Joanna Lopez said.

Love isn’t something that most people could just start talking about with anyone; most students in the class are not jumping at the chance to give their opinion on such a personal topic.

“Emotions are a very scary thing to bring up for some people,” student Nesa Quintens said.

It is for that exact reason, however, Houston wanted to add this course to the program.

“We are trying to open a dialog,” he said. “I have an idea to make love a more natural topic to bring up, like when one brings up politics.”

To get people talking, Houston has everyone create a circle and starts off by asking a question for everyone to answer.

During the first go around, not many people wanted to talk. But as different topics surfaced, the students started to feed off each other and opened up more.

The students said the sharing of personal experiences was helpful.

“The sharing aspect of the class was most helpful,” student Mariela Gomez said.

“The sharing was therapeutic for me, especially because I had been going through a hard time.”

Through class discussions, it is clear why the course is called “understanding love” and not just a “love class.”

As the conversation became more in-depth, it showed why students needed and enjoyed the class — to understand love, one must first learn about love.

“Before you could truly love someone else, you must know how love works,” student Nesa Lopez said.

Student Chareisha Gordon said most people take love for granted like it’s always going to be there, but for some people love has not always been something they could count on.

“This class is important because not everyone is raised knowing or feeling love. So, some people really do need to know what love and healthy relationships are,” Gordon said.

Students found they could not agree on what was most interesting or helpful about the class. They all had their own favorites.

Student Mystique Jones said, “The class is very interesting, I really enjoyed it. (It) showed me so many different aspects of love. (It is) very helpful, especially with me being a first-time mom.”

James Solis said, “The class is very insightful, cool because I get to hear about other peoples’ points of view when dealing with love.”

Houston said the importance of Understanding Love is to show the importance of love as it pertains to society.

“We still haven’t learned to make emotional investments in one another,” Houston said.

He also mentioned how if humans are to better themselves as a race, they must open their hearts to everyone no matter how different.

He said, “We have to learn to love everybody, if we are to evolve as a species.”