I met Gustavo Monje ’05 in his house in Alexandria, Virginia, and interviewed him in his beautiful Reiki and Tarot-reading room. He talked about his aspiration to become a spiritual life coach, his job as a professor of developmental English at Northern Virginia Community College, his music, and his time at Antioch.
Antioch was like the beginning of my life. I had a wonderful high school experience, too, with some close friends, but when I went to Antioch I realized so much of the world that I didn’t know about—so many ideas that I’d never learned about, so many forms of thought and analysis that you don’t get in school. So at college I got exactly what one would hope to get at college, which is to be introduced into the world of ideas, and to learn how to think critically, and to be given the tools to not just analyze society, but also change society and advance society and empower, especially people who are disempowered in society. At Antioch I became very socially active and conscious. It was just heaven. My professors were so kind and giving and were really present in their jobs and what they did. They really just found potential in all of us and gave everybody like a special boost, you know? I think there’s a reason why we’re so committed to Antioch and so nostalgic about Antioch. Because, not only the mission of the school, but also the town, the Glen, the history of the school. And like all great things, it’s not just what it is that makes it special, it’s who it attracts that makes it really special. Antioch wouldn’t be special if it wasn’t for all of us that became a part of it and made it what is.
