As we return to campus, it’s a comforting feeling to settle back into a normal routine: splitting our time between our first class assignments and serious, pre-professional extracurriculars. With all these responsibilities, it can sometimes feel like we never have time for fun. But what if it didn’t always have to be this way? My New Year’s resolution is to pursue more things I am passionate about — even if they might not seem to add any tangible value to my future.
My inspiration for this resolution came from an unexpected source: the Faunce Arch Preacher, one of College Hill’s most active evangelicals. Last semester, I found his presence on Brown’s campus surprising, given that the University is a secular institution. The first time I saw him, I didn’t even hear enough of what he was saying to tell what he was doing, and assumed he was just another speaker for a political cause. A time or two after that, I stopped and listened long enough to realize he was preaching to the Brown community. But his sermon seemed to be falling on deaf ears.
Assuming that the Faunce Arch Preacher’s goal is to convert members of the Brown student body, it feels like he is pursuing a fruitless endeavor. According to The Herald’s 2025 First-Year Poll, 51% of incoming students identified as either atheist, agnostic or not religious at all. Keeping these demographics in mind, it seems unlikely that many students will stop and chat with the preacher. And yet, the Faunce Arch Preacher is consistently standing outside the arch — Bible in hand — speaking what we can only assume to be his truth.
While preaching isn’t necessarily the next activity on my to-do list, the Faunce Arch Preacher should inspire us all to pursue our own fruitless passions, whatever they may be. What makes the preacher compelling isn’t his message or his success rate, but the fact that he shows up anyway. He comes back not because his work produces measurable outcomes, but because he believes the act itself is inherently worthwhile. The preacher’s commitment challenges the idea that time is only well spent if it leads somewhere, reminding us that doing something simply because we love it can be reason enough.
At a place like Brown, where the focus on future payoffs, such as grades, leadership roles and internships, is becoming increasingly emphasized, spending any amount of time on something purely for joy can feel almost subversive. But engaging in these activities can be freeing and allows you to chase more wholesome meaning for your time, beyond a stacked LinkedIn profile at the end of the semester. Research has proven that taking breaks while doing academic work is beneficial for productivity and avoiding burnout. During these breaks, spending time on hobbies that bring you real happiness is more meaningful — and better for you — than doomscrolling. These “fruitful” benefits are merely side effects of pursuing activities solely for pleasure — you should ultimately pursue these hobbies for your satisfaction, not for any potential gain.
We should all be inspired by the Faunce Arch Preacher to break down Brown’s culture of hyper-productivity in favor of one that embraces the power of leisure. Try something seemingly fruitless this semester, for a change, instead of stacking your resume. The Faunce Arch Preacher’s presence isn’t just an example of free expression — it’s a reminder that we should all spend time doing what we love, even if it may not amount to anything.
Clay Edelson ’29 can be reached at clayton_edelson@brown.edu. Please send responses to this column to letters@browndailyherald.com and other opinions to opinions@browndailyherald.com
