Many educators from my past have provided me with knowledge towards building relationships through invitation and hospitality. Growing up I can say that majority of the time, I felt a sense of welcome and belonging in the classrooms I attended. My teachers have been noticeably accepting, kind, and respectful to every different individual, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, language, etc. I have either been blessed with amazing, non-discriminating teachers throughout my years, or I have not noticed nor witnessed when acts of exclusion may have occurred. One example of invitation, is having teachers that welcomed every individual into the classroom. A constant effort was made to connect with students on a personal basis, whether by saying hello, good morning/afternoon, or asking how our day was. This created an inviting atmosphere and was purposeful in preparation for a great class. In elementary school, I saw teachers honouring invitation and hospitality by taking advantage of the time we had together, which allowed for everyone to express their interests and believes in the material being taught. High School is a tad tougher because you are not with everyone all day, so when teachers were not engaging with us prior to the lesson, I often noticed people closed off and not as willing to participate in the discussions. I believe this was because people are not as comfortable when they don’t know or can’t connect with individuals. Even doing so briefly would add trust and a sense of connection. Another way that teachers can built a sense of community is by assigning specific people for members in group projects. This seems so simple, but not consistently being with your friends, allowed for personal connections to expand and the addition of new people to a person’s support system. It is important that teachers build a sense of community through trust, safety, and acceptance, which can be done through the atmosphere and a conversation prior to class beginning. All of these points are recognized and are crucial in understanding invitation and hospitality within a classroom.