My first time ever feeling like I belonged somewhere is when I first moved to Rhode Island from Connecticut. I moved here coming into my fifth-grade year, and I was super nervous starting a new school at an older age, as there were friendships that have already been bonded over years and I would be brand new. Coming from where I was from in Connecticut it wasn't the most diverse neighborhood, and you didn't see teachers or students that looked like me. Most having blonde hair and blue eyes, and parents who owned houses and businesses. But when I started here in Rhode Island I was blown away by the number of students and faculty that looked like me, and I finally felt as if I didn't stand out. My curl pattern would blend in line with my classmates, no one would touch my braids and ask questions, it was truly a different experience. Then as I met friends and grew bonds with them, I realized that they to have a single parent and live in apartments as well. For the first time in years, I couldn't shut up about school and how excited I was to not have to feel like I need to do certain things to fit in or not stick out, in ways people would start to ask questions. Feeling like this a huge reason to why I feel like diversity is something we need to take into consideration more and really push to become the norm.
For my connections piece I found a quick clip from Brene Brown on the opposite of belonging is fitting in. She goes on to explain that fitting in is assessing a group of people and thinking: Who do I need to be? What do I need to say? What do I need to wear? How do I have to act? and CHANGING who you are. I feel this hit right on the head with Breathe from In the Heights, as we know that Nina went off to Stamford and came back as she struggled to try to fit in and be great there. In the musical we see her try to change and fit in, but it just didn't suit her well. From this I just remember ever day to strive to be your authentic self, always. Something one of my classmates reminded me about myself this semester. ❤
No comments:
Post a Comment