OUR THEMES OF THE MONTH EXCERPTS
FEBRUARY 2021 THEME OF THE MONTH: LOVE - EXCERPTS
Check out what love means to our staff in the excerpts down below!
Roshini’s Excerpt
Love is an all encompassing feeling. It can be sweet and gentle, harsh and passionate, overbearing and painful. It’s a completely unique feeling that differs for each person, and that’s what makes it truly beautiful. You can experience love between you and your parents, your friends, a significant other, or your favorite book or show. There is no one relationship you have that defines what love is supposed to feel like.
Suhayla’s Excerpt
Valentine’s Day was never an appealing holiday to me. It always seemed like a superficial show of love. Why do we need a specific day to say we love someone? Shouldn’t that love be expressed all year? Even as someone born and raised in the United States, I felt like this day exacerbated a difference between “true Americans” and me. My parents never saw it as a necessity to express their love like the American couples I saw in TV shows and social media. In fact, it’s not really common in our culture to say things like “I love you” or “thank you.” My parents’ love was a given because of how they always cared for each other. It never needed to be outwardly expressed. Valentine’s Day to me was a cheap way of glorifying something that should be the bare minimum for romantic partners.
Nevertheless, I could not ignore how much I liked the mood uplift that came near the end of every January. The first month of the year was never the best for me, but seeing Valentine’s decorations at the grocery store brought sheer joy. I could not ignore my love for the color pink nor my love for pink-foil-wrapped chocolates. I learned to appreciate this holiday for its beautiful aesthetics, much like how I did with Christmas. Later on, I developed a deeper understanding of what Valentine’s day can be. It’s not just a gaudy show of love between romantic partners. It can be a reminder for everyone that they’re loved - whether it’s platonically, romantically, or familially. Sure, we know that we love people and they love us back. Nevertheless, it doesn’t hurt to take time out of our day to tell people we love and appreciate them. In fact, it can make people feel good when they need a quick serotonin boost. Whether it’s hearing my mom tell me she’s proud of me or reading a friend’s gushy text (looking at you, Vaishnavi), my day immediately gets better.
I take after my parents in the fact that I don’t believe in making a grand gesture of love for people. I’ll never be the type of person to buy huge bouquets of roses, 50 dollar teddy bears, and artisan chocolates just for one day. I’ll never be the type of person to expect such things from others. However, I know that even the smallest expressions of love can make huge impacts. Whether someone wants to spend hundreds of bucks or just a little bit of their time to show people they love them, they still successfully capture the true spirit of this holiday.
Lauren’s Excerpt
It’s rare that I ever think of Valentine’s Day as more of a romantic holiday nowadays because to be honest, that’s the last thing I have in my life. I think about the tradition that my family has, which is to go to Plaza Azteca for dinner. It’s simple, but hey, I love doing it because I’m celebrating the most important people and relationships in my life. I think with all the craziness surrounding Valentine’s Day and or Singles’ Awareness Day, we tend to forget that it’s really not that important if you have a boyfriend/girlfriend or not. I used to get a little salty and proudly say, “Happy Singles’ Awareness Day!!!”; however, not now. Maybe it’s because I’m just becoming an adult and thinking like one, and wanting to simply enjoy being with my family and friends, because I love them and that’s never going to change. Romantic relationships come and go, but family and close friends are forever. Hence why I celebrate Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day for them because they’re awesome and here to stay.
Jamie’s Excerpt
I can’t help but adore the Valentine’s Day aesthetic. The alluring red that fills artificial and authentic hearts, the soft pink that makes the fur of teddy bears oh-so-fluffy, powdery candies, and rich chocolate (I barely even like chocolate!) are all such beautiful symbols of the sweetness that encapsulates the best parts of love. I don’t have a significant other, nor do I really celebrate the holiday with anyone, but you best believe that I’m taking those Skittles if given the chance. You could say that my admiration for Valentine’s Day is superficial, and you would be very right. However, my outlook on love itself pierces much deeper than sugary gifts. The bubbling of joy when they laugh; the jab of pain when they are hurt; the relief of companionship when you finally reunite after a long time...love is something.
With mental illness, it is much more than something. Difficulty with expressing emotions constantly leads to excessive self-critique, and the desire to be socially distant makes relationships hard to maintain. It feels like you are purposely inflicting pain on the other person even when you are dead tired, can’t function, can’t think straight, can hardly exist. And since you are so socially inept, you hold back from just saying that you need a break and end up leaving them lost on your intentions. Other people just don’t understand the concept of emotional exhaustion in spite of clearly communicated explanations of your behavior. It can damage relationships beyond repair, and these aren’t even the most severe symptoms of mental illness in the broadest of terms.
Betcha didn’t see that coming. Mental illness lingers in every aspect of life, especially love, so if you aren’t taking enough care to handle it, then it may sneak up to shred your most precious bonds to pieces. That goes for both my drained people and your partners. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Elizabeth’s Excerpt
There are many things I don’t understand about love.
In movies and books, romantic love is often one thread interwoven with many plots. People don’t think this realistically in real life, though—holidays like Valentine’s Day and media trends make us feel pressured to find love and be loved. We all think we’re missing out if we don’t have it, so love often becomes something that’s forced. For example, take the idea of arranging dates—why make a plan to spend time together? Just talk to the person you like. You don’t have to go to a movie and eat at a restaurant to feel like your relationship is valid! But this forced interaction begs the question: is love something you chase after, or something that develops at the same pace that you do?
I don’t understand the differences between friendly and romantic love, either, other than the physical side of a relationship. If I want to be around you as a friend, then I’ll be the most loyal person you know. I’ll show my true personality and let down my guard. I won’t make advances towards you (like hugs and other mushy stuff), but I won’t always reject any advances made towards me. That’s probably similar to what would happen in a romantic relationship with me, too. I guess it’s the declaration of a relationship that shifts people’s interactions. Like if we mutually expect to be in a romantic relationship, then maybe I have to change my way of thinking and put some effort into skinship? It’s all so confusing. But I guess that’s why friends sometimes fall in love.
I don’t know why people have to “show” their love with money and products. I mean, I appreciate someone giving me chocolates on Valentine’s Day, but is one heart-shaped box of sweets supposed to affect how I think about them? Maybe it’s down to declaring a relationship again. If someone approaches you with a product associated with romantic love, it’s a cop-out for them having feelings for you; and if you’re already in a relationship and get a similar product, they’re renewing their claim to you. See, doesn’t the whole thing sound stupid now? The only gift that comes to mind that shows love is something homemade. Music, art, or some other form of expression. But then people who give gifts without those talents suddenly become “loveless.” What even is the point of gifts? To make someone smile briefly, because we want them to feel as happy as we do when we’re around them? Hmm, maybe. I guess all gifts are temporary, anyways; it’s the association of the gift that is important.
I guess there are some answers to the concept of “love,” but others will remain a mystery. Maybe that’s part of the beauty of this season—we are pushed to reflect on what truly matters, and meant to appreciate those people whom we love even more.
Vaishnavi’s Excerpt
I think people in my culture have a really REALLY weird way of expressing their love for family, friends, and honestly everyone that is close to them. Because of that, I’ve never really grown to appreciate the actual meaning behind Valentine’s Day and what it stands to signify. Sure I always loved the little Fun Dip packets in my brown bag and the little cards that would get passed around in elementary school, but that’s all I thought of it. Valentine’s Day = candy and goodies for and from your friends.
I now realize that Valentine’s day is so much more than simple cards or candy-grams. It’s a day to show the people you love and care about exactly how much you appreciate them. And I agree that people should be doing this every day instead of just Valentine’s day, but I think it’s sweet to have a day just for that. It’s like a lot of other things in life. I think New Year’s resolutions can be dumb because I think people should be improving and reflecting on themselves the entire year, but it does work for some people. I guess Valentine’s day is similar in some ways. It’s just cute. And that’s coming from a VERY hopeless romantic so maybe that’s why I’m very invested in Valentine’s Day. But anyway...
DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021 THEME OF THE MONTH: GENEROSITY - EXCERPTS
No podcast episode for this Theme of the Month, but our staff made sure to take the time to share what generosity meant to them in the excerpts below.
Roshini’s Generosity Excerpt
Generosity to me can appear in any act of kindness. A helping hand, a silly present, a warm hug, any action of kindness that can put a smile on my face and the faces of others. It can take shape in any form, materialistic or not, and it’s sole intent is for happiness. I think that’s beautiful and the message of generosity is especially preached in December. However, I think it is important to practice it even outside the holidays. We should aim to be generous not only because we’re “supposed to” during this time of festivity, but because we want to.
Suhayla’s Generosity Excerpt
Humans are created by nature to help other humans. Hence, generosity is simply human nature. If everyone were to follow this law of human nature, the world would be made a better place. Scientifically speaking, following this law wouldn’t just benefit the humans being helped, but it would benefit those doing the helping. When we help others, our mood is boosted because our brains release the feel-good hormones of serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. So, why not be generous? By being generous, you have the power not just to make someone else’s day better, but your own. Human nature rocks!
Lauren’s Generosity Excerpt
Whenever the holidays come around, I get excited for the festive season, but also being able to give back. Ever since I was a little girl, whether it was getting presents for my family and friends, or donating old coats to Puritan cleaners, I always was happy that I could help bring a smile to someone’s face or give someone something that they really need. Sometimes, just opening the door up for someone or saying hi promotes a good feeling for both the doer and the person that gets the action. Take the time this holiday season to give back, no matter how big or small. You never know the type of impact you could make.
Jamie’s Generosity Excerpt
I am full from the generosity that all my teachers have gifted me. Parents and siblings, friends and strangers, radicals and role models pour out love that is so necessary to me, so much so that it has become the liquid that flows within me. Generosity forms the individual tributaries of good faith and good deeds to drain into a larger pool of empathy that the world needs.
We need that collective care. In such a dark, intimidating world, we have to value serving each other through positive reinforcement. That means showing gratitude, donating desired things, and expressing love even when it may not seem important, because it is recognized. Generosity can counteract a descent into negativity by lifting you up into the light and it can shape anyone’s life — I know it has certainly shaped mine. So, I would like to leave you all with the message to please be generous to yourself and to others; by doing so, you can lead someone down a better path on their journey of life.
Elizabeth’s Generosity Excerpt
I think that nowadays, most kids have a skewed idea of generosity. I know I did. I will admit that for the programs I was in during middle and high school, I had to complete quite a few community service logs. In total, the time I was required to volunteer (is that a paradox?) was probably over 120 hours. Since I was in such a rigorous academic program, and I was in a phase where the only thing that mattered was myself (welcome to teenagehood), I only wanted to do the bare minimum. I was just volunteering to get the hours, so why did I need to actually care about what I was doing? And anyway, the school just wanted us privileged kids to “learn kindness,” so why did it matter if I accomplished this now or put it off until sometime in the future?
But if you invest enough time in anything, you will start to care about it. Anything can get under your skin, make you feel emotion, and change your perspective. My family always volunteers with the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program each winter. We usually spend about 12 hours total handing out the “angels” (slips of paper full of wants and needs for a less fortunate child at Christmas) and manning a booth at the mall for when shoppers bring back the gifts they’ve purchased. Trust me-- as a self-absorbed middle schooler, this seemed like a waste of time, especially since sometimes the booth was outside in the cold and we did two-hour shifts. Why do I care about some child whom all I knew about is gender, age, and name? Now that I’m older, when I think about how I acted back then, I honestly can only cringe. There were a few factors that shifted my perception--attending poorer schools where I could actually witness poverty in those areas, getting swept up at some unpinpointable time by maturity, learning how cruel the world really can be through the media, or reflecting on how much of an advantage I have just by being born into an economically-stable family. But now that I know how much of an impact Angel Tree has on children who don’t have enough to expect to have a good Christmas, how important those formative years of believing in magic and giving are for youth, I am much more willing to help out than I once was.
Now, I know for sure that generosity isn’t just “learned kindness.” I think generosity is much more complex than that. The only times I personally can say I’ve been generous is when I see a tangible effect on a person. I’m very reasonable, and tend to only believe what I see in front of me. When you get to deliver gifts to children through Angel Tree and see the kids actually smile during a time of their familial hardship, or when you can know that a park you helped clean for four hours is much cleaner and safer for kids and pets, or when you package 50 meals for the hungry with Feed My Starving Children with your team, then you can feel a sense of accomplishment. If you expended enough effort to know that in some way you made a difference, even on just a small group of people in need, then that is when you can understand generosity.
One of the key distinctions between generosity and kindness is giving. Holding open a door for someone is kindness; deciding that you want to help out at a homeless shelter is generosity. In life, there’s no checklist that needs to be filled out, like “oh, she was generous 40 times” or whatever. There’s nobody to force you to do a community service log when you’re an adult. It’s your choice to spend time giving. After all, the act of giving requires some form of sacrifice on the giver’s part. In this day and time, so many people need actual help, and not just a kind word. I just want to leave you with this thought: what are some ways you might be able to cause a difference in someone’s life? If you truly needed something, how could someone help you to get it? Believe me, there are some unbelievably easy ways to serve others; all YOU have to do is make an effort.
Vaishnavi’s Generosity Excerpt
Generosity is more than being good once, or even a few times; it’s showing compassion and empathy to those who need it most every day. It’s the hope lingering behind tired eyes, the smile pushing those struggling through the day, and the kindness which one holds in their heart that makes them generous. Use your generosity to inspire others to follow in your footsteps; because without generosity, all left is hate.
NOVEMBER 2020 THEME OF THE MONTH: TRADITIONS - EXCERPTS
Some staff members did another podcast episode to discuss our theme of the month and Elizabeth wrote an excerpt about her view of traditions, so make sure to give it a listen on our Spotify account and read her excerpt down below!!! Happy Thanksgiving!
Link to podcast episode: https://anchor.fm/hearherspeakmagazine/episodes/November-Theme-of-the-Month-Traditions-Episode-en4fhr
Elizabeth’s Traditions Excerpt
Traditions can have really positive or really negative connotations depending on the situation. For some, traditions may feel forced, dated, and like more of an expectation that needs to be fulfilled—an example of this being that some parents might say their family “traditionally” arranges marriages for their child, though the child might be unhappy with this idea—but more often than not, for me, I find traditions to be positive. I love decorating the Christmas tree, cooking Thanksgiving dinner with my family, going out to celebrate birthdays, the list goes on. Anthropologically, traditions really are more like obligatory milestones. I think most Americans, however, are more likely to “pick and choose” which traditions they would like to create, sometimes on the spur of the moment, and which traditions they might want to abandon.
The definition of tradition has evolved in that less formal rituals, such as celebrating a birthday with a cake, are now considered traditions. Simple family habits, like baking a loaf of bread every week, may also be “traditional.” Considering the number of different cultures and the complexity of worldwide familial rituals, tradition truly is an all-encompassing term. The one thing that connects all traditions, though, is their ability to bring us together. It has been acknowledged, after all, that a culture cannot exist without a society—and thus, tradition cannot exist without family and friends.
OCTOBER 2020 THEME OF THE MONTH: OVERCOMING STRESS - EXCERPTS
Make sure to check out the podcast on Spotify and Elizabeth’s article below!!!
Link to Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Ge9JWkQXI3nofAFYiTWYi
RELIEVING STRESS: WHY JOINING A FANDOM MAY SOLVE 70% OF YOUR PROBLEMS--A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR BEGINNERS
(THIS STATISTIC WILL NEVER BE VALIDATED)
Elizabeth S.
Do any of the following categories describe you?
- Feeling like you don’t belong or don’t have any friends
- Having a critical need to de-stress from school or work
- Lacking a hobby, distraction, or source for entertainment
- Needing a new creative outlet
- Having excess time (like during a global pandemic? Idk)
- Desiring to understand pop culture
- Wanting to meet people but having social anxiety or some other social obstacle
- Being in a sick or injured state
- Being a perfectionist who always wants to complete tasks fully
Well, then YOU SHOULD JOIN A FANDOM!!! Here’s your formal invitation (go on, taKE IT. *begins chanting* one of us, oNe oF uS, ONE OF US)
OK, but What Even IS a Fandom??
There’s no answer that can fully encompass everything within fandoms; I’d just say that you are in a fandom if you really like (are a fan of) characters from a book/movie/series/group or any kind of franchise.
Being a “fan” luckily doesn’t require much effort. As long as you read or watch something from a series or franchise, decide if you like it, and then devote your life to speaking, reading, and learning all about it, you are a fan. Ok, that sounds a little extreme—but HONESTLY: You can be in a “fandom” just by having conversations about a series with your friend, searching up memes about that one oblivious character, making art of any kind, or reading fan-created media.
There are so many types of fandoms. You can be in the music side (K-Pop is a big one, though many western people/groups have fandoms, like Swifties or Directioners), or in the animation side (anime or animated film/series), or maybe in the TV side (like if you just finished Friends and still want content, or if you’re watching some amazing Asian drama and need memes) or literature side (so what if I want to know more about someone’s headcannon of Pandora Lovegood’s backstory? Also, mAnGA iS lITerATurE), or in a big movie franchise’s fandom (MARVEL, etc.) or video game fandom (they’re everywhere). The fandom possibilities are limitless.
Fandoms are like subcultures; some people are really good at doing one thing (like making art) and only do that one thing. Others are extremely devoted and want to explore all aspects of the original creative piece. How involved you are is up to you. If you just want to listen to that iconic soundtrack 50 times, or want to explore the horrifying world of fanfiction, it’s all your decision.
I Don’t Know How to Join a Fandom, Though?
You’ve definitely come to the right place.
Here are some easy ways to join a fandom:
Watch YouTube videos on your fandom topic and make/read/respond to comments.
Go on a social media platform like Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, etc. and start following people with similar interests.
Publish something—there are so many websites to publish art, writing, videos, memes, or recordings. For writing, there’s always Archive Of Our Own (AO3), Wattpad, Fanfiction.net, and Tumblr. For art, there’s DeviantArt, Pinterest, or basically any social media. Videos and memes usually end up on Tumblr, Reddit, Twitter, or YouTube eventually.
Reach out to someone. If someone you know has a similar interest, just talk to them (chances are, they might secretly be an obsessive fan who can guide you into the fandom). Join a club. If face-to-face communication isn’t your style, join a Discord group or message people online.
How do I stay involved in the fandom? What should I be wary of or avoid?
Usually, most people have trouble staying in their fandom. Some people (like me) are at like Fandom Level 2,000 and are in tens or hundreds of fandoms. A lot of fans have a “comfort range” of around 1-5 fandoms that they stay constantly involved with.
Follow an official social media account to be aware of new content (who makes your fandom possible? The writer/illustrator, or the company who owns the creative work, etc.?)
Go at your own pace. Depending on what you like to do or how much content is in your fandom, there might be a lot to explore. Watch/read/listen to the original creative work carefully so you are “in the know,” and then choose a direction to head in (ex. Which social media to spend time on, do you want to read or look at art or memes, etc.). Joining a fandom with a lot of content and many defensive fans (cough cough K-Pop) will require patience—you’ll want to make sure you have watched/read every piece of original content possible before publicly challenging another fan (ex. saying in a YouTube comment that you think a fan is wrong about something).
Avoid new or dead fandoms. This one’s extremely subjective, but I think that new fandoms need to age, like a fine wine. It’s good to be knowledgeable of the original creative piece(s) from the start of its release or debut, but avoid social media accounts that may contain spoilers (ex. If the anime that’s just coming out is based on a long-running manga), and be aware that there might not be much fan-created content for a while. Dead fandoms should also be avoided—sometimes you can’t help it if you want to experience something amazing, even if nobody talks about it anymore, but you’ll need to recognize that most people have moved on and there may never be more updates. (“Dead” in this case implies that either the fans have given up making content, or the original creator has gone on hiatus or has stopped making content. Some people may call this time period a “content desert” if there’s a possibility of the fandom being reawakened.)
Try to interact with others constantly. Interaction doesn’t only mean talking, it means that you know what’s up for debate within the fandom, maybe even feel so defensive about or support a topic so much that you want to speak/write about it, or just want feedback on something you made.
Beware of toxic fandoms. Sometimes you just want to experience the content or fan-created content but don’t want to deal with any fan versus fan drama. In that case, know if you’re in/joining a toxic fandom. You can watch the meme compilations, look at the art—but just don’t read the comments. Blissfully unaware!
Beware of “shipping”: some fans are very enthusiastic about or believe that certain characters/people have a (theoretical) relationship. These fans may get very defensive if you try to emphasize that there is little or no romantic relationship between the characters/people. Shipping is fun but it can also be embarrassing/perceived as rude by real people if they are aware of their fandom’s activity; it is usually less problematic to “ship” fictional characters together.
Conclusion: Why does participating in a fandom relieve stress?
It is always nice to share interests with others. When a person likes (or obsesses over, in my case) certain creative pieces, there is often a fire within that urges him or her to discover all possible aspects of that piece. There is also a feeling of wanting to “fit in”; anthropologically, if fandoms are like subcultures, then to be part of the “in crowd” you need to surpass the knowledge or language barrier to be able to participate and gain acceptance. When you do reach a holistic level of knowledge, you will not only feel smarter, but you will also feel fulfilled and proud of whatever creative piece you are supporting.
Fandoms provide creative outlets for artists, musicians, self-proclaimed “memelords,” and everyone in between. Any new content provided to the fans (who are often ravenous for more) is usually accepted so long as it’s not too weird or outrageous. Fandoms offer distractions or sources for enjoyment if you need to de-stress or just need to fill your time during an injury/sickness, since exploring interests solo or with internet friends makes time pass quickly and easily.
I strongly believe I’ve strengthened my friendships through fandoms. Once you learn a sibling or friend also shares an interest in anime, music, movies, etc., you not only have more things to talk about, but you will also have a person to celebrate new developments with. Sometimes there is also a need to understand pop culture more deeply as well—when you see someone wearing a shirt with the My Hero Academia cast on it, or glimpse someone’s keychain bearing a lesser-known symbol from Harry Potter, making that instant realization or recognition can boost your mood and make you feel like you have something in common even with a stranger.
So go join a fandom, and enjoy yourself! Admission is free and they are (mostly) accepting, so you have nothing to lose. All that’s required is a little effort, but the payback is extremely gratifying.
SEPTEMBER 2020 THEME OF THE MONTH: COMING OF AGE/MATURITY
Wow, we’ve made it to our second issue! First, we just want to thank our readers for coming back and reading our magazine! The entire staff have all started school since we debuted on August 21st, but have worked hard to make an amazing second issue for you, so we really hope you enjoy it. So, as you can see, our theme for September is coming of age and maturity, and as the majority of our staff transitions from high school to college and from adolescence to adulthood, we thought it would be a good idea to celebrate the next stage of our lives, and many of our readers’ as well. Coming of age is celebrated culturally in various ways across the world, or is simply described as a milestone (reaching an age considered “mature”). .. Both of these concepts go hand in hand, and much of our content for this issue highlights them. Similarly to what we did with our first issue’s theme of the month, each member of the staff has made an excerpt detailing what coming of age and maturity means to her. Enjoy!
Roshini’s Definition of Coming of Age/Maturity
The idea of growing up is strange to me. Everywhere around the world, certain milestones are marked by age. In America, when you’re 18 you’re an adult and when you’re 21 you’re… I don't know, a super adult? These ages are associated with maturity because the country recognizes that you’re mature enough to have more freedom and more responsibilities that you weren’t allowed to have as a minor. This always baffled me. It’s not like the second I turn 18 I’ll suddenly have my life together. Even though I’m technically an adult right now, I don’t necessarily feel like one which makes me wonder if I’m ever going to feel like an adult. Will it be when I’ve graduated college and I have to pay my own taxes and get my own apartment? Or will it be once I finally stop looking towards my parents to help me with every decision I make? I can’t see it ever stopping, mainly because I don’t ever see myself not being confused about life.
The idea of being an adult was much simpler when I was a kid. I’d have an endless amount of money and be able to buy as much ice cream as I want with no one to tell me what to do. I’d be super mature, I’d use big words in all my sentences, and I’d learn what taxes are. It sounded wonderful at the time and it still does, but sadly that was just wishful thinking from an ignorant little girl. I know now that I’m mature enough to realize spending all my money on ice cream is just not a smart thing to do, but the immature part of me tries to validate the thoughts of my past self. I vaguely understand taxes now though so I guess my younger self can be semi happy about that. My idea about growing up morphed as I got older. When I was younger, I couldn’t wait to grow up, but now, I want to hold onto my childhood for as long as possible. At this moment, I can’t imagine ever truly feeling like an adult, but I also realize that feeling like an adult doesn’t mean I do have to let go of my childish urges. I can still make the decision to blow my money on ice cream as long as I’m smart about it. I always thought growing up meant completely renouncing your childhood, but I’ve realized you can be an adult and still want to play at a park or binge Netflix until 3am.
Suhayla’s Definition of Coming of Age/Maturity
While people often like to pin maturity to older age groups, I think it is more of a feeling than an age. I wrote a story in the last issue about the mango tree because it was what made my family diverse. However, I believe that story connects just as strongly to coming of age. When I was young and rebellious, my dad always told me about this tree. How the young, unsteady mango sapling would grow to be a beautiful, fruit-laden, mature tree. I thought that my time of maturity would come when I would be around 18 years old, not-so-coincidentally the age of maturity. However, I am 18 now and still have so much to learn.
Would I say I’m more mature now than I was all those years ago? Absolutely. However, I don’t see maturity as a goal that we strive to reach. It is a more of a never-ending ladder. We continue to climb it as we learn and empathize more, but we never truly reach the top. While the mango tree becomes mature as soon as it bears fruit, we as humans don’t have a set time or moment when we are ‘mature’. While I believe that I’m closer to the steady adult tree than the young sapling, I know I still have a long way to go, and a lot of steps to climb. And that’s okay, because I believe that no matter where life takes me, it will guide me up that ladder.
Lauren’s Definition of Coming of Age/Maturity
For as long as I can remember, I have always had people tell my sister and I that we were good, responsible, and mature beyond our years. Was it simply because we behaved at every friend or family gathering? Was it because we didn’t run around like we had no sense not to? Was it because we actually greeted other adults when in contact with them, or said “please” and “thank you” without having to be asked to? I want to laugh and say “no, that’s not it”, but as I think about it, that’s what our mom and dad tell us on a regular basis. “You two are such good girls”, “You are so respectful”, “You’re so sweet and well-behaved." At the same time, we learned young that we weren’t supposed to act like we hadn’t been raised as such. As we got older, we would put in situations where mature decision making became a normal behavior.
For instance, I had this incident when I was thirteen in which a guy that I kind of liked ended up asking me out. While both of us knew neither his nor my parents wanted us to have a significant other, we continued making plans for a first date. But the next day, I was so shocked at myself for even thinking that was okay in the slightest. Here I was, a thirteen year old girl so happy that a guy actually liked her back that I forgot I wasn’t ready for a relationship. Sure, I liked the guy, but at the same time, I wasn’t ready for that. After telling the boy that we were better off as friends, I truly felt that I had made the right decision. Of course, even now, I think back to what I would’ve done if I would have actually started a relationship with him.
If you look up the definition of maturity or coming of age on the internet, you will find numerous ideas of what constitutes as the ideology. Personally, I always felt that maturity/coming of age was that moment in which you are able to truly think for yourself in a logical and reasonable way. But also acknowledging the fact that our brains never truly develop because we’re always learning whether in a formal or informal setting, maturity/coming of age may just mean being able to have a sense of awareness regarding morality and ethical decision making. Like with my example with the guy that was almost my boyfriend, I had to step back and realize all of the implications of us being together may bring. I had to list the pros and cons, as well as ask myself if I was ready for a relationship or even wanted it . Being able to think of the whole picture and reach a thought-out conclusion shows maturity because you’re looking out for all parties and what’s in their best interests, whether they or you realize it then or not. That even goes for underage drinking or doing drugs because of peer pressure. When you become “mature”, you will be able to realize that the repercussions of those potential actions are more damaging than potentially messing up that relationship. It may take some time to truly see that, or even see them as daunting now, but at the end of the day, when you find yourself making those hard decisions and seeing the result out as successful, you’ll be able to cross off that stop on your journey throughout this complicated thing called life.
Jamie’s Definition of Coming of Age/Maturity
Let me start off with a phrase that has been repeated to me numerous times as I have approached and reached adulthood: nobody knows what they are doing.
Adulthood is not a gateway to all the wisdom and skill in the world. In the COVID-19 era this especially applies, as you will see that many are mindlessly being inconsiderate to others’ wellbeing. The most extreme offender is the U.S. government, which refuses to bend even when thousands rapidly are becoming ill and nursing homes are becoming funeral homes. The government’s actions serve to remind us that we are on our own, and it is up to us to make the best decision. Sometimes — most times, honestly — you won’t know what that is. Loss and confusion are normal. As you grow up, those feelings of uncertainty don’t disappear, not even when you have found your purpose.
Still, growth is a continuous experience of learning. Life will throw strange lessons at you out of nowhere and you will use them at your disposal, subconsciously holding onto them with every choice you make. People are integral to these lessons. They will bring out the worst as much as the best in you, but you are the one who is ultimately in control of your life. You have the power to do what you feel is needed for yourself. I am slowly learning what that means to me — a persistent urge to keep thinking and keep writing. When you find that need, work towards founding it, cultivating it, and sharing it.
Elizabeth’s Definition of Coming of Age/Maturity
Maturity is making the hard choices you thought you could put off forever. It’s deciding to put others’ needs before your own, willingly. Maturity isn’t synonymous with getting a job, reaching your 18th birthday, or even leaving home for the first time. The verb “maturing” is closer to “changing one’s mindset,” not the actual state of “being an adult.” You’re not going to someday wake up and [BANG!] be able to do taxes, work in a cubicle, and start saving for retirement. You’re more likely to gradually realize that you have been guided in a set path for most of your life, reach a point where that path ends, and be asked to ride the bike without the training wheels.
Usually, it’s after a rough point in your life that you begin to mature—it’s like Newton’s First Law of Motion: an object in rest will remain in rest until acted upon by an outside force. The event that spurs the change may occur quickly, but change itself takes time. This doesn’t mean that change itself is hard. There are many ways to become mature, including clichéd ways like offering to help other people or sitting down and listening to someone whose perspective is different from yours. You can’t always will yourself to change, though. Of course, you can change how you act on a day-to-day basis, but once you realize the benefits of change, you will know that you have matured.
Vaishnavi’s Definition of Coming of Age/Maturity
I’ve always been someone who grouped maturity with age milestones; being mature meant you knew how to cook, how to live independently, and that you had your entire life figured out. I quickly realized, however, that age does not have anything to do with maturity. I’m sitting here, in front of my laptop, nearly 18 years old, and not having a clue about where my future will take me...and that’s TOTALLY okay.
When I thought of maturity, I immediately had a picture of this monotone, boring person who leads a simple, unadventurous life. Maybe that’s the definition of “mature” that I have grown up thinking I should embody, the definition that my parents wanted me to embody. Now, I realize the first steps to maturity are to gain a good sense of balance and self-awareness. Maturity does not mean you have to leave your old life behind, but it does mean you should start to think about your future.
Now that I have started my first few weeks of college, I have gotten a taste of how it is like to live away from my family and my home. I don’t think this makes me mature, but I think it is the start to my adulthood. I know that I will learn a lot throughout my undergrad that will help me be prepared for my life ahead and for the future that I have planned for myself.
Danielle’s Definition of Coming of Age/Maturity
When I think of these words sometimes I get scared. Am I really gonna be out in the real world soon? The same world my parents have done a great job of sheltering me from? Just like me, I’m sure some of you couldn’t wait to grow up but when the time finally came your thoughts changed. I can’t tell you much about coming of age because I am only at the beginning of that journey. However, I can tell you that maturity has no age for it is a mindset. When I think of maturity I think of how you handle yourself during the good and the bad. We all know that life isn’t perfect and here and there bad things will come; personally, I know I can’t stop bad days from happening, but I can choose how I react in the midst of the situation. Sometimes I can’t help thinking of my future and all that could go wrong. I begin to worry and the “what if’s” start to flow. I catch myself and I replace those bad “what if’s” with good “what if’s.” The truth is, I don’t know what the future is going to hold, but I do know that I am strong enough to handle whatever comes my way.
So I write all of this to say maturity and coming of age doesn’t not mean the good times are going to go away. It just means that it’s time for you to elevate your life and start to pursue the things that matter to you most.
AUGUST 2020 THEME OF THE MONTH: DIVERSITY - EXCERPTS
Diversity. A noun and an adjective. The word describes the world in its entirety. When you look at nature, the environment, the animals, the people, diversity is what you see. It is the foundation of what makes our world beautiful. Considering this is our theme for the month for our first issue, we are describing what we hope to promote with this magazine and what we want the world to be able to celebrate. Being women in an age in which we "are lucky to be alive right now" as the Schuyler Sisters say in their song of the same name in Hamilton: An American Musical, we have to be able to fight for our seat at the table with grace and excellence. Diversity describes us in a nutshell; acknowledging our gender as well as all of our different ethnic backgrounds. We represent the minorities in the world and show that we are worth it and more. Take a moment to enjoy the view that is inclusive and colorful and beautiful. Diversity is us and everyone and everything in between.
Below, we have various definitions on what diversity is, whether it’s from our definition of the word or how we have experienced it in our lives. As you read through them, try to think of what your definition of diversity is, and how it has influenced your life.
Roshini’s View on Diversity
Diversity is a topic that I’ve always been subconscious of since I was little. Typically, the only worries on a little girl’s mind is playing outside and wrecking their house (I was a bit of a wild child), but the issue of diversity always sat in the back of my mind. I didn’t necessarily know what diversity was back then or of the deep complexities surrounding the term, but I was always aware of my race.
Within my elementary school, I could probably count on my hands the amount of children of color that were at the school. And while my memory of elementary school is blurry, there’s always one moment that has been crystal clear to me in my mind, even now. More than the image, my internal discomfort is prevalent to me. I have this distinct image of fifth grade when we were allowed free seating and how everyone who was white pushed a bunch of tables together and sat together while there were two or three students of color who sat outside that bunch. At the time, I didn’t think much of it because this was normal at my elementary school. I now realize how elementary school definitely messed with my head and with my confidence as an Indian woman and that it still causes me issues now. It made me view my Indian heritage in a negative light. I didn’t see it as something to be proud of.
When I got to middle school, I was desperate to fit in. I don’t think I ever really tried to find myself and instead, I worked much harder on pleasing others. While I finally had a solid group of friends and I was happy, there was still one thing that remained constant through elementary school and middle school: my distinct shame in my own culture.
It wasn’t until high school that I truly started to come to terms with my identity. I was in the IB program and seeing as how most of the kids were primarily Indian, being discriminated against based on race wasn’t as prevalent. Putting my issues with the school and the program aside, when I reflect on this time I had in IB, I always felt that it ‘cleansed’ me in a way. I had always been ashamed of who I was as an Indian woman but after being surrounded by many Indians, I hadn’t been the minority for once. It helped me tremendously in coming to terms with who I was. It also made me appreciate the importance of inclusivity. However, when I reflected on this, I made sure to acknowledge that it only helped ‘heal’ a small part of me because my race does not define my entire identity. Now I’ll say that louder for the people in the back. Race does not define the entirety of a person. The subtle discrimination I faced as a little girl impacted the way I grew up, but I don’t blame those kids for the way they treated me. I simply blame ignorance.
It’s incredibly easy to slip into a state of comfort and unawareness or to not acknowledge anything you might consider to be a challenge. It’s even easier when your parents have instilled that mindset since you were little. Even now as a college freshman, my parents would pester me into finding an Indian roommate until I finally shut them down by telling them that I’m finding a roommate, not a spouse. This quieted them, but the impact my retort had still bothers me as it shows how important race is to them and that while they were willing to let me be in regards to a roommate, my future spouse was non negotiable in their eyes. Ignorance is something many kids and adults are faced with. However, ignorance can be treated. It just takes time, and a willingness to grow. Unfortunately, ignorance is inevitable for everyone at one point in time. There’s always something out there that we’re unaware of. Befriending others outside your race and outside who you identify as can help mend some bridges of ignorance. I’m not saying to go outside and be friends with someone simply because they’re of a different race. I’m saying to not let race be the issue that prevents you from forming what could be a long lasting friendship.
Suhayla’s View on Diversity
When I was first tasked with this prompt, I was tempted to use some textbook definition. Usually, a dictionary says diversity is something like ‘a group with different elements.’ After looking at definitions from various sources, I thought of a box of chocolates. I considered likening the diversity within humans to the diversity in a box of these sweet surprises. However, I quickly realized that going this route would just circle around the bare-bones definition while adding very little. The human race and a box of chocolates may both fit the textbook definition of diversity, but that’s where the similarity ends.
Take my high school student body. It is motley, having a minority enrollment of 89 percent. When I was a student there, I saw people of different races daily. In this way, my high school is like a box of chocolates. However, racism and stereotypes are still rampant within the staff and students. Our motley student body is not united; the majority of the non-center students are black while the majority of the IB students are Asian. The staff will let students who ‘look IB’ (a.k.a are white or Asian) walk in the hallways during class while assuming that they’re following the rules. They will see black students do the same and take disciplinary action. This is where the ‘box of chocolates’ analogy falls short, as it cannot account for racism or any other types of prejudice within the human race. So this makes me ask myself the question, “What good is diversity if people still discriminate?”
This is where I revise the definition of diversity when applying it to humans. I consider it more than just us being in groups with people different from us. Diversity for us is respecting what’s different. We must learn to appreciate different cultures, races, religions, and the list goes on. Diversity is seeing disadvantaged groups and looking to lift them up. It is actively trying to dismantle racism, sexism, or any other ideology that threatens a certain group. There isn’t really any analogy that captures all of this perfectly, but that’s alright. The differences within the human race are what make it so beautiful, and humans cannot be compared to any rudimentary analogy anyway.
Grace’s View on Diversity
Whenever I sit down to fill out those taxing forms at school or the doctor's office, the demographics' session always brings up a challenge for me. Age, gender identity, where I live, and how long I've lived there have never been an issue for me; however, the part asking for race and ethnicity is a whole different beast. From my understanding of the terminology, race is biology and ethnicity is identity. To most people that I know, this isn’t a big deal. To me, this section is always a question mark. If you want my race, I am Asian. Chinese to be exact. If you want my ethnicity? How do I personally identify? Now, that's a completely different matter.
I was adopted at ten months old from Guangzhou, China. For the past sixteen years and six months, I have been in the United States. Both of my parents are white United States citizens. My mom is of European descent: German and Scottish. My dad is half Chilean with Italian descent on his mother's side and German on his father's. I have grown up in the United States. I know my mom's side of the family well; they're at every family event: concerts, Christmas, birthdays, Easter, etc.,you name it, they're there. I've met my grandfather on my father's side. He was a great man. I know my grandmother on my father's side. I have been to Chile to see the rest of his family with all of his aunts, uncles, cousins, and family pets. The family of my adoptive parents is all I know. They are my family; I identify with them. So what does that make me?
When asked what I identify as, what my ethnicity is, I claim that I am a Chilean Latina. I am a European Caucasian. I am a Chinese Asian. But am I? Can I claim these pieces of my adoptive family as my own on that frustrating demographics portion?? Will I be accused of falsely identifying myself? Biologically, I am 100% Chinese. But I'm a citizen of the United States. If I claim that I identify only as Chinese, then I am disowning my adoption? By claiming my biology, I disown my family and the entirety of the life that I remember. But if you want my race, that is what you get.
If you ask me for my identity, you get my mom. You get the stubborn Scottish side of my grandfather and the German of her maiden name. With my identity, you get my dad. You get the loud Spanish and Chilean culture. If you ask me what I know, you get the answer of pumpkin spice lattes and Bean Boots. Sure, I've celebrated the Chinese New Year before. Homemade dumplings and red envelopes at my aunt and uncle's house and the festival at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. My Chinese Zodiac is a horse. However, I identify myself more as a stereotypical “basic white girl” than I do an Asian-American adoptee.
I do not fit into the singularity asked of demographics’ checkboxes. I cannot claim just my biology if you want to know me. I claim my family and their family and the family attached to them. Nature versus nurture is not completely me; I am nature and nurture filling all the boxes. If you want to know who I am, consider my fully American tendencies and my Chilean family if you want to know me. If you want my identity, take the Chilean-Caucasian-Asian-American diversity. Take the blend of my nature and my nurture. Don’t make me reject my adopted family or my biology. My family is what gives me diversity. Diversity helps define me.
Lauren’s View on Diversity
I am a proud Black woman. I have never once been ashamed to claim that as my identity as it is what I am biologically and how I’ve been raised. My skin is a deep, natural brown with a few beauty marks. My hair is a dark brown halo of curls that has gone through trials and tribulations. I have curves galore, and even though there was a time it bothered me, I’ve grown to accept them and love them as they are a part of me. I have a younger sister who I cherish and two parents that I adore, all of us making up a beautiful, tight-knit Black American family. For as long as I can remember, this is normal. Us being people of color and having the occasional situations of racism and underestimation because of that fact. I’ve personally dealt with racism from other Black people just simply because of my interests and hobbies. That was a time, and probably the only time, I ever wavered in my identity because of some ignorant comments from some people who were jealous of my accomplishments.
Growing up in Virginia, I hadn’t really dealt with racism until middle school. When you’re younger, you’re taught to treat others with kindness and vice versa. You weren’t taught that there was a difference in how people were treated based on skin color and gender; you just lived as we all should be living now, treating others equally and loving others as they are. But for some reason, when I was in seventh grade, that idea went out the window. At that time, I was obsessed with reading. I read so many novels that year, and even started writing my first novel. I also was extremely successful in class, making straight A’s for the second year in a row. My parents were so proud of me, and I felt my sister was too. I just assumed that my peers would be too, but because some of them weren’t having the same luck as I was and decided to take it out on me. They brought race into the equation, by basically saying how could a Black girl like me, even though they themselves were also Black girls, be doing so well in school? They proceeded to call me “white” for being intelligent and a good student and to provide reasoning for my love of reading and writing as if that was something a Black girl couldn’t do. I remember being so hurt by hearing that, especially considering at the time President Obama was in his second term, and his wife, First Lady Michelle Obama was one of the most influential and inspiring women in the world and still is today. Their comments baffled me as to how their perceptions were based on how we were oppressed in the past and still now. They didn’t believe in themselves or me, their fellow Black sister, and went as far to try to take my identity away from me.
Now that we’re in 2020, it is highly important to know where we come from and who we are. For so long, people thought that diversity was like a utopia; ideal but not realistic. As I said before, I am a proud Black woman, and for me to be able to do what I want, say what I want, and be equal to my white male counterparts, diversity needs to be instituted and celebrated. My friends, no matter gender identity, ethnic background or sexual orientation, need to be included and in order to be, diversity needs to be instituted and celebrated. It’s about time that diversity becomes a norm and not a rare concept that is only thought of when thought necessary by our white cisgender straight men. We’re sick of it and tired of being the afterthought. Diversity is for the betterment of our world and lives, so let’s get to work and make it so that we will never be or feel excluded again.
Jamie’s View on Diversity
Diversity looks like the past, present, and future.
We already know that our lived experiences differ according to any category you can think of—race, class, gender, education, employment, etc. As such, nobody shares the same perspective. In order to progress, we have to confront these experiences head-on. Every person can fall into the trap of believing that everyone on “their side” agrees with everything they believe. This is not the case. I am surrounded by people who do not feel the same way I do because of how they grew up, how they intake media, how they live in the now; I could go on and on. The point is: opinions are never black and white—they are based on an accumulation of our past, present, and future—so we must stop assuming that they are. We have to communicate. That requires uplifting those whose voices have been suppressed, taken, and ignored. It requires us to listen to them. Your life is your life; your belief is your belief, but always remember to listen. We can only uproot when we get to the root in the first place.
Elizabeth’s View on Diversity
My family is the regular American, middle-class, Caucasian family, and up until around age 11, I didn’t know any other lifestyle. I grew up in a White neighborhood and went to a predominantly White elementary school, and for the most part I stayed in the semi-affluent West-End suburbs of Richmond. Race never meant much to me, in the sense that I was naïve enough to be truly unaware of racial divides or the existence of racism and White privilege: I effectively lived in my own bubble of ignorance. My family has always been open-minded and supportive of equal opportunity, no matter an individual’s race, gender, religion, or circumstance, and that value of tolerance has been instilled in me for as long as I can remember. I honestly did not care about peoples’ differences, in either a negative or positive way. I simply thought, “if I treat everyone the same, no matter who they are, then I am a good and nice human being.” Of course, that principle still rings true for me today, but now I understand the historical and current complexities of (and the need for) genuine equality.
I applied for the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) in middle school, wanting more of an academic challenge than just going to my “zoned” middle school in the West End, and was accepted. At the time, I was completely unaware of the gravity of my decision to go to a school in the “poor and ghetto” East End (as many of my elementary school peers had called it). Like I mentioned, I was a naïve child—I thought, “as long as I go to a school where I can focus on my academics, that helps me reach my future goals, nothing else matters.” But while I expected to academically grow, I never expected my school to actually leave a lasting impact on my character. In middle school, for the first time, I felt that I, a young white female, was in the minority. In my IB classes, I sat alongside Black, Indian, and Asian students, many more seats filled by people of color than by the white students I had grown up sitting next to. The children zoned for the school had also faced a rougher and more realistic upbringing than I was used to, and if I’m being honest, the vibe I felt emanating from them made me feel as if they sensed I was privileged. I truly felt like an outsider.
It’s a weird feeling to be considered “different” because of your race, especially if you’ve never fathomed the existence of this feeling in yourself or others. In my 6th grade French class, my first class of middle school, in a room of around 20 children, I was one of only five or so White people. I was uneasy, but that did not change my moral tenet of treating everyone equally. I approached a girl to ask if I could sit next to her. She was Indian, and was wearing a shirt that I considered “traditional” Indian garb, so I immediately felt uncomfortable and underdressed. Unexpectedly, she ended up being my first and best friend from middle school. We bonded because we both had in our backpacks, and awkwardly pulled out at the same time to read Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief. From then on, nothing else had mattered.
As much as I despised the IB program because of its hefty workload, requirement of weekly presentations, and frequent group work, I admit that the program forced me to develop a far more culturally-aware and culturally-appreciative perspective than I had entered with. The teachers were generally open about societal issues, encouraged discussion within their students, and taught a relatively well-rounded curriculum. These discussions, attending what I had always been told was a “sketchy and violent” school, and being surrounded by students of other races for the first time helped me finally be able to grasp the idea that the world is not just made up of people who look and think like me, and that it is imperative I not judge someone based on their appearance. I found as I progressed through middle school that the school itself was safe and reasonably welcoming, its reputation seemingly being more of a mislabel by others who, like me, had accepted stereotypes without actually knowing the real circumstances.
One of the main reasons I decided to continue with IB in high school was because of the unique cultural education I received in middle school. I quickly realized, however, that high school was another story. Whereas my middle school was full of racial diversity, my high school was predominantly Black. Never before had my White privilege been so apparent, and I felt disgusted: I frequently realized I was being treated differently, and more nicely, by some of the school staff. I heard my Black peers in the IB program describe on many occasions, through book discussions, history debates, or during lunchtime, the racism faced by Black people. I felt confused by the loud, harsh rap music and vastly different style of cheerleading at our pep rallies. I truly didn’t know anything about Black culture, or Black people in general. By the end of Senior year, however, I had grown used to the school’s atmosphere, and I approached the “zoned” students without hesitation whenever we interacted. Working in diverse groups as part of the IB Program, I was never treated differently by students of color. In class and by speaking with/listening to my Black peers, I’ve certainly become much more aware of Black cultural norms that I hadn’t known about before, such as the significance of the “natural hair” movement, certain family structures, dance, and struggles faced within their community.
The other “majority” I was exposed to in my high school IB program was Indian students. This was another circumstance that had the initial effect of making me feel like an outsider. In 9th grade, I watched as the girls immediately bonded over Indian dance and made references to cultural television shows and traditions, and even though in middle school I thought I was growing educated on Indian culture, in high school I still felt at a loss. It was only through actually attending some of these cultural events, asking my friends about their culture, and listening to them talk about their families or hobbies that I began to feel like I understood.
Just having the conversation, making an effort to step outside the bubble of my ignorance, that was all it took. And this was true with my friends of all races—being exposed to a diverse environment forces you to make an effort, so you don’t get left behind. As the years proceeded, I found that I was not only asking questions to be “in the loop” so to speak, but because I was actually interested in learning about the cultural and societal differences I was previously unaware of. By my senior year of high school, that feeling of White privilege was still apparent, but I at least felt like I understood even a little bit the perspectives of people from other races. Of course, I’ve still always kept that policy of “if I treat everyone the same, no matter who they are, then I am a good and nice human being,” alive, so I didn’t take negative stances on my friends’ differences in belief and habit—instead, I finally felt like I was starting to live in the real world, something much more diverse than that White bubble I grew up in, and much more beautiful and fascinating.
Vaishnavi’s View on Diversity
Diversity. It's a word with so much meaning, yet many forget its impact on our world. Diversity describes the natural world and our society. From the German-made hamburgers, Ethiopian-made coffee, Chinese-made clothing, and Indian-made fabrics and writing material, diversity exists everywhere. It is the very thing that brings beauty to society and drives our innovation and creation. Even in such a concentrated area of individuals, it is impossible to escape diversity; whether it may be through physical or characteristic features, it exists within us too. It contributes to our self, our ideals, our morality, and our personality. Without diversity, the world would be a monotone abyss of darkness. Thankfully, our world is diverse.
Danielle’s View on Diversity
Diversity is understanding that everyone is different and embracing that. Diversity is not just the color of our skin; it is our beliefs, our features, who and what we like, and so much more. When we embrace diversity, we will also learn to respect others even though they are different from us.