by Katherine SantanaI am a Daughter: I am a daughter of two loving parents who have risked everything to give me the life that I have today. I spend the majority of my time repaying their kindness by furthering my education, cooking, cleaning and running errands to show appreciation for the things they have done for me.
I am a Sister: I am a sister who is overprotective of the youngest and lax with the oldest. Having three sisters and one brother, I share a deep respect for each and every one of them. I would do anything for their happiness. I am an Introvert: Silent and withdrawn, I enjoy spending time alone, formulating my thoughts and drowning in my imagination. Too many hours around people and I find myself exhausted, but I keep pushing forward. Many people tell me that being introverted is horrible, but I feel the opposite. I am Shy: Fearful and anxious, I find myself terrified of people and not knowing what to do. Meeting new people horrifies me, I become timid and nervous around the company of others. Sometimes, it will become so bad, that I would just nod and smile without saying a word. I am Awkward: I get embarrassed easily, have poor social skills and use aggression to express my affection. This also connects with my shyness, anyone who is not my immediate family or a close friend, may feel that there is something wrong with me. I am Driven: Despite my fears and worries, I push forward in life. Nothing will be done if I sit around hoping for something to happen. I take the things that scare me or cause me anxiety and use it as a way to conquer my fears and become the person that everyone has yet to see. I am Bold: I am not afraid to say what’s on my mind if deemed necessary. Many people tell me I’m terrible but I find it as a form of honesty. I love making statements with my makeup and clothes. I make silent statements. I am an Anime Fanatic: When I am not studying, working or doing chores, I am watching anime in my living room with a plate of food and headphones on. Anime for me is a time where I can relax, and enjoy my time. It is the time when I can escape for even just a moment from the world around me. I am In Love with Food: Maybe it is because of my culture, but the connection I have with food runs so deep that nobody will be able to break it. Food for me, is connecting with my culture, connecting with my friends and family as well as an escape. For me, food is a luxury and a time where I can relax. I cannot have food before showering or before getting my work done, or else the idea of food as a luxury has no meaning. I am Imperfect: There is nothing about me that is perfect. I am a walking ball of imperfections, I am full of flaws that transmits its own beauty. Imperfection is beauty! I am Easily Broken: While most of the times I am seen as someone with a strong personality and strong willed. I am very easily shattered. I constantly show up as someone strong and unemotional, so when a sad or enraging moment occurs, I snap in a second. I am a Human Being: Like everyone else, I have dreams and aspirations. I make mistakes, confront them and move forward. I have good days and bad days. I have memories that I try to suppress and future goals that keep me in a loop. I am trying to figure my life out like everyone else. I am Me… and that won’t change.
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by Leslie RomanThe name is thrown into the wind And like a puzzle it shatters into millions of pieces Echoing into the air, the atmosphere, the galaxy Words are nothing but sound of the tongue The effort into communicating The thought building within The emotion that goes with its intention Pierces… The soul The mind The heart The life, her life, our life The atmosphere that surrounds not just the living but the dead On the outside still as a statue but it wasn’t Medusa who did this It was…you The friend The acquaintance The sister The brother The mother The father The best friend The lover… You don’t know how it feels?
by Linda CheriyanI remember laughter filling the hallways as kids laughed when I looked a little too ethnic.
I remember I held pride in wearing my cultural clothes, but not long after being bullied. People felt terrified to sit next to me because of their lack of knowledge, which led them to thinking; I was a terrorist due to the color of my skin and clothes. I remember wearing a cross visible for my entire school to see to prove that I was not Muslim. I did it in hopes to gain friends so I didn’t have to sit alone once again. I remember the white girl wore the salwar kameez and was praised for how “beautiful” she looked. I remember I brought Indian food to school Because I have not yet accustomed to American food, This to my tongue tasted of flavorless boiled chicken with no spices. Of course the kids made fun of me for that too, The smell of curry wasn’t too pleasing to their non-ethnic noses, And told me I smelled like the nasty food. So I had to force myself to get used to the tasteless chicken served in the cafeteria, So once again I wouldn’t have to sit alone. I remember kids laughing at the color of my skin Because I was too dark for their colorless eyes and I remember shutting myself in the bathroom doors and crying why I wasn’t made pale and “beautiful” I remember searching on Google “homemade remedies to make your skin lighter” Came out with millions of searches and thought wow I’m not alone But not thinking we were all brainwashed by the false portrayal of beauty Which is all centered on the Eurocentric values that white men have created. None of the remedies worked and felt the need to get the stain of my skin. Ironic how they go to tanning salons to be the color I was born with. I remember wanting to educate people about my culture But I was not able to find the words to. I was quickly silenced and said to pay attention to the fake history that was being taught in my history classes. I remember hoping one day I will find the voice to speak out against the lies Hoping I will one day be able to re-introduce myself to my own culture It feels as if that hopeful day had finally come, Where I have learned to appreciate my beautiful skin tone and Where I understood my culture is truly something special to me Where the hues of culture are more appealing than the colorless society I’m surrounded by. Even though it came to me, I seem to be stuck in a world that still doesn’t see. |
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