So, it's been a while since I last posted. I was losing the focus of this blog in the process. After much thinking and spending time in my current job, I realized I needed to change the direction of this blog. I'm leaning more towards tips, pointers, stories, even questions, for early multicultural advocates. As my first position in multicultural affairs, I've come up against various walls. The first tip I have for those interested in joining the fabulous life of multicultural affairs is: KNOW THY SELF.
Multicultural work is not only a process of educating others about social justice and diversity, but its a continual journey of re-discovering, and re-engaging with yourself, in order to become the great educator you aspire to be. College is a time for learning, exploring, growing, and experimenting, and that's just what I received from my undergraduate experience. However, given the conservative atmosphere, parts of me still felt suffocated. I took in all the leadership opportunities I could take, and developed a leadership identity at the expense of my cultural identity. Moving to Vermont allowed me to explore a part of myself that I had never ventured to understand because of the stigma I faced in Texas in accepting my whole self. Doing multicultural work helped me understand why the work is needed and how I can use my story to catapult my professional direction.
Today, I find myself struggling to balance my new found self with the conservative atmosphere that kept me from finding myself to begin with. I have a fiery cat-like instinct to jump on every 'racist' moment I see, wanting to challenge others to go where they've never gone before. However, I've reached a point where most of my conflicting attitudes with this place are slowly being dispelled with the solution of: It's just not going to happen right now. Which I think I am okay with, because at the end of the day, I know who I am, I know what road I took to find myself, and if I lose myself in said conservative environment, I know what my next step would and should be.
I am a Latina, Tejana, activist, seeking justice in the all the wrong places, and while I might be feeling discomfort and frustration in my job, I just have to keep reminding myself of the reasons for why I chose it, and above all, reminding myself of who I am and that as long as I stay true to myself, nothing should go wrong.
For now, I find stress-relieving in exercising and in processing these experiences with my fellow multicultural educators (again because I know myself, and I understand what I need to do to keep a healthy mindset) So, I challenge you. Who are you? What makes your tick? And what helps you keep those ticks from becoming bombs?
