Now We Are Being Sent Back Home...

This experience has made me see activism in a completely different light.
I have a fantastic mentor back home who is a fierce Latina woman. She has amazing energy and vigor for life and the gift of gab--things that can't be taught. She is someone that everyone wishes would rub off on them a bit. So you can just imagine how intimidating it must be to try living up to that example! In the academic world we see so many impressive and competent people, walking around the earth like living encyclopedias. And as students, we fall into their step and are lead by their illustrious examples. Playing the student roll can be great. You can ask stupid questions, people aren't very suspicious if you want to know more about them, you meet a whole roster of new people ever semester, and you get to learn and absorb so many different topics as your occupation! Life as a student is pretty dang great.
Until of course that role inhibits your potential. I have gotten in the habbit of valueing and critiquing other people's perspectives and theories. I am constantly trying to learn what other people think. I take notes on what other people say. My life essentially revolves around OTHER PEOPLE. It is essential to listen and absorb but we tend to loose our own convictions and fire when we do that on a regular basis.
This practicum forced me to examine what makes ME passionate though. When I found that the issues of undocumented citizens, refugees and immigrants are not even issues that are up for discussion on an international level, I surprised myself with how passionately I wanted that to change. I want to change the fact that young people don't feel they have a place in the decision making process and rid marginalization. I want to change the fact that some people don't have a voice because they can't write or don't have access to technology and publishing. That is like saying you don't have an opinion because you don't have money. I want to improve cultural understanding and think of ways that we can empower people through awesomely creative innovations (like the Half the Sky Game). I want to examine and cut the social roots of why violence occurs, like in the cases of violence toward women in Liberia. I want to change the fact that governments don't hold themselves accountable when it is not convenient. I want to see more people unite for a common cause, like in the example of Bosnia and Syria.
And it IS possible for me, a lowly undergraduate, to actually create change. We all percieve ourselves to be less powerful than we are. Whether we doubt our intelligence, our ability to communicate clearly and eloquently, our nerve to be a spokesperson, our ability to be effective, or just doubt that others will listen. Well, I have seen some pretty misinformed, unelloquent, ineffective speakers while here; And if THEY can do it, then WE can definitely do it (and probably do it better!).
I will probably be eating my words the next time I give a presentation.
Seriously though, all the women I have met in the Practicum are diverse and skilled individuals. They may think they are not powerful speakers, or think things are hopeless, or think they don't know what they want to do with their life, or think they don't fit into world, but they are the fabric of what activism is made of. Every speaker I listened to this week had this in common: they were unique and they want to better the world, just like the women I got to know this week.
The people that make a difference don't look any one way. They aren't white or black or brown or affluent or poor or grassroots or hippies or excitable or dreamers or crazy people. They can be all of these things and they can be none of these things. They are you, if you choose to make efforts to make the world around you a better place.
From seeing the diversity of these other women, I've learned to have more faith in myself. I have learned that I should value what I think and want to see change. At least one person out there will agree with you. And if not, your voice still has value.
This week I've learned that people are generally receptive, so it is okay to voice your opinions, even if it's off-the-wall. I've learned that it is a duty to inform people. You need to tell people when they are misinformed and missing a piece of the puzzle. We all benifit from other's perspectives. I've learned that you don't have to have limmits. Great things come out of creativity and dreaming. I've learned that networking is pretty easy. All you have to do is smile at people and be curious. I've learned simply being a woman does NOT make you an expert on women's issues. I've picked up quite a few tid-bits though.
This whole experience and getting to know all of these amazing and interesting women has been fantastic. I am very honored... and moved. And truely touched. And I really do want world peace!

Thank you everyone for making this week a positive and transformative experience. Everyone here (practicum, L2G, and our leaders Melissa and Kristin) have given me food for thought, laughs, hope, and general happiness.

And I intend to facebook-stalk everyone.

Lots of love and admiration,

Nicole Ronquillo

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