It’s been difficult to write this – to explain four years worth of experiences in just one block of text – but it’s also shown me how much I’ve learned and grown since my first year. At Agnes Scott, I’ve been able to experience courses and activities that have helped me gain knowledge both inside and outside of my major, learn about being a global citizen, develop my unique leadership skills, feel ready and excited for the professional world, and rely on both myself and my community.
Journeys
Journeys is a semester-long course accompanied by a week-long trip to a location outside of America. For my Journeys trip, I went to Cuba to learn about nature, race, and medicine, though every course focused on overarching themes of globalization, identity, colonialism, diaspora, and the ethics of travel. These overarching themes were the things that stuck with me the most.
One of the things I found most interesting to learn about on the trip was religion. We learned about Santería, a religion that stemmed from the diaspora of African people who practiced Yoruba. Many of the oricha (Santería’s spirits or deities) had equivalent patron saints, which, as was explained to us by our guide, reinforces the ideas of unity. To Santarians, the differences between Santería and Catholicism weren’t what was important, the similarities were.
This idea of similarity and unity spanned to various aspects of the culture, including race and nationality. In Cuba, they don’t have the same focus on race as we do in the United States. Instead of being identified by the color of one’s skin or the curlyness of one’s hair, everyone there was just Cuban. I wanted to be able to have more of a conversation with the locals about these ideas while simultaneously learning about my own curly hair, but there wasn’t enough time in our agenda. I nonetheless want to carry with me an outlook that focuses on my similarity to others rather than my differences.
SCALE
SCALE (Sophomore Class Atlanta Leadership Experience) was a week long externship in which students shadow and learn from professionals in organizations around Atlanta. I worked with Charis Books and More, one of the oldest independent feminist bookstores in the South, and the nonprofit program Charis Circle. The whole experience made me incredibly appreciative of feminists throughout all of history and sparked more hope about the future. One of the most impactful parts of this experience was seeing LGBTQ+, specifically trans folks, in the workforce. Representation is always something I believe is important, but I was surprised at how hard it hit me to see someone like me with a normal life and a fulfilling career.
What does it mean to be educated at a women’s college?
Agnes Scott is an inclusive women’s college, accepting not only women, but all people of marginalized genders. This space has allowed me to develop academic rigor, strength, conviction, and a sense of community. It has also allowed me to see myself, a biracial trans person, represented in the student body, as well as meet others from many different backgrounds. Being in a space that prioritizes diversity and inclusion temporarily lifts some of the weight of living in a white, male-dominated, cishet society off of the shoulders of marginalized groups, allowing focus on really learning and growing. As someone who has struggled with anxiety and finding my voice, I especially appreciate how Agnes Scott has cultivated a community where I have space to speak and find confidence. Being surrounded by other people like me where I am not spoken over or disrespected has shown me that my voice matters. Looking back at the person I was when I started college, I can say that I have much more strength and conviction than I did back then.
Looking Back
These few paragraphs by no means capture all that I have learned and experienced, but I hope it gives you an idea of how I value learning and growth. As with any college experience, there have been good moments and bad moments, but I appreciate everything that I was able to engage with because of Agnes Scott.
If you would like to learn more about some of the specific projects I’ve done, please take a look at the schoolwork category on this website.