I do not even know the feeling I have right now. All I know is that this is the place I want to be. Yesterday after opening ceremonies ( which were amazing and interesting) , we were split up into family groups according to the different kinds of fish since we are near the Marina and going with a nautical theme. I am in the MARLINS ( yes!), and we are by far the best and most energetic group this conference has ever seen. There are people from Boston, New York, California, Texas, Florida and Kansas. The conferences is so diverse and the atmosphere is relaxing. Yesterday, we discussed social economic class and whether it is based on wealth,occupation, education or income. I could sit here and tell you everything we did , but I want to tell my story and what it meant to me.
I opened up yesterday; I really opened up and I felt relieved. I opened up to a bunch of strangers who are now my family, who now really know me better than some people whom I have known since 9th grade.
So I started out like this :
It is hard being Black, not exactly skinny, and going to a independent school where the population is predominantly White. I don't feel it physically or mentally. Sure, I have friends, but what are friends when it is just the black people who I am friends with. I say, "Hi," to a lot of people and I am really nice, but I am not ashamed to say that when I walk down those halls, it is not welcoming. I feel the stares, I feel the looks and, though I do not see them , I know they are there.
But that is only half the problem. At Severn, I have realized, we have a problem with sexual orientations. If you are not heterosexual, then you are looked upon weirdly. What is up with that? Since when was it right to not treat a person the same because they are bisexual, lesbian,or gay? Since when was it right to start rumors because a person is bisexual, lesbian, or gay? It is not right, of course. We do not want to address these issues, but in order to accomplish something momentous and get it solved, you can not sugar-coat it: you have to be real. I said all of this yesterday and by time I was done, I received "snaps." But I felt great because I was finally releasing my feelings and no one was judging me because everyone was on the same page.
I. Have. Arrived.
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I am very proud of you, Teisha. Your story is magnificent and I hope others find the place to tell theirs. More impressive to me are the questions you raise for the rest of us to ponder.
ReplyDeleteTeisha
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings. Yes, we have work to do together. I hope your health is better today.
Kaya, Cody, Jahaira, I am thinking of all of you so often while you are gone.
Ms Fuller
Teisha you are a role model for all of us and a symbol for the change that needs to occur within our school. You should never ever had to feel ashamed about any part of yourself. I was touched by your poem and heart broken that you felt so unaccepted at school. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I applaud you for you immense bravery and you will forever been seen as a truly wonderful and special person in my eyes.
ReplyDeleteThank you,
A Fellow Classmate