Reflections

Kamala Harris Rally Reflection: 
          A few days before the election, I was hanging out with my friends Talia, Olivia, Sarah, and Becky. Sarah’s mom let us know that there was a women’s rally for Kamala Harris happening nearby, and since we were all anxiously awaiting the election, we quickly agreed to go to make ourselves feel better. It was cold outside, but it was so worth it. When we were walking over, we could hear honking and cheering well before we could see any people. I was tired from the late night before, but when we got there I instantly felt more awake; I felt empowered. I saw several people I knew, and even more people I didn’t. Interestingly, it didn’t feel like I’d never met them before. I think we were all there for one reason, for hope. At times like this, I feel it is really important to come together, celebrate what we have, and keep our heads held high. Most of the women there were elderly, and they were thrilled to see younger girls there that feel strongly about politics' effect on women.   
          The older women didn’t hesitate to give us their handmade signs and flags, and while we were chanting and singing, some cars would honk in support while others would flip us off. No matter the response, we continued cheering and supporting what we believe in. Instead of booing back at people who have different political views as me, it is important to me that I consider all points of view and respect people’s opinions. I always tell myself that I should start getting involved more in things like this, but I haven’t taken any action until now. I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. I think civic engagement and participating in rallies is an important and healthy way to express your opinions, especially as a young woman of color. 

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Arn-Chorn Pond Reflection:
          Arn-Chorn Pond’s visit to Watkinson was very eye-opening to me and from getting to hear from someone who experienced the violences of the Khmer Rouge at such a young age, I am able to better understand the tragedies that happened in Cambodia at this time. Previously, my knowledge of the Khmer Rouge was fairly limited, but Arn’s visit taught me a lot. The stories themselves aren't what made me emotional and sympathetic the most, but the way he told them was what really struck me. One thing in particular that has stuck with me since his visit was when he kept saying how he had to “relearn how to feel emotions.” Since he was a little boy, he was taught and forced to suppress his emotions. No one, especially a young child, should have to go through that. He then started to talk about his time in America. Upon coming to the United States, he was more alone than ever. Every day he had to go to school with people he’d never seen before, learn a completely new language, and try to recover from the traumas he had endured before. His whole story is mind-boggling to me; how can someone be so strong that they can go through all of that and repeatedly tell that story? 
          After Arn spoke to the entire school, Global Studies and CAP got to have a Q&A of their own with him. During this, he was able to go more into depth about his feelings and music. He reminded us to do things we enjoy doing, because we never know when it’ll be out last time doing it. During the Cambodian Genocide, nearly all of the traditional artists and musicians were suppressed or in hiding. Arn decided not to hide in the dark anymore, and strived to replenish the works of Cambodian art. In the Q&A, he was also asked how he felt and kept motivation during these hardships. His answer was to love, to find the light in dark situations, and to never give up. Despite being othered all of his life, Arn never let violence get in the way of what he values the most. He speaked so highly of his family and the people that helped him get to where he is, and said that “their love teaches [him] how to feel.”

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Caste Reflection: 
          Before I read Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson, I had no idea what caste systems were. As I read, I started to gain an understanding of caste systems in the United States. Not only did Wilkerson talk about the caste systems in the U.S, but also in other countries, specifically India and Nazi Germany. At first, I thought caste systems were strictly based on race, but as I started to read more about the Indian caste system specifically, I learned that race isn’t the foundation of caste systems, but only a contribution. It was really interesting to me that this type of separation occurred in other instances outside of race in the United States. I enjoyed the read, and it definitely taught me a lot of things that I had never learned before. It really opened my eyes to how the past affects the present, and it made me think about how I have seen remnants of caste systems in my own life. For example, at my job over the summer, I was a lifeguard and swim instructor. I was teaching beginner adult swim lessons, and none of the people I was teaching were white. After I read Caste, I thought about this experience more and it made me realize that the caste systems still affect today. None of those adults that I taught had the opportunity to learn how to swim, and after reading and discussing the book, I realized that I was the one giving these people the opportunity that they never had, which made me appreciate having the privilege to teach even more. ​

          This may seem dramatic, but I think the movie Origin was one of the most life changing things I have ever watched. I really liked how it didn’t strictly cover the events that happened in the book, and that it dove deeper into Isabel Wilkserson’s career, struggles, and process while writing the book. I loved how real and purposeful every line and scene were, and the full circle moment with Trayvon Martin at the beginning and end of the movie. The movie evoked so many different emotions for me. I appreciated that the movie portrayed emotional and real stories. For example, the way love and relationships were portrayed in the movie was different than in the book. It was moving to see how endogamy really affected people’s lives in the movie, instead of just defining the term. The movie portrays Isabel’s grief in such a strong way that really got to me, and perfectly captures the ups and downs of her life, while still highlighting her perseverance and determination to finish what she started. I think the movie greatly conveyed the themes of the book while also going further. The movie talked about things that the book didn’t even mention, which I think is why I liked it more. With more raw details about Isabel’s experiences and hardships, I felt that the movie conveyed a deep sense of emotion and connectedness that the book didn’t quite grasp. I think the movie helped me gain a deeper understanding of the roles of caste systems because I was able to see what things were really like at these times and places.