Voices of Diversity

Aleysha, CCC Student
Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Program

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"I'm a 21-year-old Mexican female. I'm bilingual and speak both English and Spanish."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"When I moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Clinton, Iowa at the age of 16, I was a junior in high school. One thing I remember is just how much of a cultural and diversity shock it was like moving here. I just felt as if I don't belong, and I felt as if I was the only minority at my school. Shortly after I started attending Clinton High School, I made a few friends. Of course, being 16 and going to a high school where I didn't know anyone, leaving all of my friends back home, I hated it here. But, after a year and a half, Clinton started growing on me. That's when I soon realized there were a lot more opportunities for me to engage myself in. I became a cheerleader, got my license, went to school to get certified as a nurse's aide, got a job working at a hospital as a lab tech, walked many marathons to support small causes and worked at a nursing home (which I absolutely loved). It took me a long time to adjust to my new atmosphere, but once I did, and started to get to know new people, I realized how much Clinton had to offer and I'm glad to be a part of it all!"

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"I have learned through my family that being bilingual can help me get a job almost anywhere. I have found it to be useful at both of my jobs. There's some patients or customers who don't speak English the best, so I like that not only am I able to understand and communicate with them, but I'm able to give them that comfort and guidance they need. I found that by being Mexican, they have scholarships that you are able to use towards school and many programs to better your education."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"I hope that my story will help others understand people's backgrounds a little more and help to show that not everyone had the same upbringing as them. I just think it's interesting to learn about people's cultural background and compare it to theirs to see the similarities and differences."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I hope my story will give students comfort, knowing that there are others who have experienced similarities—that they are not alone, we're all in the same boat. There's nothing to be ashamed of, or fear, and others understand them more than they might think."

Evan, CCC Student
Horticulture Program

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"I'm a 20-year-old White, bisexual male. I'm American and speak English, as well as a little bit of Spanish. I am entering my sophomore year at CCC. I was raised Catholic, but am not currently practicing due to experiences throughout my life. I have been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety and depression."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"One lesson I learned from the adversity I faced was to work hard, not make excuses and that things take time to happen. At the age of seven, my mother passed away. This left me grieving and mourning for a lot of my childhood. We were immensely close, so it took a large toll on me. Thankfully, my older brother, Trent, encouraged me to get into sports, like football and basketball. My father was not the best influence, but tried for his four children. At the age of 16, shortly after school had ended, my father kicked me and my older brothers out. So, by this point in my life, I felt beaten down and shattered. I became heavily depressed and anxious that following fall, leading to me become suicidal.

I had a long-distance friend who helped me, and therapist at the time. Also, during this fall, I started my first job while still being a sophomore in high school. The following spring my depression had lessened a lot, and through me working on myself and being patient, I started to feel better. There is a particular February morning where I remember waking up just simply happy to be alive, and that moment was reinvigorating and immensely motivating. Things do get better, no matter how bleak they seem."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"Through losing my mother at an early age and being different in general—through behavior, upbringing and experiences—I learned that I was always more energetic and spontaneous than others. I had to learn to lessen it in ways. Along with this, my ADHD led to me being less entertained by certain things for extended periods of time, so I have grown to value certain motivational factors. One thing I do deeply care about is helping others and being selfless. I try and show others a lot of respect and care for them when I can. Everyone is deserving of kindness and respect and not enough people embody this idea. This partially stemmed from losing my mom at an early age, so I became empathetic and caring about different issues than most kids."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"I usually am very empathetic for others and it helps inspire me to be better and work harder. I love learning from others and getting to hear their stories. It's great because they can teach each other a lot and improve from one another."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"I hope others experiencing struggles with family, grieving a loved one or just struggling with an obstacle in life, will not feel beaten down and realize it gives them an opportunity to become a stronger and better person."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I hope my story will positively impact others to not feel brought down or burdened by large, negative events in their life. It is easy to feel beaten down or give up hope. These events can be used to push oneself and learn more about yourself and others. I hope to motivate or make others feel less burdened by their issues, and to know they are strong enough to face them."

Gina, CCC Faculty Member and Phi Theta Kappa Advisor
Communication Department

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"Proud mother of two boys, devoted wife, loving family member, fierce friend, native English speaker, Generation X-er, Caucasian, Midwestern, middle-class American, laid-back Lutheran, passionate educator, free spirit, traveler and music lover."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"As stated above, I am a traveler. I love it. It brings me so much joy, and I have learned so much throughout my travels. There is nothing like experiencing and exposing ourselves to other cultures and traditions. I often think about an experience I had while traveling abroad as an example of humility and empathy. We talk about people experiencing linguistic barriers in my public speaking class, and having traveled to Central America and living in Europe, I can attest to how humbling it can be to not be able to speak the primary language.

I distinctly remember staying at the home of a local Honduran family in the capital city of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I was traveling with an American friend who spoke fluent Spanish. The only communicating I could do was through her, with the exception of a word or phrase here and there. We stayed there for just under a week, and I was able to experience a small taste of what their everyday life was like, but I was unable to share my feelings about the experience with anyone other than my American travel companion. I wanted to express my gratitude for the way in which they welcomed us with open arms, but I could not. I wanted to tell them how delicious the food was that they had prepared for us, but I could not. I wanted to ask questions about who they were and what they cared about, but I could not. I was able to point at certain items, or give a few nonverbal signals here and there, but I found it very difficult to communicate. I remind myself of this experience, and many others like it, when I interact with someone who may not speak the primary language of English in this country.

I tell my students this story, and I ask them to put themselves in my place, or in the place of so many who come to this country without having a grasp on the English language. We pride ourselves on being a "melting pot" of ethnicities, cultures, languages, etc. However, I have heard native English speakers complaining about those who struggle with the language. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can encourage others to practice empathy when communicating, verbally or nonverbally."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"Being a mom is part of my identity that began a decade ago. It is not something that I could have ever prepared for, even though I read ‘all the books' and exposed myself to anything and everything I could in advance. It's as if all of my other parts of identities had to take a time-out, be shoved down, and sit on the bench. As soon as I saw my son, I knew that my life had changed forever. Incredibly, I had the same experience three years after, when I looked upon my second son for the first time. No one tells you what that will be like, but as I stated before, music is a love of mine. So, I will try to explain this experience through the words of one of my favorite musicians, Brandi Carlile, in her song called, ‘The Mother':

‘Welcome to the end of being alone inside your mind,
Tethered to another and you're worried all the time.
You always knew the melody but you never heard it rhyme.'"

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"Over time, I have figured out a way for all of the parts of my identity to co-exist and even thrive most of the time. I believe that I have been able to understand how to do this with the help of my mom friends and family. I've never experienced a stronger support group than the various groups of mothers I have encountered. There are groups of moms that work out together, plan social events together, strive to end gun violence in our schools, etc. They have websites, podcasts, social media groups and text threads to plan and support one another. I am a mom who experienced postpartum depression and anxiety after giving birth to both of my sons. Again, this was an experience that is almost impossible to prepare someone for. I got through this experience with the support of the moms, and I am eternally grateful for this strong sisterhood of mothers that show up in many different ways in my life."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"I hope that those who read these parts of my story will gain a little insight to what makes me who I am. All of our stories differ, and we've had so many life experiences that guide us through our story. A term that I teach my students is, ‘rhetorical sensitivity.' By definition, it means: ‘A set of attitudes that lead to thoughtful consideration of how a message should be phrased and framed for best audience understanding and effect.' When I teach this concept to my students, we talk about being open minded and empathetic to the beliefs, values and attitudes of others, despite their variations in demographics. If we can approach situations being rhetorically sensitive, there is a very good chance that we will be able to communicate effectively and ethically."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I hope these parts of my story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar. As a faculty member, I encourage my students to learn what they can from me, but also that I can learn as much from them. Due to the nature of the public speaking course, and other communication courses that I teach, I get to learn about my students likes, dislikes, hobbies, experiences, etc. I try to provide some of mine in class as well, but remain focused on theirs. Hopefully this can also reinforce the concepts that I teach, about which I am very passionate."

Kristina, CCC Student
Electrical Engineering Major

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

“I identify as she/her. I’m a mother. I’m a soldier of hope. A friend to many and an ally to life.”

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

“The biggest barrier I overcame was getting clean off drugs. I’m now going into my tenth year clean and because I started my recovery, I know I can overcome anything I put my mind to. I know that the only person standing in the way of my hopes and dreams is myself. Nobody could give me my recovery, only me. I had to put in the work, I had to be the one in charge, and I had to take responsibility.”

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

“The greatest impact in my life is when I decide to take charge in my life, when I changed my mindset and the way I viewed myself, and took responsibility. After that, the ability to stay true to myself and stay on a positive path became less troublesome. I was able to grow from my past and help others.”

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

“It makes me feel hopeful and inspired when I connect to someone’s story. We are all soldiers of hope and inspiration. I myself love to be that light.”

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

“That you can overcome anytime you put your mind to. I hope others are inspired to make the changes they need to make for themselves. I want others to feel like they, too, can do anything they set out to do.”

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

“Never give up on yourself. In the end, the only person that can stop you is you.”

Ryan, CCC Student
Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Program

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

“I identify a great mystery about myself that is special, and completely different, but totally real.”

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

“My greatest barrier I faced is when I gave up on myself in such a way I let myself tumble to a grave, but didn’t end up stoned. I was given the blessing to have the willpower to give my life one last go and now I have accomplished that goal and am still conquering that goal.”

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

“Having so many identities came down to choosing myself. What I want myself to be and how I can make myself be that person of truth. It took many years to make myself into the person I want to be and not having a fake part of me to do it. I’m confident about who I am and am completely honest about myself. I don’t have to hide or lie to exist.”

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

“I have yet to find anyone who can relate to, or have some kind of an idea, of my mind set. There are so many relating or similar experiences that are shared, but they always lead to more of an extremity or more drastic events. Trying to relate with others, and the thoughts that I have learned from my experiences, are at such a high level of comprehension to try to understand exactly the result of what I am thinking and meaning. To visualize the actual outcome is to be able to have patient listening concentration towards every broken-down detail of where I come from and how I built my character of who I live to be today.”

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

“That they would listen and gather the learning experience that I share is what I’m actually proving life to be. If I can do it many others can as well.”

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"That’s something that will power and a walking proof of live can only hope that they would be in reality to see that it can be done to a live a life on the other side and be treated the way they hated before and lived before at a much brighter and richer price to want to live a dream to low life to a high life realistic dream come true."

AC, MCC Staff
Student Engagement & Resident Life Coordinator

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

“Autistic, gender-fluid (they/them), bisexual, queer, Iowan, bilingual fluency (English and French), agnostic, culturally Brethren, college graduate, rural, clawing my way into a stable economic bracket, leftist, lifelong student.”

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

“I’ve had to unlearn internalized self-hatred of my autism and my queerness. These identities are interconnected with myself and my environment, so when I was subjected to ‘correctional behavioral therapy’—negative reinforcements to discourage displays of stimming, sharing special interests, and displaying behaviors that were outside the CisHet normative society—I found myself trapped. I was severely punished for differing from the norm and hid myself away as a self-preservation technique. As I gained more autonomy over my life, I began the painful but liberating process of radically embracing the parts of myself to benefit my quality of life. The main lesson that I learned in this journey has been that there was never anything wrong with me and that self-love and self-advocacy are transformative tools that I can continue to use.”

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

“Intersectionality is a social framework that has helped me understand my relationship with myself and my environment. Sometimes these identities overlap in a complementary way. My special interest in reactionary political movements allowed me to focus on that in my academic career. Yet, there are instances where my identities find themselves at odds. There is no standard, non-gendered third-person pronoun in French. To my chagrin, there are neopronouns that I utilize in certain circles. Sometimes I don’t notice my identities are different at all. It’s difficult to be aware of my Iowan culture when I’m in Iowa, but the moment I’m abroad, it’s impossible to ignore. All of my identities are always relevant but reveal themselves in different ways. Being aware of the existence and interplay of my identities has strengthened my sense of self and created a level of stability from which I can build my best life.”

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

“Most of my identities are invisible until disclosed, making it difficult to find folks with similar connections. When I do share my identities, I am often submitting myself to an uncomfortable degree of vulnerability that is not guaranteed to result in a connection. When I do find those connections, I feel seen in a profoundly deep way. Most of the time when I talk about my identities, I’m trying to convey an integral part of my being to someone who cannot truly understand what it means to carry an invisible identity. Not having to try and define my experience of the world is a relief that I relish in when I do have opportunities to share community.”

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

“I hope that those who do not share my identities can gain a broader perspective of what a queer, autistic person looks like—what I look like—and understand that all identities already have a place in our communities. I hope that those who do share my identities, or at least share a minority space, can feel seen and reassured. Ultimately understanding that creating more visibility for ourselves is possible, positive, and necessary.”

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

“As a younger person, I desperately longed to have an example of someone who lived a happy life without compromising on living with visible, marginalized identities. As I continue to look for that mentor for myself, I hope I can provide that example for others.”

Daniel, 2021 Graduate
Student Senate President, LULAC member & MCC Student Ambassador

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"Mexican-American, Latino, Iowan, Texano, American, Catholic, middle-class, third-generation, he, him, his, Latino-American, young, leader."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"I have learned that I am a Latino in America. Growing up in the Midwest, and as third generation, that was not something I really thought about. As I became more mature and had a better understanding for the world around me, I became more aware of what I looked like—the involuntary code switching that I had done for most of my life. I came to realize that I was a person of color and needed to explore and learn more about my own culture, as well as others. I consider myself lucky to be in a small community that typically is seen as supportive, but I know that in many places across America racism and the after effects of Jim Crow segregation laws have still left a mark.

I feel like I have a responsibility as a citizen of this nation to strive to make it a better place for everyone. It is my responsibility to educate myself on the wrongs that have been done and suppression of systems in place for people like me and combat that to the best of my abilities. I have grown aware of the issues that are facing people and strive to make things better. This type of thinking is what propelled me to try to run for office when I was 19 years old. After a fierce campaign, I learned a lot about my community and how to be part of the people who make a difference in it.

I often think about my grandparents and how they made their journey to America, leaving everything they knew behind and working hard to get here. They wanted to come to America to live a better life and pursue the American dream. I feel as though I have a responsibility to build on the life that was provided for me. By educating myself and chasing my goals, I try to embody the American dream that my grandparents had by making it an American reality."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"It's been a fight and a learning experience to find what identity is dominant. How to balance them out and respect each one as a piece of the puzzle that is me. As an American, I find it an honor to be part of an idea so great, yet a responsibility to help form the more perfect union. As a Latino-American, I recognize the unique position that I am in and how much my Latino upbringings are a part of me. I fight myself to not suppress who I am or my family. It is for this reason that I find it so important to wear my cowboy boots and hat proudly, because it is a part of my heritage and culture. I'm a young leader and I have a lot to learn, but have accepted the role because I know it needs to be done. I hope that I can find the right people to help guide me to make the right decisions."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"I feel grateful and hopeful knowing that there are people in this world that still have a passion for change and want to do what's right. I feel ecstatic knowing that so many people are willing to stand up to the corrupt and corrupted minded to try to make a difference and even be elected into office themselves."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"I hope people can understand I am just an ‘Average Joe'—I am no valedictorian and I have no large amount of money to use. I hope people can see that anyone with the willingness to work hard and ask for help when needed can accomplish a lot. Anyone can make a change in the world, in their communities, if they just try to. Understand that it is ordinary people who can do extraordinary things."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I want them to know that in this race of life, it is true that others might have an advantage (or two) over you, but you have the advantage of being you. Clichés are said time and time again, because they are true, but you are able change the fate that is preset and make a life that you're proud of."

Gabriel, MCC Staff Member
Academic Advisor/Program Recruiter

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"Christian, husband, father, African American, millennial and first-generation college graduate."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"Growing up as a Black male, I struggled with tokenism. I was referred to as "good" or "different" than the rest, because of my naturally shy and passive demeanor, as well as usually being the only Black person in the room. I was consistently expected to give answers as the voice for Black people, not just by peers, but teachers and supervisors as well. This was something I struggled with since I didn't like talking in front of people or to people I didn't know very well, especially if they didn't look like me. When I was in college I wish I would have listened to the advice I was given, "Don't just go to class and do your work, but also network and meet people. Get to know your professors, peers and people in the field you are pursing." I didn't completely listen and wasted plenty of opportunities to build foundations for relationships that would be of great benefit to me today. I've since learned that everyone has a complex identity that encompasses different aspects of how they identify. Regardless, most people have more commonalities than differences so there's always a way to connect with someone, especially on campus."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"I'd say my identities have led me to multiple opportunities and given me the chance to meet people from different walks of life. Whether it's my identity as a Christian and going on a mission trip to Ethiopia, or joining programs and becoming lifelong friends with other first generation college students from different ethnicities and nationalities in college, it's impacted my life."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"It makes me feel connected and inspired. Connected because it reminds me that we all are alike in some way, and inspired because it gives me a desire to meet other people to experience other cultures, customs and ideas."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"Regardless who you are or what you identify with, there is somebody that is like you in more ways than one. You just have to be willing to meet and converse with them."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I hope that my story will encourage others to network and live a more fulfilling college experience and become more involved on campus. To go places, do things and meet people that they would have never otherwise."

Marissa, MCC Faculty Member
Psychology Department

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"Educational psychologist, caring, introvert, female, violinist, cat mom, indie/emo music lover, diagnosed with social anxiety and hair picking disorder (trichotillomania), Jewish (culturally, not religiously), agnostic and born and raised in Long Island, New York."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"The greatest lesson I have learned in life is to surround yourself with people who believe in you, and distance yourself from those who don't. At the end of my junior year of college, I decided to pursue a career in school psychology, which meant I would be training to work with students with disabilities in schools. Unfortunately, during that four-year period, I had multiple supervisors/advisors tell me that I would be better positioned for a career in research and/or that I shouldn't work with people. At the time, this made me feel like there was something wrong with me. However, I now understand that when someone discourages you from doing something, it is often either because of the stereotypes they have in their head about who best "fits" into a particular career path, or their failure to see you as a person who is capable of improvement. This is a limitation on their end, not yours.

I was only able to begin to learn this lesson in the last year I was enrolled in the school psychology graduate program, which I ended up leaving. In this last year, I had two amazing supervisors who were current graduate students a couple of years ahead of me in the same program. They were both very supportive, understanding and interested in helping me improve my skills. The support from these supervisors and other friends in my program gave me the confidence I needed to leave that program and search for one in which the faculty were more supportive of my goals. I would not be here today, writing this as a faculty member with a PhD, if I had not leaned on those who supported me and abandoned those who did not."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"When considering all of my different identities, it is difficult to know how each one impacted me separately, but I do know that each one has had an influence on the person I have become. For example, my culturally Jewish identity helped me recognize the assumptions people make in their everyday lives about the way someone looks, whereas my introversion and social anxiety helped me learn to listen to and empathize with others.

As a Jew, whenever it starts to get close to Christmas, I always tense up a bit, because I know many people will start wishing me a "Merry Christmas" or asking me if I have any plans for Christmas. Because the majority of people do celebrate Christmas, and it is not possible to determine someone's religion from the way they look, many people make the false assumption that everyone celebrates Christmas. This is especially frustrating for me when Hanukkah is occurring at the same time as Christmas, because very little, if any, recognition is given to Hanukkah. Although this experience has been frustrating for me throughout my life, it has also helped me remember to not make assumptions about any aspect of a person's identity. This means that I ask people questions about their identity (e.g. what pronouns do you use?) before discussing something related to who they are as a person. Additionally, I have recently begun to wear a Jewish star necklace to feel more connected to my religious identity and raise more awareness of my religious diversity.

My experience as an Introvert with social anxiety made it very difficult for me to interact with new people as I was growing up. My introversion led me to tend towards spending a lot of time thinking before speaking, and my social anxiety caused me to spend so much mental energy worrying about what other people were thinking about everything I was saying and doing. Although this may have prevented me from getting to know more people as I was growing up, I can now utilize this skill of paying attention to other people's facial expressions and words to help me understand what they are experiencing and either figure out how to help them and/or empathize with them. It is very important to me to let others know that I want to see them and hear them for who they are, and I am grateful that I can continue to hone this skill to accomplish that."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"It helps me recognize that there is nothing wrong with me. It's also very therapeutic and validating to be able to talk through the struggles, as I have gone through it with someone who has also experienced those same struggles. It can be helpful to share your struggles with a trusted person in your life, but it is 1000x more helpful when you are able to share that with someone who has also gone through that same struggle."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"I hope that others will be able to learn that you can always learn something from the struggles you experience, as well as the struggles of others. It is important to always be yourself, share your story with others and hear their stories as well. The more we listen and learn from each other, the more chances we have to make the world we live in a better place."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I hope that my story can help you recognize that you should not shy away from a career path simply because it might be something that is more difficult for you to learn and/or others do not think you can do it. You are the one living your life, so you are the only person who can decide what you do with it. Do not let other people sway your decision with advice you didn't ask for. Lean on the people who support you no matter what, and don't listen to anyone who tries to tell you what to do with your life.

I hope you will also recognize that there is no reason to hide any part of your identity that you perceive as being different. Hiding your identity can exacerbate the problem of others' unawareness of the diverse identities that exist all around them. The more we feel comfortable sharing all of our identities with the world, the less mystery will exist around those identities, and the more we will be able to understand each other's diverse identities."

Nadeesh, MCC Student
Nursing

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"My first nationality is Cameroon, which is situated in the West-Central part of Africa. Cameroon is a bilingual country, meaning we do speak both English and French. I speak four languages; my dialect (commonly known as Mother's Tongue), Pidgin English, French and English. I'm a Christian in the Presbyterian Church. I did all my schooling up to high school in Cameroon. I moved to the United States in December 2017."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"Everything here is different from where I came from—the lifestyle, the food, etc. When I first moved here more than three years ago, I found it so difficult to eat a lot of meals. This was because I was unfamiliar with almost everything. To make things worse, most grocery stores in Africa were not close by. As time passed, I started eating some of the food. I can now say I eat nearly everything.

Secondly, as I was preparing for college, I had to learn how to type. I was used to pen and notebook for note taking during classes, as we did not use computers to study. Here was totally different, because everything is computerized-based. This became my greatest worry as I was about to begin my first year of college. I decided to practice typing every day, and in the span of three months, I was seeing progress. I'm so happy now that I can do both, note taking and typing, well."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"Having multiple identities has impacted my life greatly. I'm able to blend my culture with the Western culture and interact with different people. I'm also learning a lot of new things every day. There are a lot of opportunities here in comparison to my country of origin."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"When people are able to connect with my story and feel pain, it lets me know that am not the only one dealing with difficult situations. You just have to tell yourself that change is a process in life and just embrace it when it comes."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"I pray that my story will help someone out there. If you're experiencing change in identity, know that it is a part of life. When it hits you, don't be afraid to grab it. Life is all about struggles and never let your weaknesses define who you are. Be open-minded, ask questions and never give up—no matter who you are or where you are coming from. I've learned that people here are always more than welcome to help one another."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"Whenever an opportunity sets in, never let it go without giving it a try. There is nothing easy in life. Hard work is the key to every success. Learn to be patient and connect with others. Together we will build a better future."

Paola, MCC Student
Human Resources Management Major

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

“My nationality is white, but my ethnicity is Latina. I’m 19 years old and my first language is Spanish. I identify as a female and I’m Catholic. I value education a lot.”

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

“As a first-generation Latina whose first language is Spanish, that was one of my biggest barriers. When I moved from Puerto Rico to America, it was hard for me to adapt and learn a new language. I want people to know that no matter the circumstances and the barriers you face, it is possible to overcome them and you will be okay. Finding a place where I felt like I belonged extremely hard but everyone was kind and welcomed me.”

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

“Being Puerto Rican meant a lot to me. I’m proud of where I come from. However, it was hard to feel welcomed at first, because people always told me that I was White. Being both is a little hard, because it is hard to find people who care about you for who you are and what you identify as. Once I found those people that understood me and didn’t care about my nationality, it made me see life differently. Learning from different cultures of Latin America, it made me realize how similar we all are and that we can all get along.”

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

“I really enjoy connecting with others based on our stories. Hearing their experiences and how they were able to overcome their obstacles and their struggles makes me feel good and proud. A lot of stories are different, yet have a similar outcome. I enjoy coming together with others to share our culture and beliefs. We leave the Hispanic rivalry on a side and learn more about each other.”

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

“I want them to understand that everything is possible and that no matter what you are going through it will be better. You can overcome whatever you want and you can also find the people that share similar stories as you.”

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

“I want them to not feel alone. I want them to understand that there are people in the world that went through the same thing and identify with their story. Also that being different is good and to not be afraid of change.”

Eunice, SCC Student
Liberal Arts

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"I identify as a female, wife, mother, Minister of the Gospel, and care giver. I'm in my 50s, from Nigeria (a country located in West Africa) and African-American."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"Over the years I have learned that life presents challenges that need to be overcome. When I came to the U.S., I encountered many barriers involving cultural differences, language barriers, food, and schooling. It was not easy for me to adjust so easily because of my age, but I refused to give up. I developed a habit of always asking questions when in doubt, constantly trusting God for help, making adjustments when needed, and having a positive attitude towards achieving goals. When I found myself being the oldest student in a class, I humbled myself and refused to be offended by others though my cultural values I respect very much. When I made mistakes I made sure they were not repeated."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"I realize that being from Africa makes one constantly work harder to succeed. I have to be strong for my children and always remind them to do the right thing even when others are not. At every opportunity I let people know that God loves us and always willing to help us if we open up to him. This has made me stronger than I thought possible."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"Connecting with other people that share similar stories as me makes me feel like I'm not alone - that there are others going through similar experiences and there is hope for us. Sharing our experiences give s me a bigger picture of what is going on around me. There was a day I happened to be in the midst of other African people and we were sharing our experiences here in the US. It was so funny to hear how we are constantly misinterpreted when we talk."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"I hope when people read my story they will learn to never give up on their dreams, even when the possibility of getting it is not visible. They should know that they are not alone in a situation like that and everyone go es through different challenges in life. As we journey through life help is always close by even when we can't see it. Above all, have faith in God's unfailing love."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"The Scott Community College campus is a big family with many available resources to help one succeed if we reach out to them. Every barrier can be overcome with the right approach."

Kevin, SCC Faculty Member
Theatre and Film Department

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"I identify as a gay, White male. I'm a Liberal Democrat and an atheist. As the child of a single mother, I was the first in my family to graduate from college."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"The biggest obstacle I think I have had to overcome in order to be happy and successful in life was learning to stop trying to please everyone else. We only get one life…it's far too short not to spend it on the things we love and enjoy."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"This is less of an issue now, but when I was younger I tried to keep those identities separate (I had gay friends, school friends and work friends). I tried to hide the parts of myself that a particular group might find objectionable. I no longer do that."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"For so many years I didn't know that other gay people existed; I thought something was wrong with me. Learning that there are others like me was extraordinarily liberating."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"For those who do not identify with me, I hope that learning about our differences helps them to empathize with others. Our differences make us stronger and should never be a cause for divisiveness."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I hope that being visible helps to validate the experiences of others who may be going through something similar to what I did. Celebrate the differences that make them who they are, and never be ashamed of that."

Monifah, SCC Student
Social Work and Psychology Programs

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"I identify as a Black, bisexual, 19-year-old female. I'm a daughter, sister, friend, full-time college student, English speaker, a child of God, feminist, pro-BLM, LGBTQ+ rights advocate and able-bodied."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"Living in Iowa, more specifically Davenport, it's not as diverse as people may think. I have had to overcome being the only underrepresented voice in the room on more than several occasions. I identify as a Black woman but I do not represent all Black women, because we're individually unique. I have found this opportunity to be educational for others, rethink their biases, and allow them to correct their racially-motivated beliefs, stereotypes and actions. Some do, and most don't, because they're not honest with themselves. I've learned I can't help someone who doesn't have ownership and is apathetic to how their actions and thoughts harm large groups of people."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"The biggest blessing God has given me is having identities that have not always been inclusive, liked or appreciated. Black people have been oppressed, dehumanized and put at a disadvantage. This has impacted my life, because I can't change my complexion and I'll always be Black. However, others can change their mindset and negative actions. Bisexual people are judged for being "indecisive"—as confident as they are about their sexuality. This has helped me speak up more and be assertive when others find confusion in my identity. Women are not seen or respected equally to men. Being a woman has impacted my life. Although men are given the advantage, I know I am equally as strong, educated and hardworking. Finally, being plus-sized. I didn't always accept this title, because it wasn't a part of our set beauty standards. How society has bashed us has helped me love myself more. You can't expect others to respect you if you treat yourself less than. Being a Black, bisexual, plus-sized woman has impacted my life greatly, but it doesn't stop me from accomplishing my goals."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"You walk by many people a day and you'll never know their stories unless you ask. You'll never know the similarities you share in your identities or stories, by making it more common and you feeling less alone. Connecting with people who share similar stories helps me feel less depressed, knowing I'm not the only one. Yes, my experiences are unique to me, but our difference and adversities can be universal."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"As you briefly read my story, I can only hope you gain a sense of belonging. Everyone on the outside seems as though they have it all together, myself included. But, no one has ever asked to know about people's experiences and what they're currently going through. You appear the same to everyone else. There's nothing wrong with this, but let's create dialogue by being more kind and compassionate, creating an inclusive atmosphere."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I hope my story impacts others on campus by helping them feel more confident in their life, their body and identities. I find myself as an open book, and I'm not ashamed of my experiences because it can help others with theirs."

Pablo, SCC Student
Automotive Technology Program

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"I'm a hardworking, bilingual Mexican father of a 20-year-old daughter and a 17-year-old son. I'm not a religious person, but I do believe in the power of prayer and am a believer of God."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"Growing up in a lower-income minority family, nothing came easy. My mom would always tell me, ‘If you want to have things in life, work hard and earn it honestly.' That applies to any age or background. You, and only you, can make changes in your life. It's your life, why not live it the way you want? I needed to make a change in my life and change I did. I enrolled in Scott Community College to get my AA in Automotive Technology, because I always wanted to work on cars and my degree validates all the hard work and sacrifice. You don't look back five, 10 or 15 years down the road and have regrets. Your time is now."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"As a minority, I have seen and experienced discrimination. I always try to interact with people in a way they can get to know and understand the person I am, and not the skin color they see. Sometimes it works and other times it does not."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"I feel like we can make it, we can be our own change and educate others at the same time. Age does not matter when it comes to an education. Being a minority should not be an excuse and stop you from getting an education."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"That they don't let anything, or anyone, stop them."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"I hope that no matter who you are or where you come from… Control your own life. Get an education. Don't let people doubt you, and if they doubt you, prove them wrong. I hope they get encouraged to go and get an education in a field they will enjoy to be in and not work a day in their life. When you enjoy what you do, you no longer work a day in your life."

Savior, SCC Student
Nursing Program

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"Ethnicity: Asian – Karen (one of the ethnic groups within the region known as Burma/Myanmar)
Language: S'gaw Karen
Gender: Female
Education: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Nurse Aide (CNA)
Employment: UnityPoint Health Hospital – Trinity (Cardiology Tech)"

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"I was born in Burma/Myanmar, but due to the war, my family had to flee to a Thailand refugee camp. We lived in the refugee camp for 12 years before settling down here in America. Due to the lack of education and resources at the camp, neither of my parents graduated from high school or college. At the same time, I couldn't attend school properly because of the expenses and fees. When I first arrived in the U.S., I did not know how to read, write or speak English. It was hard for me to adapt to the new environment as well. Additionally, both of my parents were having a hard time getting jobs, due to the language barrier. That being said, I'm glad that my family had an opportunity to move here to a peaceful country, full of freedom and education. Both of my parents have motivated me to not give up and this country has given me an opportunity to pursue my dreams."

Q: What is your career goal?

"Since I was little, I always wanted to work in the healthcare field. My goal is to become a nurse/medical assistant. I really admire people who work in the healthcare field. They have the hearts to help others in need and assist in healing them, physically as well as emotionally. This is the reason why I want to become a healthcare worker. I want to help the patients who are in need of help. I want to be that kind of person who can make differences in people's lives, put a smile on their face and make them feel like they matter. One day, I want to go back to my homeland and help out because there's not a lot of healthcare workers in my country. (The place where I was born is very poor and there is limited resources in healthcare facilities.)

English is not my first language, so it is hard for me to pursue my career in the healthcare field. I have to work harder than my classmates. If they spend three hours of studying, I have to spend at least eight hours of studying to get a good grade. Additionally, I need extra income to support my family, due to the fact I'm working part time to attend college. I'm currently working in the healthcare field as a cardiology tech to gain more experiences and pursue my long-term goal of becoming a Nurse. I want to build up my foundation strongly so I can be confident of myself. I will never give up on something that I really wanted."

Q: Tell us more about how your multiple identities have impacted your life.

"I'm now a U.S. citizen and I feel very blessed that I finally identify myself as Asian-American. Even if I was born in my country, I don't have a citizenship there. The life I spent in the Thailand refugee camp was a temporary resettlement place. We had an ID at the camp, but we weren't officially living there or felt like we were living there. When I first moved to America, every time people asked me about my citizenship, or the country where I originally considered my hometown, I always got confused and I didn't know how to answer. That's why having a new life here in the U.S. is such a blessing from above. Even if I identified myself as Asian-American, part of me still just Asian. I'm not ashamed of where I came from and it will always be with me."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"Every time I read about a story that is similar to mine, it inspires me. It inspires me to work harder and not feel alone. I know that there's someone out there who's experienced the same things, walked the same path as me. Even if it's not completely similar, we both have something in common. It could be the language barrier, not having access to higher education, hardships during childhood life, etc."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"Nothing in life comes easy, but if you really want something, you will definitely make sure to reach it. It may seem impossible at first, but as long as you don't give up, you will accomplish it without a doubt."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"If I can do it, you can do it too. I did not even speak English at all when I first started school, but I pushed myself harder to make sure I learned something new each day. If you're feeling like you want to give up, please don't. I used to feel so small about myself because of the language barrier. I felt like I wasn't good enough. Then I realized that at the end of the day, if I don't stand up for myself, who will?

I changed my point of view when I talked to my professors about my struggles and they gave me advice that I will never forget, "Try to think positively and know that there are people out who are willing to help you out." All you have to do is make time to talk to them—talk to your advisor, dean, professors or anyone who works at your school for advice. They are the best people to guide you through out your educational journey. They want to see us to become successful people.

I was having a hard time financially as well, but I let out those fears by talking to my professors and advisor. They introduced me to wonderful people that helped lessen my financial burden, which I will forever be thankful for. Never let any negative people stop you from anything, either. There will be a time when you will have to encounter unexpected situations in life, but those unexpected situations will turn out to be your valuable life lessons."

Sergio, SCC Curriculum and Talent Manager
Transportation and Construction

Q: Please list all the ways in which you identify.

"He, him, his, Mexican-American, Chichimeca, bilingual Spanish-speaker, cisgender, spiritual, college graduate and community activist."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"A barrier I overcame was early on, in high school. The police had compiled a list of my friends, including myself, identifying us as suspected gang members. They would harass us almost every weekend—stopping us on our bikes, questioning what we were doing, what time we'd be going to the park to play basketball or if we were on our way to another friend's house. Eventually, we got used to it and would joke around with the cops to de-escalate the situation. Once we started driving, it got a bit more serious, as we would now be stopped and searched. We then learned our rights in government class in school and researched what they could and couldn't ask us to do. We stood up for ourselves and did not let them continue to harass us once we learned what our rights were. We didn't let the police tell us what we were or were not. We did not become gang members simply because they had a list that identified us as such. Most of us went on to college or joined the military right after high school in 2001. We were successful, even when the police tried very hard to make sure we were not."

Q: Briefly describe a barrier you overcame or lesson you learned as it relates to one or more aspects of your identity.

"Growing up in a Catholic school with very little diversity, I was told I was different from the majority of the students. I had to take phonics classes in a separate room because I had an accent and spoke Spanish at home. The other students would tell racists jokes during recess and I would have to laugh along with them to fit in, even though I knew it was wrong. Going to visit family in Mexico, I was told that I wasn't Mexican because I lived in the U.S. and didn't know the current slang like they did. I felt like I was in limbo.

I don't think I developed my true identity until I reached high school, while meeting other people who grew up in an immigrant-Mexican household like me. I went to a public high school, unlike the Catholic grade school I was in before. I met a lot of diverse people and was friends with everyone. I read books on my own, expanded my mind with different types of music and my world got a lot bigger. I felt like I really developed my own identity starting there, and in college, it just kept expanding. However, going back to Mexico when I was in college was a really different experience. I still wasn't a Mexican citizen, but I didn't feel like I needed to be, or have someone tell me that I fit in for it to feel like home. I didn't care if people saw me as an outsider or someone who grew up there. I knew who I was by then and could create my own reality to make me feel comfortable, wherever I was at."

Q: How does it make you feel to connect with other people that share similar stories as you?

"It feels good to connect with people with similar stories. It makes you feel like someone understands your reality and what you went through has purpose."

Q: What do you hope others will gain from reading your story?

"I hope people will gain the knowledge that they can create their own reality. We don't need to be whoever society and authority figures try to make us be. There are no molds that we have to fit into once we are comfortable with ourselves. It is freeing to know who you are."

Q: How do you hope your story will positively impact others on campus who may have experienced something similar?

"If someone reads this and learns something, that would make me happy. We don't need to change ourselves to fit in—be who you are and don't apologize for it. We are in charge of ourselves and have the ability to change at any moment in our lives. We don't have to be the same person we were yesterday."