When I was younger, I loved talking about myself, sharing stories, and listening to them as well. I found it was the best way to connect to people, to feel closer to them. I always found comfort in spoken word. Communicating with people verbally came easily to me as a child; I could have an hour-long conversation with anyone and everyone with no awkward pauses or lulls. I have always had an interest in writing; it began as a therapeutic thing for me and has grown into an extension of myself. Due to my anxiety, I often have difficulty in expressing my feelings or thoughts to people without shaking, stuttering, feeling overwhelmed, or getting flustered. Writing things has made it easier for me to express myself. Since I started to find solace in writing when I was in middle school, every class I have taken has shaped my style.

The first time I really remember feeling embarrassed to be myself, ashamed to be me, was in sixth grade. My family and I had gone on a two-week trip to visit my grandparents in Morocco, and I returned just as we had begun our religion unit. I was delighted that my teacher asked me to share a little bit of my culture with the class as Morocco is a primarily Muslim country. I began to share gleefully when I noticed shifting bodies, uncomfortable stares, and whispers, and although they were almost silent, the noise was deafening. Throughout the rest of the year, I received questions and commentary from my classmates: “Are you a terrorist? Is your dad a terrorist? Why would your mom marry a Moroccan man? I hate you.” Here I was in the sixth grade, standing at a meager 4 feet 7 inches, weighing in at 65 pounds, having my confidence torn from me, being dehumanized by the people who were supposed to support me.

It was then that I stopped loving to share, or even speaking at all. If someone even looked at me I felt heat rise to my face, hot with shame and embarrassment. My tongue would get thick and heavy with all the words I no longer felt safe to say.

Writing has always felt safe for me, however. As I grow as a writer, and especially throughout my time in school, the topics I write about have become more serious. As I made the transition into a political science major and am taking socially and politically centered classes, I have found that what I studied in those classes often extend themselves into my personal writing. I focus on selecting topics that pertain to prevalent social or political matters in today’s world, which have been both interesting and challenging to do.

Through incorporating my personal beliefs in regards to equality with critical writing, I was able to reaffirm to myself that our differences are ultimately what connects us, and this is the thing I am most grateful for in my life -- my appreciation for others and strong acceptance for everyone and ability to convey so through the written word.