A common theme in my writing is about the nuances of being black. What I mean by that is I tend to do research about my identity and how that fits in the space I occupy. For example, in 2020 I took a Public Speaking class and for our final project the class was tasked with writing a gala speech for a non-profit organization. I choose to write about colorism and how that may impact black girls in education. Prior to Wesleyan I took an Intro to Anthropology course and African Culture and Languages through the Harvard Crimson Academy. In the Anthropology course in 2018 I wrote a research paper on colorism in the Caribbean and the Americas. Similarly in 2016 I wrote a ted talk on beauty standards
Colorism is defined as ‘the prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a dark skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group’.
There was a shift in the trajectory of my higher education. When I returned to the country, schooling became virtual and we were required to take courses via Zoom public speaking. This was a dramatic shift for me and my peers as we were not accustomed to taking courses online. As a result of COVID, I had to create a video of the speech I would have presented in class Spring of 2020. Being robbed by COVID from practicing public speaking skills in person, I wanted to take an interactive course upon return from Isolation. My sophomore year, fall semester, 2022, I took the startup incubator. I decided to work on creating a plan for a hypothetical vending machine that sold beauty supplies. It was difficult to communicate the importance of the vending machine on campus because not everyone in the community related to the machine (wouldn’t buy) and did not think it was necessary on campus. Although that did not stop me or my ideas!
Through the courses taken throughout my academic trajectory I’ve learned valuable research skills, writing techniques, and project management skills. I’d say that I am still developing interpersonal skills such as public speaking and relaying information to an audience. With preparation and knowledge I feel like I am able to collaborate with a team.
