I Am Not "Wheelchair-Bound" (Kanbi)
WILLING TO HOLD CONVERSATIONS WITH GROUPS (MAXIMUM 3 PEOPLE)
Disability doesn’t mean inability. I have a different means of getting around, but my upbringing was very typical of the Midwest: I was raised on a farm, participated in rodeo and 4-H, went fishing, etc. I have a driver’s license, am a graduate student, work, go grocery shopping—anything that anyone else would typically do. Disability in and of itself is a highly complex topic, and my own experience is only one example of a myriad of conditions that fall under that term. Every human being has a need to be included and accepted, and my goal is to do my part in eliminating the stereotypes and prejudices that often serve as barriers to that need.
From Caves to Congress (Florencio)
WILLING TO HOLD CONVERSATIONS WITH GROUPS (MAXIMUM 3 PEOPLE)
The stories of hiding in caves with her siblings to avoid getting raped or killed by military men during my grandmother’s childhood in Mexico, taught me to be humble and to live a meaningful life. When I was 8, my family and I faced adversity when my baby sister passed. My family’s difficult history inspired me to pursue an education and to be of service to others. Because of my family, I have earned a PhD and have worked in the United States Congress, and have made the dream of living a meaningful life a reality.
Prejudice and Tenacity (Collins)
WILLING TO HOLD CONVERSATIONS WITH GROUPS (MAXIMUM 3 PEOPLE)
Prejudice occurs around the world. In my home country of Uganda, I have ever been discriminated against because others link my physical appearance to mostly Rwanda or Somalia, not Uganda. Tenacity is the theme of my educational and life experiences. Scholarships and family support have been crucial and I am now pursuing a Master’s degree at SDSU.
Woman Wounded Warrior (Connie)
WILLING TO HOLD CONVERSATIONS WITH GROUPS (MAXIMUM 3 PEOPLE)
I am a veteran who was wounded in combat in Iraq and received a purple heart. Because I am a woman people in and out of the military do not know how to react to me and I don’t always fit in. My injury was minimized by leadership and fellow soldiers in my unit. People automatically think my husband is the combat veteran. I have gone through a long journey of recovery due to my injuries and am now able to assist other veterans.
Project Success (Maryam)
WILLING TO HOLD CONVERSATIONS WITH GROUPS (MAXIMUM 3 PEOPLE)
I am an international student from Iran working on a research project and pursuing a PhD. My family in Iran are supportive of my choices, but they were unsure I could live in the U.S. on my own. I credit my successes to the friendliness and support I have found in the Dairy Science Department and the rest of SDSU and Brookings. I feel it is important for people to support each other and I tend to see similarities rather than differences in people.
A Non-Traditional Student’s Experience (Agatha)
WILLING TO HOLD CONVERSATIONS WITH GROUPS (MAXIMUM 3 PEOPLE)
When I started my PhD Program in the fall of 2013, two of my professors said to me, “I do not know how you will be able to do a PhD when you have kids” and “You are going to have to be a part time mom; I used to work 12-hour days in grad school.” I completed the program in 3 ½ years. This is a story of how I experienced the intersectionality of gender, age, national origin and socio-economic status during my graduate education.
