During class last Monday, I was able to reflect upon my own identities and privileges. The identity that I am most aware of on a daily basis is my identity as an Elder High School alum. I am reminded of this identity in many ways. I see it every time I’m with family as my father, both grandpas, the majority of my uncles, and all of my brothers have or will have graduated from Elder. I see it in the number of different friends I have, both from UC and other colleges that I either graduated with or that graduated soon before or after me. I see it with in the large amount of purple and white clothes that I have, which I proudly don whenever I choose, but especially on Purple Friday. Linked with this identity, I also am most aware of my identity of a Catholic. My faith and my relationship with God drives me to do what I do every day, and gives me the strength to get through even the toughest times. If I ever forget this, however, all II need to do is look down and see the cross necklace that hangs on my neck nearly all the time to remind me that my relationship God is at the center of my life. I believe my faith gives me a special kind of privilege, one that is not exclusive, but can be shared with others, in the strength and belief in myself I am provided through my relationship with God. I also believe my identity as an Elder alum gives me privilege in that it gives me another family to belong to, one that will support me in what my future holds for me. Also, my time at Elder taught me what it meant to be a true Man of Elder, and to follow the motto of Altiora, or striving for the higher things. The privilege provided by my Catholic faith has a role in my daily interactions with others in that I do my best to respect everyone that I come into contact with, and to share with them my faith through my actions. Also, my privilege of being a part of the elder family plays a role in my daily interactions when people see me wearing purple on Fridays, and see that I am proud of where I came from. Also, wearing the color purple makes it easy for friends to identify each other, for fellow alums of panthers past to strike up a conversation, and for strangers even far outside the city to ask if you’re from “Cincinnati Elder?”
2 Comments
Erin Alanson
2/28/2015 10:02:14 pm
Thank you for reflecting on your identity. I encourage you to consider thinking more about what it means to have privilege. Privilege is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people. Attending a private high school is not something that everyone has access to, and one must have the financial means to attend a private school. Additionally, Catholicism is a dominant culture in Cincinnati. This means that you don’t have to explain or defend your religion to others. It also means that the religious holidays you celebrate (e.g., Christmas) is recognized by the University of Cincinnati, even though it is public. It is important that you think about how you have privilege and how others might not. You should also consider parts of your identity that deny you privilege.
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Sam
3/29/2015 03:00:21 am
Thank you for reflecting, Adam. It's great that your identities are things that you feel proud to have. Having a network that supports is something that not everyone has. I encourage you to think about ways you can reach out to people with other identities. It's important in leadership to surround yourself with a diverse group of identities. With this said, being a person of "inclusion" vs. "exclusion" is a trait that will prove invaluable.
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