What next...

"Knowledge makes me more aware, it makes me more conscious. 'Knowing' is painful because after 'it' happens I can't stay in the same place and be comfortable. I am no longer the same person I was before" ~Gloria Anzaldua

After my experience at Brown University in the Women and Leadership course, this quote resonates with me immensely. I have learned so much about the experiences of the women who I spent those two weeks with and I am now view everything much differently.

On the last day of classes my professor presented the quote above to the students in the class and asked us to write a response to it. As a class, we came to the conclusion that becoming aware of a tragedy changes everything. You are left to decide between doing nothing and wondering what you could have done to stop it or doing something and risking heart break when all of your hard work leads to no progress.

I am no stranger from this sentiment. I spent the entire two weeks hearing the experiences of people in different countries and even states who are being oppressed because of something they identify as. I have always been aware of the fact that I am not as privileged as some of the people around me. But I am also not as oppressed as other people, because of the privilege I do have.

I was left with the question of trying to decide what to do with the knowledge that I have gained over those two weeks. I am going to do my best to share what I know. I want to start a club, or join an existing one where I can use that platform to inform students at my school. I am choosing to do something to change society and I am willing to deal with any rejection that I might face.