Narrative: Memories Of Belonging For First-Year, Ethnic Minority Doctoral Students

To many freshman the first day of high school is the opening chapter of a new novel, a fresh start to a sometimes embarrassing middle school experience we would all just love to erase from our memories. August 13th, 2012 was the beginning of my four year long narrative at Cypress Bay High School. Despite my desperate desire to grow up, become an adult, and move far away from my parents for college all that did not seem possible because I had never previously attended a public school. I was struck with fear that I would not be able to adjust to the fast pace dynamics of a large high school.

As a first generation, Mexican-American student who is proud of being involved in both Greek life and the Theatre community on campus, I believe that I have a very unique position as a member of the Cornell community. As a first generation, Mexican American student I know the struggles that come with navigating the college process and all the obstacles that come with it. I can empathize with others who might be facing the same struggles and I enjoy being as helpful as possible, so that others can avoid some of the road blocks that I faced during the college search process. As a member of the Greek community, I understand the importance of philanthropy and building a network with other diverse minds. Through this community I have come to value

Another component of the story’s allure is the role in it that the concept of narrative accrual plays. Narrative accrual refers to the collection of smaller narratives to form a longer one, such as with history, culture, and autobiographies (Bruner, 18-20). One of the most significant manifestations of

No matter what I tried, I did not seem to fit in. I was constantly dealing with many bullies. It didn’t help that I’m shy, that my brother was ‘different’, or that I was good at school; These kids did not seem interested in school at all, and were only interested in being popular. I hated going to public school, so when I was in 7th grade I transferred to private school. For 7th and 8th grade I went to a ‘prep school’. I t was very difficult. We would have several hours of homework each day, and I had to write a lot of essays. For high school, I went to a Catholic school, the same as my father.

Diverse individuals with distinctive stories apply for school each year. Some with stand-out encounters, others an ability that separate them from others. Be that as it may, for me my experience, culture and trials are what decide my uniqueness. Conceived from the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, Haiti where I lived with my persevering mother (after the death of my dad when I was 10 months) providing for us through her little business. Until the overwhelming quake that struck my nation in 2010. This disastrous occasion changed my viewpoint in life. I left my past life alongside my mom in Haiti. I packed material possessions alongside the adventures and memories that I experienced throughout the years and went to a foreign nation to close relatives. I went to

How has your understanding of the concept of belonging been shaped by the representation of relationships and events that you have encountered in the texts you have studied for the Area of Study: Belonging?

People’s perceptions of belonging can change over time, but this isn’t the case for all. When people experience moments of crisis in their lives they sometimes force a change within themselves and that is what helps them find an individual sense of belonging. This is highlighted in many texts and even composers life works. Texts that support this statement include Peter Skrzynecki’s Immigrant Chronicle poems, of which I have chosen St Patricks College and Feliks Skrzynecki. Skrzynecki’s poetry expresses the difficulties he faces when change doesn’t occur throughout time, as time alone isn’t a factor and that your sense of belonging is something that comes from within, with or without anyone.

Sherman Alexie’s novel ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian’ is about Arnold, a Native American boy who gets regularly bullied for not looking like a “typical human”, makes the decision to move to a school in Reardan outside of Wellpinit in order to find a place to belong. Alexie reveals how it is important to have a place to belong. He shows Arnold the importance of belonging by exposing the many harsh consequences of not having a place to belong. Additionally displaying how not belonging in a place with high expectations can stop you from achieving your goals. Furthermore, Sherman Alexie highlights how the meaning of belonging is needed in order to feel safe in the environment you’re in.

“The Sanctuary of School” uses good details, personal experience, and narrative writing style to successfully help the audience with difficult periods in their own childhood. The amount of details the author used, helps the readers visualize her childhood. It makes the audience put themselves in her shoes. The reader can feel her emotions and reactions to certain situations.

The purpose for writing this narrative is to demonstrate the things that influenced me in the past to become the person who I am today. Adapting to a new culture and struggling in academics is not something I only experienced. There are many immigrant students that give up school because they can not adapt the academic challenges or the differences in the school culture. My story can be inspiring to many young immigrant students to strive for success. I went to diverse high school where immigrants are a significant portion of the student body. One of my 10th grade friend had dropped out of school simply because the subjects were too challenging for him and his perception of being a student and an immigrant. He used to think immigrant students

Our sense of belonging is not only sculpted by our own experiences through what we encounter, but also the experiences of others. By reading and analyzing the authentic experiences Peter Skrzynecki and Sharon Liao wrote about I was able to refine my perception and collective knowledge of belonging and what it entails.

As a result, college became the first place I began to question “Who am I?” and “What am I?”. My self-identity was in great question; outside of “Black” I lacked further explanation. I was confronted by individuals who boasted cultural and national identifies that held both ancestral and historical significance to them. At the time I could say I had none of this. I was introduced to the cultural lines from around the world but also within my own race. They defined themselves outside of just being Black, claiming titles such as African-American, Bajan, Liberian, and Nigerian. This gave me a new definition and confusion on what titles I should use to define my cultural status. I began seeing my cultural background as a minority within a minority because of the lack of representation of Black-Americans in higher education. As a result of this racial similarity yet cultural diversity, that began to become blatantly obvious, I chose to learn about my history and begin to answer the questions Rutgers University created. I took classes in histories from all areas of the African Diaspora, the political implications of being a minority, and ultimately majored in Africana Studies, History, and Political Science. It was through this pursuit for my roots I found pride in my own unique Blackness.

Finding a theoretical orientation that fits an individual’s identity is a difficult task; hence in order to conclude on a theory, I analyzed concepts and values that are significant in my life. Contemplating on the “pros and cons” of the theories presented during my first year of graduate school, I discovered that I have a passion for social justice, which results in the adamant denunciation of oppression in the United States. Oppression by the dominant group in this country has targeted and marginalized people who do not “fit” the majority and privileged the White majority. As a Latina in this country, I have personally experienced systemic injustice because I am a female, and immigrant, and was raised in poverty. Accordingly, after exploring several theories during my first year of graduate school, I concluded that Narrative Therapy best “fits” my identity and beliefs.

Our perception of our identity is constantly changing, the groups we belong to, the people we talk to and the way we connect with others help to form our identity. There is one thing we all have in common despite our individual identities, is the need to belong. There’s no obligation to belong to only one group, you can belong to many. An individual can belong to many groups, which will then create multiple identities; hence our understanding of identity is never constant. Belonging to a loving family, group of caring friends that help us to develop our own sense of self. However, belonging can have a negative side. For example our families might have an expectation of us to do something that might alter our ambitions and interfere with

Our autobiographical narratives also support the construction of identity, by using cultural models of self narration as well as drawing on our own experiences, who we associate with, when and where, all have an impact on how we tell our stories (Hewitt, 2007). This serves in understanding how identities are fluid and are always changing from situation to situation, an aspect which anyone from the psychosocial school of thought