My Identity is My Strength. Never a Weakness
My gender allows me to connect with so many other people in the world and understand and feel for their struggles. I am so much more open-minded to learning about other women's struggles as I know firsthand how hateful and dangerous this world can be towards a young girl who just wants to be heard and respected. Though some may view this as biased (in the sense that I always defend the actions of young women, and will always seek to justify and understand them) it is really just a byproduct of the dangerously hateful world in which we all live.
My identifier as a Muslim also shapes my perspective of the world. Muslims are often characterized in a negative light but I always strive to do the opposite when it comes to the world. I approach life, the issues in it, and the world from the perspective of someone who is seeking peace and willing to understand everyone and not cast harsh judgments in the same way that the world does to Muslims. Being a Muslim shapes my bias as I once again will defend my religion and people when no one else will and consequently look to find the good in every situation and person as I know there is more to the story. Coming from a vast religion that spans hundreds of cultures, I embrace inclusivity and have learned to appreciate the diversity of the world in all of its different forms.
My political orientation as a progressive is an integral part of what I value. Being a progressive is a homage to all of those who have never had the right to be considered American as they are seen as foreign, unequal, or not worthy of the title. I have developed a sense of empathy and lack of selfishness where I advocate for the rights of humankind and want to develop society into a greater version of its former self. This has altered my biases as I am firstly always looking to see how an issue and a solution affect minority voices and individuals who are never considered. Secondly, although progressives and conservatives are considered to be opposite sides of the spectrum, I still respect and consider conservatives as Americans who deserve proper rights and respect.
Because of my identity, being open-minded is a part of who I am. I am never one to shut someone down, but rather I look to understand where they are coming from as there are truly very few bad people in the world. One example of when I was open to a slightly off-putting perspective transpired at the height of the COVID-19 debate with masks and the stay-at-home order. My close friend had immigrated to America from a former communist country. She still held onto that fear of communism and being controlled by the government. She was against the stay-at-home order and very vocal about distrusting the government. I had to look past how different her perspective was to mine and understand that her life experiences justified her fear of the government and any semblance to communism.
There are so many parts of my identity that I value. Each part has built my character, values, strength, and resilience to challenges.They build off of each other, each one a mere building block in the greater character that I value. I take pride in my identity as I know it gives me the confidence to change the world and leave it in a better condition than when I found it. I know that the empathy I have for others is my greatest asset to the world.
Imaan Chaudry is a rising senior at St. Catharine Academy and a YVote Summer 2021 ChangeMaker. She wants to go into Law and study Political Science in College. Her interests lie in reading, national policy, history, and volunteering with elderly!