The Soapbox

Weeks before I left for California, I spent my afternoon researching UC Berkeley and what clubs and societies there were to get involved in. Pictures of sorority houses and sisterhood events flooded my webpage, and it seemed to me like sororities were so essential to the American college experience.

I will no longer allow white supremacy to control my life and will continue to be a critic of its different manifestations. I will continue to decolonize myself by changing old attitudes and habits. Ultimately, ethnic studies fundamentally changed the way I view the world. It empowered me by showing me how I was being oppressed and how I was oppressing others.

Over the years, I’ve learned to fully embrace myself as a coder regardless of the sexist stereotypes forcing me into a box I can never fill. I refuse to be silenced by those who distrust my coding abilities as a woman in STEM.

Unlike other holidays when people simply relax or have fun, Thanksgiving is one of those festivals that brings people together. It also truly encourages us to reflect on our lives and what we are grateful for.

I feel that this feeling is the byproduct of being suddenly on my own. Although not completely financially independent, I am still learning how to manage all this newfound freedom.

The Jewish mom is a fascinating creature. Often found in the kitchen, she can make any room her territory. The preferred source of sustenance is her children’s smiles.