I grew up and still currently
reside in Linden, NJ. If you don’t know where that is, I’ll give you a few
clues. It’s considered a city that is filled with political corruption. The
bomber that bombed NY and NJ back in September was captured in Linden, just two
blocks away from my best friends house. And while the reality of this world
terrifies me, I’m glad that it has made it easier to describe where I live.
Growing up
in Linden has taught me a boatload of things. From the moment I entered
elementary school until the moment I left high school, all I knew was
diversity. I was fortunate enough to attend diverse public schools. It was
there that I personally began to truly understand tolerance and equality.
As young
students we were encouraged to participate and learn in other cultural
traditions, to help us better understand our classmates and teachers. In high
school (I feel so old saying that), the minorities were the majorities and vica
versa. It was an amazing, once-in-a-life time experience, which I don’t think I
will ever be able to experience again. Everyday I learned about different
religions and cultures first hand from my friends, peers and teachers. My
French teacher was born and raised in France, which made taking her class that
much more of a cultural experience.
My views
and experiences became global and its made me feel culturally diverse. I
believe the one thing I lack is visiting all the places and cultures that I
have learned about and second-handedly experienced. And while Linden and it’s
school system is not the best, the friends I’ve made and the countless life
lessons I’ve learned just form being ‘home’ has molded me into the person I am
today.
On that
note, I still reside in Linden, but I like to joke around that I reside at Rutgers
as well; because of the amount of time I spend on campus and commuting. Rutgers
is praised to be one of the most diverse Universities in the United States and
I am glad to go to a diverse school, but most of all I am proud to go to a
revolutionary one.
I love
history and being at Rutgers, I feel like I am apart of history. Since being at
Rutgers, I attended my 1st protest within the first semester of my
freshman year at Rutgers. Rutgers, I believe, is in the process of teaching me
some new life lessons, as my partial new home.
In the end,
home is any place in the world, as long as, the people you treasure the most
are along for the ride.
Rutgers is a very diverse university. It seems like there is always something going on down easton ave. Which is why I am excited to move in with a couple of friends that live on Easton. I've lived at home my whole college career and I am really looking forward to a change and a new experience.
ReplyDeleteWow, I went through a very diverse school system too! I'm from Union township, if you know where that is. I've taken the train to Linden before to visit a friend, you're not that far away! Haha I actually used to joke with the people in my dorm freshman year that Rutgers doesn't seem that diverse to me because of where I am from. But hey, I bet you had an easy time writing your application essay for Rutgers (assuming you also had to write about diversity). Regardless, I must say I'm quite jealous that you got to be part of a protest here. I always have class or work when the history is going down. Congrats though!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome, I really do agree with you in the sense of home is wherever your treasured people are. I wrote about that in my blog. Being here at Rutgers has forced me to grow as an individual and home is now wherever I am almost because I can surround myself with people that make me comfortable, and treat me as my family does.
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