Expressions - Conversations with a Camera

If there was one thing you’d want people to know, what would it be?

That’s a really thoughtful question. I think it’s really hard to choose one thing because I feel like no one truly really knows me, at least in the way that I would like them to know me. I think that’s also because I’ve been really quiet my whole entire life. It’s now that I’m starting to come more out of my shell and become comfortable with the uncomfortable. I feel like I’ve only recently started doing that when I went to college. That’s when I became more open, and even for the first years of college I wasn’t really that open. It only happened very recently. Expressing myself is still one of those struggles that I face. Honestly, I don’t even think I could choose one thing because it’d just be everything. Just to really know who I am. I think I also spend a lot of time listening to others rather than talking about myself, so people have a version of me that they see but it’s not the entire thing.

Expressions - Conversations with a Camera

If you had a year with no responsibilities, how would you spend it?

If I had a year with no responsibilities, I would most likely spend it at home just enjoying my own company. Most likely reconnecting with God and building my relationship with God: whether that’s me reading my bible, worshipping, listening to gospel music, watching sermons online. All of the numerous ways that I could reconnect. I wouldn’t even say reconnect, but just really build my relationship with God even more than I have now. I think that’s where I find I’m just the most at peace and happy: when I’m doing things that are satisfying for me. Things that really fill my spirit.

Expressions - Conversations with a Camera

If you could travel anywhere in the world for twenty-four hours (all expenses paid), where would you go and why?

All expenses paid? Great. I would go to Oman. Oman is this small country in the Middle East. I’m gonna tell you the story of why I want to go. It’s to get back at my mother. I had applied for this program. It’s the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y). What it is is the State Department of the United States pays for teenagers to study a language in a country for a few months (like 2-3 months). It’s all expenses paid. You don’t have to pay for anything at all. You just kind of show up, do all these things, and you learn. I was really interested in learning Arabic. I applied and got into this program. I was going through all the things and literally a week before I was supposed to leave to go to the training my mom tells me I can’t go. I was already in the groupchat with the other girls that were gonna go, I was already doing the pre-work studying. No offense to my mom. I love her dearly. In the same way that everyone is problematic about the Middle East, she was too. You remember Prezi? When I tell you, I made a Prezi presentation to present to her and my uncle about why I should go, and they still said no. So if I could have an all expense paid trip, even if it’s twenty-four hours, that’s where I’m going. Just so I can send a picture.

Expressions - Conversations with a Camera

What was your happiest moment in the past year?

I can’t have one. Can I have more than one? Ok. So probably one of my happiest moments was my birthday, because I do really love my birthday. And not in a weird conceited way I promise, but because I always want to be surrounded by my close friends and loved ones. So, we threw a party at my apartment. You know how you have different groups of friends? Like different circles in different places? I get so anxious when all of my circles are colliding. So, I had this birthday party, and it went wonderfully. Everyone got along. We were playing uno and cards in the game room while other people were mingling and chatting in the living room. I did the thing that I always do where I’m just floating around talking to everyone, but it was really so great. I was at a beautiful balance of litness where you can just enjoy everything. I think that was a really happy moment. It was in the Fall, and you know s**t was crazy here in the Fall. So that was definitely a happy moment in the past year.

One more that I have professionally was when I interviewed for where I will be working in the Fall. I’ll be teaching at another school. The interview itself was beautiful: love the school, love the principal, it’s amazing. At the end of it the principal was like “Yeah this was really great. Based on our conversation, I feel like we really align. I’d like to just offer you the job right now.” I didn’t even know that could happen. Like I was saying before as far as growing in confidence, I think that was a moment where I thought “Oh s**t. I’m doing alright.” It shows because there are people who have never met me before and they’re ready to take me on right away. I was really proud of myself. I was really happy. So those two were really great moments.

Expressions - Conversations with a Camera