Let's read...

Now, I want you all to take that sticker that was given to you at the beginning of our session today, where you wrote down what makes you special, and I want you to look at it. If you're watching at home, take a piece of paper, and write down what makes you different. You may feel guarded when you look at it, maybe even a little ashamed, maybe even proud. But you need to begin to embrace it. Remember, it is the first step in appreciating what makes others special. When I went back home to Venezuela, I began to understand how these experiences were changing me. Being able to speak different languages, to navigate all these different people and places, it gave me a unique sensibility. I was finally beginning to understand the importance of putting myself in other people's shoes. And that is a big part of the reason why I decided to become a journalist. Especially being from a part of the world that is often labeled "the backyard," "the illegal aliens," "third-world," "the others," I wanted to do something to change that. It was right around the time, however, when the Venezuelan government shut down the biggest television station in our country. Censorship was growing, and my dad came up to me once again and said, "How are you going to be a journalist here? You have to leave." That's when it hit me. That's what he had been preparing me for. That is what the future held for me.

Let's follow Mariana...

Now, I want you all / to take that sticker / that was given to you at the beginning of our session today, / where you wrote down what makes you special, / and I want you to look at it. // If you're watching at home, / take a piece of paper, / and write down / what makes you different. // You may feel guarded when you look at it, / maybe even a little ashamed, / maybe even proud. // But you need to begin to embrace it. // Remember, / it is the first step / in appreciating / what makes others special. // When I went back home to Venezuela, / I began to understand how / these experiences were changing me. // Being able to speak different languages, / to navigate all these different people and places, / it gave me a unique sensibility. // I was finally beginning to understand / the importance / of putting myself in other people's shoes. // And that / is a big part of the reason why / I decided to become a journalist. // Especially being from a part of the world that is often labeled / "the backyard," / "the illegal aliens," / "third-world," / "the others," / I wanted to do something to change that.// It was right around the time, / however, when the Venezuelan government shut down the biggest television station in our country. // Censorship was growing, / and my dad came up to me once again and said, / "How are you going to be a journalist here? // You have to leave." // That's when it hit me. // That's what he had been preparing me for. // That is what the future held for me. //

Let's read...

So in 2008, I packed my bags, and I came to the United States, without a return ticket this time. I was painfully aware that, at 24 years old, I was becoming a refugee of sorts, an immigrant, the other, once again, and now for good. I was able to come on a scholarship to study journalism. And I remember when they gave me my first assignment to cover the historic election of President Barack Obama. And I felt so lucky, so hopeful. I was, like, "Yes, this is it. I've come to post-racial America, where the notion of us and them is being eroded, and will probably be eradicated in my lifetime." Boy, was I wrong, right? Why didn't Barack Obama's presidency alleviate racial tensions in our country? Why do some people still feel threatened by immigrants, LGBTQ, and minority groups who are just trying to find a space in this United States that should be for all of us? I didn't have the answers back then, but on November 8th, 2016, when Donald Trump became our president, it became clear that a large part of the electorate sees them as "the others." Some see people coming to take their jobs, or potential terrorists who speak a different language.

Let's follow Mariana...

So in 2008, / I packed my bags, / and I came to the United States, / without a return ticket this time. // I was painfully aware / that at 24 years old, / I was becoming / a refugee of sorts, / an immigrant, / the other, / once again, / and now for good. // I was able to come / on a scholarship to study journalism. // And I remember when they gave me my first assignment / to cover the historic election of President Barack Obama. // And I felt so lucky, / so hopeful. // I was, like, "Yes, / this is it. // I've come to post-racial America, / where the notion of us / and them / is being eroded, / and will probably be eradicated in my lifetime." // Boy, / was I wrong, / right? // Why didn't Barack Obama's presidency / alleviate racial tensions in our country? // Why do some people / still feel threatened by immigrants, / LGBTQ, / and minority groups / who are / just trying to find a space / in this United States that should be for all of us? // I didn't have the answers back then, / but on November 8th, / 2016, / when Donald Trump became our president, / it became clear that a large part of the electorate / sees them as "the others." // Some see / people coming to take their jobs, / or potential terrorists who speak a different language. //