For the sake of continuity with my blog’s theme of exclusively writing in list format, here’s my reflection on this research project + senior year in bullet points. 

First off, the two (2) most important things I’ve learned from this project:

• Being open to new ideas! 
  • Obviously, learning about diverse voices helps to expand your understanding of the world and consequently, your sense of global ctizienship. However, through this project, I was able to better understand precisely why this phenomen happens. For instance, using The Namesake as an example, Gogol only learned to be more accepting of his given name after he heard about the cultural history of his name through his father’s perspective. By empathizing the experiences that his father endured, Gogol was inspired to embrace his cultural identity by the end of the novel. Through understanding different aspects of humanity, we are able to be more accepting of not only others, but of ourselves as well.
• It’s totally OK to lose sight of your cultural identity once in a while
  • Okay yeah, it’s definitely ideal for you to always be unyieldingly proud of your identity, but it’s certainly an unrealistic expectation to have, especially in this day and age. In straying, you’re able to develop a deeper understanding of the culture that you’ve deviated from when you gradually come back. Temporarily losing parts of yourself is inevitable, but it is the process of returning that ultimately makes you stronger in the end.

One (1) thing I hope you, darling reader, learned from this project: 

• Acceptance! 
  • In other words, welcome the voices of people who come from different backgrounds than you do. Loss of identity is a universal experience, but with nuances for each individual. Everyone has their own story to tell, and hearing others’ stories can help with understanding your own. 

^^ Link to my video project!

Three (3) things I’ve learned during my time at NNHS:

• About myself: I am – and probably always will be – a mess, and I promise I don’t mean that in a self-deprecating way. Every birthday, I’ll look back on the past 12 months and think that I’ve finally got everything figured out. And every year, I’ve proven myself wrong – there’s always so much more to learn about myself and the world. 
• About the community: It can genuinely be so so supportive. Looking back to the protest we had during the first week of school, I think it set precedence for the rest of the year in the best way possible. If you’re talking, people are willing to listen.
• About the world: It can be a kind place, sometimes – there’s still hope in humanity (mostly)!

My one (1) golden rule for surviving – and thriving – senior year: 

• Go for it! 
  • Nothing matters as much as you think it will. Choices will either turn into happy memories or nostalgic sighs of embarrassment, and what’s life without a few good embarrassing moments to look back on? Every risky decision that I’ve made this past year has ultimately manifested itself into something (mostly) positive, even the ones that I initially thought I’d end up regretting. Senior year, anything goes!