the candle
as the cold flame dances
and onto the patient wick
lilies bloom anew
by Grace Coleman, age 15, California.
a broken earth
slipping on plastic
the earth now grows wires as vines
straws sprout, what are trees?
by Grace Coleman, age 15, California.
By Bella Melardi, Grade 11, Ontario, Cananda
Information is resistance. It will open our eyes. Awareness is change. The first step to solving a problem is acknowledging there is one. Let the existence of the climate crisis sink in. This is a reality check. Get out of your own heads. Snap out of it.
People’s lives are at stake. Climate change doesn’t affect everyone equally. People in power and people with privilege will not feel Mother Nature’s wrath the way minorities do. People will use their wealth and privilege as ‘band aids’ to block out destruction.
You can already see the effect that pollution is having on minorities in Canada. McGill Daily states, “In October 2020, over 250 Neskantaga residents were evacuated and transferred to a hotel in Thunder Bay after “an oily sheen was found in the Neskantaga water reservoir;” “high levels of hydrocarbons” were discovered in the water after testing.” The chemicals we created are destroying communities. They are festering in our waterways like tumors, spreading disease.
This destruction can also be seen through the construction of Line 3. Line 3 is a pipeline expansion that was just completed in September 2021. This pipeline will transport almost a million barrels of toxic tar sand oil per day from Alberta to Wisconsin. An oil spill would mean damage to coastal communities (near Lake Superior) and the wildlife, such as salmon and orca . StopLine3.org states, “Line 3 would violate the treaty rights of Anishinaabe peoples and nations in its path wild rice is a centerpiece of Anishinaabe culture, it grows in numerous watersheds Line 3 seeks to cross. It’s well past time to end the legacy of theft from and destruction of Indigenous peoples and territories.”
It is disgusting that our government allowed this pipeline to be built. They choose oil over preserving life! The people in power have to wake up! We have to find a new renewable resource. We have to act now. Researchers have found that we’ll likely cross the threshold for dangerous warming between 2027 and 2042. In 2042, I will only be 35 years old.
If you leave it up to my generation, it will be too late. We must all do better. Urge your elected officials to remove Line 3. Urge them to create a plan to invest in solar, wind or hydropower. We must switch to a renewable resource now! Increase the carbon tax. Instead of using tax dollars to invest in Line 3, the government should have used them to benefit the future of society. The Canadian government has to make stopping climate change a priority.
I want to help stop this but I feel so powerless. Corporations value making money over the future of their children. They value making money over minorities’ lives. Capitalism has caused people to become so consumed with greed. They are putting lives at stake. Mother Nature is bleeding. Humans are tearing out her skin and cutting her flesh. The earth is coughing up ash and choking on our greed. When will the earth’s heart give out?
This is my final plea to the people in power. You are selfish. You are killing us. You have already ruined the lives of countless Indigenous communities. You may not be affected by climate change right now but Indigenous people are. My generation will be. Our futures will rise up in flames. I don’t understand why you can be so selfish? Was it worth it? I hope you’re happy. You are exchanging lives for dollars. I hope it’s worth it.
We have to end the cycle of greed and suffering. Information is resistance. Open your eyes. Awareness is change. Use this awareness to get out of your own heads. Remove the shackles of greed that are binding you to your destructive choices. Think of the world around you. Here is a reality check.
Snap out of it.
Bibliography
Canada, Environment and Climate Change. “Government of Canada.” Canada.ca, Gouvernement Du Canada, 3 Mar. 2021, https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/environmental-indicators/progress-towards-canada-greenhouse-gas-emissions-reduction-target.html
Board, Editorial, and Editorial Board. “Neskantaga First Nation Still Doesn’t Have Clean Water.” The McGill Daily, 22 Jan. 2021, https://www.mcgilldaily.com/2021/01/neskantaga-first-nation-still-doesnt-have-clean-water/
You have probably been asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” quite a few times.
How many times has your answer changed over the years?
Most of you who haven’t graduated high school yet probably haven’t been exposed to the variety of career types that you could choose, but people still expect you to answer their question. The rush to choose a career doesn’t just appear in casual conversations. It also manifests in the way our education system is set up, often forcing you to choose a career path without experiencing real world jobs. If you choose to go to college, you are often required to pick a major just a year or two in, but does this mean you are locking in your whole future career based on a few college classes you took?
In general, the major you choose in college has a substantial impact on your future career path, but I think the idea of choosing a career before fully experiencing it is not always a recipe for satisfaction in life. While students can experience some aspects of a few careers through job shadowing or internships while they are in school, opportunities to see what different types of real-world career paths are like are limited.
Looking back on college, there are several things I wish I knew in order to better set myself up for success afterwards. You might find something useful among these things
#1. Many jobs are very different from the way in which related academic subjects are taught in school.
One thing I wish I knew is how studying a subject in school does not always prepare you to work in that field. For example, many geology majors who take non-academic jobs after college, work in the environmental consulting field, where instead of applying what they have learned about tectonics or landscape formation, they might end up analyzing chemical contamination near factories or chemical plants. This happens to be the kind of work I did after college, but unfortunately, none of my professors in college or graduate school told me how different that work would be from what I learned in school. In fact, most of the work I did for my job were things I never even came across in school.
This disparity between ‘textbook knowledge’ from studying a subject and the way real world jobs are set up is not limited to geology and environmental sciences. As an example, many math majors end up working as accountants after finishing school. While they might utilize their analytical skills to do bookkeeping or prepare financial documents, it is a far cry from the differential equations or linear algebra that brought many of them to the subject in the first place.
Schools and colleges should spend more time not only introducing students to new academic subjects, but also showing how that knowledge could be applied in the various jobs/careers. That would be beneficial for students as future workers and also help keep them more engaged in classes because they would see the tangible utility of what is being taught.
Of course, not everyone attends a four-year college. Some might attend community college, or go to trade or vocational schools to become electricians, plumbers, technicians, etc. Others might work in a family business or start their own business. These are all valid options; we all have different goals in life, and each option could lead to happiness and success. Those who do attend college often pick a major based on whether they like a certain academic topic. This leads to the second thing I wish I knew.
# 2. It is important to see first hand what kind of job you want to get.
Because real world jobs can be very different from academic subjects, it is important to understand where you want your college degree to take you and what kind of job you want it to lead to. If you don’t know that as a student, that is okay, but I’d suggest you try to watch a few people who work in the field in which you want to major. If you can, talk with them, ask them questions or even see what they do on a day-to-day basis. That way, you’d know what you are getting into and aren’t surprised when you get there as an actual employee. Teachers often focus on teaching purely academic subject matter, but I think it is a disservice to students to not prepare them for jobs in the real world. However, since this is the case, it is up to you to prepare yourself for what you may find.
# 3. If you major in a certain field and later find out that it’s not what you thought it would be, or don’t want to work in that area anymore, there are ways to change your career.
You don’t always need to go back to school for additional training in order to switch career fields. You can focus on the transferable skills that you gained from the field you majored in, and use that to find jobs where those skills may be needed. For example, if you majored in physics, but later decide not to work in that area, you still have quantitative experience in handling real world data and uncertainties. These skills lend themselves to a career in finance, for example, where you could apply the same concepts but in a different way. However, this idea of transferable skills is not always emphasized in schools.
Since educational institutions don’t always emphasize how to be happy in a job after school, it is up to you, the student, to learn the skills you need for a career that makes you feel rewarded or happy. Sometimes, the work we end up doing may not be the same as the subject we studied or the field in which we trained. We needn’t feel obligated to stay working in a field we don’t like just because we majored in it. There are always other opportunities to use the skills we learned, and use them as stepping stones to acquire new ones.
By Skipping Stones Staff
Micromegas: A Different Kind of Science Fiction
By Sahil Prasad, Grade 6, Maryland.
The legendary scientist Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”[1] What if I told you that the famous 18th century French philosopher Voltaire, one of Newton’s contemporaries and admirers, literally turned that quote into reality in his fun, yet philosophical book Micromegas. Micromegas is a science fiction novella about the namesake brilliant giant from Sirius and his adventures across the Milky Way with his friend, a secretary from Saturn. The uniqueness of the book is sure to make you laugh as well as think deeply about life.
You would think that a novella about a giant and his friend traveling the galaxy would be a picturesque science fiction book. However, Micromegas is just as philosophical as it is a science fiction book. In the book, Micromegas embarks on the galactic journey not only to explore, but to gain knowledge in a quest driven by curiosity. When Micromegas was talking to the Saturnian, he shared “… I have not seen any who only desire what they truly need…” when the Saturnian was complaining about his “short life” of 15,000 years. As you can see, this revelation supports the philosophical nature of Micromegas’ journey. That statement also fits in with a teaching from the Bhagavad Gita, anIndian spiritual textwhich explains that suffering comes from wants and desires. During Micromegas’ conversation with the Saturnian, he reveals the reason for his journey, “I do not want to be pleased, I want to be taught.” This quote reveals Micromegas’ humbleness, which is a frequent theme in the book. It is this humbleness of Micromegas that makes him ready to learn.
Along with philosophy, Voltaire added yet another element of surprise to Micromegas—satire. Voltaire lived his life in a period called the Enlightenment, which supported reason and the mental prowess of man. However, Voltaire believed that the thinkers of the time should equally appreciate both, philosophy and science. Voltaire included satirical elements in Micromegas to support his perspective on the Enlightenment. For one, Micromegas specifically called out Wicar Durham, a scientist during the Enlightenment for claiming to have seen the universe and said that his description of the universe was false. Voltaire also ridiculed the great mathematician Blaise Pascal by saying that he only completed 32 of Euclid’s propositions (a phenomenal feat) while Micromegas completed 50 of the propositions and Voltaire even stated that Pascal, “…became a fairly mediocre geometer.” There is a also brief reference to the futility of war and the excessive casualties that result from leaders fighting to own territories that they may never even see in their lifetime: “… and almost none of these animals the mutually kill themselves have never seen the animals for which they kill.” In most of his books, Voltaire included these subtle, but harsh satirical elements and he even ended up with an arrest warrant because he satirized Louis XIV! Throughout the book, Voltaire also uses humor to make his work more engaging and take the sharp bite off of his satire.
Our children’s science fiction novella also features the greatest scientist of all times, Sir Isaac Newton himself! Newton is omnipresent in Micromegas—whether you are talking about his quote on giants which influenced Micromegas’ publication or the plethora of references to Newton in the novella. Voltaire was exiled to England because of his quarrel with Chevalier de Rohan, a well-known French nobleman and courtier of Louis XIV. Voltaire fell in love with the works of Newton while in London. Further, Voltaire’s love interest, the Marquise du Châtelet, translated Newton’s critical work, Principia Mathematica into French. The trial that sentenced Micromegas to 800 years of exile was based on the trial Newton faced because of his revolutionary ideals. Micromegas, the character, and Newton both faced the wrath of religious figures during their trials—Newton faced the church of England and Micromegas faced the mufti of Sirius for defending bugs against fleas in a scientific paper. Micromegas has a very innovative spirit and it comes into play when this giant cuts his fingernail to make a funnel to enable him to talk to the tiny humans he meets on Earth. This could represent the innovative personality of Newton when he discovered the three laws of motion and gravity while observing animals on his farmstead.
As you can see, Micromegas is more than a fantasy novel, it’s a contemplation of life. If you are humble, humorous, and open minded like Micromegas, you can journey through life overcoming obstacles and attaining knowledge.
By Sahil Prasad, Grade 6, Maryland. Sahil adds: “Micromegas will appeal to your readers because of the exciting, profound, and silly elements of the book. It can be read by people of all ages and you are sure to have a different perspective every time you finish the book.”
###
Edition information:
Micromegas, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016. ISBN: 978-1533107763
[1] From a letter sent by Sir Issac Newton to the polymath Robert Hooke in 1675.
August 30, 2024
“It’s a great joy for our daughter Jessie to receive recognition from professional editors. We read through the magazine (Volume 36, issue no. 2) and felt how much endeavors you and you team devoted into it. We really love the content, seeing so many peers excel in different ways.
Great appreciation for you and your team!”
—Liping Chen (Jessie’s mom), British Columbia, Canada.
April 15, 2024
Dear Arun, what a marvelous issue of Skipping Stones (Vol. 36, no. 1). You do such an outstanding job of making known children’s perception, intelligence and amazing capacity to do good. I deeply honor you for your vision and your hard work!
—Stephanie Tsuchida, art teacher, Oregon.
Sufyana was so happy and delighted to receive the Skipping Stones issue in the mail; thank you so much for making the effort to reach out and to send the contributor copies, they will be treasured! The array of thoughtful and beautifully written and genuine writing in Skipping Stones really impressed us!
Yesterday, Sufyana received in the mail an incredible gift of books, and she, her middle sister Aydina, and youngest sister Wilaya were overjoyed! That was such an unexpected blessing and surprise, and they began reading them right away. Thank you so much for these wonderful books!
—Saleela S., Sufyana Johnson and family, Maryland.
March 14, 2024
Thank you so much for publishing my article (see Vol. 36, no. 1, pages 22-23), “Student Poems of Hope, Faith, and Love.”
Your publication is inspiring students, teachers, administrators, and parents across the country and around the world. There is a lot of heartfelt work, love, and dedication put into the children’s poetry and prose. The artworks—especially on the last page (p. 35), and also the back cover—are beautiful and emotionally strong and send a powerful message of courage to your readers.
And congratulations to Austin Liu for “Girl with Dukhu” front cover. I can’t say enough about the painting. This is museum quality artwork.
I’m always amazed by how much “great stuff” is packed into 36 pages. This is a credit to you and all the effort to create a fantastic magazine. After you finish reading it, you walk away feeling really good about the creativity, self-expression, and power of passionate communication.
Thanks again.
With kind regards,
—Jeffrey Pflaum, (now retired) teacher, educator, New York.
P.S. “Peace Within, Peace in Our World.” Yes! (see Vol. 36, no. 1, page 18).
November 22, 2023
Thank you, Arun, for all the work that goes into producing this most wonderful magazine for children of the world!
—Cynthia Lewis-Berry, Oregon.
November 2, 2023
Thank you so much!! We are very happy to have my daughter Parnian’s first paper published in Skipping Stones. This will definitely be her life-time fuel tank to pursue her dreams one by one and use obstacles as stepping stones and jump forward like Skipping Stones!
I am honored to express my gratitude by saying that your organization has been and will be a life-changing center.
On behalf of Parnian, please thank your colleagues who made this happen. I truly believe it is an inclusively rich source of love, inspiration, and courage for anyone who visits your platform.
Good Job, Skipping Stones Team!
—Dr. Ali Derahvasht, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
October 27, 2023
Dear Arun,
Our prayers are the best gift we can give for peace around the world. Yes, it is rather discouraging and I find that there’s only so much news I can watch on TV or hear over the radio.
I visit your website periodically, and I am so impressed with the caliber of writing and artwork submissions posted from youngsters around the world. And it’s always a joyous occasion to receive the latest print issue in the post to hold and read. And afterwards I share the print issue with two young readers in Kodiak, Alaska. ¡Mil gracias, Arun!
With gratitude and kind regards,
—Katacha Diaz, Peruvian American author, Oregon.
October 26, 2023
Greetings Arun,
Something I wanted to share with you; I commend you on your work with Skipping Stones. It really is a lovely venue for young writers and artists worldwide. I feel honored that I am part of it.
And as I work on reducing the stigma of mental illness, and quitting smoking, you work on creating understanding of, and between, all young people. With empathy and compassion. And there is great wisdom in all of this. We all have so much in common. In reality, each of us are branches from the same tree. And that tree is love.
So as we travel on this wandering path together, may we enjoy the simple things. And know that our children hold the hope for an even better future. I say this because my higher power—my friends and family—has given me such wonderful gifts to choose from. And there is no time for self pity. This I have learned from the children of Skipping Stones.
A slow day is a time waiting to be filled with joy. Life certainly gives us some hard lessons. Yet still we persevere. The gift is truly in the giving. And, when I give to Skipping Stones I feel happy.
Shalom,
—Jon Bush, artist and author, Massachusetts.
Dear Arun,
If I may comment on the latest issue of Skipping stones, Vol. 35, no.1, March-August 2023:
What a spectacular display of visual and literary art! The presentations on the printed pages draws a person into reading the outstanding articles that provides one with “page turning” insights of different cultures.
—Margaret dingus, M.A.
Dear Arun,
The Sept. – Dec. 2021 edition of Skipping Stones is the best ever. It is superb. So many of the writings brought tears to my eyes. I wish you could put out other printed editions—say once or twice a year.
Thank you for your masterful work.
—Dr. Irwin Noparstak, Oregon.
Dear Arun,
What a joy to receive the latest print issue of Skipping Stones. I am so grateful to be reading the Sept. – Dec. 2021 issue filled with outstanding writing, illustrations and photography from young contributors around the world. Thank you to the editorial team!
I am pleased to make another 2021 donation in support of Skipping Stones.
—Katacha Diaz, Peruvian American author, Oregon.
Dear Arun,
I hope you know how much I value your work. For many years Skipping Stones has been a wonderful part of my life.
Through all of my adventures through the literary world I can honestly say I’ve never seen a magazine as open and diverse as Skipping Stones, and that is all thanks to you. It has beautiful art and intriguing stories by young people from all over the world. I have learned so much about different cultures through Skipping Stones.
Truly the children are our future. May we guide them in peace as you do. Encourage them to greatness. Support their dreams. Believe in them. What we invest now will surely be returned a thousand fold to coming generations.
When we plant the seed of hope and nourish it, that is the way to health. And when it becomes a great big tree we can say, “That was a good deed I did that day.”
Best wishes,
—Jon Bush, artist and author, Massachusetts.
By Jacky Chen, h.s. senior, New York
On a hot, cloudless July afternoon in 2017, a 13-year-old Chinese American boy ran away from home and jumped in front of an oncoming subway train at the East Broadway station in New York City. He was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving his elder brother and mother devastated.
To many, this is just another suicide incident on the news, but not for me because he and I were close friends in elementary school. I later learned that tense familial relationships and unbearable expectations were the underlying reasons behind his decision to cut his life short. Even after more than four years, I often find myself coming back to this incident, wondering if there was anything that could’ve been done to prevent it.
Despite a growing number of mental health awareness organizations, poor mental health rates are rising. According to the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, in 2019, over 36% of high school students in America experienced feelings of depression and hopelessness. More alarmingly, the attempted suicide rate increased by 41% compared to a decade prior, reaching 8.9%. Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, this rate has only continued to climb in the past few months. A CDC report shows that, in 2020, there was a 24% increase in mental health ER visits for children ages 5 through 11, and more than a 30% increase for those between 12 and 17 years old.
Poor mental health plagues today’s youth, and one of the biggest barriers to improving it is teenagers’ reluctance to admit their struggles to family members, friends, and teachers out of embarrassment. While nonprofit organizations and schools must continue to provide their services and resources, parents must take on a more active role in their child’s mental wellness to address this pressing issue and the social stigma that surrounds it.
With significant worsening in mental health rates in the past decade, we need to address an important question. What might be some of the underlying causes? Firstly, in an increasingly digital world, teenagers are exposed to technology and social media more frequently and at a younger age. According to a report from Common Sense Media, kids between 8-12 years old average nearly six hours of screen time a day and up to well over nine hours for teens. This constant exposure establishes a social norm that adolescents are constantly trying to meet, a stressor that induces low self-esteem and feelings of depression and loneliness. The topic of pop culture also has social implications. A study conducted at the Pew Research Center states that around three-in-ten teens feel pressured to look good (29%) and to fit in socially (28%). Twenty-one percent of teens list extracurricular activities and being good at sports as stressors.
Perhaps more significant is academic stress. Sixty-one percent of teens cite obtaining good grades as their top stressor, and those who attend high-achieving, competitive high schools are the most susceptible. As a student at a high-achieving high school, I can attest to this. The competitive peer culture at school takes a toll on not just my mental well-being, but on that of my peers, too.
Being aware of a child’s mental well-being is a parent’s responsibility. There are many ways parents can get involved. It’s important to first establish a respectful and trusting line of communication where teenagers can receive the support they need. Multiple individuals need to be identified as a source of support in case one overlooks signs of depression.
There are also numerous online resources available at any moment like Find Your Words, which both parents and adolescents can use. From de-stressing activities to coping advice, these resources provide great guidance. Parents should educate their children about the suicide prevention hotline (800-273-8255) and encourage them to frequently take mental health self-evaluations. From local school councils to nonprofit organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, fighting mental health is a collective effort. It’s through collaboration and confrontation that we can change the stigma surrounding adolescent mental health, and it’s time for parents to take the lead.
By Jacky Chen, h.s. senior, New York.
By Robyn Bjorkman, age 10, Michigan.
When the snow starts melt,
And the grass comes into view,
People are in a happy mood.
Day by day, the temperature will rise,
And there will be more sunshine,
More people will be out,
Enjoying the season,
For there will be many reasons.
There’s no more snow,
On the roads,
You can finally ride your bike.
Warm enough to unzip your coat,
But chilly enough when the wind blows.
Pleasant enough for when you see the birds again,
But fingertips turn cold when you aren’t wearing mittens.
When Spring comes, we get Spring Fever,
And folks don’t want it to be muddy either.
But there can be lots of great things,
Like when you (again) hear the birds sing,
And when you can ride your bike,
And get as dirty as you like.
Poem by Robyn Bjorkman, age 10, Michigan. Robyn like to go on adventures, write stories and create songs, and read. She hope to keep on writing.
This year Michael Mavris, a fifth grader from Del Norte, California who won a poetry contest about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, got the honors of flipping the switch that officially illuminated the tree. For over 50 years the USDA Forest Service’s Christmas gift to the nation, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree, has inspired the imagination of millions. Standing elegantly at the base of Capitol Hill on the West Lawn the massive tree fondly referred to as the People’s Tree is harvested from a different forest every year. This year the Six Rivers National Forest in California had the honors of delivering the 84-foot tall fir tree they named “Sugar Bear.”
The evening ceremony also included comments from the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and other members of the California delegation in Congress along with the new Chief of the Forest Service, Randy Moore.
We are proud to share Michael’s poem below.
By Michael Mavris, grade 5, California.
What does the theme “Six Rivers, Many Peoples, One Tree” mean to me?
As I ponder the question presented here, I consider where I am living-literally in the heart of the Six Rivers National Forest.
Here, tucked deep within the Northwestern corner of California is a remote land, whose majesty comes not from achievements of humankind, but rather nature itself.
Six mighty rivers criss-cross this rugged land. From the Smith and Klamath rivers in the north, stretching over to the Eel and the Mad, meeting the Van Duzen and the Trinity in the South, all of our rivers, amongst the cleanest in the world, represent life itself.
Like the First Peoples who have lived here since time immemorial, these rivers overcome every obstacle to ultimately reach their goal of becoming one with the Pacific Ocean.
Is this done by an exhibition of power or a show of strength?
No.
It is accomplished by sheer persistence. The indominable spirit of never giving up which is representative of this land and the Peoples that live here.
From the great tribes: the Yurok, Tolowa, Karuk, Wiyot, Chimariko, Nongatl, Hupa, and Wailaki, we are taught to commune and truly be one with nature. This ethos teaches us to view rugged lands, secluded forests, and fierce weather patterns, as something genuinely beautiful.
Such is the story of the White Fir, also known as Abies Concalor, whose beginnings trace back to a single seed. From this humble seed,dropped onto Mother Earth in a remote region the process begins.Nurtured by the fertile soil, which the Six Rivers saturates throughout the year and, against all apparent odds, not only confronts the weather but embraces it. The young tree emerges proudly upward towards the shining sun.
From this great forest, we bring you the majestic White Fir, to be the Capitol Christmas tree. As the lights are strung and the ornaments placed, we, the People who live in the tree’s symbolic shadow, hope that its beauty and grandeur provide a beacon to America and a reminder on this Christmas, that all things are possible.
Michael Mavris, 5th grade student, Del Norte County Unified School District, California.
By Skipping Stones Staff
Students of color often face many difficult and discriminatory situations throughout their lives. Whether it’s at school or in social situations, when applying to jobs, or in their careers, it is an unfortunate truth that people still display biases about skin color, race, national origins, looks, etc. This affects how they treat others. Although it might seem scary or daunting as a minority to face unfair treatments based on prejudice, bias, and ignorance, knowing how to deal with these situations can help you deftly navigate out of them in effective ways.
In order to prepare for the real life issues that you may face as a minority, it is important to think about the kinds of situations where your ethnicity may play a role. Social situations are a common place where this can occur. Say you are an Indian-American and with a group of people where someone asks if you are a doctor or computer engineer. You would likely be fed up with having to deal with such stereotypes, and you might be tempted to react with anger. However, this will likely not help you. Confrontation might even serve to reinforce stereotypes people have about different ethnic groups, as unfair as that is.
When navigating these kinds of conversations, it is important to differentiate between people who are simply ignorant about racial issues but don’t harbor ill-intentions, and people who purposefully act and say discriminatory things. Telling the difference between these two types can go a long way into protecting yourself and ensuring you effectively navigate racial conversations. If someone says something out of ignorance rather than ill-intention, you can help educate them. With the example of career stereotypes, you could explain to them that while doctors and computer engineers are common jobs among Indian-Americans in the United States, that ethnic group doesn’t always act as a single unit. It is made up of so many different people, just like Caucasians, Chinese-Americans, and other ethnic groups. Each person is different, and can have different career goals. However, if someone intentionally tries to discriminate against you, the sad reality is that trying to engage with them directly will generally not help the situation. That is why it is so important for others, perhaps bystanders or people of different ethnic backgrounds than yours, to step in and stand up against such stereotypes and discrimination.
When dealing with those without racist intentions, having patience is key, as is an awareness of why people think the way they do. Some people who make ignorant racial comments do so because they didn’t have exposure to people of different backgrounds. Perhaps they lived in rural areas and didn’t get to interact with many Asians, Hispanics, or African Americans, for example. It is easy to have twisted notions about other ethnicities when you never interact with them yourself. Of course, this is no excuse for racist words or actions, but understanding why some people might be prejudiced can help effectively navigate difficult situations.
Social situations are not the only place this prejudice can manifest though. If you are a minority, you may sometimes find bias or a lack of respect from people in the workplace. One issue in workplaces is something called affinity bias, where people prefer to connect with others who share similar interests, experiences and backgrounds. Therefore, if you work for an organization where most people are of a different racial background than you, you may feel excluded (because others may tend to socialize together). To help reduce this you can show when you do have similar experiences or interests as them. If you share common hobbies, or play similar games in your free time, these can be points of common ground to build upon.
This kind of bias can also manifest in the hiring process itself, and is incredibly unfair to minority candidates. A recruiter or hiring team may subconsciously connect with applicants who are similar to them or had similar upbringings. On the surface, a white recruiter may not think they have much in common with a minority candidate, due to different upbringings, cultural values, etc. To overcome this, you again must put in extra work to show how you do connect with the recruiter or manager, in addition to showing your skillset. Many U.S. businesses and organizations are run by older, white employees who may not have received a ton of cultural exposure, or may not have taken cultural competency training, and therefore they may show a lack of respect for minority candidates. They may repeatedly display stereotypes or lack of cultural understanding, or mispronounce non-American names, for example. This is a well-documented phenomenon but many times this is unintentional, so it is a good opportunity to (politely) correct them, if they mispronounce your name.
However, both bias and a general lack of respect towards minorities can take a toll on you mentally if you constantly have to deal with these types of racial issues. To cope with this kind of stress it can be useful to talk to other people in similar situations and see if they have similar experiences. It can also be helpful to have a support group of friends and family who will listen and empathize with what you are going through.
As an Asian American, my experiences with bias and prejudice will likely be different than those who have different backgrounds, including those who are African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, or from other ethnic groups. Skipping Stones is interested in hearing your perspectives, to the extent you feel comfortable. Do you have experience dealing with bigotry or discrimination? How do you deal with those kinds of situations? We invite you to share your experiences as other readers may find your stories useful and helpful in dealing with such issues in their lives. It could show us all that we are not alone in feeling discriminated against or stereotyped.
I believe in taking the risk to experience new things to grow because you cannot grow in an environment that you have always known. Growing up, you are taught and influenced by your parental figures. Whether that means they are giving you advice, showing you how to perform a task, or you pick up the traits that they project. For most of us, this is the kind of environment we have for 18 years. After 18 years, we can decide whether or not we start a whole new chapter of our lives—leaving the place and people we call home. The more I sit and ponder on this, the more fear it induces in me.
When I turned 17, I started to worry about my future, which turned into me being able to understand myself more deeply. I became aware of the kind of people with whom I want to be surrounded, what I want to do as I continue my education, how I want to make every little part of my life have purpose, and how I want to experience everything possible. It sounds cheesy, I know, but this next chapter of life is romanticized for a reason.
I decided that for me to make those desires possible, I needed to venture out of the superficial bubble that I call home. Over time, I figured out that this was going to be vastly harder than I imagined. I was not ready to leave the people that I love. I was afraid that if I left, I would leave their hearts too. Will I ever be ready to take that risk?
I believe we need to take risks. If we don’t, we are left wondering what the outcome would have been. I do not want to keep looking back on the past, asking myself those questions. I want to be present. I’ve decided that taking this risk, this risk of leaving my loved ones so soon, is the best thing I could possibly do for myself. Not because I need to get away from those people, but because I know that there is a considerable amount of wisdom I can gain from letting other people into my bubble. I am especially so sure of leaving because I know my home town is not where I want to be forever. I know there is a whole world out there for me to see and experience. Therefore, I am not going to limit myself to just one environment.
The idea of a new environment is not just moving geographically. It is also about what kind of culture you are putting yourself into. It is clear that when living in a small town versus a city, your lifestyle is different. Different types of connections, commutes, events, and people. When living in a typical small town where everybody knows everybody, you are more of a community. Everyone, for the most part, has the same views, hobbies, and lifestyle. This can be beneficial because you are more united and it can be a really easy environment to live in for that reason. Whereas living in a city, you are exposed to more than what you could imagine.
In a setting with diverse lifestyles, beliefs, and interests, it can be harder for people to thrive. However, I believe that is where you can learn the most. Personally, I feel that I have learned more from the people around me than I have in school. I am not talking about the stuff you learn like y=mx+b. I am talking about knowledge of cultures and the people around us, how to make deeper connections with one another, unheard of places to vacation, issues of the world, how and why someone’s definition of success is different from the other, and so on.
Going outside of an environment you have always known can allow you to work towards your fullest potential. This can be overwhelming and scary to think about or process. While leaving loved ones and a comfortable bubble is hard, you would not want to look back on the past when you are old and question your life. With this belief of mine, I hope to become the person I have created an image of in my mind. I hope to reach my potential and walk with the wisdom of the world.
By Claire Emery, 18, Missouri. Claire writes pieces about connections with others, inner peace, and goals. She is continuously discovering self-improvement and steps she can take to truly know herself. Claire grew up in a smallish town and considers herself to be an empathetic person where she tries to put herself in the shoes of the situation.