Short Blog 1: Getting Started
Multiple factors influence and inspire me to write about social justice, such as being an immigrant that moving from a small city from the global south to a large and diverse city as Toronto, has helped me see problems that I was not aware of before. Living in a bigger city has made me realize how there multiple layers when you try to unravel a collective problem. With that, I was able to see how there is a stark difference between the culture, the lifestyle and other aspects that a Torontonian might take for granted since they are accustomed to it.
As I have mentioned, the city has; made me realize and experience firsthand some problems; a collective society is trying to break down the stereotypes associated with minority groups. People were amazed at how good my English was for someone new to the country and, during that time, I did not think much about it. However, as time progresses, my peers questioned my ability to speak and write. They doubted my ability since the results they saw contradicts their expectations from someone who migrated. I realized the flaw in the thinking that a person who is not born in the West is ‘supposedly’ to have lesser vocabulary skills or have a thick accent from their homeland.
Moving forward, despite the negativity and the problems that I, and many people, have to overcome you can, still able to find a safe space where you can be yourself and find people who are accepting as to who you are. A remarkable aspect of the city is how you can find people you connect with on a deeper level through shared experiences despite your differences. Besides the people, you have a gamut of cultures you can explore and learn, which is interesting since you can experience different cultures in one place.
With all the fun things you can have in the city, you still need to be mindful of the problems that its people go through that vary from their socioeconomic status, race and culture or an intersection of different issues. It is imperative to pay attention to things that are not happening in your bubble since the events outside your circle can affect you due to a ripple effect.
