Group Responses: • My Responses: Q.1: Since I started studying at this college, I felt bad because I don't know people here and I don't have friends in this college, especially when I need help, when it's difficult to understand some of the assignments, and on breaks I feel lonely I hate eating alone. I also feel outside when I miss classes because of my medical issue and I need to have notes for the classes, I remember that I asked two of my classmates to give me their notes but they said, “we are sorry, we can’t give you our notes.” Q.2: I believe that one of my identities that was different is my religious identity. I’m Muslim and It’s hard to move to a country that’s totally different than your country, for example; in my home country ”Saudi Arabia” we have only one religion and it’s Islam religion, so when I go any public place and I want to pray nobody will see that something weird, but here in Wartburg, one time I was praying in an empty class then couple students came to the class while I was praying and they started to ask me questions about my religion, they were surprised that Muslim people pray 5 times a day. Also, my Hijab, it was hard for me to explain why Muslims women wear hijab, many students thought that I wear the hijab all day and nobody can see me without hijab. Hijab: is the thing that I was to cover my head. • Courtney Responses: Question #1: It may come as a surprise to some, but I have felt most like an outsider here at Wartburg College. Although I am involved in a number of campus activities, have five jobs on campus which includes serving as a Resident Assistant, and I am very involved in my major of journalism and communication, I have often felt as an outsider. With being involved in so many activities on campus, one may think I should feel a sense of community and welcome, but I often don't feel that. Despite being Caucasian on a predominantly Caucasian campus, I still don't feel very connected or like I am an insider. Many people tend to find their "niche" area and group of friends based on their similarities related to athletics, major, home location, race, ethnicity or something of that nature. I guess for me, I try to be friends with a variety of people despite what they may see as an identity they have that differs from what they perceive about mine. This leads me to know various people but yet not feel as connected to any one person or group I guess. This makes it challenging to feel like an insider because so many people are tied to their specific groups and I try to engage with a variety of groups. A specific area where I feel like an outside revolves around the topic of consuming alcohol. From my perspective, its seems like the large majority of college students, including those here at Wartburg, place such an emphasis on drinking alcohol. When it comes to weekends especially, the majority of people are focused on drinking, partying and going out. I certainly respect people's choice to drink and do things of that nature, but it just isn't something that interests me. While I am now 21, I still do not drink alcohol and honestly do not have an interest to. I think part of this is because of the way I was raised by my parents who set an example of making other choices of how to spend their time as opposed to drinking alcohol, but also because I have an uncle who's life was completely altered after a drinking and driving car accident that placed him in a coma for three months. Here at Wartburg, because I consciously choose not to drink, I really feel like an outsider. "Friends" will try to force me to drink, go out to bars or parties, or interrogate me about why I don't drink. Honestly, I don't appreciate the pressure people try to put on me to drink. This is often times done by people who know that drinking just isn't something that interests me and it makes me feel very disrespected and belittled. This has caused me to step away from friendships because of constantly feeling under pressure to drink despite not wanting to. It's something I still struggle to deal with honestly. I certainly feel like an outsider when it comes to the drinking scene. • Question #2: Going along with what I mentioned regarding feeling like an outsider because of my decision not to drink alcohol, I have often felt as though I am being treated negatively for that. I feel disrespected and belittled for this part of my identity. Something that I think some others perceive about my identity is that because I am a straight, Lutheran, Caucasian female, I am therefore against other identities and religions and racist. While this may be true about others, I personally try to be open-minded and welcoming of others outside of my identity. I truly believe that every person, no matter their race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender, or anything of that nature, has something to offer to our world. I wish more people would be open-minded to learning about others and what makes each of us unique. Some of my closest friends and family members have identities that are very different from mine. A number of my friends come from different cultural backgrounds and places throughout the world, are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and have different religious views from mine. One of my closest friends is a Muslim heavy weight wrestler. While I am a Lutheran 5'2'' non-athlete, he and I have because very close friends and I think this is partially because we are both open-minded and honestly care about other people despite identities we carry or others perceive about us. • Hunter Responses: Q.1: I feel like an insider here at Wartburg because I have grown up in Iowa and the culture at Wartburg is very similar to the culture in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I have also become very familiar with campus and have friends here that I am comfortable with. At times I can feel kind of like an outsider because I am half Asain half white but do not have any Asain friends. This can make me feel like an outsider at times because there are many stereotypes and jokes that can be made even out of the fun. And also I do not look as similar to them as they do to each other. Q .2: I have been treated positively because I think that some people are interested in my identity and background and want to understand it more. But most of the time I feel like if I am treated differently due to my identity it is negative simply because my ethnic background is different than the norm or the majority. An example would be that some people may have the tendency to search for white friends and not be inclined to talk to Asian people, possibly because they could be stereotyped to be weird or having bad social skills. • Alondra Responses: Q.1: When ive felt mostly like an outsider is with being out-of-state. I can't go back home as much as I'd like and being as close-knit with my family it's difficult. I've stayed during breaks and it's definetly something that gets to one, whenever everyone is talking about going home. However, I feel like an "insider" whenever I'm with people of my same major. It definetly has something to do with the aspect of struggling together that definitely brings a feeling of belonging. Q.2: I believe one of my identities that has definitely been judged the most is that of my national identity. I'm Mexican-American and that has definitely been a hard label to juggle, for I get to be apart of 2 very different cultures, and in a way, countries. I don't feel any type of particular patriotism towards any country persei. However, my nationality is constantly put in question. I don't feel like I pertain to any of them particularly, but every time where I'm asked where I'm from I feel obligated to give them an explanation for my Hispanic heritage. Scanned with CamScanner
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