Losing Sight of Your Cultural Identity | Dr. Kasia Suarez | TEDxColePark

Summary

Dr. Cartagena Malashevska shares her immigrant journey, recounting the fear and challenges of adapting to a new culture and language. Initially embarrassed by her Polish heritage, she faced bullying and identity struggles. Through higher education, she embraced her roots and advocates for multicultural acceptance. She urges teaching children to respect diversity, empowering future generations to celebrate their cultural identities.

Takeaways

• 👋 The speaker, Katajina Malashevska, recounts her immigration experience to the United States at the age of eight, highlighting the fear and challenges of adapting to a new environment.
• 📚 Katajina faced language barriers and cultural differences, which were compounded by the difficulty of her name pronunciation and bullying from peers.
• 🏠 She describes an identity crisis during her school years, feeling the need to blend in and hide her Polish heritage to avoid ridicule and bullying.
• 🌱 Katajina's journey of self-acceptance began in college, where she studied education and took courses in psychology and multicultural education, which helped her embrace her cultural identity.
• 🌟 The importance of helping immigrant children feel accepted and not having to reinvent themselves to fit in is emphasized, as it is crucial for their self-esteem and cultural identity.
• 👶 Katajina suggests that teaching children to be accepting and open-minded towards others and different cultures from a young age can prevent bullying and foster a more inclusive society.
• 🌈 She highlights the beauty of America's diversity, referring to it as a 'melting pot' and the need to celebrate and not just tolerate differences for unity.
• 📈 Dr. Caleb Rosado's seven aspects of multiculturalism are mentioned as a framework for embracing and valuing cultural diversity.
• 💪 Katajina encourages immigrants to be proud of their heritage, speak their language, and share their culture without shame.
• 🔗 The speaker concludes by stressing the importance of starting at home with children to respect and embrace diversity, which paves the way for a brighter future.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial feeling when they moved to the United States?

The speaker was scared to come to a place they didn't know, to make new friends, and to leave a place they had called home for many years.

Why was the speaker's name, Katajina Malashevska, challenging for teachers to pronounce?

The speaker's name was not the easiest for teachers to pronounce because it was of Polish origin and likely unfamiliar to them.

How did the speaker's classmates react to their cultural background during middle school?

The speaker's classmates made fun of them and other Polish students, calling them racial names, mocking their language, and even physically pushing them.

What action did the speaker take to stop the bullying they experienced in school?

The speaker asked the school counselor to step in, which eventually led to the bullying stopping.

How did the speaker's experiences in middle school affect their attitude towards their Polish heritage?

The experiences led the speaker to hate speaking Polish in public, feel embarrassed about their heritage, and fear being different.

What changes did the speaker undergo in high school in terms of their cultural identity?

The speaker became very shy, tried to blend in, and hid their cultural identity to avoid being pointed out as different.

What role did the speaker's college education play in helping them accept their identity?

The speaker studied education, psychology, and multicultural education, which opened their eyes and helped them accept themselves and their cultural background.

According to the speaker, why do immigrants often feel the need to reinvent themselves in the United States?

Immigrants feel they have to create an American identity and change who they are to fit in, as they struggle to see themselves through their own eyes and instead see themselves through the eyes of others.

What does the speaker suggest as a solution to help immigrants feel accepted and not need to reinvent themselves?

The speaker suggests teaching children to be accepting and open-minded towards others and other cultures, which can help prevent bullying and the development of biases and prejudices.

What advice does the speaker give to immigrants regarding their cultural heritage?

The speaker advises immigrants to be proud of their heritage, speak their language without embarrassment, celebrate their traditions, and share their culture with others.

Outlines

00:00

😢 Struggles of an Immigrant Child

The speaker recounts her experience as an immigrant child moving to the United States at the age of eight. She describes the emotional farewells with classmates and family, the fear of the unknown, and the challenges of adapting to a new culture and language. She faced bullying due to her Polish background and had to endure racial slurs and physical intimidation. These experiences led her to feel embarrassed about her heritage and to suppress her cultural identity. The narrative emphasizes the psychological impact of such experiences on a young immigrant's sense of self and belonging.

05:03

🌟 Embracing Diversity and Cultural Identity

The speaker, now an adult and an educator, discusses the importance of embracing one's cultural identity and the value of diversity in American society. She highlights the concept of America as a 'melting pot' and the need to teach children to be accepting and open-minded towards different cultures. She references Dr. Caleb Rosado's seven aspects of multiculturalism, which include recognizing, encouraging, acknowledging, valuing, respecting, empowering, and celebrating cultural differences. The speaker concludes by urging everyone to be proud of their heritage, to celebrate their roots without shame, and to share their unique cultural experiences with others, thereby fostering a more inclusive and unified society.

Keywords

💡Immigrant

An immigrant is a person who has moved to a different country with the intention of living there permanently. In the video, the speaker identifies as an immigrant, highlighting her personal journey and the challenges she faced in adapting to a new culture. The term is central to the video's theme as it sets the stage for discussing the struggles and triumphs of embracing one's identity in a new land.

💡Cultural Identity

Cultural identity refers to the part of an individual's self-conception which relates to their membership in a cultural group and their sense of belonging to that group. The video discusses how the speaker's cultural identity as a Polish immigrant was challenged, leading her to feel embarrassed and disconnected from her roots. The concept is integral to the narrative as it explores the journey of self-acceptance and the importance of maintaining one's cultural heritage.

💡Adaptation

Adaptation in this context means the process of adjusting to new conditions or environments. The speaker talks about her struggle with adaptation, reflecting on the difficulties of fitting into a new culture and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. This keyword is significant as it encapsulates the challenges immigrants often face when trying to integrate into a new society.

💡Belonging

Belonging is the feeling of being part of a group or community. The video script touches on the speaker's struggle with a sense of belonging, as she grappled with being different and the desire to fit in. This keyword is crucial as it highlights the emotional aspect of immigration and the need for acceptance and inclusion.

💡Bullying

Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate others. In the video, the speaker recounts experiences of bullying due to her cultural background, which contributed to her feeling of being an outsider. This keyword is important as it illustrates the negative impact of prejudice and the need for a more inclusive and respectful society.

💡Multicultural Education

Multicultural education is an approach to teaching that aims to include the educational needs and experiences of students from diverse cultural backgrounds. The speaker's experience with multicultural education in college is highlighted as a turning point in her self-acceptance journey. This keyword is significant as it underscores the role of education in fostering understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity.

💡Acceptance

Acceptance is the act of being willing to receive or undertake something. The video emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and being proud of one's cultural heritage. Acceptance is a key theme in the video, as it represents the speaker's personal growth and the message she conveys to others about embracing their identities.

💡Diversity

Diversity refers to the range of differences among people, including race, ethnicity, culture, and language. The video script celebrates diversity as a strength and a fundamental aspect of American culture. The keyword is central to the message that embracing and respecting diversity leads to a more inclusive and harmonious society.

💡Melting Pot

The term 'melting pot' is used to describe a society or culture made up of diverse groups that blend into a harmonious whole. The video refers to America as a 'melting pot' to emphasize the value of its diverse cultural backgrounds and the potential for unity in diversity. This keyword is important as it encapsulates the ideal of a society where different cultures coexist and contribute to a rich cultural tapestry.

💡Identity Crisis

An identity crisis is a period of uncertainty and confusion in an individual's sense of self. The speaker describes her struggle with an identity crisis, feeling the pressure to conform and hide her cultural background. This keyword is significant as it reflects the internal conflict many immigrants face when trying to balance their heritage with the expectations of their new environment.

💡Empowerment

Empowerment is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights. The video script touches on the idea of empowerment through self-acceptance and embracing one's cultural identity. This keyword is relevant as it highlights the transformative power of recognizing and valuing one's unique background.

Highlights

Emotional farewell from family and friends before moving to the United States.

Fear of the unknown and the challenge of adapting to a new culture and language.

Initial struggles with language barriers and the impact on self-perception as an immigrant.

The difficulty of having a name that was hard for teachers to pronounce.

Experiencing racial bullying and the subsequent impact on cultural identity.

The internal conflict of being embarrassed of one's cultural heritage during middle school.

The transformative power of education in overcoming feelings of shame and embracing one's identity.

The importance of psychological and multicultural education in personal growth.

The journey from hiding one's cultural identity to embracing and celebrating it.

The challenge immigrants face in finding a sense of belonging and fitting in.

The pressure immigrants feel to conform and create an 'American identity'.

The role of children in shaping the future through acceptance and open-mindedness.

The necessity of teaching children to respect and embrace diversity.

Dr. Caleb Rosado's seven aspects of multiculturalism as a framework for unity and diversity.

The personal empowerment of reclaiming one's heritage and cultural pride.

The call to action for individuals to be proud of their cultural background and share it with others.

The conclusion emphasizing the importance of starting change at home with children and embracing one's identity.

Transcripts

[Applause]

i said my last goodbyes

and i thought to myself when will i see

all of you again

my classmates threw me a goodbye party

my family members gave me hugs and

kisses with tears in their eyes

my mother father brother sister and i

grabbed our few suitcases and

embarked on our long flight to the

united states

i was scared i was scared to come to a

place i didn't know

i was scared to make new friends i was

scared that i would know

no one i was scared to leave a place

that i called home

for so many years and i was also scared

of a place i did not know how to

communicate

with i am an immigrant and i never

thought i was different until i started

to experience being different

i came to this country when i was eight

years old

and i didn't understand the language i

had to work hard

to learn it my name katajina malashevska

was not the easiest name for teachers to

pronounce

i was that kid that hid behind her desk

when the teacher arrived

at the letter k of her roster every

single year

year after year i watched my classmates

staring at me

and even making fun of me as i taught

teachers how to pronounce my name

i was embarrassed to be polish in middle

school

i had a few polish friends that i hung

out with every morning

before the school opened and next to us

there was a group of girls that actually

started to pick on us

because of where we came from they

called us all sorts of racial names

they made fun of our language they even

started to push

us up the stairs as we entered the

school building in the morning

and this went on for days until we asked

the school counselor to step in

and then it finally stopped this caused

me to actually hate speaking polish in

public

i was embarrassed of it and i felt like

it wasn't safe for me

to be me i am an immigrant and i was

embarrassed of who i was and where i

came from

i never really realized it but these

experiences

caused me to slowly melt away from my

cultural identity

all of these childhood experiences led

on all the way through high school

i became very shy i tried to blend in

i hid myself i did not want to be that

kid that was pointed out to be different

i never spoke up i never spoke out

i watched my classmates share proudly

where they came from and i was extremely

uncomfortable

i never knew why all of this affected me

why was it that i was so afraid what

others thought of me

i am an immigrant and i lost sight of my

identity why was i going through this

identity crisis

why was it that i was so afraid of who i

was and where i came from

i struggled with belonging i struggled

with adaptation

i questioned myself and how i fit in in

this world it wasn't until college

that i started to learn how to accept

myself

i was studying education to obtain my

teaching degree

and i had to take psychology and

multicultural education classes

and these began to open up my eyes and

change the way i started to see myself

i learned the importance of helping my

students

that came to this country feel accepted

and it also helped me accept myself

i felt like i was losing these old

pedals that didn't fit me

and blooming new ones that actually

truly fit me

and i started to embrace my name and

where i came from and who i was

i started to find myself again and that

identity that i had

lost or you know left behind

so why is it that immigrants struggle

with adaptation

and belonging why is it that immigrants

have a hard time with who they are

and finding ways to fit in you see we

feel like we have to reinvent ourselves

to create this american identity

we feel like we have to change who we

are in order to fit in in this country

we struggle seeing ourselves through our

own eyes instead

we see ourselves through the eyes of

others so what can we do to change this

what can we do to help immigrants feel

like they don't have to reinvent us

themselves we can start with our

children

as a past educator i watched my students

come into this country

and struggle the same way i struggled to

fit in

we need to teach our children to be

accepting

and open-minded towards others and other

cultures

children begin forming opinions and

beliefs at a very young

age and if they grew up close-minded

this can lead to bullying in schools

just like the bullying i experienced as

a child

and if we do not address it those

childhood

biases and prejudices that they create

lead on into their adult life

you see the beauty of this country is it

is made up of people from

all over the world this is what creates

the american

culture america is known as the melting

pot

because of the diverse cultures and

backgrounds that make

this country it is our duty

to teach our children to embrace one

another and our diversities

especially since america is growing in

the diverse cultures

racial and ethnic backgrounds as dr

caleb rosado said

there are seven aspects to

multiculturalism

number one recognizing diverse cultures

encouraging diverse cultural

contributions

acknowledging diverse cultural

expressions

valuing what other cultures bring and

have to offer

respecting the diversity and differences

empowering one another

to reach maximum potential but also

being critical of our own biases

and lastly celebrating and not just

tolerating our differences

in order to bring unity into this

country

and not only embracing one another

cultures embracing our own cultures you

see

only you can decide what you want to

hold on to from your own cultural

heritage

be proud of who you are speak your

language loud and proud and not be

embarrassed of it

celebrate what you used to celebrate

back home without any shame

and most of all share with others what

makes you

you because of where you came from

as i leave here today keep in mind it

all starts

at home and with our children we need to

teach them to respect the diversity in

this country

we need to teach them to be accepting

and open minding towards others

the more we do this work together the

better we pave a brighter future for our

children

and if you are anything like me learn to

be proud of

who you are and not be ashamed of it

remember the way we identify ourselves

as children

leads on into our adult life i

am dr cartagena malaysia suarez and

today i

am an immigrant i am proud to be polish

i am proud of where i came from and i am

proud of who i am

[Music]