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.