In the summer of 2008, Scenarios USA asked thirteen Alumni ages 15 to 25 to submit essays analyzing the ways they are like all people, like some people, and like no one else. Scenarios USA has always asked young people to explore the ways that a personal story complicates and is complicated by the larger stories our society tells about why things are the way they are. With these essays, alumni were asked to remember that in American society, the intersections of race, gender, and class provide avenues for both self and social analysis and to keep in mind that the abilities to summon nuance and to embrace complexity are essential components of leadership. Here is what some of them had to say...
My Music By Nicole Zepeda, Age 23 Los Angeles, California person and I smile. Teach others how to take the steps It’s hard for me to write about how I am like all people. I they need to achieve their dreams... I become speechless. see myself as being so different. I have a body. I breathe. I have arms and legs... thank God eyes, ears and a nose I have cried many times in the past few years. My losses too, but I am me. Each of us has our own purpose. We have been great, but I’ve learned that no win can come all have dreams which we hope to achieve. unless you choose to learn from your “losses.” Change I am striving to achieve my goals and I am finding isn’t easy, but the hardest things in life are normally the my purpose, but like everyone else I am growing and ones worth going for. I am my changing every day. Each father’s strong daughter and my new daybreak brings about “I have curly, dark hair that momma’s kind heart. I am an new adventures resulting in new challenges. can be changed with the artist. I am an actress. I am a storyteller. More magic use of a flat iron and importantly though, I am a I have learned that in order to grow, one must I have dark, brown eyes that creator. In that knowledge lies my strength. face those challenges head bare hints of crystal green on and strive to achieve their impossible. The only when I’m glowing and hazy, So, at a very experienced 23 years old, I am proud to say that I do walls standing in our way stale grey when I’m sad.” feel as though I’ve lived many are those which we build lives and I have accomplished or choose not to break goals that many have closed their down. eyes to in fear of failing. There is no greater feeling than accomplishment and you can only I am me. I love to Sing! I love to dance! I have a fail if you never try. I am not done in this world. I have beautiful, curvy body that makes me proud to be too many stories left to tell and too many lives left to help Latina! I have curly, dark hair that can be changed with change. The sun rises and sets every day. I will continue the magic use of a flat iron and I have dark, brown eyes breathing and as long as I have a brain and a heart, I will that bare hints of crystal green when I’m glowing and never stop creating. Everything happens for a reason. I hazy, stale grey when I’m sad. The eyes are the windows am me... and I kind of rock. I really do :) to the soul. My soul is beautiful. This I know. Give me a compliment and I blush. Help me become a better