In August 2001, I came to the University of Wisconsin from a small town in southern Mississippi. Whenever I opened my mouth to say “hi,” the first response from almost everyone was “where are you from?” Because of the lack of diversity of my hometown and the fact that I was born and raised in the South, college was the first time in my life that I had to associate my background with who I am. I realized that there was more to me than being a “southern belle.” In addition to trying to adjust to the normal freshman stresses — a new environment, different people and a change in lifestyle — I also experienced an identity crisis.
In my efforts to discover what my passions are and how to apply them to a major and future career, I began to explore my heritage. I, like many Americans, am a mutt. My father is Palestinian, born and raised in Ramallah and from a family with centuries-old roots in the area and one of the founding tribes of the city. My mother is from a British/Scottish heritage with roots in Georgia and Alabama since the beginning of America’s colonial times. Because I had grown up amid my maternal origins and have all the natural appearances of that side of my family, I always associated myself as solely Southern. But the college experience opened my eyes to a new world.
During my three and a half years at UW, I began to appreciate all aspects of my background and culture. I spent a significant amount of time in Europe and the Middle East during summer vacations and my eight months studying abroad. I tried to break through the comfort of surrounding myself with Americans or tourist sites. I communicated with locals and immersed myself in their culture and their daily lives, in an attempt to understand their perspectives. On campus I took a variety of classes that covered the history, politics, economics and cultures of various regions of the world. Working in journalism gave me the opportunity to explore a variety of subjects and hear different perspectives of a story. These events gradually cleared my head and gave me a firm grasp on how I view myself and my beliefs. I discovered my passion and my place in this world, at least for the near future.
College has been more than just a time for learning information from books and lectures. It has taught me how to explore new ideas, gain a deeper understanding of the world and be more tolerant of other people’s ways of life. There is always another side to any story. One does not have to agree with every perspective, but truly accepting these differences can make it easier for people to work together in order to make the world a more secure place in which to live.
As the Indian philosopher Mohandas Gandhi once said: “It is the duty of every cultured man or woman to read sympathetically the scriptures of the world. If we are to respect others’ religions as we would have them respect our own, a friendly study of the world’s religions is a sacred duty.”
I have found that the path to such wisdom and tolerance is open-mindedness. Understanding what makes us different from other people not only helps us to interact more easily, but it also gives us a better understanding of ourselves.
The vast access to information and diversity of ideas that the college lifestyle offers is the perfect chance to escape the ordinary and discover what one truly believes. Seize the opportunities presented to you. No matter how big or small it may seem, each step in life leads to the next. Every experience contributes to the person you are and will become. So do not be afraid to embrace it.
As I think about entering the next phase in my life — more than leaving home for college — I realize that my identity crisis is over. Even with all the uncertainties about what the future holds for me, I am confidently prepared to enter the “big, scary” world. The knowledge I have gained from my personal experiences here and abroad, as well as the academic program in Madison, are invaluable. But the one lesson I learned that stands above all is that despite political, religious, ethnic and cultural differences between people from various backgrounds and from other countries, the world out there is much smaller than you think.
Natalie J. Mikhail ([email protected]) is a graduating senior majoring in journalism and international studies. She would like to say thank you for the unforgettable memories and the opportunity to speak to this campus. Farewell.