Interesting feelings and fun discoveries!

So now that we’ve got our first week down, I have some things to say!

It’s been one whirlwind of a week since I last shared my thoughts in my pre-departure blog and I am bursting with stories and experiences from my internship at the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in, because this first week has been nothing short of… different!

First off, I actually prefer walking over taking the shorter alternative! Do you mean to say that Niyat hasn’t ubered somewhere that’s a 5-minute walk? oh YES!

Starting with my internship at the Lower Eastside Girls Club, my fellow intern Sera has quickly become someone I’m still growing close to. We both embark on our passion for empowering young girls, love for exploring the vibrant streets of New York City, and probably talking about you…JK…or not. Our days are filled with laughter, deep conversations as we work side by side, and debates about taking the M9 bus back home as we know we’ll be walking for the 12th time that week. The people that work in the organization have been nothing short of welcoming and inspiring individuals themselves. One of the first people to help us settle in was a fellow Blue Devil and Co-Executive Director Ebonie. It was so motivating to see how she took away from her own experience interning with the Lower Eastside Girls Club 10 years ago and is there now helping transform lives!

Speaking of connections, my roommate Caroline and I bond over late-night chats and our shared interests in needing an hour of TikTok before bed. Her warmth and positive energy sure have made our living space feel like a true sanctuary<3

During our downtime, Nic and I have become thrift-shopping buddies, scouring the city for unique finds. Isabella, with her quick wit and infectious laughter, has brought an extra dose of joy to our group and our similar sense of humor has created an instant bond. Our inside jokes have become a soundtrack to our daily adventures and her presence reminds me of the importance of finding joy and laughter even in the midst of challenging times. Khilan, a gem in and of himself and whom I’ve named the fashion icon of our cohort, brings the drip regardless of the time and place. Paige is an undiscovered Michelin star chef?

Our visit to the documentary viewing of “Razing Liberty Square” shed light on the heavy toll of gentrification and systemic racism in Liberty Square, South Florida but I particularly loved the Q&A afterward with the actual individuals in the film. It was an experience that I’ll definitely be coming back there for and something I will keep seeking out even after my DukeEngage program. The 1980 short film, “Free, White, and 21” specifically opened my eyes to the stark realities that I myself still face today and how there hasn’t been much change socially since then. It moved me to tears when I had to visually and deeply reflect on my own identity and the experiences that come with being Black. I was glad that there weren’t too many people huddled around to see me cry, but I did keep standing there for a few minutes afterward. Sure, we have popularized things like cancel culture to bar people from being outwardly discriminatory, but how much of that really helps when things just turned passive and institutional instead? I’ve taken time since then to further think about the complexities and nuances of my racial identity, exploring the intersections of race, culture, and personal growth. I’m grateful to have this space to delve into feelings I didn’t want to confront for a very long time. It made me feel uneasy to think about what my relationship with the color of my skin would’ve been like if I had been born and raised here. As an international student, I always feel like I’m left in this gray area of having to constantly second-guess myself and my abilities. This is not to say that I haven’t had my fair share of learning curves, not-so-sweet realizations, and hard-to-swallow pills, but all of those were based on my ever-evolving character, not my race. You can always grow, learn from your setbacks, and even change things that might’ve made you feel insecure, but I was never made to feel like my blackness was one of them. It’s interesting huh?

Thank you for joining me on this rollercoaster of emotions and experiences. Stay tuned as I continue to share the stories of empowerment, connection, and personal growth that unfold during my time in NYC in the next few weeks.

… and If you can’t wait that long, my Snapchat story will keep you VERY updated with the close and personal info;)

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