So Let Me Count the Ways

The Fulbright ETA Application process started around early August and ended in October. I wanted to give up so many times and turn in the essays; but being surrounded by friends and family, who cooked, cleaned and brought home the bacon, I had no excuses. Coming out of a service year with JVC (privilege #1), I was unemployed and living with my family (#2). Since I did not have to worry about school nor work (#3), I had all the time and energy to focus on my essays. Since I graduated from Seattle U (#4), I had editors/mentors work with me throughout the whole process (#5). I even had the chance to talk to a couple of previous Fulbright ETAs about their process and their ETA experiences (#6), which encouraged me to persevere. As the list of privileges continues to expand, I want to redirect the conversation to the modified saying of with great privilege, I have great responsibility.

After speaking with a mentor from The Krista Foundation, I realized that I need to start conversations with others about our privileges and cultural differences or "iceberg bumps" rather than avoiding the conversation or the person. I have to push against the flow, or go upstream, something that I tried doing during my JVC year with the organization itself, with others and with myself. I hope that through this virtual space, I can catch myself going with the flow and question ways to against it.