Twas Winter Break

Twas the first night of break The jingle juice mixed and the cookies were baked The cohort was dancing and drinking away

I came to Malta not knowing what to expect or whom I would meet. It started with a cohort of 10 (now 11), we were all strangers, then friends, and now a little grad “family”. The best thing is how different all of our experiences have been and what led us to Malta.

However, it is easy to post about all of the good things but this is emotionally and mentally exhausting to be with the same people 5 days a week and going to 20+ hours of an expedited graduate level class.

It is all helping me realize what the future holds.

I am not here to add letters to my name and prove my worth. I am here because education is important and I believe one of the first steps to dismantling a system.*

I do not want to volunteer or work at an NGO because of the benefit it has on my resume. I want to work with communities, development, and people to help with no strings attached.

Identity politics and the “desire to help” is being commodified. It is being turned into a capitalistic endeavor to benefit the few and for self-promotion.

I am not different- I do harm. I am working to be more self-aware, to give up my privilege, and not manipulate others trauma for resume purposes.

Twas three months into grad school

The finals not graded and the break flying by

Happy winter break to all and to all a good night

*education in all its forms, not just paying an absurd amount to sit in a classroom