Belonging at Doane
by Shay Rosseter
I’ve had many experiences since coming to Doane. I’ve become the Vice President of the student organization PRISM, a CAPE Project Peer Educator, a member of the Interfaith Leadership Team, and a stronger person. These organizations are examples of where on campus I feel like I can openly be myself, have a voice and have my opinions be heard. However, I’ve also become a stronger person for some not-so-good reasons. While I love being a student on Doane’s campus there are times when I don’t. You get dirty looks from the parents of prospective students. You shake it off and keep walking, “It’s fine, I belong here,” you think to yourself. You hear comments like, “I’m NOT racist…but…”, followed by something absolutely racist. Or the famous: “Hey, can I touch your hair?!”. You sigh and tell them no, you don’t want them to, but sometimes they’ll still try. You tell another student about a first-hand-experience of racism and their response is,
“Yeah well, that doesn’t happen anymore!”
You hear white students debating blackface saying that “It wasn’t that bad! I think as a university, we’re over it.” As the ignorance hits your ears, you take a deep breath. You squeeze the bridge of your nose to compose yourself, wouldn’t want to be deemed as the angry black woman. Meanwhile, you think to yourself again, debating and having a battle within your own mind.
Do I belong here?
I’ve asked myself this question many times since becoming a student on Doane’s campus. The answer I tell myself varies and depends on the day. I have no problem saying that it has caused me pain. It has caused me to exert unnecessary energy. It has caused me tears. But in the words of famous Maya Angelou:
“Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.”
Do I belong here? The answer is yes. Not only do I belong on Doane’s campus, I deserve to be here, because I worked hard to get in.
And I earned it.
And I have continued to work hard on and off Doane’s campus since earning my way in; through my academics, the activities and organizations I’m involved in, as well as my attitude about making a difference, not only for the sake our our campus, but for the future of our society as well.
I’ve always belonged here. It’s the dirty looks and the microaggressions that do not and should not have a place at Doane University.
The blog posts in Forward. Together. are intended to foster an inclusive community of empathy and curiosity at Doane University by providing a glimpse into various individual identities and worldviews. These are community members’ unique stories and should not be presumed to be the experience of all who share the same identity.
