Protecting My Plan

  When I decided that I wanted to use a platform to educate about the oppressed around the world, I knew that I would have certain people who would be completely against it. The essence of who I am and what I do is the essence of my activism. Growing up an empath, I have always been hyper-attuned to other people's emotions, good or bad. Therefore, protecting my space and continuing a plan that I had set for myself quickly became the hardest part... 

  As a student activist, it can be incredibly frustrating when the issues you care for, nobody seems to care about. Progress in your work is delayed when the people around you don't support your craft and what you stand for. I have recently encountered many apathetic individuals. Individuals who choose not to recognize the problems that I express. They will even go as far as to argue with me about why these aren't real issues.

 When you become passionate about subjects, they either resonate with you on a personal level or they truly concern you. Therefore, you become sensitive about the things people say concerning these topics. With that being said, I refuse to let people disrespect my passion for advocating. I have had to look within myself and understand that even though I should never have to alter my opinions, I don't want them to come off in a way that makes people unwilling to ask me questions because they're afraid that they'll use incorrect terminology.

  I have learned that no matter how problematic someone's actions may be, pointing out these problems may not always be the right thing to do. There are many different ways to protest against others' choices that are really commanding. I believe that there is a difference between imposing my beliefs on someone else and refusing to let them impose theirs on me.

  Just because people have an issue with your behavior and the truths that you speak, that does not mean you have to change it for them. As long as you respect their boundaries, you don't have to criticize yourself based on their values and beliefs, just as they don't have to judge themselves based on yours.