News at Buckley

DEI Symposia Covers Identity Abroad

In January’s DEI Symposia, “International Perspectives to Overcome Racism,” several Upper School students presented on their personal experiences with identity abroad.
At the start of the meeting, sophomore and symposia chair Zoha P. reminded students of the community norms.
  • Junior Olivia d.C. explored “What It Means to be Open-Minded.”
  • Senior Sascha M.d.L.d.S.M., who grew up in Germany, compared how his native country addresses its role in the Holocaust and World War II with how the United States reckons with slavery.
  • Junior Khadija N. shared what it means for her to be bi-racial.
  • Senior Karen H. spoke about her experience moving to the U.S. in middle school from Shanghai.
  • Senior Moriah E. share what it’s like to travel as an African American abroad.
  • French and Philosophy & Ethics teacher Olivier Dalle presented on his trip to Senegal last summer, and how those he met there saw him as a representative of the country that colonized theirs.
“The goal of the symposium was to illustrate that our identity shifts, and that traveling and meeting different people help us realize this fact,” Dalle said. 

Communications intern Abby D. caught up with a few of the presenters after the event, for their thoughts on how it went.
 
“The main thing I hope students can take away from our symposium is the acceptance and embrace of diversity, and to constantly reflect upon our behaviors and beliefs,” said Karen H.

“I felt really good watching this very diverse group of student presenters speak about their experiences,” said Mr. Dalle.” I felt both proud of them and humbled by their honesty and their courage, which I am not sure I had at their age..” 

Khadija N. felt nervous before presenting. “I didn't know how people would react to what I was talking about. However, after I presented I received so many compliments from students and teachers, and I realized that the bi-racial experience resonated with them.”
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