Finding my way by finding my voice

By Aariana Wilson
May 12, 2018

Cabrini Students Lobby against Foreign Aid budget cuts. Photo by Jerry Zurek.
Cabrini Students Lobby against Foreign Aid budget cuts. Photo by Jerry Zurek.

You’re riding on a bus… and you don’t know where it’s going… Except that once you get there it’ll all be worth it. That’s how I feel about choosing Cabrini.

I came to the small Catholic college about a year ago as a transfer student. In that time, I’ve pushed myself to become more outspoken than I’ve ever imagined. Most people that know me can’t imagine how the most quiet person could go into a communications program. But I’ve learned the power of speaking up, and how it can really implement change.

I’ve gone to places and countries I never imagined I could. Met the best and worse traits in people. And I’ve seen just how far people will go to make a dollar, to take a dollar, and to give back to those that need it. But most importantly, I’ve never been more inspired to make fighting for social justice, and telling unheard stories a life mission. Especially after lobbying in Washington D.C. with my ECG class.

I’ve never been one to take great risk. I’m pretty laid back, but I’m also a careful person. I wouldn’t ever risk upsetting people or rocking the boat by saying too much. It was normal for me to go to a network event but to not say a word. I thought it was common to go to a campus event and sit along the sidelines. I just decided it was because I was introverted and left it at that. Little did I know what was really important to me.

As I got older I took a break from school to do event planning with a local art and music collective. This did get me out of my shell a bit, mostly because I loved working with creative people. But I also let my shyness affect my leadership position. I wouldn’t comment when new clients would ignore me to shake my music director’s hand, even though I was vice president. Again, I called it annoying but moved past it.

It wasn’t until I came to Cabrini and met Dr. Dawn Francis that I found someone I saw myself in. She was bubbly and thought everything out while always being so kind to everyone. I took her Multimedia Storytelling course, and learned to combine my love for art and music with my love for writing and storytelling. Digital media allowed me to express myself without the fear of speaking up. And as my coursework progressed so did my passion for storytelling. I gained an appreciation for how others lived, and wanted to help share issues that mattered to me with the world. This all came full circle in my first ECG course.

I never took a class that went so in depth into a topic. We studied the history of Guatemala, and how past wars and struggles with the US currently impacted their lives today. The class traveled to this country for a week-long immersion trip to experience daily life with the people. It shook me. I saw so many important issues that I knew were going ignored. I could see how different the reality of our world was from stories and rumors being posted in the news and media. For the first time in my life I felt like I absolutely needed to speak out.

Cabrini Students Lobby against Foreign Aid budget cuts. Photo by Jerry Zurek.

 

I’ve always been a supportive friend. And I do believe that I’ve always cared about, and spoke on topics that mattered to me. But never in my life did I think I would go toe to toe lobbying for the Foreign Aid budget to not be cut. I pulled together everything I knew, and sat in a room of my peers and representatives of our Senators to express my concerns.

I told the stories of the people that were killed for asking for a voice. And I was able to demand changes and consequences for negative actions taken against the people I worked with in Central America. That experience shaped my entire outlook on my major of choice.

Digital communications started as a fun way to learn and grow in my creative passions. But what I got in return has been so much more meaningful to me, and to the growth of the world at large. I feel that I’m able to eloquently articulate concerns and issues for those who many not always have the chance or even the right to do so. I’ve continued to research and write using the skills I’ve gained from my coursework. Even better, I’ve found ways to connect what I’m learning into my daily life. I’ve even found long-term methods to contribute my voice and communication skills towards great causes. My overall point is that sometimes our weaknesses can become our strengths. So take the risk; you’d be surprised how far you’ll go.

1 thought on “Finding my way by finding my voice”

  1. Well-written and happy you found your voice and are able to make a difference in our crazy world. Keep it up and keep sharing!

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Aariana Wilson

1 thought on “Finding my way by finding my voice”

  1. Well-written and happy you found your voice and are able to make a difference in our crazy world. Keep it up and keep sharing!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

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