Reflective Essay: Safe Spaces

Growing up, I there was never one program that I could find a safe space in. There were always multiple programs I attended for people of color, women, LGBTQ+, but I never found a space that encompasses all of the aspects of my being. Because many of the groups I participated in was geared toward a specific group, they often lacked diversity and inclusion was often low in their initiative for those outside who experienced things outside the scope of the group. I often felt like I lacked support in the areas that the groups didn’t cover, so I sought out more safe spaces, even if they were problematic towards other safe spaces I was a part of. As a Turner Scholar, I hope to be a bridge between groups that experience issues in the areas
In my sophomore year of high school, you couldn’t go anywhere in the school without seeing posters advertising clubs. I especially remember the Bible Study Club posters plastered everywhere, from the inside of bathroom stalls to above the drinking fountains. One day, I decided to attend a Bible Study Club meeting. As soon as I entered the room, I felt like I wasn’t meant to be there. Sophomore year was the year where I came out as gay and was very active in my school’s Gender-Sexuality Alliance. I immediately felt like I wasn’t welcome in the club because I was a member of two communities with different beliefs. Similarly, when I would enter the Gender-Sexuality Alliance, I noticed that there were very few people of color. In many school clubs, there is rarely any overlap in groups. Many clubs and groups don’t make it a goal to be all-inclusive. Most only aim to help a very specific set of people, without realizing that they may need support from a different viewpoint in addition to the support that the group offers. My desire is to use my diverse background to offer this differing viewpoint that many groups and support systems do not have. As a Turner Scholar, I also hope to be a bridge between groups where there is little diversity. I want to show that it’s okay to be Christian and gay, or African-American and LGBTQ, and that you don't have to hide who you are
I remember how hard it was to come out to my parents. I stood shaking in the basement of my home in front of my mother the night I came out. My older brother was there to support me, but I remember the fear and anxiety I experienced leading up to that moment. I’m African-American and Christian, so I that I learned up to that point was about how being LGBTQ+ was a sin. When I finally came out, my mom, I was relieved to know that she supported me, but I know many fellow African-Americans aren’t as lucky or as fortunate as I am. For many people, college is their first chance to connect with those who have similar experiences and interests. My goal is to be a supportive Turner Scholar, and be supportive of students who come from an unsupportive background. I want to help people find where they are safe and loved in