Reflections

NYC Trip -  Buena Vista Social Club

4-23-25

 

The NYC trip was a huge success when learning about different cultures. The Buena Vista Social Club gave a great performance and made me think about how these issues relate worldwide. One of the most powerful moments in the play was seeing the musical Buena Vista Social Club. The play explored how politics can erase people’s stories and silence artists, especially during times of national chaos. It highlighted the importance of remembering and sharing people’s authentic stories, not the ones rewritten and lost to history. The play also reflected Cuba's global isolation and how that deeply affected its musicians. Once the regime took over, fear and chaos spread among innocent people. This made me think about how many artists and voices were pushed to be silenced. The moment that stood out for me was when Haydée was about to get on the plane, and Omara decided not to go. That was a turning point in the story because it showed Omara choosing her own path, even if it meant staying behind in a difficult situation. It also highlighted a major shift in the relationship between the two sisters. The musical reminded me of Arn Chorn Pond and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, and how regimes try to erase culture, and how music becomes a way to survive and remember. 

 

Wadsworth Divine Geometry

4/7/25

This was my first time attending the Wadsworth Atheneum, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. There were so many different artworks ranging from traditional Western art to a whole section of Islamic art. Even though I don't observe the Islamic religion, when walking into this room, I felt a sense of comfort. The piece that really caught my eye was the Quran. The intricate detail and floral pattern tell stories beyond the page, linking to broader themes that the Islamic people base their religion upon. Though I could not read the Islamic text, the book seemed to highlight the deep connection between art and religion by focusing on abstract designs rather than human figures. The avoidance of depicting many humans in a single portrait is largely rooted in many Islamic teachings and how they discourage the representation of living beings in art, as it can be seen as an attempt to replicate God's creation. This differs from Western art, which often embraces depictions of human figures and faces as a central theme. Islamic art emphasizes the significance of written words and the teachings of the Quran. The book explores how different cultures express their values and beliefs through different art forms. 

Oscar-nominated short documentaries  
(2/22/25)

Reflecting on the short film Incident, I realize how a small moment can have a profound impact on someone's life. It was difficult to watch, but very important because it is the reality of our world. This short film touched upon how police brutality is a crucial element that highlights systemic issues within law enforcement and shows how easy it is to justify injustice. The themes of racism and fighting for justice connect to global movements such as Black Lives Matter, sparking important talks about oppression. This also reflects the broader issue of power abuse, when the officer did not want to take accountability for his actions. This type of brutality is not just an isolated issue; it connects and shows the impact of how marginalized communities are at fault and the justification the hierarchy receives. The film serves as a reminder that injustices can happen anywhere and highlights the urgent need for change and standing up to oppression. The scene that resonated with me was when Harith was dead on the ground, and his client became emotional when talking about how Harith was such a good guy and never did wrong; yet, the law enforcement did not want to listen and used force to push the bystanders away. Ultimately, the film serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for systemic change and accountability in law enforcement.

Martin Luther King JR. Reflection
(2/7/25)
   I attended the University of Hartford MLK Event & Keynote Speaker “I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams”. The afternoon was deeply moving, offering insights into diverse stories from our past. The wide range of ages represented, from elementary school children to elders, highlights the event's impact and importance. The event was inspiring to see the college graduates discuss their achievements, freedom, or success, exceeding what their ancestors could have imagined. One speaker shared her grandfather’s powerful story, which included his experiences as a slave, enduring unimaginable hardships, and a complete loss of freedom. This story was profoundly moving. His eventual freedom led him to become a sharecropper, selling land to other enslaved people. Even a seemingly simple song performed by the second graders conveyed a compelling message, aligning with the event's themes of caring and peace. Reflecting on the event, I see how the stories of slavery and hate connect our understanding of history and social justice, highlighting the lasting impacts of oppression and the importance of addressing these issues across cultures today.  

 

Religious Service Reflection (1-19-25)

 

Attending a church service as a Jewish person, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I ended up learning a lot. When I first walked in, the chapel was huge with tons of seating and was beautifully lit with bright, vibrant colors and intricate details. As I sat down, the people around me greeted me and were very friendly. The service began with hymns. Once they finished, the pastor came up and led an opening prayer, inviting everyone to join in. Then the Bible was brought out, and a scripture passage was read aloud. After that, a woman came up and shared about how the gospel shaped and changed her life for the better. She talked about how her daily faith practices remind her that nothing is impossible. At the end of the service, there was a closing prayer and a message that encouraged everyone to carry the experience of worship into their week. The service had both similarities and differences compared to a service at my synagogue. In both, I experienced a warm welcome when I walked and sat down, whether I knew anyone or not, and both started with opening prayers. But there were differences too, including worshiping Jesus instead of a singular God, and reading from the Bible instead of the Torah. After this experience, I was able to reflect on how different religious services relate to my own.

Kumi Trip
11/13/24
I boarded a plane by myself to Chicago not knowing what to expect. It was a four-day trip packed with different activities and meaningful learning sessions to help find comfort in being a Jew of color. There were two different tracks in which we split up, 12 Jews of color, and 16 white Jewish anti-racist allies. Each day we would write down different experiences when we were ashamed of our identity and how we can overcome those thoughts. We did seminars and learned how to interrupt racism, antisemitism, and other manifestations of oppression. We wrote letters to our future selves proclaiming our identity. The Jews of Color track wrote requests to the white Jewish allies on how we can feel safer in the world and how they can help. I made so many meaningful relationships and learned more about myself than I thought I ever could. This teen leadership experience imparts knowledge and skills for exploring justice and equity from a Jewish lens. Through my experience at Kumi, I was challenged to explore my connection to my own Jewish identity and build the skills to turn their values into action. I finally can start finding comfort in my identity and know people feel similar to me around the world and I don't need to hide or cover up my true self.  
movingtraditions.org/programs/kumi/

Mass Moca
10/25/24
 
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass Moca) had so much to offer to my new perspective of art. This facility is one of the largest centers for visual arts, music, dance, theater, and film. The immersive installations were fascinating and took advantage of the vast industrial space. Mass Moca stands as a vibrant testament to different artwork. Spending the whole day in an art museum gave me so many more perspectives on pieces I could have never had the chance to see. A piece that stuck with me was the dark room with chalk. I stood in there for at least 15 minutes reading all of the quotes. The quote was: “My teacher says everything in life is beautiful, even suicide because it is an attempt to be free. This quote was powerful to me because so many people struggle in silence and have it in a pitch-black room with the white bright chalk that eventually slowly fades. When at the plastic bag store it was crucial to see all the plastic daily use. When watching the video about how this will affect our future was super impactful. When walking into the icicle room, surrounded by plastic, and how much climate change plays a role. I also learned about Micropalstics and how harmful they are, yet there in our daily food, with the different health impacts. Plastic chokes our marine wildlife, damages soil, and poisons groundwater. Without a change, there won’t be a future environment. One of the many rooms that connected to global studies is the prayer room. It was a beautiful vibrant green room with different elements to connect the room such as a prayer sheet and a gaming chair. Since those two items are immensely different, I was surprised at first. With the soft dim lighting and multiple seating options, my mind felt at ease, even though I don’t practice Christianity this room was impactful and showed different traditions and cultures. It was impactful to see the messages and passages displayed. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to go to this art museum see diverse artistic voices and address universal themes. 



Arn Chorn-pond
10/16/24

   Last Monday, we had a special extended all-school to hear from Arn Chorn-Pond as he reflected on his life and gave us insight into what he experienced growing up. Arn is a Cambodian musician, human rights activist, and a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. Arn was born in Cambodia and had to endure the horrors of living through the government during the genocide in the late 1970s. He has dedicated his life to promoting peace and preserving Cambodian culture. I find it fascinating how he can tell his story out loud, especially to a group of strangers. After hearing his story, I realized how incredibly grateful I am to live in a safe place, where we do not have to experience the torture and pain many live through. He is so strong and always sees the good in people. Something that stood out to me during his speech was when he talked about his high school experience. Arn boarded a boat to the US by himself, not knowing the English language and still managed to go to high school in Massachusetts. He was bullied and ridiculed every single day. Yet, when talking about the people who bullied him, he was still respectful and did not speak negatively about them. I hope Arn finds peace when sharing his story because it is so impactful to me and many others. He is a bright light in the world and I am so inspired by his strength, positivity, and resilience. 


Justice Mullins' Public Hearing 
10/1/24 

On September 29, I attended Justice Raheem L. Mullins' Public Hearing for Confirmation as head Justice of the CT Supreme Court. Hearing his opening speech, I learned much about his life and how he plans to improve the justice system. His story is influential in how he dealt with being a teen father through his high school years, to being chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He is the second Black and youngest state justice in history. After his opening speech, justices asked him questions about his policy. Mullins said, “My goal for the judicial branch is to leverage technology so that we can enhance access, efficiency, and transparency with the ultimate goal being to better serve our citizens.” There was an interesting contrast between the different voices and opinions shared. I admire how Mullins kept his composure even when faced with difficult questions, such as his opinion on gun rights, faith, and abortion. I believe Justice Mullins will make a great impact as a Head Justice and I will be excited to see his different contributions.



Caste 
9/26/24 
           Over the summer I read the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. The story takes the reader through an immersive eye-opening, deeply researched narrative, linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores the eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations. Wilkerson explores the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how a hierarchy of human divisions still defines our lives today. The book displays the history of caste systems in different countries and draws parallels to the racial hierarchy in the United States. Wilkerson uses a combination of historical research, personal narratives, and analysis to illustrate how caste affects every aspect of society, from politics to personal relationships. The book is a profound examination of the invisible structures perpetuating inequality and a call to understand and dismantle these systems.

   I understand that all caste systems are hereditary, benefiting only a small portion of the population. When watching the movie, seeing the visuals of Trayvon Martin being killed greatly put things into perspective for me. Trayvon Benjamin Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) was a 17-year-old African-American young man from Miami Gardens, Florida, who was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida, by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old Hispanic-American man. Martin was walking home from the convenience store when Zimmerman saw Martin and reported him to the Stanford police department for looking suspicious. Zimmerman ended up fatally shooting Martin in the chest, taking his life. There was an interesting depiction between the book and the movie, and I was able to capture scenes the book does not provide. I find it helpful that the movie explains and deciphers different events. Reading the book before watching the movie was beneficial because it provided a preliminary understanding of the backstory. Overall, I am very happy we read the book, and although some parts were difficult to read, it is important to understand what has happened and how we can grow as a society to improve our caste system. 
 
https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Frac.org%2Fleadership-development%2Fempowering-young-leaders%2Fltaken-social-justice-seminars%2Fwhat-ltaken&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AOvVaw10YRT5rhOBRVmhdQVcWAEX