The Academic: Michelle*

PROFILE:
Name: Michelle*
Age: 20
Hometown: New York, New York
Goals: “I would say my goals in life are I guess to be an academic scholar and an agent changer in world politics.”
Music: “I like everything except country.”

Michelle* is smart, there is no denying that. She’s that student who teachers love because she is able to engage. She’s won awards and will continue to do so but she’s also funny and lighthearted and knows a thing or two about fashion week.

QUESTION TIME:
1.) Is it safe to say people consider you an "academic” stereotype? How true is that and how does that make you feel?
-“I don’t want to give myself that much credit but I guess I could say that, I would agree. It makes me feel good in a way but at the same time, it’s like a motivator like if I want to keep that reputation, I have to keep focusing.”
2.) How do you think your style: fashion and music wise even your room perpetuate the stereotype? 
-“No, I mean, my style is simple but still classy with a little edge; if that makes any sense. I like my blouses, my jeans and a nice pair of boots. Keep it simple and I love a good scarf.”
3.) On coming to Mville, did you think you would find your niche? 
-“I didn't. I didn't know what to expect. It’s just something you have to dive headfirst into and you find it as time goes on… and I think I found it.”
4.) How has Manhattanville helped you discover more of who you are and separate you from the crowd?
-“I think Manhattanville has helped me because studying with so many people, even though it’s a small school; you get to see all types of people and through that I can say “OK well, I like what this person’s doing” and I can sort of model  what I do after what that person’s done. I can also see what people are doing that I don’t like then I can say “that’s not for me.”” (Laughs)
5.) What about you do you think people will be surprised to know?
-“I’m actually secretly obsessed with high-fashion and modelling but I don’t like being associated with it. I’d rather be associated with books, yeah.” (Laughs)


*Michelle is a pseudonym as this participant has asked I keep her identity secret. That however does not take away from the truth of her experiences.

The Ambitious Girl: Jada

PROFILE:
Name: Jada Brianna Cash-Wilson
Age: 21
Hometown: Hong Kong, China
Goals: “Ultimately, I want to be a United States Supreme Court Justice. I mean there’s different things I need to do to get there so I’m not sure of that route like if I want to go into politics or be a lawyer but I know when I’m 50 I want to be a Supreme Court Justice.”
Music: “A lot of rap and hip-hop and oldies. My two favourites are Nas and Marvin Gaye.”

Jada is one of those people who seem to be doing it all. She’s currently the president of the Manhattanville Student body and for a tiny person , she seems to have a lot of weight on her shoulders but what people don’t expect from Jada is that she can handle all that and then some, while listening to Nas in the background.

QUESTION TIME:
1.) Is it safe to say people consider you an "ambitious girl” stereotype? How true is that and how does that make you feel?
-“ I think people who don’t know me think of me that way but I think people who do know me think of me as silly and telling goofy jokes.” (Laughs)

2.) How do you think your style: fashion and music wise even your room perpetuate the stereotype?
-“Um, yeah. I think it depends on the day and who I’m meeting with. So if I’m meeting with administration it’s definitely going to be more sweaters and buttoned-up things but if it’s more like a regular day, sweatpants are in there, there’s no fashion. (Laughs) but as for my room, behind you is a wall of my favourite music artistes and on that other wall is Malcolm X, so that represents my passion for civil rights and there’s Marilyn Monroe because I just think she’s so girly and I’m girly so yeah.”

Marilyn and MalcolmX, two facets of her character

A collage of her favourite artistes by her door

3.) On coming to Mville, did you think you would find your niche?
-“No I didn't and I’m still not really sure I have.”

4.) How has Manhattanville helped you discover more of who you are and separate you from the crowd?
-“So Manhattanville has helped me in the sense that I've learned to stand up for what’s right regardless of  how many people don’t agree with me.”

Jada's SGA gavel...fate?

5.) What about you do you think people will be surprised to know?
-“I like to watch those teen shows on the CW; I don’t know why…I do.” (Laughs)

Jada now interns for President Clintons non-profit

The International Kid: Valeria

 PROFILE:
Name: Valeria Ricciulli-Marin
Age: 21
Hometown: Cartagena, Colombia
Goals: Valeria wants to work for a non-profit, if possible in Colombia. Her frustrated dream is to be a professional Salsa dancer.
Music: “I love salsa music, I love dancing to it too, I wanted to be a professional salsa dancer.” (laughs)

.

Valeria(on the right) 

Valeria is hard to miss on campus, she always seems to be buzzing around and involved in all activities. Traits like these are unexpected in international students who are “supposed” to be stand-offish, reserved and bad at speaking English. Valeria is not bad at speaking English although her beautiful Colombian accent gives her away. Valeria is President of the UNICEF club and her care for people shines forth in everything else she does, which by the way is a lot

QUESTION TIME:
1.) Is it safe to say people consider you an "international kid” stereotype? How true is that and how does that make you feel?
-“Well yeah, right away when people listen to my accent they say “where are you from? You’re Spanish” whatever. Some people don’t understand my name, when I go to Starbucks, they write it wrong, and they say they don’t understand it. Sometimes, I’m comfortable; sometimes I wish I didn't have such a heavy accent. Actually, I didn't realize I had an accent until I came but people tell me all the time it’s so exotic and I’m like no (laughs) I don’t like it that much but I’m getting used to it, it’s been two years already and it hasn't gone away but when people listen to me they think “oh! She talks like Sofia Vergara” from Modern Family. That makes me feel good sometimes but sometimes not because she’s really stupid sometimes, so I don’t know how to feel about that . I don’t like people to assume things about me. I like people to know that I’m different, because that’s why I’m here. I’m here to show who I am, to show my culture, so I like people to see I have different aspirations and different “costumes” and speak differently. Sometimes I feel good when people see me as different.”

2.) How do you think your style: fashion and music wise even your room perpetuate the stereotype? 
-“Umm, I think when you get to know me really closely; you’ll realize that some stereotypes are true and some are not. For example, I’m really open and caring like a typical Hispanic/ Latino woman but I’m really responsible not a crazy Latina who’s always partying like some people think and I have really high aspirations. I think my way of dressing has nothing to do with that, I dress normally, you know?”

The college student life filled with beautiful jewelry and gruesome papers.

3.) On coming to Mville, did you think you would find your niche? 
-“ When I first came, I was especially excited about meeting other Hispanic people because I love our culture and I am fascinated by it and I expected to only hang out with them but now I hang out with everyone. In the end, I realized one of the best lessons that I've learned in life which is: it’s not about where you come from but the values you have. For example, you and I could be a thousand times more similar than me and another Colombian girl. I realized that the fact that we’re from Hispanic countries and speak Spanish does not mean that we are going to get along. It was better to expand and meet other people, my best friend is Colombian, Maria Pava but I've tried to open myself and I've met awesome people like you, Sylvie...” (laughs)

The UNICEF and Colombian flags flanked by dolls...
sounds good to me!

4.) How has Manhattanville helped you discover more of who you are and separate you from the crowd? 
-“Well, yeah I think Manhattanville has taught me a lot of things in many different ways. Since I came Freshman Year, a lot of my perspectives have changed. The classes I've taken with many different professors have opened my vision of the world. Comparing my culture and talking to other people has helped me appreciate more the way I was raised and the values that I have. Also comparing the good things other cultures have and how we can implement that in my country and there are also some things that I don’t like in the American culture, so I think I've realized how different I am as a Colombian and what can I learn from them and how can I apply them to my life.”

When you're as involved as Valeria,
you literally have to wake up to your organizer.

5.) What about you do you think people will be surprised to know?
-“ Usually they are surprised when I tell them my dream is to dance Salsa or when I tell them I used to do ballet, even my closest friends don’t believe me. They see me as really responsible but  I’m not like that, I’m really relaxed and that has caused me one of my worst problems (laughs) but I get really bored easily. I don’t like routine, I think people will be surprised at that, that’s why I want to be a salsa dancer and travel round the world.” (laughs)

Valeria Interviewing another great Latina, Soledad O'Brien

The Pretty Girl : Lizzie

PROFILE:
Name: Lizzie Kabaso
Hometown: Originally from Kitwe, Zambia (Currently living in Bowie, Maryland)
Goals: “In general? You know I’m a freelance model and height is a thing, but my goal is to get signed with Wilhelmina when I graduate from school and also, I want to work as a PR person because I’m really into Communications and I took this class with Professor Rudel and I really loved it. “
Music: I listen to country gospel music, I was listening to that right now but I turned it off (laughs) It motivates me but yeah sometimes I listen to Kelly Clarkson. Oh! And D’banj, his radio station on Pandora.

 It is easy to love Lizzie, she’s like some effervescent butterfly that is always on the move, she’s the kind of girl that’s cool with everyone and everyone thinks is cool. Another thing about Lizzie, she also wants to be a model. The issue with that is that people box her in like she’s the quintessential pretty-happy girl without realizing that she is the type of model that will not do swimwear because of her morals and a concept she learned in sociology class called “dehumanization.”

QUESTION TIME:

1.) Is it safe to say people consider you a "pretty-girl-model-type” stereotype? How true is that and how does that make you feel?

- “You know what? That’s funny you asked me that because that happened in class. I felt so uncomfortable to speak on it. We were talking about how society treats women, you know how they are “supposed” to be skinny and stuff but I wanted to put in my opinion like you don’t have to be that type, like models are not always skinny. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, like you have to choose what you wanna look like. Just because they say so doesn’t mean you have to go down that way, no! …So, I don’t know that was uncomfortable for me, I didn’t even end up saying anything.”

2.) How do you think your style: fashion and music wise even your room perpetuate the stereotype?

-“ Sometimes, people are like “Lizzziiiieee” (because) sometimes, I like to be comfortable so I like to wear sweatpants and sometimes, my friends and other people will be like “Lizzie, are you sure you’re a model?” (laughs) You don’t always have to be all dressy; I don’t know I only dress up when I feel like it and sometimes, I just get up and throw mixed things together and it comes out nice."

Lizzie likes to get inspiration from her wall from models who have made it. 

Lizzie lounging in her room, she is not afraid of colours
which is highly indicative of her bold personality.

In her everyday style, Lizzie draws strongly from her African heritage

3.) On coming to Mville, did you think you would find your niche?

-“ You know what’s funny? I didn’t even think about that. I’m like a solo person. When it comes to friends, I don’t hang out with one set of people, I’m everywhere, if I see someone going to cafeteria by themselves I’m like “why? Let me go with you.” But I go by myself because I was born by myself and will die by myself.” (laughs)

It's definitely all about the eclectic

4.) How has Manhattanville helped you discover more of who you are and separate you from the crowd?

- “No! I don’t know…maybe it has. That’s a good question. Even in high school, I was independent but coming here has made me be more aware of that now.”

5.) What about you do you think people will be surprised to know?

-“That I’m studying sociology because I like to study people’s behaviours, so people are so surprised about that. They’re like “You’re a model, why are you going to school?” but you do need to educate yourself in a lot of things and view things from a different perspective."