Hi, Im Shao En
Much like how a puzzle may be divided into corresponding color groups, textures and shapes, our society is separated into race, gender and physical portrayal. My angular mono-lids and femininity made me endure comments like “You’re only good for cooking” and "Your eyes are so small". But after solving dozens of puzzles I've come to recognize what lies in common in each fragmented image. That is, we value all individual pieces in regards to a whole since ultimately, the hues and unique outlines of each puzzle piece unite to form one cohesive picture.
It is crucial that we can come together to strengthen diversity within our world which values uniformity and weakens our ability to express who we are. Constrained in the boxes of race, gender-identity and political opinions, it was difficult to value myself as somebody who’d be as successful, as intelligent as somebody who’d fit inside these selective categories. As I unravel my identity to reveal new traits, qualities, hobbies and interests I have sought the very opportunities I thought were merely a dream before, like the Neuroscience courses held by the University of Toronto, or medical internships in orthopedics. However, these are only the fundamentals that would allow me to explore not only an interest that I have within myself, but also the value I hold as an intelligent woman of color within my community.