As a journalist, I have the unique opportunity to speak with people from various backgrounds from every corner of the globe. My job is to tell their stories and get an understanding of their lives. I have decided to pursue this passion with my life and through my journey, I've learned many valuable lessons. Today, I want to share with you the reasoning behind my choice and the knowledge gained. Growing up in Caracas, Venezuela, South America always had a magical and wondrous feeling to me. For me personally, this place will always remain the same filled with happiness and excitements. From a very young age, my parents encouraged me to think beyond the boundaries of what I knew; they wanted me to gain a vast perspective of the world. My dad one day said to me and my sister, who was six at the time, “Mariana, I am arranging for you two to visit somewhere totally outside of your comfort zone; a place where Spanish isn’t spoken. That way you can learn about different cultures.” Stressing the phrase "You never know what the future holds," he went on and on about how beneficial it would be to spend a summer at this American summer camp. I admittedly wasn't entirely focused when he said it, but now I realize its importance for us in advance planning into our future. I was only seven years old, but in my mind I was imagining how our vacation would be spent in glorious Miami at summer camp. We were planning on going even further than originally intended and make our way up to Orlando, home of Mickey Mouse. Perhaps it would have been an even better experience this way! When Dad told us his plan from Caracas, I was beyond thrilled. His idea - sending us to Brainerd, Minnesota - still promised a memorable experience for all of us.
When we arrived, it was obvious that the other kids had variations in shades of blonde hair and blue eyes - quite unlike us. There wasn't any way to use a cell phone, Snapchat or Instagram to access information about anything; especially on Mickey Mouse who for some reason wasn't present on the scene at the time. The camp director, assembled all the participants around the campfire on the first night and mentioned: "As we have an assorted ethnicity this year at our camp, Let me highlight that the Atencios hailing from Venezuela are present here too." The other kids looked at us in sheer awe, as if we were from a completely different world! Incessantly, they bombarded us with questions such as, "Do you know what a hamburger is?" and "Do you go to school on a donkey or canoe?" I encountered a situation where people would attempt to converse with me; every time I answered using my broken English, they ended up amusing themselves. It was far from their intention to give me discomfort - in fact, it was so that they could understand more about me, relating it with their own life experiences. At the age of seven, it hurt to be different from everyone else - to not look like them, or speak their language. We wanted to be heroes, like Aladdin or Mowgli out of the books we read about thrilling adventures, and in that same sense, like our campmates in real life. Every day, I faced the challenge of putting on a brave face to embrace the American way of life, since I had my little sister with me who was crying at summer camp. But I didn't give up. Instead, I kept going and doing whatever I could to take care of her.
For eight years, we conducted an experiment called "the summer camp experiment" in various cities not well known to many Americans. Making a connection with someone can be a rewarding experience. Everyone wants to feel accepted, but building trust and camaraderie takes time and effort. What I remember most about the moments when that finally clicked is the sense of satisfaction in knowing somebody found value in me too. Being "different" means that you need to work extra hard to belong; be proactive and find ways to become more appealing, such as by being smart, helpful, or funny. That way, you can fit in with the particular crowd of people whom you want to hang out with. From Caracas, my dad took his summer plan one step further and sent me to Wallingford, Connecticut to experience senior year of high school while I was actually still in high school. Daydreaming while on the plane, my focus was an "American high school experience" complete with a locker reminiscent of the iconic one from “Saved by the Bell” - it would certainly be perfect. I had been expecting my assigned roommate to arrive and when I opened the door there she was: Fatima from Bahrain, wearing a headscarf and looking shy. At first I felt disappointed because as a teenager all I wanted to do was fit in and be popular; maybe even get a boyfriend for prom. I didn't recognize the impact my words were having until it was too late, feeling as though I was asking her "Do you know what a hamburger is?" My appalling selfishness meant that I couldn't sympathize with the situation she was in – one similar to my own isolation during summers as a child.
Now, labelling someone as different reduces them to an outsider and erases their humanity. This creates a distorted world view where "the other" is undeserving of care and directly responsible for any negative outcome. By looking through such a lens, real solutions become impossible to see. It is essential to embrace the things that make you different and recognize your blind spots. By appreciating what makes others stand out, this will help to uncover what one may not have known about themselves. Only then can an individual start to understand their unique traits, eventually recognizing any personal shortcomings. When everyone signed up to participate in the charity talent show, I remembered my high school roommate, Fatima, having forgotten about her for several months; and I vowed to offer something special. Everyone’s talents were amazing, be it playing the violin or reciting a monologue; but I wasn’t certain what I could do. Using my little boom box and Shakira's song, "Whenever, Wherever" as a background track, I introduced myself and auctioned off a dance class on the day of the talent show. Everyone seemed excited and every hand in the school went up at once - interested in my offer! We had the 10th violin class offered that day, but my dance class was especially memorable. When I got back to my dorm room, there was this surge of uplifting emotions; it felt like I belonged somewhere special. But when I started thinking about Fatima, a person I initially failed to appreciate, it occurred to me that she and Shakira probably shared the same regional heritage. This might have opened potential possibilities for her to teach me something different - like belly dancing, had I been willing to accept it.
I want all of you to take the sticker that you were each given at the beginning of our session today, with your personalized message on it, and hold it up in front of you. Take note of what was written on it, commemorate the special thing about yourself. Beginning to appreciate what makes others special starts with taking the time to understand and embrace one's own uniqueness. Grab a piece of paper and take some time to write down what makes you different - no matter if it generates feelings of guardedness, humiliation, or exaltation. Experiences shaped me when I returned home to Venezuela. Apart from being able to comprehend different languages and connect with people of diverse cultures, these encounters enabled a distinct perception. Understanding the variables of various nations offered me valuable insights. The rationale for why I chose to pursue journalism was largely due to my burgeoning realization of the significance regarding considering other peoples’ perspectives. As I continued to gain insight in this regard, it ultimately culminated into my decision to take up the profession. I wanted to do something to change the negative stereotypes about people from my part of the world. These labels such as "the backyard," "the illegal aliens," "third-world," and "the others" are often inaccurately used in referring to citizens in my area.
My dad looked at me as the Venezuelan government closed down the largest TV station and censorship became more prominent, saying, "Given these conditions, how are you ever going to become a journalist here? You need to go somewhere else." In 2008, after realizing my future, I didn't hesitate : I made up my mind to leave and headed to the United States without hesitation - no return trip this time. It then dawned on me: this was what my mentoring father had been teaching me for; he was preparing me for the dark yet bright path of the future. I was 24 but still painfully aware that, from then on, I would be an outsider in ever-lasting terms – a "refugee" and "immigrant"; the perpetual “other.” I felt exceptionally privileged when I was granted the opportunity to study journalism through a scholarship and the first task I received was to cover President Barack Obama's epochal election. I had such confident optimistic thoughts, expecting this anomaly of "us versus them" to die out in my life-span in a post-racial America. Even though we expected that Barack Obama's presidency would alleviate racial tensions in our country, some people still feel threatened by immigrants, LGBTQ and minority groups who are seeking to be a part of the United States – a place for us all. So why has this tension not lessened within our nation? On November 8th, 2016, when Donald Trump was elected president, it became clear that a large part of the electorate views "the others" with fear and unease - from attempts to steal people's jobs to fears of terrorism. Unfortunately, this often leads to expressions of hatred and intolerance towards minority groups. Showing respect takes a great deal of courage. As the famous Voltaire said, "Though I may not agree with your opinion, I will fight to protect your right to express it." If we cannot appreciate or even recognize any kernel of truth on the opposing side, then meaningful and productive dialogue shuts down.
It was my first big assignment for NBC News covering the 2016 election, having crossed over from Spanish television, an opportunity that I wanted to make the most of. I had the unique experience of watching undecided election results with undocumented families. Though it can be challenging to include those who are not citizens in moments as important as that, I found myself incredibly moved by sharing that night with those whose livelihoods could have been drastically altered depending on the results. Angelina, an 8 year old girl, was so shocked when it became evident that Donald Trump was winning that she ran up to me in tears. I wrapped her in an embrace and tried to reassure her with soothing words, "It's going to be okay." Despite this, I had no way of knowing with certainty what might happen concerning the potential deportation of her mother. Deep sobs racked her body as she asked me the question that no one could answer. Forever in my heart, the night of which we took this photo endures. Imprinted deep within me, this image now proudly stands as a cherished memory. Every day when she walks home from school the little girl who is the same age as myself when I went to camp in Brainerd feels fear, for she knows that at any moment her mom could be taken away. It is possible to empathize with Angelina and make her understand she has value; we should make an effort to replace the perception of "illegal aliens" with an understanding of them as human beings. Even when the law is broken, their contribution to the country now and forever must not be overlooked.
The day April 10th, 2014 started out as a normal day, until I received a call from my parents while driving to the studio; they asked me if I was already on the air. When I told them no, they informed me that my sister had been in a car accident - shaking me to my core. At that exact moment, my life changed drastically as the words "It is unlikely she will ever walk again" were spoken. Having a sister only a year younger than me, who before was successful in all areas of her life, had suddenly become unable to move her legs or even sit up or dress herself decently. The worst thing my sister and I endured throughout those two years she was undergoing 15 surgeries, was people's perception. The combination of the wheelchair with her illness changed how distant family members, friends and strangers saw her; gone was the image of a successful lawyer and a person full of wit and kindness. Suddenly, all they could ever see was a girl in a very real handicap. After fighting persistently, I'm glad to report that my sister has made a remarkable recovery and is now walking again. Words cannot express how grateful I am. My sister's plight was so tough to endure that it revealed the harshness of disparities. Though she is no better off, I learned from her not to let these imbalances define me. Yet transforming and embracing myself beyond anyone else's vision is a formidable undertaking, but equally rewarding.
We all come to this world in different bodies with obstacles to overcome. People of all backgrounds, from those with physical and neurological difficulties to immigrants, from boys and girls to those who identify as another gender, from veiled women to those who have experienced sexual assault can still achieve their dreams if they allow themselves the chance. No matter our backgrounds, experiences, or stories, what makes us different can also be what makes us successful. I have been fortunate enough to travel the world and learn from many people from various walks of life. Though we may have exciting differences, the one thing that resonates with all of us is that we’re all human! Let's take a stand to defend the human race. Let's be humanists and prioritize humanity before anything else. Let's fight for our rights and empower ourselves as a collective species in order to make this world a better place for all of us as individuals. I ask you to celebrate and shout out what makes you unique everyday by exhausting your inquisitiveness by seeking out what stands within others that make them different. Take your noted-down sticker and revel in it today! Thank you for celebrating imperfections that make us all special. “Normal” is a meaningless metric when considering every individual's uniqueness. Having our own sets of quirks is what connects us as human beings, erasing any distinctions between age, race and more. Let's celebrate this incredible bond we all share.
See also: https://mygodsentangels.com/