Arewa ✨

The following is an interview that took place April 2, 2016. The purpose of the interview was for me, the interviewer, to give Smith College students who identify as Queer or Questioning people of color an outlet to speak freely about their unique identities. After the interview I ask them to take me to a place on campus that really matters to them, that really overcomes them with fondness and positivity. My eighth participant: Marisa<3

M: Ooo I’m a little bit nervous. T: Don’t be nervous. M: Am I supposed to put this in my ear? T: Nah, just keep it close to you. M: Okay… It picks up on the sound? T: Mhmm. M: Wow. T: Magic (giggles) Why did you choose Smith? M: Umm, I chose Smith because I–I really didn’t know where I wanted to go and then three weeks before the deadline I heard about Smith and I was like, ‘I can hang with that.’ So, I chose Smith and then I started researching it and it seemed pretty cool and they flew me out for Discovery Weekend. T: (high pitch) For free? M: Yeah! They paid my ticket from California. T: And family? M: Nah, just me but, yeah, that made me want to go. That weekend especially. T: What are you focusing on in college? M: Umm, finding out what I like, I think. I think I’m just so indecisive that it’s just really hard focusing on things that bring me joy, it’s really important because I’m living on my own and I can do whatever I want so I want to do things that I like, that make me happy.   T: Good. (T & M giggle) So this is kind of on the same vein but what are your interests? M: Ummm, I love running things. I love running things. I love putting on events. That’s why I love this job because I love the people. It’s not a job, I love this position. I also like singing and talking. And talking just, I feel like when people say talking it’s like so, “Oh I just like to talk,” but I actually enjoy having conversations with people. If I can’t have a conversation with you then I can’t be in your space, or you can’t be in my space (giggles) Actually. T: Mhhm. I’m gonna jump around. Umm, three words to describe yourself. M: Oh, this is my least favorite question. Um (sighs) shit. Three words to describe myself. I would say…..I would say… Okay, okay, I just don’t like picking things. I would say that I’m pretty Passionate about things, like when I really feel them and I really feel that they’re important I will always fight for them, for whatever it is, no question. I’d like to think I’m very Down-to-Earth, because that’s important. And Loving. I just have so much love (giggles) Oh my gosh.   T: How do you fully identify, and this can be sexuality, and all that. M: I am Latina. I am Puerto-Rican, Afro-Puerto Rican and Chicana, so there’s just a whole lot of all that beautifulness (giggles) Um, in terms of sexuality I go back and forth between queer and lesbian, all the time. I like queer because I like that it encompass more than just my sexual identity. To me, queer is very much about intersections, so that’s why I love the word but I also love lesbian because it’s sort of like a political saying because saying, “I am a Lesbian” holds so much power. Gender. I identify as a woman. Am I missing anything else?    T: No, say whatever. You can add religion or- M: Oh no, no religion for me (giggles) T: Okay. Umm, who do you look up to? Who is your ideal human being? M: Hmm. I think it’s a mix of people. Obviously my mom. I think that’s just sort of–a lot of people love their moms, which is cool. I love my mom. My mom did so much to get me to where I’m at right now, so, I just think she’s one of the strongest people in my life and I feel so grateful to have her as a mother figure and not just someone in my life, because I think she has really helped me. My grandma, who is like my second mom. They’re just completely different and they’re different in the ways that they help people and I notice the differences and I try to see what works for them and just sort of go off of that. I have a lot of strong, strong women in my life that I’m just so grateful for. So I’d say all of them (giggles) T: That was cute, and real. M: Yeah. T: So kind of on the same vein, where do you see yourself in representation? Who do you see in the media fully represents your identities? M: (sigh) T: Or just who matches your personality? M: I have yet to find someone who matches my whole identity and that’s sad. I think that hurts when you’re younger–or when I was younger–I didn’t really understand that much and now I’m just like, “Well (scoff) I’ll just go make movies and put some representation in there.” But umm, personality-wise (giggles) I’m not sure. I’d like to say–I like Broad City a lot. I’d like to say I’m a mix both Ilana and Abbi. I’m not that quiet but I’m not that (giggles)…Yeah. T: Um, cool. What makes you happy? M: Umm, helping people. Helping people, and not just if they need help, helping people–If I can do that, like, by bringing Darkmatter, like that made me so happy because I knew it’s what I needed and it’s what other people needed. Like being able to provide for people makes me happy. Being outside makes me happy, so happy. I’m so glad that the weather is looking beautiful. T: Today? M: Yeah, it’s sunny outside. A little windy but not as windy as yesterday. So outside makes me happy. T: Anything else? M: Yeah, but I just can’t think of anything (laughs) T: Okay, three more questions. What motivates you? M: Umm… Problem solving motivates me. Hearing about something that makes me enraged and finding–thinking about solutions, thinking about it with people and like how can I make the situation better, like what can I do for it. That gives me motivation. T: Cool. M: Seeing results, also, gives me motivation, like on the real real. T: Okay, I have two questions left. Why did you choose this space, whatever space you choose? M: I think I’m gonna choose by the swing by the pond because I love water. So any sort of body of water it just makes me very calm. But, also, when I decided to come here I was sitting on that swing bench and just looking out and there was a really pretty sunset T: Mmmm M: And I was like, ‘I can do this.’ T: Do it all day. M: Yeah (giggles) T: Last question: What would you tell someone stumbling upon this post? M: Love yourself. Love yourself. And if you can’t yet just do things in that directions, because I think that’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned so far. Something I’m still working on but please, if you read this, Love yourself. For a long time. T: That was so cute. Yes. Thank you. [End Recording]

Marisa’s Blurb: What’s good, I’m Marisa and I am a first year at Smith College. I hail from San Jose, California, Bay Area born and raised.  I am a very Queer Puerto Rican, Mexican woman just trying to rule a world that wasn’t meant for me. I don’t know what I’m going to study for sure, but right now I’m thinking either the Study of Women and Gender or Education or Government. I really enjoy going to the beach, or just being outside in general, writing, having good ass conversations, being the Co-chair of PRISM and running sh*t. You can slide in my Instagram DMs @maris.ita. (She is also going to be one of PRISM’s cochair’s for the second year in a row this Fall, big congrats to her)