“The end of my freshman year, I remember hearing from a number of upperclassmen students of various racial, socioeconomic, and sexual identities sharing parts of their story at an event on campus I attended. They talked about how their experiences with homelessness, coming out to their conservative parents, or being a white boy from Long Island have informed their understanding of social justice. I was there to get a boost in my housing points so that I could increase my chances at securing prime housing in the housing lottery, but I left with a memory that perfectly encapsulates my Georgetown experience. After hearing from the panelists, we were tasked to turn to our neighbors and begin answering emotionally loaded questions about diversity and how it may or may not intersect with our identities. This event, which I later found out was put on by the “What’s a Hoya” program, introduced me to the world of social justice and advocacy. It introduced me to some of the best people I’ve met on campus. Only at Georgetown would you be able to go from sitting with complete strangers to engaging in really deep conversations about our place in the world. I was so moved by my fellow Hoyas willingness to be so open and vulnerable about their thoughts and experiences. I fell in love with diversity dialogues and providing platforms for people to share their stories, particularly minority voices and experiences.”
