Crystal Deng

I haven’t been in many places, at least I don’t think I have been many places. I’ve never been expected to make my choices, or in other words, never allowed. I went to a somewhat religious school for a good six years of my life. In my personal belief, they weren’t running on a basis of religion but more of cultural values. I hated it. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t state my beliefs. No matter how much I disagreed with a policy the only thing I could do was keep my mouth shut, because whether I liked it or not, they had the ability to to make sure I never got to say anything. Ever.

It was a pretty culturally limited community as well. So opinions never varied drastically. We were all expected to agree. Honestly, I never had a problem with it before, until I let myself see the other side of the story. When you’re stuck in one place for so long you never realize just how much more there is to life.

In my senior year of high school my parents let me make one of the most drastic changes in my life. As much as I hated the environment I was forced to endure it was familiar, I hate surprises. Well, anyways, I transferred in my senior year of high school. I was exposed to so much all at once, maybe a bit too much. The adjustment period took awhile, but it was honestly one of the best decisions of my life. It was empowering, the ability to make my own choices and have my own ideas instead of being told what to think. I can’t say I agreed with everyone else’s ideas, but that wasn’t my purpose. I didn’t have to agree with anything, I had to think for myself.

In college I want to continue making my own decisions, and expose myself to new ideas so I can formulate my own opinions. I want to grow. I know I have a voice, now I just need to find it.