Anabella, Political Science, Sophomore
"I hope whoever sees this understands that stereotypes don’t define us."
For Anabella, being Jewish is central to who she is, but it’s also a part of her identity that’s often misunderstood. She’s dealt with comments that veer into anti-Semitism, even from people she thought knew better. One experience that stuck with her was when a friend made an offhand remark that felt stereotypical and hurtful; it was a moment that shook her but ultimately made her more proud of her heritage. She learned that her Jewish identity isn’t something to hide or downplay, but something to wear openly, even if it means facing ignorant comments now and then.
At AU, Anabella has been surprised to find that the support for diversity sometimes feels surface-level, leaving some identities unacknowledged or simplified. She wants the AU community to look deeper and recognize the individuality in each story, especially in minority identities like hers.
Her hope for this project is that by sharing her experiences, she’ll help others break away from quick stereotypes and realize that identities are so much richer than any single label could ever capture.