Jenny, Elementary Education, Sophomore
"I’m more than a stereotype; I’m living proof that assumptions are just the start of my story."
To Jenny, identity is more than a category—it’s an intersection of histories and cultures, a symphony of Black, Arab, and Latina influences that she treasures. Her background inspires her career aspirations to support and empower students from diverse communities, particularly those who may see their own struggles and resilience in her.
Growing up in a predominantly white community taught Jenny early on about bias, but AU introduced her to deeper, sometimes unspoken expectations tied to her identity. Stereotypes that cast the backgrounds she comes from as “loud” or “underachieving” barely scratch the surface of her story, a narrative she rewrites daily through her academic successes and commitment to self-discovery.
To anyone reading her story, Jenny wants to be seen for the individual she is: a student, a teacher in the making, and someone who transcends society’s narrow labels.