In my family, the phrase "Science, technology, engineering, and math" have essentially replaced all of the religious mantras a good Hindu family should know; In times of fear and uncertainty, my parents look towards STEM as a beacon of hope ("Anu is going into STEM! Any of our financial worries, she'll take care of them!); When I'm feeling lost and confused about my future, "STEM" rolls around in my mind, deafening the few quiet pockets left inside there. And while I share the sentiment with much of my family, I often find myself unsure if that is the future I want. In ninth grade, I attended AP US Government and Politics and found myself absolutely fascinated by the political process; the phrase 'democracy' and 'the people' made my chest swell
…show more content…
Racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, it went on and on. This couldn't be my America. From 2012 to 2015, my family and I lived in India, and I would often be made fun of for being a 'dumb American.' I never let it bother me because my home was 'the land of the free and the home of the brave,' it was the 'freest country in the world,' it was a point of pride for me. But the election was a jarring lighting bolt through my idealistic daydream, yet somehow it wasn't for many of my peers. My friends and classmates went on with their daily lives, unaware of the scandals and politics in Washington, treating the stories like a joke; It reached a point where it was almost ignorance, and it was just too much. In response to this, a classmate and I came up with an idea we thought was going to be dead on arrival: A club focused on social justice and politics in a school prides itself on its excellency in STEM and related accomplishments. There is a even a banner at the front gate that says "Proud school of a Siemens Competition Semifinalist." Which student, and more importantly, which parent would willingly support a political humanities club? Despite this, my classmate and I knew that this club would be important, and we still believe this today.
Racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, it went on and on. This couldn't be my America. From 2012 to 2015, my family and I lived in India, and I would often be made fun of for being a 'dumb American.' I never let it bother me because my home was 'the land of the free and the home of the brave,' it was the 'freest country in the world,' it was a point of pride for me. But the election was a jarring lighting bolt through my idealistic daydream, yet somehow it wasn't for many of my peers. My friends and classmates went on with their daily lives, unaware of the scandals and politics in Washington, treating the stories like a joke; It reached a point where it was almost ignorance, and it was just too much. In response to this, a classmate and I came up with an idea we thought was going to be dead on arrival: A club focused on social justice and politics in a school prides itself on its excellency in STEM and related accomplishments. There is a even a banner at the front gate that says "Proud school of a Siemens Competition Semifinalist." Which student, and more importantly, which parent would willingly support a political humanities club? Despite this, my classmate and I knew that this club would be important, and we still believe this today.