I always remember the event which taught me that I am a woman of color. It took place in a preschool classroom among three, four and five year old children. I clearly remember when one of the children said, “You look different, I do not understand what you are saying. Your name is Yucky”. I was astonished, struck rigid, and voiceless, not a word could I speak. Tears silently rolled down my face. I had never come across such situation. It made me feel so different from others in the classroom. Then I realized, these are innocent children who have recognized I am different from what they know. I am now OK with these feelings. I felt proud of myself that I am giving these children a chance to experience people, like me, a woman from a different race, culture and values. I am happy to see myself helping the community learn my culture, race, tradition, norms, and values and I in turn, am learning about others.
Lhakpa, you are amazing. You bring something so valuable to our little community. While I am not proud of what that child said, you are doing something that only a person of color can do for our children and our community. You are helping them to open their eyes, minds, and hearts. For that I thank you.
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ReplyDeleteUMC Home | UMC Today & Highlights | Athletic News | News Archive (Pre-July 2009) U of M, Crookston Senior Lhakpa Gurung recipient of 2010 Tapestry Award by University of Minnesota University Women of Color
By Elizabeth Tollefson on November 1, 2010 8:37 AM
The University of Minnesota University Women of Color (UWOC) recently announced the 2010 Tapestry Award winners. Lhakpa Gurung, Mustang, Nepal, was one of this year's recipients. Gurung a senior majoring in early childhood education at the U of M, Crookston, accepted the award at a breakfast at the University of Minnesota in Coffman Memorial Union on October 21, 2010.
Gurung is from Mustang, Nepal, which is a small village high up in the Himalayan mountains. It took her at least three days by foot, horse and bus to reach the capital city of Katmandu, in order to catch a flight to Crookston, Minnesota, a world where the daily living, culture and language is very different from hers. She believes in getting involved and is determined to help one human being at a time through numerous interactive presentations, open dialogues, and sharing ideas on issues of equity and diversity, and to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of being a role model for women of color in teaching, research and entrepreneurship.
Sharing her story on the campus and in the Crookston community with women's groups, with those in residential life and other clubs, she can personally have an impact on others to recognize the dignity of every human being. She has an aspiration to work with children and families of diverse backgrounds and needs, and international issues regarding equity for children and their families. As a child, children's literature and toys were few to none for Gurung's family. Education in her village is a privilege, and poverty is common. Despite her background, Lhakpa remains optimistic and determined to provide awareness and education on diversity and global issues.
An integral member in advocating and supporting the mission of UMC's diversity program, Gurung seeks "...to increase and improve diversity awareness at all levels of the university..." and "support outreach, community and service learning opportunities for multi-ethnic students, GLBT students, and women's concerns." Gurung plays an active and vital role in providing leadership in diversity awareness and education for the Crookston campus and the community in advocating the mission of the diversity program.
Gurung knows the need for role models of teachers of color to work with children of color, English as a Second Language (ESL) children, and immigrant families.
Her determination to become a teacher and her aspiration to improve the lives of children, families, and adults in her village is one of the many ways of demonstrating her commitment to support equity and bring awareness to global issues of girls and women in education. This clearly supports her work in equity, diversity, and helps others see the world differently.
The UWOC Tapestry Award is granted to those that help create a thriving campus community where diversity in the widest sense is welcomed and supported. The selection committee particularly seeks efforts that affect the campus climate for women students, faculty, and staff of color.
While many view the ideal model of American society as being that of a "melting pot", an alternative theory is that of a tapestry. A tapestry allows all people to come together to create something stronger, greater and more vivid than each person is on their own but still gives opportunities for individuals to be acknowledged for the gifts each person brings. For more information, visit http://uwoc.umn.edu.