Color-coded Subject Visualization

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student
question
community
advice
family
reflection
role model
last name
involvement
to be viewed
overcoming




Alice Finneran (She/Her), Art History, 2023 Click to filter

Ben Schoonover (He/Him), Human Physiology, 2022 Click to filter

Brit Micho (She/Her), Art History (MA), 2023 Click to filter

Caro (They/Them), Art & Technology, 2022 Click to filter

Charis Rieder (She/Her), Planning, Public Policy & Management, 2023 Click to filter

Grigorii Malakhov (He/Him), Planning, Public Policy & Management and Theatre Arts, 2024 Click to filter

Jackson Mota (He/Him), Planning, Public Policy & Management, 2023 Click to filter

Joie Littleton (She/Her), Cinema Studies and Public Relations, 2023 Click to filter

Josue Velasquez-Silva (He/Him), Planning, Public Policy & Management, 2023 Click to filter

Léo Cramer (He/Him), Product Design, 2024 Click to filter

Miles Lawson (He/Him), Art & Technology, 2022 Click to filter

Thammahatai Lertwachara (They/Them), Art, 2023 Click to filter

Thomas Jessop (He/Him), Computer Science, 2024 Click to filter

Varney Varney (He/Him), Product Design, 2024 Click to filter

Yuan Fang (She/Her), Anthropology (PhD), 2022 Click to filter




Contents

Kundai

Artist Statement: I felt that it was a positive experience in sharing my story to others as sharing stories is the only way we can connect as humans and as a community. It allows us to learning more about each other. I hope others will be inspired to share their stories as it will enable us to understand each other and form deeper connections throughout our community.

I think it's important for student voices to be heard as it can be re-affirming of community values and enables to students to find their social voice within their community.

Kundai Kapurura: The Americanized way to pronounce
0:00:00
last name
Kundai Kapurura: my last name is "Kapura".
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: That's what I'll usually say to
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: friends or someone I just met.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: But the traditional way to pronounce it is "Kapurura".
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: I'm not exactly sure what it means.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: I should probably know that by now.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: Based on statistics, I do know that it's
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: a pretty rare name in the world.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: This name is not only my last name, but I feel
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: like it has been a contributing factor to who I am.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: My first name is Kundai, which
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: makes my name Kundai Kapurura.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: And that name in itself holds its own unique value.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: I feel like Kundai has always been a
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: name that has been difficult for people to
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: pronounce or unique or new to them.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: I'm the only Kundai that many
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: people know, which makes me me.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: I have had a good amount of good experience with being
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: different, but I feel like I have had a fair share
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: of experiences that have changed my view of the world.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: This can be negative in some ways, but I
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: feel like it has also positively impacted me in
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: a way where I find myself not judging people.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: I also find myself going outside
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: the box or traditional norms as a
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: product design student in the design field.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: As a black woman, it can be a little
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Kundai Kapurura: hard because it's a white indominated industry.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: But at the same time, I feel like I've
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Kundai Kapurura: used it as leverage to only push myself forward.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: And because I've faced obstacles due to my identity or
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: who I am, I feel like it has made me
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: and shaped me into the person I am today.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: I feel like I've gone into a number of different- okay no no no- restart-
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: Okay- I feel like I have entered myself
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: into spaces where sometimes it would have
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: been traditionally awkward or unconventional.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: But I feel like I'm most comfortable doing that because I've
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: already come from places where I've had to do that constantly
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: in my life, even down to the thing that I feel
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: like I'll carry forever, which is my name.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: But I'm also proud of it and I've
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: grown to love it so much, and I- honestly-
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: Going home, I'm going to do more research on
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: what Kapurura means and how I can hold the
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: value and respect for that name in the way
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: that to its fullest potential I feel.
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last name
Kundai Kapurura: But yeah, I hope you guys enjoy my answer.
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last name

Thammahatai

Artist Statement: I felt empowered in being able to speak about this story because it used to be something that I had difficulty in talking about and sharing with others. While listening, I hope others will be inspired to find a space that allows them to feel comfortable and accepted as who they are. I also think it's important for student voices to be heard within an academic institution as students are the foundation of a diverse and creative community.

Thammahatai Lertwachara: My name is Thammahatai Lertwachara.
[00:00:01]
student
Thammahatai Lertwachara: My pronouns are They/Them.
[00:00:03]
student
Thammahatai Lertwachara: I am a junior student - art major.
[00:00:05]
student
Thammahatai Lertwachara: My question is: What role does community play in your identity?
[00:00:08]
question
Thammahatai Lertwachara: I am a nonbinary person.
[00:00:12]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: I grew up in a binary-based community.
[00:00:14]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: My language required me to declare my sex,
[00:00:16]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: whether if I'm a female or male.
[00:00:19]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: High school required us to wear skirt or pants, have
[00:00:21]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: long hair or short hair, sit with your leg together,
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community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: or it's okay to be separate, but I never feel
[00:00:29]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: like I'm a girl or a boy.
[00:00:33]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: And when people ask me if you like pink
[00:00:35]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: or blue, I always say I like both.
[00:00:37]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: And sometimes I don't like any of them.
[00:00:40]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: So it's really hard for me to not be one because
[00:00:43]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: it feels like I am always forced to choose to be one.
[00:00:47]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: And it's very hard for me to know who
[00:00:50]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: I am find my space and my existence.
[00:00:52]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: But then one day I came across the word "nonbinary",
[00:00:56]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: and I feel like there's a space for me to access.
[00:00:59]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: And then I can be comfortable
[00:01:03]
community
Thammahatai Lertwachara: with myself being neither one.
[00:01:05]
community

Alice

Artist Statement: I felt that telling my story to myself was thought provoking and almost like a casual conversation for me.

When listening and viewing my literal voice, I hope others can reflect upon where pieces of their identity come from and feel joy in their growing and forever changing identity.

It's important for student voices to be heard as academic institutions are for students, therefore their voices should be heard.

Alice Finneran: My name is Alice Finneran.
[00:00:03]
student
Alice Finneran: My pronouns are She/Her. I'm a Junior.
[00:00:04]
student
Alice Finneran: The question I'm going to answer is: What
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question
Alice Finneran: role does community play in your identity?
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question
Alice Finneran: I come from Oklahoma and my community there impacts
[00:00:16]
involvement
Alice Finneran: how my identity is displayed here in Oregon.
[00:00:23]
involvement
Alice Finneran: But I've also been in Oregon for
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involvement
Alice Finneran: five years and built my own community.
[00:00:29]
involvement
Alice Finneran: And that community has also impacted my identity
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involvement
Alice Finneran: and how it is displayed in other communities.
[00:00:38]
involvement
Alice Finneran: And so I feel like in a really positive way,
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involvement
Alice Finneran: that my identity is collaged by all the communities that
[00:00:46]
involvement
Alice Finneran: I've been a part of, even if they're like, Southern
[00:00:51]
involvement
Alice Finneran: communities or like, Pacific Northwest like communities.
[00:00:58]
involvement
Alice Finneran: So, yeah, I just feel like my identity is a
[00:01:04]
involvement
Alice Finneran: big collage of the communities I've been a part of.
[00:01:08]
involvement

Leo

Artist Statement: I struggled to come up with a response as I didn't want to misspeak or misrepresent myself, but it was an overall experience. I'm unsure how other will respond to my story as I'm often time nervous of sharing my voice. Especially as it can be difficult to articulate things correctly or without flaws. However, I think it is often a good practice for student voices to be heard within their community.

Leo Cramer: Family is an immense part of my identity.
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family
Leo Cramer: They impact a great deal of how I make
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family
Leo Cramer: my decisions and what I choose to pursue.
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family
Leo Cramer: Actually, rather, what I choose to pursue it's more
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family
Leo Cramer: so how I pursues things.
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family
Leo Cramer: Often my family impacts my approach and while I'm doing
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family
Leo Cramer: things, they are often in my mind and this influences
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family
Leo Cramer: my practice and my perspective on the world greatly.
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family
Leo Cramer: They've instilled a level of professionalism and intensity in
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family
Leo Cramer: me that is real in most of practices
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family
Leo Cramer: and present throughout my identity and my work.
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family

Josue

Artist Statement: It was really nice, fun and interesting to be able to be apart of this experience. I hope that people can understand that being happy should not come with any sacrifices, especially if its affecting your mental health or everyday livelihood. I also think it's important for students to hear other student voices and learn from other people's challenges because it can help them learn what they want in life or any academic institution.

Josue Velasquez-Silva: Hi.
[00:00:00]
student
Josue Velasquez-Silva: My name is Josue Velasquez-Silva.
[00:00:01]
student
Josue Velasquez-Silva: My pronouns are He/Him/His.
[00:00:04]
student
Josue Velasquez-Silva: And I'm currently a junior.
[00:00:06]
student
Josue Velasquez-Silva: What advice would you give your past self?
[00:00:10]
question
Josue Velasquez-Silva: One big advice that I would've given to myself
[00:00:14]
advice
Josue Velasquez-Silva: if I was younger were to be confident and
[00:00:17]
advice
Josue Velasquez-Silva: to just believe in what you're passionate about, regardless
[00:00:19]
advice
Josue Velasquez-Silva: of what challenges that you may face.
[00:00:23]
advice
Josue Velasquez-Silva: Just know that at the end of the day that
[00:00:26]
advice
Josue Velasquez-Silva: your happiness should be on your highest priority than trying
[00:00:29]
advice
Josue Velasquez-Silva: to focus on other difficult stuff that might make you-
[00:00:33]
advice
Josue Velasquez-Silva: not go- that might affect your life.
[00:00:38]
advice

Miles

Artist Statement: I would say that the experience of telling my story is uplifting and freeing as I hope others feel my authenticity and resonate with what I've said.

It's important for student voices to be heard, especially within an academic institution, as most of the time students are recognized for their academic achievements but everyone has a story that needs to be told.

Miles Lawson: Miles Lawson.
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student
Miles Lawson: Pronouns are He/Him. Year: Senior.
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student
Miles Lawson: The question is: How did you overcome challenges
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question
Miles Lawson: you have faced due to assumptions people have made about you?
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question
Miles Lawson: Over the years, people usually assume just how I dress and
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: carry myself, that I'm an athlete or someone
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: who is dangerous or different in nature or
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: not conforming to- y'know just uncomforming.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: And I'd say to challenge these assumptions people have
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: made about me, is just to show my work
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: in the art field or showcase different things about
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: myself and speak in a manner that doesn't portray
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: necessarily the original presumption they made about me.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: And continuing to work and showcase what I've done
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: and continue to keep pushing forward every single day
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: despite what people may think or tell me, is
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: also something that I've done to fight these assumptions.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: I've had somebody say that I dressed like a
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: drug dealer or carried myself in that matter.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: But when I put forward my best foot forward,
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: I feel like it really changes that perspective.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: Or when I continue to work and be shown in
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: different areas, it also changes that perspective as well.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: And I worked every single day to make my parents
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Miles Lawson: proud, make my people proud, make my friend proud.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: I do it for them.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: So that's another way I fight these assumptions.
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: People can judge you based on what the outside appearance is,
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: but if you know that you've got something good on the
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: inside, I think that's the best way to
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overcoming
Miles Lawson: keep moving forward.
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overcoming

Joie

Artist Statement: I would say my expereince in telling my story was cathartic. I don't usually talk about myself openly and because of that I feel like I don't give myself the space and the time to think about my story. I'm still finding out who I am but the more I reflect on my experiences the more comfortable I become. In the past, I felt pressured into knowing exactly where I want to be, but as I've gotten older I've realized that it's okay to have ups and downs.

I hope others can relate to my experience. I can honestly say this is the first time, in a long time, that I was asked to reflect back on my life, so it took me a while to give voice to my inner self. I hope this hits for all the shy people out there to know you are not alone. Please take it for what it's worth.

University life can get stressful, especially being in a place with so many people. I think it's necessary for student voices to be heard because these years are known be the most impactful for college students. If we don't feel like our voices are heard then it can stunt our ability to grow, learn, and build community with each other.

Joie Littleton: My name is Joie Littleton.
[00:00:00]
student
Joie Littleton: I go by She/Her/Hers.
[00:00:02]
student
Joie Littleton: I'm a junior.
[00:00:04]
student
Joie Littleton: And the question is: What advice
[00:00:05]
question
Joie Littleton: would you give your past self?
[00:00:07]
question
Joie Littleton: I would say to my past self that it's okay
[00:00:09]
advice
Joie Littleton: to not know everything. I mean you're always going to be learning
[00:00:13]
advice
Joie Littleton: in life and it's just a given fact.
[00:00:18]
advice
Joie Littleton: So it's important to just go with the flow
[00:00:21]
advice
Joie Littleton: and not overthink things because when you do
[00:00:25]
advice
Joie Littleton: that, you start to miss the little things in
[00:00:28]
advice
Joie Littleton: life and everything that actually that matters.
[00:00:30]
advice
Joie Littleton: I would also say that because I'm a pretty
[00:00:34]
advice
Joie Littleton: quiet person, I would tell my younger self, who
[00:00:37]
advice
Joie Littleton: would constantly criticize themselves about being super shy and
[00:00:42]
advice
Joie Littleton: quiet, that there is power in just listening and
[00:00:47]
advice
Joie Littleton: observing and there's definitely more of an appreciation for
[00:00:53]
advice
Joie Littleton: listening before you speak, especially when it's not your
[00:01:02]
advice
Joie Littleton: place to speak before really thinking and listening to
[00:01:06]
advice
Joie Littleton: what someone else has to say.
[00:01:12]
advice

Thomas

Artist Statement: I find letting my story be out there in the world as freeing and uplifting. I hope other will be inspired to share their voice and stories with others in their communities.

I also think it's important for student voices to be heard within an academic institution because without students we don't have a future as we are the next generation of leaders and will be in positions of power.

Thomas Jessop: My name is Thomas Jessop.
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student
Thomas Jessop: I use He/Him pronouns.
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student
Thomas Jessop: I am a sophomore.
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student
Thomas Jessop: The question I drew was: How do you feel about
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question
Thomas Jessop: your last name and its impact on your identity?
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question
Thomas Jessop: Honestly, I like it a lot because it's
0:00:14
last name
Thomas Jessop: tied to a lot of family history.
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last name
Thomas Jessop: I'm named after my grandfather, who is named
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last name
Thomas Jessop: after his grandfather, who is named after his
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last name
Thomas Jessop: grandfather, and there's other aspects of it.
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last name
Thomas Jessop: Like, every generation of my family
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last name
Thomas Jessop: has fought in the US
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last name
Thomas Jessop: military since the Revolutionary War.
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last name
Thomas Jessop: Not necessarily every guy, but at least someone.
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last name
Thomas Jessop: So there's a lot of tradition and very
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last name
Thomas Jessop: long held values found up in that- that
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last name
Thomas Jessop: I feel pride in carrying with me.
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last name

Varney

Artist Statement: My experience in telling my story was good. In a way talking about yourself that deeply feels like a foreign concept. But in a way something about it was therapeutic. Even if it was just talking into a phone.

When others are listening and viewing my literal voice, I hope they feel a sense of normality and relatability as I feel like I am a pretty normal person and the hardships I face are most likely ones that others deal with too, even if not verbally expressed. I believe that hearing or seeing that can give ease to the mind.

In college you are seeking a higher level of thought and want to have a say in what you make and contribute towards. And in an academic setting sometimes those emotions and thoughts are compressed by your peers. So the ability to have a voice is a powerful notion to most.

Varney Varney: Alright.
Varney Varney: So I'm gonna be answering.
Varney Varney: How did you overcome challenges you have faced due to assumptions people have made about you?
[00:00:03]
question
Varney Varney: I don't know.
[00:00:05]
overcoming
Varney Varney: I think as an artist and as a designer,
[00:00:11]
overcoming
Varney Varney: people may make a lot of assumptions about you.
[00:00:17]
overcoming
Varney Varney: I'm just a white guy from Boulder, Colorado.
[00:00:19]
overcoming
Varney Varney: I'm very loose in the things that I do, very carefree.
[00:00:23]
overcoming
Varney Varney: And I think at times maybe people make assumptions.
[00:00:28]
overcoming
Varney Varney: I don't put a lot of thought behind the
[00:00:31]
overcoming
Varney Varney: decisions I make as a designer or even the
[00:00:34]
overcoming
Varney Varney: decisions that I make in everyday life.
[00:00:38]
overcoming
Varney Varney: Maybe it's just like things are handed to me.
[00:00:40]
overcoming
Varney Varney: I think in a lot of ways that's not
[00:00:44]
overcoming
Varney Varney: true, but I try to look past that.
[00:00:47]
overcoming

Charis

Artist Statement: It was a good experience telling my story because I think it's important for me and others to not be afraid to take risks. I also think it's important for student voices to be heard so that all ages and perspectives are being represented within their communities.

Charis Rieder: My name is Charis Rieder.
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student
Charis Rieder: My pronouns are She/Her/Hers.
0:00:04
student
Charis Rieder: I am currently a Junior graduating 2023.
0:00:06
student
Charis Rieder: What advice would you give your past self?
0:00:10
question
Charis Rieder: I would tell my past self to not be
0:00:13
advice
Charis Rieder: afraid to take opportunities and to put myself out
0:00:17
advice
Charis Rieder: there. Because that's definitely something I struggled with in
0:00:22
advice
Charis Rieder: the past, was being confident in myself to try
0:00:25
advice
Charis Rieder: new things and just take a change on myself.
0:00:29
advice
Charis Rieder: And so I think I would just really encourage
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advice
Charis Rieder: myself that I'm capable to do these things.
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advice
Charis Rieder: And looking to the future, when I have put myself
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advice
Charis Rieder: out there, it has led to amazing opportunities where I've
0:00:43
advice
Charis Rieder: met the most amazing people and I've really grown.
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advice
Charis Rieder: So I would tell myself to just not give up, to
0:00:51
advice
Charis Rieder: keep trying, and no matter what, even if I fail.
0:00:54
advice
Charis Rieder: Failure is what really molds you and shapes you
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advice
Charis Rieder: into the person that you're supposed to be.
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advice

Yuan

Artist Statement: I was a bit nervous at first but I'm really glad that I was able to have the chance to share my story. Especially if it will make others aware of different life experiences in different social contexts. I also think its an interesting and innovative way to share diverse experiences among students within an academic institution.

Yuan Fang: My name is Yuan Fang.
0:00:00
student
Yuan Fang: My pronouns are She/Her.

student
Yuan Fang: I'm a fifth year PhD student
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student
Yuan Fang: in Archeology at the Anthropology department.
0:00:11
student
Yuan Fang: The question I would like to answer is:
0:00:17
question
Yuan Fang: How does family impact your identity?
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question
Yuan Fang: My family is from Yongzhou, Hunan Province, China.
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family
Yuan Fang: When I was born, my parents were already in their 40's.
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family
Yuan Fang: And it's very rare that I'm the second child in the
0:00:37
family
Yuan Fang: family because under the one child policy, it's not common.
0:00:41
family
Yuan Fang: However, I'm very fortunate because my parents
0:00:51
family
Yuan Fang: loved me and gave me equal opportunities
0:00:56
family
Yuan Fang: to have an education as my older brother.
0:01:01
family
Yuan Fang: So they are caused by all
0:01:09
family
Yuan Fang: three generations who experienced the Cultural
0:01:13
family
Yuan Fang: Revolution, very chaotic period in history.
0:01:18
family
Yuan Fang: And my father was fortunate to
0:01:24
family
Yuan Fang: be able to attend universities.
0:01:30
family
Yuan Fang: And they also think I should be given this opportunity.
0:01:34
family
Yuan Fang: So I came to the US in 2011 and it
0:01:41
family
Yuan Fang: has been already ten years, and now I'm studying a
0:01:50
family
Yuan Fang: subject of interest like archaeology, and I'm studying bronze mirrors.
0:01:56
family
Yuan Fang: And I'm very happy and
0:02:06
family
Yuan Fang: I really cherish this opportunity.
0:02:08
family
Yuan Fang: And I also thank my family for supporting me.
0:02:12
family

Grigorii

Artist Statement: When I was telling my story, I feelt really emotional as it was sometimes hard for me to say it out loud.

I want people to understand that regardless of your background, whether it is your nationality or something that you cannot control, everyone deserves a chance to be viewed as a human being and to be not stereotyped politically, culturally or in any other way.

I think it's important for student voices to heard within an academic institution as student voices show the real citizens of schools, especially people who are underrepresented within the administrative branches.

Grigorii Malakhov: My name is Grigorii Malakhov.
[00:00:02]
student
Grigorii Malakhov: I'm using He/Him/His pronouns.
[00:00:04]
student
Grigorii Malakhov: I'm a sophomore.
[00:00:08]
student
Grigorii Malakhov: I have chose question number three:
[00:00:10]
question
Grigorii Malakhov: How do you feel about your last
[00:00:14]
question
Grigorii Malakhov: name its impact on your identity?
[00:00:16]
question
Grigorii Malakhov: My last name has a very great
[00:00:21]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: impact on my identity because I'm Russian.
[00:00:23]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: And in the current circumstances, a lot
[00:00:26]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: of people assume different things because of
[00:00:29]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: the political decisions Russian government has made.
[00:00:34]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: And to me, it's very important to educate
[00:00:38]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: people that we are not our government.
[00:00:44]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: And whatever, I'm doing has nothing to do
[00:00:48]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: with what government does, and what government does
[00:00:50]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: has nothing to do with what I'm doing.
[00:00:53]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: And a lot of people would assume bad
[00:00:56]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: things about Russia in the current context, and
[00:00:59]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: they would judge me, my actions, depending on
[00:01:01]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: what is happening in the global political scene.
[00:01:06]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: And sometimes it happens that I want to completely
[00:01:09]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: forget that I'm Russian and just erase that last
[00:01:12]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: name of mine and be myself like a blank
[00:01:17]
last name
Grigorii Malakhov: piece of paper without any connection to that country.
[00:01:23]
last name

Jackson

Artist Statement: I liked talking to my past self during this experience as it felt like a peptalk. I want others to understand how uplifting it can be to reflect and talk to your past self as it can be a motivation for your present self to keep moving forward. I think it's also important for student voices to be heard as they are rarely represented and heard by the institution.

Jackson Mota: Jackson Mota.
0:00:00
student
Jackson Mota: He/Him/His. Junior.
0:00:01
student
Jackson Mota: What advice would you give your past self?
0:00:04
question
Jackson Mota: I'd say to my past self to start working a lot harder.
0:00:07
advice
Jackson Mota: It only gets harder from here on out.
0:00:11
advice
Jackson Mota: And it's going to make your life a
0:00:13
advice
Jackson Mota: lot easier if you actually try.
0:00:15
advice

Brit

Artist Statement: Although it took a second to gather my thoughts, I knew what I wanted to say but the overall experience of telling my story was great as it felt liberating for me.

I want others to understand that queer isn't a bad word, and that it's a word that allows space for growth with your identity, especially for those who feel the need to label themselves as something.

I think it's important for student voices to be heard within an academic institution as it is comforting to know that there are others you can identify with.

Brit Micho: My name is Brit and my pronouns are She/Her.
[00:00:04]
student
Brit Micho: I am a first year grad student here at U of O.
[00:00:08]
student
Brit Micho: And the questions is: While discovering
[00:00:13]
question
Brit Micho: your true identity, what realizations
[00:00:16]
question
Brit Micho: have you made about your yourself?
[00:00:18]
question
Brit Micho: And I think the entire discovery of trying to figure
[00:00:20]
reflection
Brit Micho: out who I am in my sexuality and gender.
[00:00:25]
reflection
Brit Micho: Through that journey, I have come to the realization
[00:00:31]
reflection
Brit Micho: that bisexual doesn't quite encompass what I am.
[00:00:36]
reflection
Brit Micho: And I've finally decided that queer is more appropriate, not
[00:00:41]
reflection
Brit Micho: only because gender doesn't matter for me and who I
[00:00:47]
reflection
Brit Micho: am attracted to or who I decide to love.
[00:00:54]
reflection
Brit Micho: And I've also found that within that identity, it leaves
[00:00:56]
reflection
Brit Micho: space for growth and it leaves space for me to
[00:01:02]
reflection
Brit Micho: figure out how I identify with my gender, which has
[00:01:07]
reflection
Brit Micho: become a lot more unclear as I get older.
[00:01:14]
reflection
Brit Micho: And gender is just a social construct.
[00:01:21]
reflection
Brit Micho: It doesn't matter, it doesn't make sense.
[00:01:25]
reflection
Brit Micho: And I think learning that I'm queer and owning that fact
[00:01:28]
reflection
Brit Micho: really has helped me to come into myself, and it allows
[00:01:35]
reflection
Brit Micho: me to grow in a better way, in a way that
[00:01:40]
reflection
Brit Micho: allows me to be comfortable with using that word.
[00:01:46]
reflection

Caro

Artist Statement: I felt in touch with the energy inside my soul and spoke with that force driving me. Community is an integral part of life and I am thankful for the opportunity to share. I hope to inspire others to connect with those around them and really feel the energy that exists within every single one of us.

I think it's important for student voices to be heard because sometimes academic institutions can become more focused on pulling in tuition money and expanding than maintaining the wellbeing of students. Representation of student voices, identities, and values is important for the reclamation of academic spaces.

Caro: My name is Caro and my pronouns are they/them.
0:00:00
student
Caro: How do you define community?
0:00:07
question
Caro: I define community as a superorganism
0:00:10
community
Caro: because that's what we are.
0:00:14
community
Caro: We're all from the same energy.
0:00:16
community
Caro: And I feel when we share a sense of community, we
0:00:18
community
Caro: are tapping back into that consecutive energy that we all share
0:00:22
community
Caro: and we all come from in a more human perspective.
0:00:26
community
Caro: Community is support and expansion and building learning involving
0:00:32
community
Caro: it's being able to rely on one another and
0:00:40
community
Caro: get each other where you need to be.
0:00:46
community

Ben

Artist Statement: I felt that my experience in telling my story was very laidback as I could freely express my own thoughts and emotions.

When listening and viewing my literal voice, I hope other people with a similar situation can hear my works and apply it their own hopefully to the benefit of their lives.

I think it's important for student voices to be heard, especially within an academic institution, because not only have student voices often been suppressed but it gives an example of real world experiences, its not what the school or some institution wants you to see or hear, its the down low of peoples experiences and their lives.

Ben Schoonover: Osiyo! Hello.
[00:00:02]
student
Ben Schoonover: My name is Ben.
[00:00:03]
student
Ben Schoonover: I use He/Him pronouns.
[00:00:06]
student
Ben Schoonover: I'm a senior at the University of Oregon, and
[00:00:09]
student
Ben Schoonover: some realizations I made about myself while discovering my
[00:00:14]
question
Ben Schoonover: true identity probably would have to be
[00:00:19]
question
Ben Schoonover: the more I've discovered who I am looking into
[00:00:23]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: my past and my heritage, the more I've discovered
[00:00:26]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: really the impact that all that has had.
[00:00:29]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: There's a lot of stuff that I've
[00:00:35]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: ended up doing that I realized later.
[00:00:36]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: My subconscious self was sort of
[00:00:41]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: driving the train, so to speak.
[00:00:44]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: And then the more I've come into my own
[00:00:46]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: into my own being, the more I realized the
[00:00:50]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: impacts that both generational trauma and environment upbringing, the
[00:00:54]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: choices of my parents, their parents have really had.
[00:01:01]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: But it's not all negative.
[00:01:06]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: Realizing these things allows me to deal with them and
[00:01:09]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: move forward, hopefully so I have a better future.
[00:01:14]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: If I have any children, they have a better future.
[00:01:17]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: But also, too, everything in the
[00:01:21]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: past wasn't all necessarily bad either.
[00:01:24]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: I get to realize good things
[00:01:27]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: about myself and my heritage.
[00:01:29]
reflection
Ben Schoonover: Things that have been really helpful.
[00:01:31]
reflection