Why We Should Care About People

After taking the class “Gateway to Belonging at OU” I can say for a fact that there is not enough appreciation for people in the world. I have learned what belonging means and what it does for people in a world filled with social societies.

I care about myself

To fully grasp the meaning of belonging, you must see how such a word affects you. I’ve learned that people will see a single story of you even if that doesn’t encompass every aspect of you or it’s not even true. In society humans naturally try to organize and understand the world, people included. We do this by simplifying people and organizing them in our heads how we see fit. This brings order and allows people to move beyond that particular stump in the road of grasping the world. What we miss by simplifying people is the complicated nature that each of us adds to the world.

For myself, I found that I hear my single story often and I often sculpted to it as well. Who does’nt believe even the tiniest amount of people say about you. I hear that I’m shy. I’m kind. I’m defiently not the business type. All of these stories start to become me, even when it’s not. This class has helped me analyze these stories and give power to the person I am. Having a place for belonging helps to cultivate this growth.

I, like many desperately want to be accepted

From all of these stories being built to describe me, if I didn’t have friends that knew me for me I would likely crumble. Finding a group that caters to your interests and personality gives you a space to grow confidently as the person you know you are. This describes the act of belonging.

Create a place for everyone

It is fundamentally important to create a place for everyone and encourage others to grow. Without these different spaces, the world will miss out on the full story of people. With the full story, we can reach the next step of creating more tolerance and understanding for every one of us.