I am an Advocate.

Advocacy. A word that I never thought I would hear myself think on a daily basis (or wear, either. That picture is of the ring I wear that states “I am an Advocate”). As I have started attending Multnomah University, I have started to flourish in my intellectual knowledge and passions. One of them I found by simply paying attention to my classes.
There is so much wrong in this world that it overwhelms me almost on a daily basis. I hear of refugee mistreatment, sexism, racism, and children not getting education. I know there is good in this world, I have seen it. But over the last few weeks I have asked a very profound question to myself, “If not me, who? if not now, when?”
If you told me that my career plan would be to help refugees in refugee camps with English so that they won’t be manipulated I would have not believed you. It is amazing how much of my ideas about the world have changed over the course of my life. I wanted to be a veterinarian, then a writer, and then an editor. However, none of those seemed to fit me.
Then one day, I began to read. If you know me, you know that of course I read. However, I never really read nonfiction that much and have not particularly enjoyed it. That changed when I began to read challenging material for my university. It has challenged my faith, my intellect, and my world view for the better. I now advocate and discuss many things that I never thought I would be interested in or even passionate about. Below are some of the things I advocate for:

I am an advocate for equality (Feminism)

I did not like the word Feminist growing up. Perhaps it was because I did not understand it, or perhaps I did not want to be associated with the radical extremists that use the word. Perhaps it was both.
However, I have come to embrace the term wholeheartedly. Because I believe in equality of men and women. Because I believe that humans were created equal. Because I believe in the right of human dignity and education.
I am blessed with the life I have. I have not been shot by the Taliban and I have not suffered for the cause of human rights like some have suffered, but I still take a stand because even in a blessed life there is inequality. Even in a blessed life I am not blind to the atrocities in other countries.
2. I am an advocate for educational rights
People can take education for granted. At one point that was me. However, so many people never have the chance to learn and to grow in knowledge.
It doesn’t matter what age, ethnicity, gender, and religion a person is. They have the right to education, to knowledge.
If we valued books over violence, and knowledge over hate, then the people of the world would flourish like never before.
Don’t think so? Let’s try it and see what happens.
3. I am an advocate for refugees
You talk about them as if they are not human, as if they do not belong, and as if they are not like you. But they are everything like you. They have families and friends. They laugh, cry, make jokes, converse, and play games. Refugees — They’re just like you.
No matter where they come from and no matter their religion, I advocate for them. My studies at University are dedicated to this group who are oppressed, afraid, used, manipulated, and misunderstood. Even my life is dedicated to them in hopes that my efforts of teaching them in the field will save them from manipulation by different governmental officials and authorities that are in charge of them.
I stand with them. Will you?

I also am an advocate for stopping human trafficking as well as an advocate for disability rights.

We are all in this world together. Each of us has human dignity. Will we fight for human dignity? or let it shrivel away?