[by: Anonymous]
I wouldn’t say the experience changed who I am at my core, but it did make me appreciate how diverse connections can be. I talk to people wherever I go anyway it’s just my personality but learning how to create a community when there isn’t a clear one made me more intentional about it.
When I first graduated from high school and started community college, I struggled to find people who shared my cultural background. As someone who is Uyghur, I quickly realized that not many people around me even knew about my ethnicity, let alone shared it. I felt like I was constantly having to explain who I was, which made me feel even more out of place. It was pretty isolating at first.
But since I’m naturally pretty extroverted, I didn’t want that feeling to stick. I joined the Muslim Student Association (MSA) at my college and found a community where I could relate to people through shared values and experiences. While they weren’t Uyghur, they were Muslim, and that helped a lot in making me feel connected. When I transferred to UC San Diego, I tried again to find other Uyghur students but still came up short. Still, I kept going to MSA events here and there, and I also found myself talking to classmates, building friendships during lectures or while walking to class.
Oddly enough, I started meeting Uyghur people outside of school at the gym, while doing photography, even during casual outings. It turns out a few of them had actually gone to the same community college as me, and some were even at UC San Diego too. That blew my mind, honestly. It reminded me that sometimes you find belonging in unexpected places, not just through formal groups.
What helped me the most was staying open. I’d talk to people, join clubs, say yes to hangouts. Even when I felt like I didn’t belong at first, I reminded myself that I could still create my own sense of belonging. That mindset helped me move forward instead of getting stuck in the feeling of being alone.
I wouldn’t say the experience changed who I am at my core, but it did make me appreciate how diverse connections can be. I talk to people wherever I go anyway it’s just my personality but learning how to create a community when there isn’t a clear one made me more intentional about it.
If I were giving advice to another student facing something similar, I’d say: start with what you love. Whether it’s a cultural group, a hobby, or a student org, getting involved gives you chances to meet people who share your values or interests. And don’t underestimate the power of small connections. Even chatting with the person next to you in class can open doors you didn’t expect.