When I began my first day of the fifth grade at Providence-St. Mel School in Chicago, Illinois, my mother told me to always use my full name. For that entire year, all of my assignments, projects, and standardized tests included Jasmine Ali Wright. I never asked her why, but I knew it had something to do with having pride in my full name, standing out, and being unique. In a world where it is key to be different and show how different you are from those in competition with you, I now always introduce myself in formal situations as Jasmine Ali Wright.
I, Jasmine Ali Wright, am a 21-year-old African-American woman from the West Side of Chicago. I am a fourth year college student at Illinois Wesleyan University, located in Bloomington, Illinois. I currently study English-Writing and Hispanic Studies, and I intend on attending graduate school next Fall for a Master’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising or Marketing. I am a first-generation college student, and I will also be the first person in my family to attend graduate school.
Creative writing and technology (specifically social media) have been my passion since the fourth grade. Though I no longer write poetry, I still make time to write short stories as well as read short stories to find motivation for my next pieces. I also am tech-savvy and enjoy interacting with friends, strangers, and family through the Internet. Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube are only a few of the several media platforms I come in contact with on a daily basis.
After years of questioning who I am and my purpose in life, I have discovered that I want to be a role model for those who are seeking inspiration for risk-taking and finding refuge in unpredictability. Born an introvert, I will not let my background or my past prohibit me from becoming who I am destined to be.
Photo Credit: Elisa Williams