Post by dk on Nov 19, 2006 19:45:56 GMT -5
Interview with Julie Lee [2004]
Bio:
Julie Lee - Age 18
Chinese Born Canadian - Born in Victoria BC and has grown up in Victoria
1st year Uvic Student - Hoping to do a major in Political Science (if not in the Social Sciences)
Spends many days sleep deprived due to endless amounts of homework assigned. Will eventually adjust... eventually...
1) How did you get involved in Anti-dote?
I started out as a participant in one of the two Chinese Girls focus groups in the girls research project in August of 2000. I was about 14 years old at the time and the topic of identity had never been brought to my attention before. Finally someone who wanted to hear about my story and about my life growing up as a visible minority girl in Victoria BC. To my astonishment there were girls who experienced or were experiencing similar situations that I had experienced or was experiencing at the time. I found this incredibly intriguing and continued along. Now I'm a youth member of Anti-dote.
2) Were there any particular areas that you participated in that you could share some of those experiences on? (i.e., focus groups, research, theatre project, girls conference, etc.)
I had participated in the girls focus group, the girls theatre project, the girls conference and the girls advisory component in organizing the conference itself.
The girls theatre project was about 9 months long. The basic idea of this project was to educate the community and to our peers of issues we as racial minority girls faced living under "whiteness" in Victoria. Skits that we're produced consisted many issues such as the idea of beauty, acceptance, internal racism among other racialized girls, struggling for a voice and etc. Through this project we also did a mini project called "shooting back". Basically us theatre girl participants we're given a disposable camera and told to take pictures of what we saw as important to us and our identities. It was a good exercise for self reflection. It was a incredibly learning experience and will still be a vital component to Anti-dote.
I also volunteered my time for the Girls Advisory Committee. It was a youth section of the planning and organizing of the conference. We basically gave input of what we liked or didn't like to see on the conference agenda. I liked it.
I also was at the conference itself. It was sweet ... I hope we have another one !~
3) What is your involvement now with Anti-dote and what hopes or areas do you hope develop out of this group?
Currently I'm a youth member of Anti-dote. I think the fact that the group of individuals that have been involved with every component leading upto Anti-Dote as an organization have proven very much so that many things are possible if you have a dream. That therefore gives me much hope for the future. That this is just the beginning of Anti-Dote and more is sure as heck yet to come.
4) Has being involved over the past 2 years impacted you in how you see yourself, racism, anti-racism, etc? Over the past 2 years, being able to participate in these amazing projects have been truly inspirational and life changing for me personally as a whole. Words cannot simply express what this entire experience has meant to me.
Now that I am 18 years old and have been involved with this whole project, I cannot say that I am the same naeve little girl that I was then. I have grown up in a positive way due to this project. This project as a whole has taught me a great deal of things, which I think would have taken me many more agonizing years to aquire.
I can truly say to myself now that I have role models in my life (something that I think I would never be able to say a few years ago). It was through these projects that I had met alot of unique and inspiring women and girls. Each of them are like colourful magnificent gems that you just cannot describe with words. I still to this day admire qualities that each of them posess.
It's been a hella sweet ride.
Bio:
Julie Lee - Age 18
Chinese Born Canadian - Born in Victoria BC and has grown up in Victoria
1st year Uvic Student - Hoping to do a major in Political Science (if not in the Social Sciences)
Spends many days sleep deprived due to endless amounts of homework assigned. Will eventually adjust... eventually...
1) How did you get involved in Anti-dote?
I started out as a participant in one of the two Chinese Girls focus groups in the girls research project in August of 2000. I was about 14 years old at the time and the topic of identity had never been brought to my attention before. Finally someone who wanted to hear about my story and about my life growing up as a visible minority girl in Victoria BC. To my astonishment there were girls who experienced or were experiencing similar situations that I had experienced or was experiencing at the time. I found this incredibly intriguing and continued along. Now I'm a youth member of Anti-dote.
2) Were there any particular areas that you participated in that you could share some of those experiences on? (i.e., focus groups, research, theatre project, girls conference, etc.)
I had participated in the girls focus group, the girls theatre project, the girls conference and the girls advisory component in organizing the conference itself.
The girls theatre project was about 9 months long. The basic idea of this project was to educate the community and to our peers of issues we as racial minority girls faced living under "whiteness" in Victoria. Skits that we're produced consisted many issues such as the idea of beauty, acceptance, internal racism among other racialized girls, struggling for a voice and etc. Through this project we also did a mini project called "shooting back". Basically us theatre girl participants we're given a disposable camera and told to take pictures of what we saw as important to us and our identities. It was a good exercise for self reflection. It was a incredibly learning experience and will still be a vital component to Anti-dote.
I also volunteered my time for the Girls Advisory Committee. It was a youth section of the planning and organizing of the conference. We basically gave input of what we liked or didn't like to see on the conference agenda. I liked it.
I also was at the conference itself. It was sweet ... I hope we have another one !~
3) What is your involvement now with Anti-dote and what hopes or areas do you hope develop out of this group?
Currently I'm a youth member of Anti-dote. I think the fact that the group of individuals that have been involved with every component leading upto Anti-Dote as an organization have proven very much so that many things are possible if you have a dream. That therefore gives me much hope for the future. That this is just the beginning of Anti-Dote and more is sure as heck yet to come.
4) Has being involved over the past 2 years impacted you in how you see yourself, racism, anti-racism, etc? Over the past 2 years, being able to participate in these amazing projects have been truly inspirational and life changing for me personally as a whole. Words cannot simply express what this entire experience has meant to me.
Now that I am 18 years old and have been involved with this whole project, I cannot say that I am the same naeve little girl that I was then. I have grown up in a positive way due to this project. This project as a whole has taught me a great deal of things, which I think would have taken me many more agonizing years to aquire.
I can truly say to myself now that I have role models in my life (something that I think I would never be able to say a few years ago). It was through these projects that I had met alot of unique and inspiring women and girls. Each of them are like colourful magnificent gems that you just cannot describe with words. I still to this day admire qualities that each of them posess.
It's been a hella sweet ride.