Dear incoming student of color,

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome you into our community. As you begin your four-year journey at Stonehill, you will learn a lot about yourself and the world we live in. The next few years will serve as a time to explore who you are, discover your passion, and hopefully find your calling. I wish you the best in the path you choose to follow.

That being said, I want to begin by congratulating you in becoming part of our institution. There is no doubt that you have worked your butt off to meet the qualifications necessary to be here. As you look around, you'll probably notice that the student population is primarily white. If you went to a primarily white high school, this might seem like a familiar environment to you. If you are coming from a more diverse high school or community, you might be in culture shock. This is OK.

Moving onto campus is a huge change to begin with. Being surrounded by people who are different than you can be overwhelming. We often find comfort around people who we share similar experiences with. If this is the case, know that there are plenty of people you can relate with here. Stonehill has students of different racial and ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic status, sexual orientations, etc. You are bound to find something in common with someone on campus. If you are having a hard time finding them, we have upperclassmen that serve as resources to our students of color. They are called ABS leaders and you can find them at Intercultural Affairs, located in Duffy 149. This office cares about your well being so don't be afraid to reach out.

Something to keep in mind is that we have students who have had little or no chance to interact with students of color before. Therefore, their perceptions of your race and ethnicity may be skewed by the media, their family's personal beliefs about people of color and negative stereotypes that our society perpetuates. You might encounter students who disagree with you on different social issues and that is to be expected. However, if you feel offended by an insensitive comment someone makes, know that you have every right to be.

Unfortunately, an experience that is shared between students of color is the heavy presence of racial microaggresions. Microagressions can be played out as subtle demeaning comments about your culture, the perpetuating of negative stereotypes about your race and the overhearing of racist conversations among peers. I have dealt with comments implying that students of color are only accepted to Stonehill in efforts to make our school diverse. This made me feel under qualified and insecure about the unique attributes I have to offer. If you encounter this, please know that nothing you have accomplished has been handed to you. You deserve to be here because you put in the time and effort and most likely overcame obstacles to get where you are today.

Despite what you might encounter, remember that white students are not your enemy. The privilege they were born into does not make them bad people. What they choose to do with their privilege matters more. I have met students who accept their privilege and make it a priority to educate others about it too. You will learn to appreciate these students because having uncomfortable conversations about what it means to be white is absolutely necessary for change. However, make sure you know that it is not your responsibility to educate others on the struggles that come with being of color. This can be exhausting. I often find comments like "check your privilege" or "your experience is not universal" enough to incite students to look into why their behavior may have offended someone. Also, you will learn that not all white students have led an easy life. Some have faced their own challenges to get here. It is important to always remember that although they possess an important privilege in our society, they can also be under-privileged in other aspects.

If you are ever struggling with emotions and need more than someone you can relate to, I encourage you to visit counseling services. Your mental health is important and can have a strong impact on your college experience. If you're coming to school with a pre-existing condition, know that you're not alone. Students who struggle with depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses are present on all college campuses. We are lucky enough to have qualified professionals who can help you free of charge. If you use these resources remind them that your racial background heavily influences your experience with mental illness. They will be able to understand where you are coming from better. Please take advantage of this commodity. Also, the office of accessibility resources can cater to any needs that are necessary for your success as a college student. If you need accommodations, you can speak to them.

Speaking of accommodations, as a person of color you may not identify as Catholic. We have a large group of students who are not Catholic. Some students do not identify with a religion at all. If you do, please do not be ashamed of your religious beliefs. While we have a couple chapels, there are also areas on campus that serve as a safe space for your own religious practices. Feel free to use them when needed. They exist in efforts to make our campus more accepting and inclusive to all students.

Lastly, if you want to get involved there are multiple platforms for you to do so. Our mission states that "Stonehill is committed to developing the moral, spiritual, intellectual and social competencies of its students as well as fostering the determination to bring these competencies to bear on matters of social justice." At Stonehill, you will find the necessary tools to educate yourself on social issues, have important conversations and ultimately educate others. Join clubs that put on programs concerning race like Diversity on Campus (DOC) and ALANA Brothers and Sisters (ABS). Join dialogue groups that share and validate your thoughts and emotions. Radiant Inspirational Sisters Empowered (RISE) or Men of Service, Academia, Integrity, and Character (M.O.S.A.I.C.) are safe spaces for you to talk about the unique experience of being a student of color at Stonehill. I promise, you will find an awesome community that is dedicated to raising awareness about racial issues on our campus and society as a whole. Do not be afraid to use your voice, you will feel empowered.

I wish you a good year. I hope you feel welcomed and at home.

Yours Truly,

Victoria Almendarez