The second belief system that has influenced my existence is the cultural beliefs that come with being born from the tribe of Baganda from Uganda. This Bantu phrase formed the basis of Ubuntu, which sums up the need for togetherness and interconnection, as well as regard for dignity. This has helped in shaping my character by giving me a sense of responsibility towards other people that creates empathy and groupism both in the social and working dimension. Another teaching is the honor and respect of the elders as well as their knowledge. As a child, I was raised to respect elders and the biblical tradition of passing the torch and thus respecting previous generations. This belief has paved my way to embracing history and tradition and these into my choices and perspectives in life. Telling these beliefs to a classmate helped me notice that the world views are different. They showed familiarity with the notion of Ubuntu but were quite stunned by the respect for the ancestors as the two engaged in a discussion on how cultures express their histories. This particular incident revealed the impact and presence of my own filters for judging others and made me more receptive to perspectives that are different from mine. Analyzing all these points made me realize that we really are prisoners of culture to a certain extent since our outlooks are influenced by cultural perceptions that are engraved in our minds. In this manner, realizing prejudices and questioning those prejudices help in valuing the different opinions as well as cultivating an understanding society.

It is now possible to agree with Wainana and Miner, as well as Ngozi and Bart-Williams the extent to which I am stigmatized and pre-judge the otherème. Ivan Wainana, in his satirical piece on Writing about Africa, comes out strongly against the reductive stereotype with which western media portrays Africa and its diverse peoples. Likewise, Miner, in “Body Rituals Among the Nacirema,” demonstrates how absurd it is to judge another culture as inferior and unknown. These works, in addition to Ngozi’s TED Talk where she speaks on the harm a single story can cause, as well as Bart-Williams’ negative portrayal of media’s representation of Africa, personally challenged me to question my prejudices. This has, therefore, helped me open my eyes; understand that my knowledge of certain cultures is limited by the news, hearsay and the internet. For example, before coming to this class, my perception of Africa was primarily of a continent that is poor, which is at war, and so failing, and this eclipsed the other realities of its peoples, their cultures, technological and social innovations and development. This single-story view gives me a feeling of separateness, of not being close enough; the opposite has also worked in my favor where I have incessantly held elevated views of cultures I the inclined towards such as holding the general belief that all Japanese people are disciplined or all Italians are lovers. But already these stereotypes are no less infantile, reducing persons to mere simple definitions and getting rid of individuality. The gaps in my knowledge addressed in this self-reflection allowed me to recognize an unfortunate tendency, where the creation of identities based on restricted stories leads to animosity and confusion. To address this, I have to achieve a richness of information and experience interacting with cultures. Breaking beyond the contextual layer and paying close attention to the fact that [people] cultures are not mere stories that can be learned in school [. These kind of approaches foster empathy and erode the structures that make othering possible.

As I wake up to the soft light filtering through my curtains, I feel the familiar mix of excitement and apprehension for the day ahead. After a quick breakfast of cereal and coffee, I gather my books and head to my first class. The campus is bustling with energy, students rushing to their lectures or catching up with friends. In class, I scribble notes furiously, trying to absorb as much information as possible.

After class, it's time for a quick lunch break at the student “ss”. I grab a sandwich and find a quiet spot to review my notes and work on assignments. Then, it's off to the library for a few hours of intense studying. The silence is broken only by the rustling of pages and the occasional click of a keyboard.

As the afternoon turns into evening, I meet up with friends for dinner at our favorite spot near campus. We laugh and chat about everything from classes to weekend plans. With renewed energy, I head back to my apartment to tackle more homework and prepare for the next day.

But it's not all about academics. In the evening, I unwind by attending a residence meeting or participating in a campus event. Whether it's a movie night or a guest lecture, these activities provide a welcome break from the rigors of studying.

Finally, as I crawl into bed, I reflect on the day's accomplishments and challenges. Being a college student is demanding, but it's also incredibly rewarding. Each day brings new opportunities for growth and learning, and I'm grateful for the chance to experience it all. With that thought, I drift off to sleep, ready to do it all over again tomorrow.