Let's Understand Voices (aka the LUV Team)
The LUV team shares what makes them feel different because embracing differences leads to inclusion. We believe if we respectfully talk about our differences, rather than fearing them, we will create a world where everyone belongs.
Marin
What if you felt different, even from your mom and dad? Marin is adopted and very proud of her Vietnamese heritage. Because she looks different than her mom and dad, some people look at her strangely and one even asked if she was kidnapped! She celebrates her heritage by going to culture camp and staying in touch with Vietnames friends. She learns all she can so she can share with others. When she faces difficult feelings or reactions because she is adopted, Vietnamese, or queer, Marin turns to her family for comfort and relief.
Ryder
Have you ever tried to focus at school and no matter what you do, you just can't? This happens to Ryder all the time. It takes him a little longer to process information so it seems like he is slower at learning but he just does it differently. Ryder listens to music to help him focus, and he avoids doing multiple things at once. If you saw him at school with Airpods in his ear, you may think he was tuning out when he is actually tuning in! He doesn't mean to be disrespectful, he is just doing what he needs to do to learn. We all learn differently.
Sarah
What if your family celebrated holidays on different days than your friends? Sarah is Coptic Orthodox, a religion that few others in her area share. In fact, she drives an hour to get to church each week! She celebrates Christmas on January 7 when the holiday is a distant memory for others. For many years it was hard for Sarah to have a different religion than her friends. Rather than hide her religion, she embraced it. Sarah dove into the rich history of her faith and even visited Egypt to learn more. Now Sarah proudly shares her faith and values with others.
Max
Is it possible that someone you think is rude, or doesn't like you, is just shy? Max is pretty shy so it was tough when his parents moved him to Los Angeles in their search for a more diverse community. Max spent much of his time by himself because it was hard for him to open up to new people. He didn't want to be lonely so he pushed himself to open up. He started by speaking with teachers and they were supportive. Next he reached out to kids on his swim team. Soon he was looking forward to seeing his friends at school. Who do you know who is shy?
Patrick
Do any kids leave class in the middle of the day and you don't know why? Feel free to ask! Chances are they are leaving to get a little extra help. Patrick would be happy to share that he leaves a few times a week for speech therapy. Sometimes he feels embarrassed to exit class when no one else does so talking about it, and how much it helps him, might make it easier. Patrick says his impediment and speech therapy don't define him, it is just a "side thing" and it's getting better everyday.
Sela
Do you have different hobbies than your friends? According to Sela, that is totally ok! Sela likes to draw and read and her friends don't. She thought she needed to do the same things as her friends to connect with them, so she joined the track team. And guess what? She couldn't stand it! Sela learned that friendships don't revolve around common hobbies - she could do what she loves and still keep her friends. Now she likes having different interests because it makes her feel unique!
Sarah
What if you have different beliefs than your friends? Sarah's friends decided to start bullying other kids for being more introverted and studious. This went against what Sarah believes so she told them to stop. Rather than stopping, Sarah's friends began bullying her. Sarah could have gone along with her friends but instead found a new group that made her feel good about herself and treated others with kindness. She says to never be afraid to stand up for what you believe, even if it's different.
Hudson
At 5'11 and 12 years old, Hudson is pretty tall. While this makes him a little different, he considers it a big advantage, especially for sports. He felt most different when he moved from New Jersey to California and everything was unfamiliar. He was shy, embarrassed to be the "new kid" and not sure how to fit in. He realized the easiest thing to do was be himself. When he was himself and did the things he loved, others wanted to be his friend. What can you do to welcome the new kid at school?
Hannah
How many times has the teacher asked for volunteers to read aloud and you shrink in your chair thinking, "please don't call on me!" Hannah had a hard time reading so she was self-conscious. She realized, however, that her difficulty reading was because of a problem with her eyes. She had to go to six months of therapy to get her eyes to work properly. Therapy meant she had to miss opportunities to hang out with friends. She believes you have to work hard to achieve what you want so she stuck with therapy. She reads really well now and will never let out a giggle when someone stumbles reading aloud in class because you never know what makes someone do something, including reading, differently.
Grace
Have you ever felt so different that you want to hide? When Grace was in kindergarten the doctor told her she needed glasses. She was so nervous to go to school wearing glasses. She was embarrassed and afraid people would make fun of her or treat her differently. She was so uncomfortable with her new appearance that she covered her face with her backpack at school. It was impossible to hide everyday so she had to let down her backpack and talk about her new glasses. She was open about how she was feeling and no one treated her differently. Her glasses make her life much better and she is glad she has them. Grace suggests that if you notice something different about someone's appearance, just ask about it. Talking usually makes things better.