The NCAA's third annual Diversity and Inclusion week takes place Oct. 27-29. As part of the first day of the campaign, "My Story Matters," IWU athletics will share the stories of Titan student-athletes, coaches, and administrators, exploring their identities, perspectives, and experiences.
Through the campaign IWU athletics encourages student-athletes, administrators, coaches, and fans across the country to use their platform to engage in a discussion about and promote diversity and inclusion. The goal of the campaign is to use social media to create a dialogue surrounding diversity and inclusion and to communicate the need and benefit of creating inclusive environments.
My Story Matters: Uriel Ferreira
I am the son of two Mexican immigrants who came to the United States during the '90s. They started a family on the dream that the opportunities in this country would allow their children's lives to be filled with success and accomplishment. As I become older and experience my own triumphs and tribulations, I've come to appreciate more of where I come from and the privileges that I experience to be where I am today.
Growing up I always struggled with my identity as a Latino-American. This struggle especially presented itself during school. You see through academics I was presented as one of the "better" Latino kids, while socially I was too pale or talked too differently to be considered my ethnicity. However, my mood would always flip when I would get home from school. The first thing I'd hear is the same five words in the same order, "Hi mijo, how are you?" My mom would always be there to greet me and my brothers home from a day of school. Not long after, my dad would get home from another exhausting day at work. Looking back, these moments almost seem perfect. My family never questioned who I was. They never questioned whether I was too pale or whether I knew enough Spanish to be considered Mexican. Then the light bulb finally went off in my head. If they, the people who matter the most in my life, accept me for who I am then why shouldn't I? Now, more than ever, I am proud to be able to call myself a Latino-American. Viva La Raza.
Join in on the discussion by sharing your story and tagging IWU athletics at @IWUsports on Twitter and Instagram.
