For so long we have been told by society that our stories do not matter and that our voices are not to be heard,” states the creator of the Instagram account Dear Wildwood, an 11th grader here at Wildwood. This is why the platform she has established on Instagram is so important. Racism and homophobia are two major issues the world currently facing, and these issues do not cease to exist at the school gates. Dear Wildwood addresses the microaggressions directed towards members of the LGBTQ+ community and BIPOC within our school. Dear Wildwood is dedicated to sharing these stories of discomfort and hopes to serve as a middle man between the Wildwood administration and the student body. This account has served as an outlet for many students and was created to make a positive impact on our community. As stated by the creator of Dear Wildwood, “Wildwood as a whole is a pretty accepting place but there is still progress to be made.”
The world is a place in need of much change, a concept that countless people struggle with accepting every day. Making a difference within your community is the first step one can take to begin to make a difference in the world. The creator of Dear Wildwood and many others feel that these microaggressions are rooted in a “lack of education or ignorance towards other cultures.” The Dear Wildwood creator expresses that “while these conversations may be uncomfortable to have at times, it is absolutely necessary when starting on the path to acceptance. But the first step… is to listen and learn.” Considering the events of the past year, now is a better time than ever to acknowledge our everlasting duty to listen and learn from everyone’s stories, and ultimately, better accept them as a part of our society. Dear Wildwood is a wonderful example of a resource that can encourage people to do just that. Expressing the feelings and sharing the experiences of members of the LGBTQ+ community and BIPOC can help us all get on the right track to equity and acceptance, throughout our community and beyond.
When asked if she believes that the lack of diversity in the student body at Wildwood plays a part in these microaggressions, the Dear Wildwood creator said, “Absolutely! We are not a very diverse school and that comes with some challenges. The attitudes and tensions that lead to racism or other types of discriminatory practices are often deeply rooted in stereotypes and misconceptions, and one of the most pressing contemporary challenges is to promote knowledge about, and understanding of, different cultures, even if those cultures are not represented in the classroom.” She also mentioned that “Wildwood is working towards not only celebrating diversity but implementing an anti-racist curriculum into student life. Even though every culture is not represented in the classroom, we still must learn their stories and history in order to amplify the respect that our community has towards one another.” The celebration of diversity, even in a place that might not be as diversified as others, is crucial, especially within education. Dear Wildwood’s creator makes her intentions with Wildwood very clear “I want to start off by saying how much I love Wildwood. It is such a special place and there is nothing that compares to it, yet no school is perfect. My intent for creating the Dear Wildwood account was never to denigrate Wildwood or speak ill of the community.” She is right when she says that no school is perfect. Still, we should still be striving to do what we can to understand and acknowledge imperfections so that everyone is able to feel safe and understood.
The Dear Wildwood creator also brings light to the cooperation that Wildwood has shown and their willingness to make changes, “Wildwood admin and staff members have been incredible hearers and have really taken to action on dismantling implicit racist assumptions embedded in cultural debates related to identity” Included in her interview was a thank you to the listeners and contributors, which sheds light on the wonderful effects of the account, “Lastly, I want to say thank you. Those of you who have supported the account. Those of you who have sent messages. Those of you who have read the stores of other students. Thank you for contributing, because whether you know it or not, you have all helped Wildwood become a more accepting place. Thank you Wildwood for hearing us.” Dear Wildwood and all its contributors have definitely made a significant change to Wildwood’s environment, and we should all be aware of that.
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