1. This first part of the course really changed how I think about bias, oppression, and empathy. Instead of just reading about these topics, the activities made me actually feel what they mean. Four things really stood out to me:

• The Danger of a Single Story (Video on Identity): This talk completely changed how I see stereotypes. The biggest thing I learned is how dangerous it is when you start believing them. It showed me that the problem isn’t always that stereotypes are false, but that they are incomplete; they don’t show the whole person. It really stood out to me that if people keep telling you something about yourself, you eventually believe it and become it.
• Spent (Narrative Game): Playing this game was super stressful. It taught me that poverty isn’t just about not working hard enough. It’s about how one bad day or one surprise bill can ruin everything and make your safety net disappear.
• The Voter Suppression Trail: This game really opened my eyes to unfair systems. Playing as a Black voter, I had to wait in a huge line and lost shifts at work. But playing as a white voter took one minute with no line. It taught me that “rights” aren’t actually equal for everyone, and systems can be designed to keep certain people out.
• Somatic Healing Session with Dr. Luciana: This was an eye-opening activity that shifted my understanding of stress from a mental struggle to a physical one. I learned that our bodies physically store responses such as panic or numbness as survival mechanisms, not as personal failures. Learning that “what we resist persists” helped me give myself more grace. It also gave me practical tools like box breathing and orienting exercises to signal safety to my nervous system when I’m overwhelmed.

A question I still have is: how do we fix these unfair systems and heal from these stresses when they are everywhere in our society? I hope my Soliya experience helps me learn how these issues look in other countries by talking to people my age.

2. On a personal level, this course made me think about who I am and what I value. Another activity that really helped me learn about myself was creating my AltCV. Doing this helped me get to know myself better and see what I actually prioritize in my life. Instead of just listing professional things, I got to choose the foods I like, my hobbies, the places I’ve stayed, and my favorite movies. It reminded me of what makes me me.

I am a 20-year-old Egyptian, Muslim female. Both my parents are Egyptian. I am majoring in Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC), and I also play basketball for the university team. Being an athlete and an IMC major means I value teamwork and communication.

But I’ve realized that my background makes me see certain things as “normal.” A question I still have is how I come across to people who know nothing about my culture or religion. Do I accidentally act like the stereotypes they have about Arab/Muslim women, or do I show them something different? I expect my identity to be a big deal in Soliya. I might be the first Egyptian or Muslim woman some people in my group have ever talked to. I want to use Soliya to learn more about myself and practice showing people who I truly am, without letting their stereotypes change how I act.

3. When talking to people who are different from me, I’ve learned a lot about what I’m good at. Through my recent Ikigai reflection, I realized I am naturally good at listening, understanding people, and giving advice. I love having deep conversations and making people feel heard.

But games like Depression Quest and The Empathy Toy taught me that real empathy is hard. It takes a lot of patience and asking the right questions without judging. As I get ready for Soliya, my question is: how do I balance being a good listener with standing up for what I believe in? Like I did in the Responsible Partying game, where I practiced setting boundaries.

I want my Soliya experience to help me become a better “global digital citizen.” I want to get better at talking to people from different cultures by just being there for them, listening to their stories without judgment, and finding things we have in common.

4. Because I am Egyptian and Muslim, the current war and genocide in Palestine and the Middle East hit very close to home. I definitely expect this to come up in Soliya. I know that people from Western countries might have very different views or might not know the history like those of us who live right next door do.

If I could guide the talk, I would try to use my strengths to make it about empathy. I would want to focus on real human lives, instead of just arguing about politics. But since this is a very heavy and personal topic for me, I would definitely need support from the Soliya leader. I would need them to step in if people start being disrespectful or ignoring human rights. Knowing the leader is there to keep things safe would make me feel okay to share my honest feelings.