Soliya final reflection

Participating in Soliya’s Connect Express program has changed my life and given me a deep understanding of how to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds. The program offered us a unique place for discussion   that emphasised understanding and encouraged us to be open and think about oneself.   When I started this experience, I was interested in how cultural differences affect how people talk to each other. Now that I’m done, I feel more connected to others, empathetic, and aware.

The structure and tone of the discussion  in soliya were very different from other conversations I’ve had. These talks were different from social or even class chats because they were based on active listening, sensitivity, and being open to different points of view. The setting was meant to be safe and welcoming, so we can share very personal thoughts and experiences without worrying about being judged. One big change was that the focus was on character and the forces that form our views that we can’t see. When people talk about other things, they usually only talk about basic  issues or how to solve problems. This went to a whole new level of detail when it was stressed how society, parenting, and social norms affect us. For instance, talking about unconscious biases or the things that affect us without realizing it shows how our assumptions can affect how we deal with others without us being aware of it. This way of thinking about myself helped me find out things about myself and people all over the world that I hadn’t thought about before, and it also helped me understand how complicated other people’s lives are. I had a girl with me who lives in Palestine and I got the chance to talk to her and ask about how she is doing and it made me really happy that I got to talk with someone living there and also it made me realize how hard life is.

This experience taught me that I am a thoughtful speaker who puts more value on knowing and thinking than responding right away. I pay close attention when I listen and think about what I hear before I speak. This helped me make links during the discussions. However, I also realized that I sometimes hesitate to voice my opinions in group settings, especially when the topics feel sensitive or emotionally charged. It was this program that made me more aware of how my cultural background affects the way I talk to people. Another thing I learnt is that I value unity and politeness, which makes me sometimes avoid conflict. I also learnt that I am open to comments and ready to question my own beliefs when I am shown a different point of view. Being more self-aware has made me want to find a good balance between listening and talking. I’m going to do more active listening to make sure that the people around me feel truly heard and understood in order to improve the way we talk to each other in my daily life. I will also try to make places where my family and friends can talk about their feelings without worrying about being judged. In my daily life, I try to promote understanding and acceptance by encouraging different points of view in team talks. I will use the skills I learnt in solyia, like how to ask open-ended questions and make sure my ideas are correct, to help people work together and solve problems better. I want to start talks in my circles about identity and hidden biases so that others can think about the things that affect how they connect with others. By setting up discussion groups, I hope to give people from different cultures and people with different mindsets a chance to meet and learn more about each other.

The ability to handle tough talks with care and respect was one of the most useful skills I learnt in this program. I learnt to recognise and deal with my own views, which is an important skill for good conversation. I also got the courage to say what I think while still being open to other points of view. But there were some problems that came up during the process. I sometimes felt uncomfortable talking about touchy subjects, mostly those that involved religion and identity. I also noticed that some participants, including myself, were sometimes hesitant to fully participate out of fear of being misunderstood. These experiences taught me how important it is to accept discomfort as a way to learn and grow. One of the most important things that were discussed was identity, culture, and the little things that make us who we are. I learnt that social standards and cultural norms can affect people in ways that they don’t always understand. One of the most interesting parts was when someone talked about how living in a mixed neighbourhood changed the way they saw the world. It made me think about what I know and how I feel about things. I enjoyed learning and having the chance to be in a break out room with a few people and discussing the things we feel and think about. The whole experience was fun and enlightening.

My Soliya Connect Express has been a journey for me to grow and learn about myself. It has helped me learn skills that I will use in all parts of my life and provided me with an enhanced understanding of how to communicate with people from other cultures. I will always remember what I’ve learnt about empathy, self-awareness, and how important it is to make places that everyone feels welcome as I try to build understanding and connection in my personal, work, and community relationships. This program has made me believe that talking can bring people together and make the world a better place for everyone. I’m very thankful for this experience and I can’t wait to use what I’ve learnt in real life.