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Growing up, Trevor Noah was rather mischievous and disobedient when it came to listening to his mother. He would often times disregard her authority and would spend things such as the family grocery money in the arcade. Regardless of his constant misbehavior as a child, he grew up to respect his mother as she did everything in her power to protect him and his brother during Apartheid South Africa. She often sacrificed her security and well-being to make sure that they were safe and happy.

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Like Trevor Noah, I was often times disobedient as a child and would refuse to listen to my mother. With my father moving away when I was 10, my mom was left alone to take care of my brother and I. She, like Trevor Noah's mother, would often sacrifice her time and well-being to make sure my brother and I were in a secure place getting everything we needed. Working countless hours she often times grew sick and as I child I was unappreciative of her efforts but now I have grown to respect and look up to my mother as a role model.

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Trevor Noah's Religious Influence/ Experience

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Trevor Noah's Religious Influence/ Experience

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Throughout Trevor Noah's childhood, he experienced many different cultures in religion and worship as his family attended black, white, and mixed churches. Although as a child he found it tedious to attend all 3 churches in one day, deep down he appreciated the value and culture that came with each church. As a mixed child, he found a way to enjoy the specialties of each church as he found a piece of himself in each culture.

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Haley Popelka's Religious Influence/ Experience

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Haley Popelka's Religious Influence/ Experience

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I have been going to church for as long as I can remember. My siblings and I would go to Sunday school in the mornings, followed by family church, and then a bible study after that. This would occur every single week, and my dad wouldn't have it any other way. Similar to Trevor Noah's mom, my dad is extremely religious and fears the worst if anything were to ever interfere with God's day. For example, one time I had surgery on a late Friday afternoon. It hit me pretty hard and I still was barely able to walk when Sunday came around. However, my dad insisted that I go to church. He made me wear my t-shirt and shorts from the day of my surgery and he dragged me to church. At at time I was furious that he wouldn't let me rest, but now that I don't live with him, I realize and appreciate his devotion to what he believes in.

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Amy Biehl and Her Fascination With South Africa

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Amy Biehl and Her Fascination With South Africa

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Growing up in the U.S., Amy was surrounded by several different cultures but never had any direct connection with any. However, throughout her education Amy began to develop a fond relationship with South Africa. She became a major supporter of Nelson Mandela who happened to be locked up at the time. She often times wrote "Free Mandela" on the letters she would send to her family while attending university. She was also only one of two whites in the African studies class at the university. She later traveled to South Africa as she felt a direct connection with the people and the culture.

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A Major Inspiration to Amy Biehl: Nelson Mandela

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A Major Inspiration to Amy Biehl: Nelson Mandela

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Nelson Mandela leads anti-apartheid movement with thousands of supporters and spectators.

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Aman Momin and His Fascination With Other Cultures

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Aman Momin and His Fascination With Other Cultures

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Like Amy, I grew up in the U.S. and have grown up knowing primarily American culture. However, in middle school I decided to ask my parents regarding their cultures back in India and Pakistan. Digging deeper, I began to grow a stronger connection with the culture my parents grew up in. I felt a stronger connection and felt more inclined to visit their home countries as I wanted to get to know what the people and culture was like there. I have now integrated American, Indian, and Pakistani culture into my life and intend to learn more about India and Pakistan such as where my parents grew up and how their lifestyle was growing up as compared to me.

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Haley Popelka and Her Experiences with Other Cultures

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Haley Popelka and Her Experiences with Other Cultures

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Similar to both Amy and Aman, I have live in the U.S. my whole life, specifically the Austin area too. I always felt that I had been surrounded by many other cultures, but I soon realized so much more about them. My uncle had taken a missionary trip to Columbia for several months, and when he returned, he had brought back a woman that would soon become his wife. I would attempt to talk to her about her life in Columbia, but I seriously could barely understand a would she said, despite my countless years in Spanish classes. Eventually, I spent enough time with her where I could make out enough words to understand the sentence and I was able to finally communicate with Noris the way I had been wanting to. She talked to me about the horrible women's rights there, and how her previous husband treated her like a slave. She told me that in America, she felt like royalty in her new relationship. This caught me off guard. I began to think about all of the other women still stuck in Columbia and it made me want to do something. Like Amy, I have a desire to go there and learn more. However, like Trevor, I have to learn to work my way around the language barrier. I am inspired by both of them to learn more and to overcome barriers. I want to help other people, just like Amy did.

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Amy Biehl's Love for the South African People

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Amy Biehl's Love for the South African People

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Amy would often times defy the norms in South Africa as she would befriend and hang out with blacks while she was white. She was very loving and empathetic for the people. Although people would tell her that is not right and not safe to hang out with the blacks she still did not listen and would befriend them out of love for the people as she did not see them in a different light but as her genuine friends and family.

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Aman Momin's Encounter With Other Castes

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Aman Momin's Encounter With Other Castes

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While I was on my trip to India, I did not realize that there was a social hierarchy knows as the "Caste System". While visiting the villages in India, I came across a very poor family. When I approached the family to talk to them just to get to know them, I was quickly pulled away by my relatives who told me that we were not supposed to speak with people of their "caste." I immediately frowned down on the idea of it without knowing what it was. Apparently, my family was of a higher caste and because of that I couldn't interact with them. Regardless, I decided to defy the norm there and talked to the family very humbly just trying to get to know them. They were very polite and treated me with a lot of respect. I befriended them regardless of the "caste system" as I grew a connection with them.

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Amy Biehl's Parents Forgive Her Murderers

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Amy Biehl's Parents Forgive Her Murderers

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After the tragic murder of Amy Biehl, her parents set up the Amy Biehl Foundation in 1994. To nearly everyone's surprise, the 4 murderers of Amy work for the foundation. It was said that if her parents can forgive the men that killed their daughter, then everyone should be able to forgive everyone for everything. In the charity, they focus on trying to find good in tragedy and also the power of forgiveness. Her parents have become very accepting of the situation and they encourage everyone else to do the same.

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Haley Popelka's Experience with Forgiveness

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Haley Popelka's Experience with Forgiveness

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It is still difficult for me to understand how Amy's parents were able to so easily forgive their daughter's murderers, however, I understand why it is necessary. We need to forgive others in order to move on. We still have to associate with them and see them through all of their ups and downs. I can relate to this because just recently, one of my childhood best friends past away. It was due to a seizure disorder that she's had her whole life but she has always been fine. I was so angry at the fact that the doctors couldn't do anything to help her, I was mad at her family for not keeping her on life support, and lastly, I was mad at God for allowing such an innocent and sweet girl be taken so soon. As time passed though I found myself crippled by these thoughts. I realized I needed to forgive everyone for things that they couldn't control. By doing this I was able to move forward, I felt relieved. I learned to always see the good in people, no matter what they had done.

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Linda Biehl walks away from where her daughter, Amy Biehl, was murdered by several South Africans for just being white.

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Just like the parents of Amy Biehl, my goal in life is to be as supportive and loving as I can. They encouraged Amy to use her voice and to use it strongly. Despite the final outcome of this situation, they still provided her the strength she needed. My goal in life is to not only be able to be as strong and courageous as Amy, but as supportive of people who already are as well. I can only hope that one day I can share my opinions without the fear of being shot down, figuratively and literally. Amy has inspired me to stand up for what I believe in and soon, enough, my voice will be heard.