Age

"Disability"

body shape and size

Early memories of learning about immigrant experiences in my home community and thinking about class differences on the school bus

nationality

Always learning and asking, pushing myself to move beyond reliance only on words

Language

ability/disability. early childhood memory of fear of a girl named Stephanie who lived down the street and lived with what appeared to be severe disabilities. I felt a fearful kind of awe of her.

Teacher / Mentor - sometimes you don't think of the ways you are being a mentor as you are teaching

Loyal

Gender - When I was a child, I grew up in the heteronormative prison of One model and one model only. As I grew up, traveled, and interacted with people other than my own, i learned I am free to be, and do not have to conform to the identity binds placed on me by society. It has also helped me appreciate others in their uniqueness and genuine expression of being.

I have been challenged to think about these more since I came to work for the church. But prior to that, I was in a world where being an English-speaking U.S. citizen was the norm, so I was not challenged to think about that.