Professionalism & Authenticity - Sara Diaz

On ¿Quién Tú Eres? podcast, we explore the conflict we often face between "professionalism" & being our authentic selves. We would love to feature everyone in our community on their own episode. That said, we publish one episode a week...so we created a story submission option for people to self-publish & share their experiences with the world. 

Tell me about a time when you repressed parts of your authentic self?

Sara Diaz - When I was a little girl, I was proud of being Cuban-American. My family made every effort to teach me about my culture and where they came from. Once I got to 8th grade, I was bullied for being Latina and loving different parts of my culture (specifically being obsessed with the band RBD and their novela Rebelde). The kids named my friends and I LAX (Latin American Exchange) and would bring it up whenever I would wear my RBD shirt or backpack. As I got to high school, I was questioned for wearing my gold chain that was gifted to me because it said Sarita and not Sara. I ended it not wearing it for a while. I repressed being Latina for a while as a way to protect myself and fit in with the crowd. I realized that I was only hurting myself and my family in the process.

When do you feel the most comfortable being your authentic self?

Sara Diaz - I feel the most comfortable being my authentic self when I am in the room with other Latinx individuals, especially Latinas. I feel understood and not othered. I enjoy connecting with Latinas and sharing my story. This makes me feel as though I am not alone, and it makes me feel proud of where I am from. It also motivates me to continue sharing my story.

What would give you the confidence to be your authentic self, regardless the environment?

Sara Diaz - Looking back at my experience, as an adult now, I continue to think about what I would tell my younger self. I feel confident when I know that I can now support my younger self and help my community. I realize that my authentic self is now who I want to be rather than what others want me to be.

Have a story to share? Let us know here for an opportunity to be featured in the podcast!