My name is Arianda and this is my third semester at BMCC. My parents are from the Dominican Republic but I was born here in New York. I have four sisters and the pronouns I go by are she/her. During quarantine 2020, I suffered a wrist fracture that would end up changing the trajectory of my life, for the better, as the months spent rehabilitating post-surgery inspired my return to school as an adult-learner at 33 years old towards an eventual Occupational Therapy degree. Prior to this return, I pursued a career in the Performing Arts as a singer, dancer, actor for the majority of my life. Shortly after graduating High School, I was cast in the national tour of Rent the musical as lead- Mimi Marquez. After traveling as an artist for a year, I found it difficult to sit at a desk and attend College as all I wanted to do was perform. With my parents’ blessing, I decided to forego school at the time and hit the ground running as a triple threat. I went on to reprise the role in the 2011 Off-Broadway revival of Rent and was later cast on Orange is the New Black seasons 4 and 5.

I decided to enroll in this course to learn about the cultural and historical production of sexual difference especially women. I would also like to better understand the origin of our rights and footprints in history. I’m looking forward to taking everything that this course has to offer through the readings and assignments. As an artist at heart, I struggle with perfectionism and have to remember to be gentle with myself and accept doing my best. I’m very grateful to have found a new path for my life where I feel so aligned with myself just like I did in the performing arts. I never imagined that I would find something I was passionate about since then so every accomplishment in my school journey is a very big deal to me. My mother migrated from the Dominican Republic at age twenty and worked very hard as an immigrant to not only learn English but also get an education. She became a Physical Therapist’s Assistant and so my journey back to school and with the career goal I have in mind is sort of a full-circle moment or will be when I graduate one day. To have been led towards getting an education in a field where I will one day be able to use my knowledge to help others alongside my artistic gifts is what fuels me to continue pushing towards my dreams.