Hello everyone! My name is Rutdany Peralta and I am 19 years old with a couple of tattoos that I love and believe show my individuality. My family immigrated from the Dominican Republic when I was 6 years old and we’ve lived in the Bronx ever since then. For 2022 I decided I wanted to travel and really get to know myself more. So for January break, I went back to visit my family in Bonao, Dominican Republic for the first time since 2012. It was such an amazing and humbling experience in which I realized just how American I’ve become. It was shocking, to say the least, how disconnected I was from my roots and how much I couldn’t relate to certain things. Going to a new place everyday and meeting a bunch of wonderful people made me realize I have to step out of my comfort zone and really try to make friends; friends are such a huge part in our lives as adults because they contribute to our happiness. Those 2 weeks in DR taught me more about life and myself than the past 2 years have in the Bronx and to me that says a lot. I can’t wait to learn more about myself.

Currently, I am a Liberal Arts major who’s still undecided as to what I really want to do. I’m a really indecisive person so my academic and personal interests are always changing and make it hard to choose what I want to do/study for the years to come. However, in the next couple of years I hope to see myself making a difference and helping children in need whether they’re in the foster system, a bad home or just need care. I’m super passionate about this and it’s unsettling to me knowing there are children without a home and in much need of love and care.

I’m looking forward to taking this class and learning more about the reasons and theories women are so marginalized in various parts of society and how possibly about myself.