COM Outlook Winter 2021

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | 17 First-Person Essays O n a Saturday afternoon, a classmate and I went to the NSU RecPlex to fit in a workout before rushing back to study for an exam. As we approached the building, I found a cell phone wallet case on the ground. After noticing a group of three young women ahead, I picked up the wallet and said, “Hey, I think one of you dropped your phone wallet.” I received an over-the-shoulder glance from the one in the middle, and she turned and continued walking. Having caught sight of her face, I glanced down at the I.D. picture and scanned for a name. For the story’s sake, I will call her Janet. I waved the wallet and phone in the air and yelled, “Janet, I think you dropped your wallet!” I received a glance from all three individuals, and they began to walk faster. I realized this wallet’s new home would be in a lost-and-found box at the RecPlex. As I reached the door, Janet suddenly ran over and asked if it was her wallet. I con- firmed the name that matched the I.D. and handed it to her. My friend, who was behind me, asked Janet, “Why didn’t you stop when he held up the wallet?” She replied, “I thought he was going to kidnap me. Thank you for my wallet.” Throughout the day, my friend mentioned the incident repeatedly. He would ask me, “Why did she keep walking while you waved her wallet and called her by name? Why fear being kidnapped when sur- rounded by so many people outside the gym? Even if she were to be kidnapped, where was she going? We were outside the entrance hold- ing gym bags.” I only told him I was not sure—hoping he would figure it out on his own before the day ended. We sat in my living room with laptops open when he brought up the incident one last time. I looked across the table and told him that when someone has encounters like that, it occurs because someone judged you based on how you look. I explained that a person may think she has your character, inten- tions, and integrity figured out by appearance alone. Encounters like these happen from time to time when you are a minority and indivi- duals have a poor understanding of who you are. Sometimes, people who don’t know much about your cul- ture may only have understandings derived from music, movies, and other people’s opinions. When people perceive you as a threat, things play out the way they did that day. After a glance into my world, my friend expressed a new under- standing of what it’s like to be perceived differently. I only hope that Janet, as well as others reading this, learn from this experience and understand that, as a society, we need to stop and think about the assumptions we make of others and whether they are indeed true or an echo of a past experience. Leroy Swain is a third-year KPCOM student. BY LEROY SWAIN when two worlds collide After a glance into my world, my friend expressed a new understanding of what it’s like to be perceived differently.