{"id":31827,"date":"2024-10-09T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/edi\/?p=31827"},"modified":"2024-10-02T14:57:33","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T18:57:33","slug":"finding-healing-and-belonging-my-journey-in-squamish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/edi\/2024\/10\/09\/finding-healing-and-belonging-my-journey-in-squamish\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding healing and belonging: My journey in Squamish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Written by Baljit Bhamber<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reflecting on my recent experiences in Squamish, BC, I want to share my journey \u2013 a path filled with challenges and newfound connections. However, one word encapsulates the experience: healing. For much of my life, I\u2019ve often felt like an outsider, a black sheep wandering through various spaces without truly belonging. This sense of disconnection was something I carried with me until I became involved with Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), specifically as an EDI Catalyst for Indigenous Ways of Knowing, Being, and Doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Joining this team has been a transformative and eye-opening experience for me. I finally feel like I am contributing to something meaningful, helping to shape a blueprint for positive change within our NC community. My work in my department, Campus Safety, has illuminated the importance of inclusivity, and this trip felt like a vital opportunity to work towards creating a more equitable environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n  <div  class=\"panel\">\r\n\r\n\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>When I first heard about the trip to BC, a wave of nervousness washed over me. I only knew my colleagues in a professional context, and I wasn\u2019t sure how I would connect with them on a personal level. However, this trip became a turning point for me, allowing me to evaluate various aspects of my life while fostering personal growth. I often catch myself reminiscing of the experiences and it puts a smile on my face because I remember the wonderful memories. I will forever cherish each moment because I allowed myself to become vulnerable and embraced new challenges that led to growth.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\n\n\n<p>I loved every moment spent with our NC team during this trip. The experiences we shared &#8211; the laughter, hugs, and the conversations made me feel valued and appreciated. I forged new friendships that I will treasure for years to come, and I am forever grateful to our BC family for embracing me.\u00a0 For the first time, I feel a genuine sense of belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Sikhism, when asked how we are doing, we often respond with \u201cChardi Kala\u201d, which means maintaining high spirts through adversity. This mindset resonates deeply with me because I have finally obtained it. Through the challenges I\u2019ve faced, I am learning to view life through a positive lens and taking each experience in life as a life lesson to help me grow and cherish each moment. I am more motivated than ever to be a voice for meaningful change and opportunities within our college, embracing teachings that encourage recognizing the whole human race as one.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n\t\r\n\t<figure class=\"image d tb none\" >\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n    \r\n      \r\n    \r\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/edi\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/125\/2024\/10\/Baljit-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\r\n\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\t\r\n  \n\n\r\n  <div  class=\"panel is-style-blue pl wfw\">\r\n\r\n\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"acf-innerblocks-container\">\n\n<p>As I continue this journey, I am reminded of the importance of community and collaboration. The EDI initiatives we are working on are not just about policies; they\u2019re about fostering a culture where everyone feels welcome and valued. The trip to Squamish solidified my commitment to our blueprint and reinforced my belief that together, we can create a more inclusive environment.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\r\n  <\/div>\r\n\n\n\n<p>I look forward to sharing more about my experiences and the insights I\u2019ve gained as an EDI Catalyst. Onto a positive future for our NC community. I am proud to be part of the NC life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Written by Baljit Bhamber Reflecting on my recent experiences in Squamish, BC, I want to share my journey \u2013 a path filled with challenges and newfound connections. However, one word encapsulates the experience: healing. For much of my life, I\u2019ve often felt like an outsider, a black sheep wandering through various spaces without truly belonging&#8230;.","protected":false},"author":241,"featured_media":31828,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"footnotes":""},"categories":[53],"class_list":["post-31827","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-voices-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Finding healing and belonging: My journey in Squamish | Equity, Diversity and Inclusion | Niagara College<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Finding healing and belonging: My journey in Squamish | Equity, Diversity and Inclusion | Niagara College\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Written by Baljit Bhamber Reflecting on my recent experiences in Squamish, BC, I want to share my journey \u2013 a path filled with challenges and newfound connections. 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