By Lynn Whyatt – RRR Network Story-teller
Nothing fills my cup more than swapping stories. Our experiences are what define us. Our stories hold space for our memories and tell our truths. They connect us to others and that is a magic of its own. As we share stories, we see bits of ourselves in others and give ourselves permission to start building that connection and ultimately create a sense of belonging.
My story is unique to me but it is the same story of those who move from place to place in search of opportunity and of self.
I am a proud Chicana from Los Angeles – a Mexican-American woman whose struggles and strengths come from the generations of strong women before me who continued to tell their stories; to let others know that they were present and to make their way in a world that was not always welcoming. But, they carved their paths so that my way was easier to find. Their paths were those of a new country and new beginnings, an American Dream and possibilities, hard work and resilience. I grew up with these stories and lived the vibrancy of our Mexican culture with parties overflowing with aunties and cousins and carne asada and swearing. We were loud and passionate and loved good food and bold colours.
With the stories of my family packed in my heart, I set off to change the narrative, to break the cycle and climb out of the expectations of my people. I was the first in my family to attend university – I had thirteen institutions competing to claim a diverse inner-city kid from a low socio-economic status with high marks. I chose the one that gave me the most financial aid and I received a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree and a window into a world I had only seen in the movies: monumental buildings, legacy students, lecture halls, and frat parties.
I worked at a campus restaurant that kept me fed and a centre for the arts that kept me cultured while studying full time a world away from the streets of LA that were my home. I had never felt more alone in my life. I thought I had understood the barter when I signed up but living it for four years was different. It was a different kind of struggle. But – I graduated. I made it. Debt free. I felt free, unchained from the statistics and stereotypes of my origins. I never felt like I belonged in that world, but I made the best out of an awkward situation and an amazing opportunity. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities that allowed me to take risks and grow.
Armed with a new-found belief in my capabilities and the need to keep reading the next chapter, I moved to Germany as a language assistant with a Fulbright Scholarship from the US Government. My immersion into this culture with its people, language, food, and history felt like a warm embrace even during the snowy winters. I melted into a sense of belonging and purpose created by bonfires in a friend’s meadow, late nights of songs and stories, and hiking parties through the mountains on Second Christmas Day. Among a foreign language with foreign people in a foreign village, we found connection in our stories. Whether it was a love of art, a concern about the media, or our school-time struggles, we told our stories and found our connections. Those were the most joyous two years of my life, listening to stories and making memories that added to the foundations of who I was to become.
The call to make sensible and ‘grown up’ decisions led my partner and I to settle down in his hometown of Geraldton in 2014. He slid back into the familiar while I started drafting the next volume to my story, one with the usual themes of new beginnings, ‘otherness,’ and opportunities. My next new start was not a blank slate but rather built upon my journey thus far. I brought with me my intergenerational struggles as well as my strengths.
The terrain was new but the feeling familiar. I worked in tourism and tutored as I studied my Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching Secondary. What seems like a blip in the broadcast now was actually six years as an English teacher. I was so hopeful and so passionate and so determined to embrace every opportunity as an educator – so much so that I broke down, burnt out, and resigned mid term.
The feelings of guilt and failure began to fade within the embrace of my family and my community. As I rested and healed, I began to rely more and more on those connections. Listening, writing, and reflecting led me to take a leap and start my own business where I could use my strengths and embrace a lifestyle that brought me joy. So here I am, a bold and colourful Chicana who speaks German, living on two acres in Chapman Valley with my husband and our two dogs, and the recent addition of my momma from LA. When I hold space for my journey in my mind and share my stories with others, I am filled with gratitude and at times disbelief for where I’ve ended up. The excitement for where I am yet to go drives me, as does the promise of the stories I am yet to hear.
I am the RRR Network Storyteller and I look forward to telling your stories, for there is magic within each of us just waiting to be shared.