warning Hi, we've moved to USCANNENBERGMEDIA.COM. Visit us there!

Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

I'm Not Now, Nor Will I Ever Be Alone

Kristy Plaza |
October 25, 2012 | 12:10 p.m. PDT

Columnist

Editor's Note: "I'm Not Now, Nor Will I Ever Be Alone" is part of Kristy Plaza's new series, Kristy’s Corner.

I am eighteen, living at the University of Southern California (USC), and have a job - but I still need my parents' support.

Before I came to USC, all I wanted was to be independent- I didn’t want to depend on my parents for anything. This naïve thought was destroyed when reality hit me hard, just like my first midterm. How could I possibly believe that I wouldn’t need to depend on my parents, when they are still financially responsible for me? But even though this is certainly true, it isn’t why I came to realize that my parents are essential to my development here at ‘SC.

I live in Los Angeles County, so I can see my parents whenever I want. About three weeks ago, I went to have dinner with my family. I told them about what was happening in my classes and in the organizations I'm a part of. They supported everything I was doing, and every organization I had joined. This support - the very same that I had in high school - warms my heart. Especially since even though I can see my parents whenever I want, I’m still not home with them all the time, and getting to see them is now more special.

At the same time they extended their support to me, when I began talking about my participation in the FAB (Freshmen Advocacy Board), their support became cautious regard. What’s odd is that they already know I am a strong Ally for the LGBTQ community, so they shouldn’t have been surprised by my advocacy. They reacted in the same way when I began to describe SCALE (the Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation). They questioned how my participation in these two organizations would help me in terms of my career (I am going to be a broadcast journalist).

I explained to them why I was taking time out of my already hectic schedule (in many ways a typical college student schedule) to pursue these endeavors: this is my fight, my passion. They didn’t question why I write for Neon Tommy or why I work 17 hours or why I applied to be an Orientation advisor. Despite the fact that these pursuits are passions as well, I wasn’t questioned about them; I have their full support for those commitments.

After this trying exchange, I doubted their support. It appeared to be fickle. But why is it that I am only now questioning them? Well, this was never a problem before because I always had their support. And that’s the real problem. Now I am here, away from home, finally being self-sufficient – as much as I can be at this point - so I can’t rely on my parents for the one thing I need from them. I took this intangible phenomenon for granted.

Merely because my parents don’t support my every choice now doesn’t mean they have forsaken me. If anything, realizing that I won’t always get this support form my parents only motivates me to challenge myself, because only I can fully support myself. There is strength in my entire support system, not in solely one person. I have my parents, my little sister, my extended family, my old friends, my new friends, my colleagues, my professors, my mentors; this entire group of people supports me. They believe in me. Whenever I talk about my goal of working at CNN or MSNBC or owning my own digital magazine, I can see in their eyes that they truly believe that I will accomplish any or all of these goals.

Despite how new my bond with someone is, I feel the support. This boosts the support I have for myself. It is the support I give myself, the encouragement I give myself, that gives me the confidence I need to always go forward. I will not merely exist! I have a life to live, so no one and nothing will stand in my way (sorry for the cliché).

 

Reach Columnist Kristy Plaza here.



 

Buzz

Craig Gillespie directed this true story about "the most daring rescue mission in the history of the U.S. Coast Guard.”

Watch USC Annenberg Media's live State of the Union recap and analysis here.

 
ntrandomness