Univers
me a D e r t o ity of N
Dear reader, The Real Me Project is a celebration of diversity at Notre Dame. I use the term diversity to mean more than race and ethnicity, but gender, sexuality, class, religion, and other interests. Notre Dame is perceived as having an homogeneous student body. I dissent. People of different backgrounds are part of Notre Dame’s everyday life. The aim of the project isn’t to create a sense that there is more diversity than there really
Mayra Duarte
is, but rather to celebrate the diversity that
The Real Me Project
exists. Minority students often experience drastic and alienating misunderstandings. If the goal of having a diverse university is to increase exposure to different cultures and perspectives, the alienation of minorities is counterproductive. We, as students who do not conform and stand out, have confronted misconceptions about us. Having experienced this at least once, I got interested in what people who have experienced similar situations have to say. Instead of treating minorities in terms of mere statistics, The Real Me Project brings to life the people and experiences behind the numbers. We are a collective of individuals that have experienced the consequences of being different, and The Real Me Project creates a space to share our stories.
As you flip through the pages of the book, you will face a blank list. If you are patient enough, every time you encounter the list take your time trying to guess the most about the background of the person that is portrayed. Flip the page, there is a layout for you.
1. Where am I from? 2. What are my studies? 3. What is my religion? 4. What language(s) do I speak? 5. ...
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“‘Can you teach me Spanish?’ should never be used as a pick-up line.”
Mayra is from Panama City, Panama. She is 1/4 Chinese, and 100% Panamanian. She is a Graphic Design MFA student at the University of Notre Dame. Mayra is Roman Catholic. She likes taking pictures of her friends, dogs, lovebirds, and squirrels. She likes dancing salsa, bachata and merengue. Mayra believes she is a princess. She speaks Spanish and English.
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“Sometimes I shock people when I tell them that I’m half Chinese—they respond ‘really? I just thought you were normal!’”
Michael is from Toronto, Ontario. He is 1/2 Chinese and 1/2 Caucasian. He is a Philosophy PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. He is in ND Swing Dancing Club. Michael is Christian-Protestant. He plays badminton and tennis. He plays guitar and plays drums in the band ProtoPanPsychadelic Zombies. He speaks English, Cantonese and Beat-boxinese.
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“I don’t it like when people call me creepy. They miss the good qualities I have to offer.”
Mehrdad is from Tehran, Iran. He is Persian. He is a Sociology PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. Mehrdad is Muslim. He likes playing tennis, soccer, ping pong, and volleyball. Likes Classic Cinema and is a member of the Swing Dancing Club. He speaks Persian, English, and Arabic.
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“When I’ve acted goofy or loud and haven’t been the quiet, sweet girl I’m supposed to be, sometimes peers would say, ‘Ooh...pastor’s kid gone bad!’”
Christie is from Philadelphia, PA. She is Korean-American. She is a Political Science and Latin American Studies major at the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the Asian American Association, Mariachi ND, and Voices of Faith Gospel Choir at Notre Dame. Christie is Protestant. Loves Latin dancing, soccer, knitting, painting, and nature. She was born on Thanksgiving Day. She speaks English, Korean, Spanish, and French.
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“My name is often mispronounced and people assume I am female.�
Jaime is from El Paso, TX. He is Mexican-American. He is a History and Studio Art major at the University of Notre Dame. He is a College Mentor for Kids at Notre Dame. He likes to play soccer. He is a talented painter and drawer. He speaks Spanish, English, and German.
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“People generally ask me if India is the way it has been depicted in the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ and I have a tough time convincing them that there is lot more to India than that.”
Vishwanath is from Bangalore, India. He is Indian. He is an Electrical Engineering PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. Vishwanath is Hindu. He likes swimming. Vishwanath enjoys painting, traveling, and cooking. He speaks English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.
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“I don’t hula, I don’t surf, and I don’t live in a little grass hut.”
Tanya is from Honolulu, Hawaii. She is Filipino. She is a Graphic Design major at the University of Notre Dame. She is the president of the Asian American Association and an International Ambassador. Tanya is Catholic. She speaks English, Tagalog, and Japanese.
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“I am Kenyan. But no, we do not speak Kenyan, I have not run a marathon and unfortunately, I am not related to Barack Obama.�
Lawrence is from Nairobi, Kenya. He is a Chemistry PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. He is a member of the Celebration Choir and an International Ambassador. Lawrence is Roman Catholic. He is a huge fan of sitcoms and his favorite one is Friends. He speaks English, French, Swahili, Luhya, and Teso.
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“Yes, I’m a natural red-head and yes, I do have a soul.”
Mary is from Ironwood, MI. She is Caucasian of Scottish and Irish descent. She is a Photography MFA student at the University of Notre Dame. Mary is Presbyterian. She also has a minor in Dance (Ballet, Jazz, and Modern). Mary is a super-star in the shower and car. She speaks English.
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“Someone asked my father, who is Caucasian, where he had gotten me from, to which he responded, ‘My wife.’”
John was born in Leominster, MA. He is ⅛ Irish, ⅛ English, ⅛ Scottish, ⅙ German, ⅙ Danish, and ½ Korean. He is an Industrial Design and Electrical Engineering major at the University of Notre Dame. He is part of the Notre Dame Fencing Team and the ND Tae Kwon Do Club. John likes sailing and archery. He speaks English and Italian.
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“‘So you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Germany? What about other holidays like Easter or 4th of July?.’”
Christian is from Munich, Germany. He is Bavarian. He is an Electrical Engineering PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. Christian is Catholic. He plays tennis and soccer. Likes Photography. He speaks German, English, French, and Spanish.
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“When I say I’m from the Caribbean, people ask me which country my island belongs to.”
Rose is from Gros-Islet, St. Lucia. She is Afro-Caribbean. She is an Electrical Engineering PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. Rose is a Nominal Catholic. She likes reading, cooking, and traveling. Rose is into wine tasting and used to organize wine-tasting events. She Speaks English, French Creole, and French.
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“People find it peculiar that I’m a Latino studying English Literature.”
Angel is from Aguada, Puerto Rico. He is Puerto Rican. He is an English Literature PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. He is a pretty good cook. He thinks that laughter is the emotional equivalent of food. Angel’s friends refer to him as “the glue that keeps them together.” He speaks English, Spanish, and German.
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“I pronounce my ‘v’ like a ‘w’, so it’s really funny when I’m ordering a veggie burger.”
Hanna is from Stuttgart, Germany. She is Schwäbisch (from Southwest Germany). She is a History & Philosophy of Science PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. She is part of the Family Friendship Program at Notre Dame. Hanna is Protestant. She likes snowboarding, running, and playing basketball. She speaks German, English, Swedish, and French.
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“I’ve been an artist all my life and often in trouble for it. In 3rd grade, my teacher called me her little doodlebug and taped a daily tally to my desk, which she marked every time I was caught drawing.”
Erin is from Dallas, TX. She is of German, Norwegian, Swedish, and American Indian descent. She is a Painting and Drawing MFA and Gender Studies minor student at the University of Notre Dame. Erin is an Unitarian Universalist. She likes running. She speaks English, Spanish, and has the ability to communicate with chipmunks.
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“Every time someone asks how my parents met, I always just say ‘through a friend, like most other couples’. They assume because I’m mixed I have some ‘exotic’ story.”
Alexa is from Lake Saint Louis, MO. She is ½ Filipino and ½ Iranian. She is an English and Preprofessional major at the University of Notre Dame. Alexa is the chair of the Diversity Council and a diversity representative at the Campus Life Council. Likes hapkido, golf, and lacrosse. She is pretty good at Filipino cultural dances and belly dancing. She speaks English.
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“I have been asked to shut up when speaking Spanish.”
Amanda is from Panama City, Panama. She is Panamanian. She is a Graphic Design and Italian Studies major at the University of Notre Dame. Amanda is part of She’s the First Club. Likes creating random and unexpected mixed media art. Amanda is Catholic. She speaks Spanish, English, French, and Italian.
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“Some people are afraid to accept me as a homosexual, especially men.”
Tré is from Beaumont, TX. He is of Italian descent. He is a Graphic Design major at the University of Notre Dame. Tré is part of the Progressive Student Alliance at Notre Dame. He is trying to record an album on piano and vocals. He speaks English and Spanish.
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“While explaining the notion of all things having a ‘spirit’ to my roommate, she refused to accept that was how the majority of people in India lived.”
Nikita is from India. She is Indian. She is an Economics major at the University of Notre Dame. Nikita is also an ISSA International Ambassador, PILLAR, and a Coffee Break Mentor. She plays basketball. Speaks English, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada, and French.
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“Sometimes people ask me if I’m from North Korea. NO ONE is from North Korea.”
HyeSoo was born in Seoul, Korea, but she grew up in Singapore. She is Korean. She is a Film and Graphic Design major with an Anthropology minor at the University of Notre Dame. HyeSoo plays the flute. She is afraid of everything that flies or anything that has four legs. Hyesoo likes knitting, singing, dancing, cooking, and watching Pixar movies. She speaks Korean, English, and Chinese.
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“People still assume I’m a football player.”
Eras is from Palmdale, CA. He is African-American. He is a Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Design major at the University of Notre Dame. Eras is a Christian. He does magic and work with lasers. He speaks English and Spanish.
CHECK HEIGHT OF PICTURE
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“Surprisingly I prefer tennis over soccer... But I still love pasta!�
Gianluca is from Roseto degli Abruzzi, Italy. He is Caucasian. He is an Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. Gianluca is Catholic. He enjoys sky gazing and Astrophotography. He likes cooking and traveling. Gianluca plays the piano. He speaks Italian and English.
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“People around me are very nice. It seems that I am not misunderstood.�
Sun is from Guangzhou, China. He is a Sino Chinese. He is a Philosophy PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. Loves playing soccer and basketball. Likes filming and watching movies. He speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and English.
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“Being a design major and a blonde is not a great combination. At first, people think of me as not being smart.�
Elizabeth is from Indianapolis, IN. She is Caucasian of Irish and Alsatian descent. She is a Graphic Design major at the University of Notre Dame. She is an AIGA and NDesign member at Notre Dame. Elizabeth is Catholic. Elizabeth can do back flips. She wants to travel the world! She speaks English and Spanish.
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“My classmates automatically assume I’m a math genius.”
Suhan was born in Korea, but moved to Guatemala when he was 9 years old. He is a Spanish-speaking Korean. He is an MBA student at the University of Notre Dame. Suhan is Christian. He wants to start businesses in Central America to bring desperately needed jobs there. He speaks Korean, English, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese.
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“I get this a lot: ‘Oh Alfredo! Like my favorite pasta sauce.’”
Alfredo is from El Salvador. He is Latino of a Spanish and Italian descent. He is an Aerospace Engineering graduate of the University of Notre Dame. Alfredo likes soccer, running, and table tennis. He was in El Salvador’s national swim team. Alfredo is a Roman Catholic. He is a DJ and wants to professionally produce electronic music. He speaks Spanish, English, and French.
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“People have always assumed that I’m an ‘airhead’ or a C or D student when I’m actually passionate about my education. I’m always pegged as a ‘dumb girl.’”
Amanda is from Holgate, OH. She is an American of German and Irish descent. She is a Painting MFA student at the University of Notre Dame. She was a valedictorian at both her high school and undergraduate institution.. Amanda is a Lutheran. She loves to volunteer with special needs children. She knows all the words to Nikki Minaj’s “Super Bass.” She speaks English and Spanish.
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“I don’t eat sushi everyday. Neither do people in Japan. You might eat it maybe once a week.”
Airi is from Taiwan and Japan. She is ½ Taiwanese and ½ Japanese. She is an Industrial Design and Information Technology Management major at the University of Notre Dame. She is part of NDesign, IDSA, AIGA, and ISSA at Notre Dame. Airi is a Buddhist. She speaks Mandarin, Japanese, and English.
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“One of my friends tried to convince me that El Salvador was another state of Mexico. I was really mad.”
Ricardo is from San Salvador, El Salvador. He is ½ Salvadoran and ½ Swiss. He is an Arts & Letters student at the University of Notre Dame. Ricardo is Catholic. He does improv comedy and is passionate about theatre and acting. He can also sing (but shh!). He speaks Spanish, English, and Italian.
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“Almost every one thinks Iran is completely desert and we don’t have snow, they don’t know that Iran borders Russia.”
Golnaz is from Tehran, Iran. She is Persian. She is an Electrical Engineering PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. She is an International Ambassador for ISSA at Notre Dame and the president of the Persian Community. Golnaz is Muslim formally, spiritual actually. Loves dancing and listening to music. Golnaz works with explosives (the gases used in the lab are more dangerous than missiles). Speaks Farsi, Arabic, and English.
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“A guy asked me if I was going to college to get my ‘MRS.’”
Marie is from Lafayette, LA. She is Caucasian. She is a Graphic Design MFA at the University of Notre Dame. Marie is Catholic-ish. She play drums, banjo, and sings. Likes printmaking and canoeing. She speaks English and French.
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“I have a hard time making my friends recognize that Indians are Asians too.�
Pinaki is from Kolkata, India. He is Indian. He is a Physics PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. He is a member of the Indian Association at Notre Dame. Pinaki is Hindu. Plays badminton, ping pong, tennis, cricket, soccer, and board games. He speaks Bengali, Hindi, and English.
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“People think I’m cheating when I tell them I’m taking Korean language classes. They don’t really understand what it’s like to have a communication barrier between your parents.”
Shelley is from San Diego, CA. She is Korean-American. She is a Liberal Studies and Film major at the University of Notre Dame. She is the secretary of the Asian American Association and part of the Student Standups of Notre Dame. Shelley is Catholic. She is a 1st-grade catechist and a humor artist. Speaks English and Korean.
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“When people try to convince me I’m not Black, I realize that my appearance trumps the truth... and I am done attempting to have a conversation.”
Kamilah is from Philadelphia, PA. She is African-American. She is a Sculpture MFA student at the University of Notre Dame. Kamilah is Catholic. She is an instrument rated private pilot. Kamilah loves pugs and old books. She speaks English.
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“Sometimes when I tell people my name they ask which country I was born in. Then I ask if they know which country Tennessee is in.”
Marcos is from State College, PA. He is ½ Argentinian and ½ Caucasian. He is a Chemical Engineering PhD student at the University of Notre Dame. Marcos is Roman Catholic. He is in the Liturgical Choir. He grows potatoes. He speaks English, Spanish, and German.
“Census data and blind surveys often result in numerical statistics that lead to published criticism of communities that do not possess popular objectives for an arbitrary balance among minority population segments. By contrast, Mayra Duarte’s Real Me project interviews individuals within such minority groups. Duarte’s personal approach gathers data one-on-one, exposing unexpected aspects of interracial appreciation and social satisfaction that happen in and around under populated minority segments as they engage majority counterparts. Her recorded quotes, posters and captured video appear to challenge popular opinions that have been traditionally based only on measuring population balance. Duarte’s documentation uncovers advantages of ethnic individuality among these relatively isolated minorities, pointing to a conclusion that recognizes mutual appreciation and distinctions that enrich cultural, ethnic or racial sharing between friends that cross cultural and racial boundaries without ever achieving numerical balance. In such instances, Duarte’s images and text achieve far more than an altered point of view. Her work encourages optimism in a positively rewarding future of human discourse that doesn’t depend on a homogenized population ratio. -Professor Paul Down, FIDSA, Industrial Design Program Coordinator, University of Notre Dame
“The Real Me opens one’s eyes to the diverse linguistic, racial, and cultural heritage of our campus.” -Felipe Campos, President of Ballet Foklórico
“The Real Me is a creative and interesting way to approach and explore the diversity issues that we face on campus. I have never seen something like this before, and I am excited to see what impact this has on our community.” -Pablo J. Quan, Vice-Chair of Diversity Council
“Full of pop, color, and innovation, this collection of portraits provides a nuanced version of the reality we see on campus everyday. I never knew Notre Dame had so many hidden treasures!” -Alexa Arastoo, Chair of Diversity Council
“As Rector of the Fischer O’HaraGrace Graduate Residences at Notre Dame, I have the joy of living among and working with over 500 students representing more than 40 countries. I recognize that diversity as one of the greatest blessings of my job and of this community. In The Real Me Project Ms. Duarte has captured the beauty and grace of our students in a creatively captivating way while illuminating the challenges and misconceptions they often face with truth and wit.” -Mimi Beck, Rector, Graduate Residences
The pictures and testimonies of The Real Me Project were taken and collected in the Fall of 2011 at The University of Notre Dame. The Real Me Photo Shoot was held during International Education Week (November 14–18, 2011). Thanks to International Students Services and Activities (ISSA), The Real Me Photo Shoot happened at the same time as the International Taste of South Bend (November 16), an event that gathers a large number of students together to sample a variety of international cuisines provided by local ethnic restaurants. The students were invited to share, in a positive environment, an experienced misconception along with real information about them. It provided the opportunity to showcase themselves as unique individuals. The Real Me Project is an honest overview of the life experience of these students. Some days it is tough and some days you just laugh. Being able to talk about these experiences makes us more comfortable with ourselves. Sharing is the first stepin letting go of resentment and beginning to educate others, hence demonstrating how many of these misunderstandings don’t apply.
re y o f N ot it s r e iv n U
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The Real Me Project, The Real Me Photo Shoot, and The Real Me Photo Shoot 2.0 were possible thanks to: Mayra Duarte, Creative Director The Real Me Project Matt Bean, Photographer The Real Me Project Michael Longenecker, Production Assistant The Real Me Project Amanda Joseph, Event Assistant The Real Me Project McKenna Pencak, Assistant Director International Student Services and Activities Tobias Blake, Assistant Director Multicultural Student Programs and Services Alexa Arastoo, Chair Diversity Council The Participants of The Real Me Project