Who I Am

My name is Regan, and I am…

I am privileged.

I am White.
I am a US citizen.
I am a cisgender female.
I am a married heterosexual.
I am non-disabled.
I am baptized, though I am now an atheist.
I am middle-class.
I am a home owner.
I am educated.

In addition, I am tall.
I am brown-haired.
I am easy-going and laid back.
I am a former college athlete, a Flying Dutchwoman.
I am book smart, rather than street smart.
I am a transplanted Midwesterner.
I am a former New Yorker.
I am a returned Peace Corps volunteer.
I am a lover of animals, my cat and dog most especially.
I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, an auntie, a wife, and a new mom.

I am particular, not picky; I know what I like.
I am a flawed perfectionist.
I am a procrastinator.
I am environmentally friendly.
I am pro-choice and anti death penalty.
I am confidence steeped in self-doubt.
I am independence made soft by the care of others.
I am sometimes an accident waiting to happen.
I am smirks and grins, winks and nods.
I am a contradiction.
And I am an optimist.

I am a writer who’s scared to write,
But I am changing.

I am living, writing, growing.

 

Before staying at home with my infant son, I taught English in public high schools and middle schools. At one of my schools, I was lucky to be able to participate in year-long SEED (Seeking Educational Equity & Diversity) professional development courses over several years (for more information on The National SEED Project On Inclusive Curriculum, check out the website at www.nationalseedproject.org). One activity from one of those classes was to compose an “I am” poem. It is difficult to capture all that we are in a few short words, but it is fun to try. Eight years after my original poem was written, I have made some updates to reflect some life changes, and my new goals with this blog. I hope you’ll join me as I live, write, and grow.

 

16 thoughts on “Who I Am”

  3. I love how unashamedly honest this is! Particularly ‘I am a writer who’s scared to write’, it really resonates with me as I would love to be a writer after uni, I’m just afraid of actually picking up the pen and putting down what’s in my head. I like what you’ve posted so far, you have really good writing skill and an interesting view of the world. Fellow blogging101-er Grace x

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Grace. It is very helpful to learn that a particular line “resonates” (great word choice!). That’s what we want as writers, to connect, to reveal, to enlighten, inspire, empathize and so much more. In university I very distinctly remember asking a professor if I declared a Creative Writing English major, would that doom me to not write. I’m trying now to make that not the case. Good luck with your studies! And your blog, of course. 🙂

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  7. Hi, Regan. I really enjoyed your “Who I Am” poem and the follow-up paragraph. You sound as though you’re a very talented and diverse person, and I would like to read more of your writing. Best wishes. 🙂

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