Amilya
“Being a woman, and specifically a woman of colour, means showing up authentically so that younger generations and other women of colour know and feel that they too can and should take up space in this world.”
Amilya is the kind of person you’d want to meet on the first day of school or when starting a new job; she is exceptionally inclusive, comforting, and loyal. Her ability to tackle a multitude of tasks in a single day is a testament to her work ethic and perseverance. Although she is no stranger to the challenges of long work days and full schedules, she has also learned to listen to her body when it comes to making time to rest and recharge. She always sees the glass half full. Meet Amilya. This is her story.
K: Please introduce yourself!
A: My name is Amilya. I am a graduate student completing my Masters in Public Health at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I am passionate about health and social justice and using those two passions to work towards reducing health disparities and inequities. My current research work pertains to the effects of COVID-19 on youth and young adults with a focus on areas such as mental health and socio-economic factors. I am also a Pilates teacher!
K: Define yourself in your own words.
A: A self-motivated, compassionate, over-thinker and coffee-addict! I thrive under pressure, which can be both a blessing and a curse as sometimes that encourages me to take on more than I should. I am a planner at heart and will always have my agenda nearby. I am a friend, a partner, a sister, a daughter & granddaughter, and a lover of anything chocolate! I love to read, travel (back when that was a thing), spend time by the ocean, go for long walks and do Pilates!
K: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
A: My sensitivity. As I was growing up, I used to be ashamed of it and would hate it when anyone would say to me "why are you being so sensitive?". Over the years I've learned to love my sensitivity. It's what makes me human and what makes me care so deeply. It reminds me that my heart is open to the world and that's a beautiful thing.
K: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
A: Teaching myself that rest is productive has made me stronger. It was a process (and still is) to allow myself to rest before every single thing on my to do list is done. We are all wearing many hats and it can be exhausting, especially in the middle of a global pandemic. I found myself working 15-hour days, through each weekend, sleeping at 3am for months, trying to juggle grad school, work, research, teaching, volunteering, exercising, home responsibilities, caring for my grandmother, seeing my partner or my best friend, the list goes on and I was drowning.
After numerous breakdowns and just realizing that I couldn't maintain this lifestyle, this hustle culture, this need to get everything done before I could just rest, I had to make a shift. I had to protect my wellbeing and my peace. I now carve out small breaks throughout my day and protect them like a mama bear as much as I can. I am learning to prioritize myself and my need to rest because if I don't, someone else will. If I don't, I will not be embodying the health promoting behaviors that public health teaches. I will not be embodying the "listen to your body" message I tell my students. I needed to say those words to myself and I still need to constantly remind myself, but it's a step in the right direction.
K: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
A: Feel all the feels. Take time to be self-aware, acknowledge yourself and what you're feeling. A human in-touch with their feelings, who is sensitive, who is open to emotion, to failure, will be more empathetic, strong, brave and a benefit to this world. Your feelings and your sensitivity are your superpowers so listen to them, make space for them, and protect them.
K: What does being a woman mean to you?
A: To me, being a woman is being resilient. Women today are expected to achieve and uphold high profile careers, birth children, manage households and caregiving duties... it's a lot. We are a lot. But we are more than capable. Being a woman, and specifically a woman of colour, means showing up authentically so that younger generations and other women of colour know and feel that they too can and should take up space in this world.