I Am Campaign
I Am is a student campaign designed to promote the diverse identities that are represented at the University of North Dakota.
The campaign's goal is to affirm identity, experiences, culture, backgrounds, and perspectives to create an inclusive and equitable community among students who otherwise might feel isolated because of their identity. Who we are and how we experience the world matters.
Voices on Campus
It is important for let student voices and stories be heard. Learn about how students at UND experience campus.
Gonegamown "Gon" Carlson
Growing up, I never felt like I truly belonged to a specific identity, but that was only because I didn’t know how many there were. Learning that Filipino-American/bicultural/biracial isn’t just a label, it’s an experience that you share with others, reminds you that you are not alone. It matters because to know what you are is to know yourself. It’s healthy, knowing what space you take up in the world, knowing that you’re not the only one, and makes it easier to know where to find your community.
To me belonging is finding a place to be yourself without the anxiety of being ridiculed or outcasted. Community is finding a home that will protect and support you from the dangers in world and hopefully you can do the same for them. Whether it’s a small group of friends that accept you for who you are or a larger group of people who share your experiences, both can be a community and/or a place to belong.
On campus, I am a part of The F Word, Filipino American Student Organization, Japanese Cultural Association, and the UND Student Ambassadors. I have met so many new friends through these organizations. Being in these groups help to make me feel more connected to the UND community and I try my best to be as active as I can. Off campus, I frequently attend and perform at events hosted by the FilAmMinnDak Association. I also try my best to attend and raise awareness for the cultural events happening around North Dakota and our neighbors.
Sarah Owens
Hi, I'm Sarah Owens and I'm majoring in airport management with a minor in sustainability. My identities are rooted in being a Black woman. These communities that I find myself in are important to me because they give me a sense of who I am and how I move throughout the world. The intersections of my identities can often bring a lot of challenges, but they also offer so much joy in connecting with people. Making people feel welcomed and valued regardless of their identities is important to me and something I strive to do every day. Organizations such as The F Word, Lion's Club, and Students for Sustainability allow me to meet people from all over campus and connect with them over our shared interests. These spaces are important because they allow me to be my whole self and feel seen.