I cried in French today.

And not even because French "sounds like people trying to gargle marbles".

Today in my French class (which seemed like a romantic idea to take at the beginning of the year), someone made a remark that was worthy of a Texas bumper sticker. "I think everyone in America should be fluent in English." Mme La Prof* stopped her lesson on how to say our nationalities and ethnicities en français and gave a much needed lecture on such ignorant statements. It went something like this:
"I don't care what political party you align with, you could be the most conservative person in the world, or even on the opposite end of the spectrum, but we all need some empathy. When you see someone standing at McDonald's, struggling to get their order straight, with a heavy accent and a fresh citizenship, think twice before you start judging. You guys are complaining to me about how French people and Canadians discriminate against you when you travel to their homelands, yeah? Because you're not fluent in their tongue, are you? Things aren't so easy when you don't have the upper hand."
The class was silent, and the girl who made the remark was suddenly sheepish.
"Look, there are some countries where women are completely subjugated. You might not understand that because we live in a pretty progressive country, but there are countries where women don't get the opportunity to come to school like all of you." This struck a chord with me, as a huge enthusiast for women's rights, and moreover just fundamental human rights. "So they get the chance to come to this country, to work hard, not for themselves. They never had that primary or secondary education, no, they're here for their daughters. So that their daughters can go to high school, get a degree, find a career they're passionate about, and get married, if that's what they choose, because they want to. Not because they have to."
I cried in French today, and it wasn't even because of how much I hate conjugating verbs.

My mother's parents immigrated to America from Mexico. Neither of my grandparents had the opportunity to get a secondary education, as they were forced to work as child laborers. They came to the US just before my mother was born. I can never express how grateful I'll be to them for taking such a huge step for the sake of their daughter, and futhermore, their grandchildren. I guess that short little lecture woke me up a bit. I've always considered myself to be a feminist, but that small moment where we were all just listening to my teacher was profound for me. It solidified everything I believe in, and as Sylvia Plath might say, it touched a human string in the cat's cradle of my heart. It made me realize how lucky I am to have the things I have. I've never considered marriage, as it's not really a priority to me. I've never wanted kids, simply because I feel that sort of life would never equate to happiness for me. I've always thought of myself as a freethinker, but today I realized just what that meant. I have the opportunity to do the things I want-work hard in school, study the things I'm passionate about, become what I wish to be, and seek happiness (whatever that turns out to be). I have that opportunity and I'm not letting go of it. I just wish that everyone had that same chance to pursue their happiness.

And let the record show that by crying, I mean a few tears escaped. It was merely a physical reaction to an emotional stimulus.
Illustration credits to Nick Lu
*my teacher