Personal Reflection

Explore the sections below to learn more about how I view my privilege and positionality.

Personal Life

 

At 32 years old, I move through the world as a white, cis-gendered, able-bodied, upper middle-class, educated, married, mother of three; all identities that shape how I am perceived and how I experience systems of power.

These social locations grant me access, safety, credibility, and comfort in ways that are not equally afforded to many of the individuals and communities I serve.

My education, financial stability, and family support create layers of protection that soften the impact of many structural barriers, allowing me to navigate institutions with relative ease and confidence.

 

 

 

Education

 

While I am deeply proud of how far I have come, I know my success has never been achieved in isolation.

Behind the sleepless nights spent completing assignments was a father rocking our babies to sleep; behind the long hours at practicum were in-laws offering unwavering care; and behind the stress-filled tears were friends, family, and coworkers holding space for me to persevere.

I entered this program from a place of undeniable privilege — a father able to care for my children, a husband sacrificing sleep so I could meet deadlines, the ability to take time off work without consequence, and the freedom from financial strain during practicum.

These supports have allowed me to maintain a 4.0 GPA and navigate my many roles with far less stress than many of my peers.

I carry deep gratitude for this foundation while also recognizing that this level of flexibility and support is rare, and that my achievements have been shaped, sustained, and made possible through privilege I must never forget.

Professional

 

I hold a position of authority within a system that too often prioritizes managerial  decision-making over relational care and collective wisdom.

My role carries power, legitimacy, and influence; a reality reinforced by the countless manager-level meetings I am expected to attend, the confidential information I am instructed to withhold, the visible fear on people’s faces when I ask to speak with them privately, and the feedback from service users who describe interacting with a manager as feeling like being called into the principal’s office.

This is an uncomfortable truth to sit with, but crucial to confront.

With this awareness, I must continually reflect on whose voices are being centered, whose knowledge is being overlooked, and whether my leadership is upholding hierarchical control or intentionally working to disrupt it.

Social Justice 

Acknowledging my privilege is not about guilt, but about responsibility.

It requires me to remain critically self-aware, to actively challenge systems that benefit me, and to use my voice, power,

and access to advocate for those who continue to be marginalized, silenced, or denied equitable care and opportunity.

 

Benefits

 

  • My opinions and decisions hold a lot of weight in spaces where marginalized voices are often ignored.
  • I have the ability to make space for those with lived experience, and my presence often commands a sense of respect.
  • I have direct access to policies, procedures, funders, and other decision-makers.
  • When I use my voice, take a stance of resistance, or ask difficult questions, I do not fear retaliation, job loss, or other harms.

Risks

 

  • My position and naturally loud personality can result in my voice being prioritized over those with lived experience.
  • My credibility has the potential to reinforce compliance, as my words and decisions may carry weight that discourages others from questioning harmful practices.
  • My privileged perspective and drive for efficiency can unintentionally shift advocacy from solidarity to saviorism.
  • Unconscious bias can make it harder to challenge policies when I am not personally affected by their consequences.

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