Growing Up in a Mid-Size Town of Woodinville, Washington

My name is Connor Galino. I was born and raised in Woodinville, WA. Being from a moderately mid-size town of Woodinville has helped me be well rounded. My family and I spend our summers on the lake on our best friend’s boat, and we spend the winter months either on the ski slopes at Stevens Pass or Whistler, BC. My family has always been very hospitable and friendly. Always looking to meet new people and help ones when we can. I feel growing up in a moderately sized city with so many different people and cultures has broadened my personality.

Growing up in Woodinville has helped me to be outgoing and has helped me not to see differences or color in people. To me, we are all the same. I never realized how people were treated differently until I was about 10 years old. One of my best friends at school, Duzi, who is African American, was treated terrible by the other kids. I felt bad for him because of how he was treated. Later while at the LWTech, I see older ones who have taken social ethics and they are kind to everyone no matter what their age, race, color or gender. In one class I did some research regarding equality. I read a lot about how people are treated based off their social standing or race. I heard on tv if you’re pulled over by the police you have an advantage if you are white. If you’re a white person, the police can be less hard on you. However, if you are anything but white they tend to be harsh. There are also many stereotypes’ people use when considering driving. Like Asian girls can’t drive, a pimped-out car with loud exhausts are usually African Americans or Asian male teenagers, and if you’re driving slowly, you must either be old or drunk. I never really realized I had advantages over others just because I was blonde and blue eyed. If anything, I always thought I was the dumb blond in the room who always needed special help from the teachers. My family loves to meet people and have new adventures, especially my brother, Cole, and I. We are very close and enjoy the same video games and sports. Cole’s best friend’s brother, Jamisen, is my best friend. Our families do a lot together. Jamisen’s dad is 100 percent Korean, and his mother is mostly Norwegian. We basically grew up together and I never saw a difference between us and I never saw him be discriminated against. But I know it exists and I try to put myself in their shoes and have empathy because it is so unfair. “How one’s racial identity is experienced will be mediated by other dimensions of oneself: male or female; young or old; wealthy, middle-class, or poor; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or heterosexual; able-bodied or with disabilities; Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or atheist,” (Tatum, 1997, p. 33). As a Christian, we do not segregate anyone in the Kingdom Hall. We all sit wherever we like and treat everyone the same. The bible does not condemn people for who they are, but it does not like immoral behavior when it goes against the scriptures. So, I treat everyone the same even if I don’t care for the lifestyles they choose or their behavior. We are all from Adam and Eve so there is no difference. I see myself as boring. I envy others who have darker skin as I cannot tan. I am very white, and I hate it. “Integrating one’s past, present, and future into a task that begins in adolescence and continues for a lifetime” (Tatum, 1997, p. 35). When I was 10 years old, I decided to treat everyone equally. Duzi was mistreated by others because of his color of skin, and I did not like that. I was bullied in grade school, and I didn’t like how it felt and it was hard to deal with. I was always getting into trouble because I talked and disrupted class. So, the teachers were not so kind to me when I complained about the bullying. At the time, the bully was a teacher’s pet, so I was told to ‘get along’ by the principle. I look to my future to make sure I help those who are bullied or treated differently just because they are different than the norm. I see how the world caters to certain people, and I believe some of the racism is due to money. For example, in Wal-Mart, they only have a small area for hair products that are not for white people. Also, I noticed when leaving Wal-Mart, which is always in a particularly low-income area, there is a Wal-Mart Associate who checks your receipt as you leave the store. The Wal-Mart Associate never asks to look at our receipt. After a few times, I realized it is because we are either white, or because we are wearing a little more upscale clothing. But I feel it is just because we are white. That is sad because it is so apparent now to me.

My brother, Cole, and I have experienced many terrific experiences and some life changing challengers. Cole is 4 years older and taller than me. We both have blood hair and blue eyes but since he grew a beard it has a lot of red in it. I like having an older brother very much and I admire him. He is smart, and it seems like everything comes easy for him. He has set a high bar of expectations for me since I went to the same schools as he did and let’s just say, I didn’t always live up to that when it came to the classroom. In grade school I got along with everyone but found myself in the principals’ office often. I tended to socialize and talk too much during class time. As I moved on and grew older, I got close to many older people. One of our families’ close friends lived in the Life Care Center in Kirkland. There were a lot of older people there recuperating from surgeries, and some needing special help and resided there. Many of the older ladies and gentlemen just sparked my interest. I found they were full of interesting stories, and I loved visiting with them. Many had very exciting lives before they got older, but they seemed very lonely. Sometimes I would simply play checkers or play cards and listen to all their stories. Getting close to older people meant seeing them pass away too. I grew up with a lot of death in my childhood. As I grew, I realized the value of life and to make the most memories I can. Hearing older people talk about their lives makes me want to do more in my life. “The infantile and adolescent phases play a crucial role in the formation and consolidation of identity” (Mann, 2006, p. 212). Cole attended the LWTech and graduated with honors a year early. Again, it was hard following in his footsteps. He worked in the office and stayed after school for many school events. I find myself here at the LWTech also and instead of competing with Cole, I am making my own way and I view my studies very seriously. The classes are direct and focused to help us be successful. The teachers seem to really care about our learning not just information and numbers but to be better students and individuals. Even during Covid I received a lot of help. It was a distressing time. My dad had to go to West Virginia to work for a few months. It was hard. When school was on Zoom it was a challenge for everyone. However, eventually, we all adapted, and I learned a lot. For example, I had an ethics class where I gained new aspects. I view situations differently and some of my learning opened my eyes to the world we live in. My family has traveled to many countries, which has also rounded out my personality. The most exciting country was Mexico. We were traveling from Cancun to Playa and there were soldiers with machine guns on the side of the road. We were told it was for our (the tourists) protection. In 2021 Beverly, my great aunt, was suddenly hospitalized. My brother and I shared a particularly close bond with her, and witnessing her declining health and knowing that her time was limited left me feeling helpless. Although it’s been over 3 years since she passed away, the memory still impacts me. I try to dwell on the happy times and joy we brought her during our visits to her home, which remains a source of comfort. I don’t let death affect me too much. We all get sad when we think of our loved ones passing away. But the bible tells us not to be overly sad. I’m a Christian and I have the hope of the resurrection, so this of course helps.

In conclusion, these aspects of my identity, such as my upbringing, family dynamics, and encounters with loss, are integral to who I am and have significantly shaped my outlook on life. Being from a moderately mid-size town of Woodinville has helped me be well rounded. We live in an amazing part of the world, and we take a lot for granted. In my travels I have seen poverty right next to fancy resorts. People are amazing and resilient, and I hope to make the most of my time. Though some situations can’t be changed, life experiences have contributed to my growth and resilience. I strive daily to be a better person. As I learn from my studies, I can be better by not allowing others to be treated unfairly. If this means I need to step in and get out of my comfort zone and stand up for others, I will. I know this will also include educating others to realize how some people are treated so unfairly due to their circumstances, race, color, age or beliefs. Patience is a quality I want to embrace. Many times, our reactions can cause harm but being patient and not retaliating can mean all the difference. One step at a time for all of us to progress and advance.

References

Mann, M. A. (2006). The formation and development of individual and ethnic identity: Insights    from psychiatry and psychoanalytic theory. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 66(3),                 211-24. Doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11231-006-9018-2

Tatum, B. D. (1997). Why are all black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? Revised edition. Basic Books. https://sbctc lwtech.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01STATEWA_LWTC/117qsle/cdi_proquest_ebookcentralchapters_5368838_10_96