This month marked the start of my journey as an intern at Crossing Borders, and it has been nothing short of inspiring! As part of my introduction to the organization, I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop with a group of Japanese students. The objective was simple yet profound: to reflect on and learn about the importance of diversity, not just in society, but in our personal lives as well.
From the moment the workshop began, the students’ energy and openness set the tone. Even though I was a bit worried about how it would all unfold—especially with the language barrier—the presence of a skilled translator made the communication flow easily, allowing everyone to feel included and fully involved. It was clear that the students had come with open minds, eager to engage with the topic. Therefore, I couldn’t have been more impressed by their readiness to dive into the discussions. The workshop was designed to be interactive and participatory, so we explored diversity through group discussions, storytelling, and presentations. Each activity was crafted to encourage personal reflection on how diversity impacts our everyday lives and communities. The students were quick to share their thoughts, drawing on their own experiences, and it became clear that this wasn’t just an academic exercise for them—they were genuinely curious and thoughtful about what diversity meant.
One thing that really struck me was how insightful their comments were. For many of them, diversity is not something they encounter regularly, but they approached it with an open-hearted willingness to learn. The discussions often went deeper than I expected, and it was a joy to witness how they took these conversations seriously. But the most meaningful moment for me came toward the end of the day. After we’d spent hours discussing the different facets of diversity, one of the girls, who had functional diversity, was visibly moved by the session and shared with us how she felt related tot the topic. She talked about her experiences of navigating life with her disability and how discussions around diversity had given her the courage to open up. There was this quiet, powerful moment in the room as everyone listened, and I could see that her words were reaching the other students in a profound way.
Her story was a reminder of why these conversations are so important. Diversity isn’t just a concept; it’s deeply personal, and the way we understand and embrace it can change lives. I left the workshop feeling really grateful—not just because of the students’ willingness to engage, but because they had shown me the power of these dialogues. As my first workshop, this experience exceeded every expectation I had. The students’ genuine involvement, their thoughtfulness, and the emotional depth of the discussions left a lasting impression on me. It showed me the real impact of education and it was the perfect way to start this new chapter. I can’t wait to see what the rest of my time at Crossing Borders will bring.
Written by: Sara Montes Martínez, Intern at Crossing Borders
