Transcription

Narrator: Maryam Shapland (MS)

Interviewer: Lita Malicsi (LM)

LM: Now, after high school, you went to Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. What degree did you pursue and what prompted you to major in that area of studies?

MS: So, this is interesting because after all the math and science in high school, I decided to pursue the degree of American Racial and Multicultural Studies, which was kind of a lesser known degree at Saint Olaf College.

This was a struggle with my parents, as well, because I was going for a degree in biology and I was pre-med, and I decided around, I think it was my sophomore year in college that I’d taken all the biology classes I wanted. I’d taken human biology, cell biology, microbiology, and I was not interested in plants. [Chuckles] The only classes left for me to take to complete my degree was plant biology, a few of those classes. I was just absolutely not interested in it. And I said, “I don’t want to take this. I don’t want to pursue biology.” My minor at the time was American Racial and Multicultural Studies which was fascinating to me, because it was a study of how the different cultures and races in the U.S.…the different experiences of the different ethnic groups: African Americans, and Hispanic Americans, gay Americans. It was just fascinating. So I decided to pursue that degree, much to the chagrin of my parents. I remember having a conversation with them and they said, “Well, if you have a biology degree, this is what you could do. If you have an American Racial and Multicultural Studies degree, what can you do?” I had to convince that this was a valid degree and that it would help me in the future. [Chuckles]

LM: In May 1998, you graduated magna cum laude from Saint Olaf College. Now I would like you to describe that moment in your life and your family’s.

MS: Well, it was a very good day. I remember feeling very proud and feeling like I wanted to express my Filipino-ness during my graduation. So I decided instead of my cap, my graduation cap, I wore some Filipino Muslim headgear and I also wore kind of a Muslim — I forget what that cloth is called — but I wore a sash…

LM: Batik?

MS: Batik sash across my chest to express my being Filipino during graduation.

LM: You still majored in multicultural studies?

MS: I did.

LM: Now, at this time did your parents’ feelings change?

MS: I think they slowly warmed up to the idea. I think that they were okay with it in the end. [Chuckles]

LM: Especially after having graduated magna cum laude!

MS: Yes.