The Roots of ‘You Belong Here’

The phrase ‘you belong here’ can be interpreted a lot of different ways, making it super transferable. However, it matters to me that the message I put out is clear. Here you’ll find what I really mean by the term BELONG and how the phrase ‘you belong here’ came about.

It wasn’t until my first year of teaching when I realized: belonging isn’t about fitting in. Belonging is truly about standing out, standing in your identity, in your story, in your power.

For years, I refused to accept any interest in becoming an educator. Because of that I did not go through the traditional route to become a certified teacher.  After studying Spanish & Linguistics in undergrad, I landed a job at an OBGYN office, checking in patients, scheduling appointments and using my Spanish when needed. After realizing how unfulfilled I felt in my role, I decided I wanted to go for a masters. After a few challenges (a story for another time) I found a degree only program to study Spanish Language Education, no teaching license included….still unwilling to accept the truth about wanting to become a teacher. I figured this program would help me keep up with Spanish and continue my education at the same time. I’d just recently moved from my hometown to northern Kentucky/Cincinnati when I started volunteering at a high school in our neighborhood, working primarily with multilingual learners. Volunteering turned into a full time job as an assistant teacher the following school year, with the same group of students!

That assistant teacher role led me to the realization that I needed to have my own classroom! I left every day feeling inspired and encouraged to make an even bigger impact. I was finally prepared to accept the truth, teaching was what I was meant to do. So, I applied to Teach for America and was accepted into the Southwest Ohio Corps, which was great because  I was already living in that area. Teach for America’s alternate route program allowed me to become a certified teacher after going through extensive training and passing the required tests for the subject areas I’d been assigned to. The school where I was currently working as an assistant, partnered with Teach for America, so there was a chance I would be able to stay at that same school,  what I’d hoped for! I’d already familiarized myself with the culture, made connections, built relationships, etc. It just made sense. 

I remember feeling annoyed and overwhelmed at the thought of having to start over someplace new, it didn’t seem necessary.

The school interviews were set up like speed dating. I got the opportunity to interview with two schools, back to back. The first interview was with the school where I was currently working in NKY and the second at a school in a different school district, across the bridge in Cincinnati. 

When I interviewed for the job at the school where I was currently employed as an assistant, I was offered a job to teach high school Spanish, but under one condition—I had to pass the Spanish Praxis for official hire for the new role. All the certification exams are probably part of the reason why I shied away from education in this form for so long—I hate taking tests. 

The second interview with a different school in a completely different district was looking to hire a bilingual (English & Spanish) teacher for middle school Language Arts. My thoughts: middle school? EW. LANGUAGE ARTS?! NO. But the irony is that the interview went exceptionally well. The interview team was super bubbly, welcoming and encouraging from start to finish. I was even asked a few questions in Spanish and felt confident and safe to engage in dialogue with complete strangers. That’s the type of environment the team created. Historically, I shell up when prompted to speak Spanish with people I don’t know. The admin team told me on the spot, “we’d love to have your join us! I wish we had a school t-shirt or something for you take with you!”

I was presented the opportunity to teach without any conditions. The exact words were: “You’re hired with no conditions! We can’t wait to have you join our family!”

It took me a while to realize this is exactly what it means to belong. To be accepted—with no conditions.

(Side note: I ended up being certified in two subject areas by the end of my first year along with the completion of my masters.)

Here I was, my first “real” teaching gig in a content area and grade band that I wasn’t completely familiar with. As a result of that, I had several coaches and mentors in my corner for guidance and support-- including administration at the school. From day 1 the principal showed me what it meant to BELONG. I belonged because I was able to show up as me, not as someone who people wanted me to be. I belonged because I was accepted as I was. 

Through this acceptance, I was able to create a similar sense of belonging in my classroom as a first year teacher. The idea of “this is a safe space” has been a norm for my classroom ever since. Students show up as their whole selves—and they thrive. Students thrive in communities where they feel accepted, understood and supported.

Teachers also want to be in communities where we feel accepted, understood and supported. When these things are true, guess who benefits? STUDENTS! Isn’t that the goal? 

YOU BELONG HERE is about intentionally creating and nurturing safe spaces where people feel they can be themselves!

What does it mean to belong?

To belong is to take up space, as you are, as your most authentic self.  To belong is to not conform to systems based on your surroundings or to be someone you are not, for the sake of fitting in or pleasing others. Belonging has nothing to do with fitting in, but everything to do with standing out. When a person belongs somewhere, they don’t have to shrink who they are to make other people feel comfortable. 

What is a “safe space?” 

A safe space is a feeling of liberation. Feeling free to be yourself, having the freedom to work, learn, grow and collaborate with people who are from across lines of difference. A safe space is a space where it is ok to show up and not feel the urge or need to hide parts of who you are.

Consider ‘you belong here’ as a love note to anyone who has ever felt less than. To anyone who has felt like who they are is “too much,” or “not enough.'“