OPINION: Finding my label… Who is Megan?
by Megan Islin, Reading University Jewish Society president
I’m Megan, and I’m 20 years old and I’m still trying to find my label. Oh! #andJewish.
Whilst interning at UJS, I spent a lot of time looking into the campaign #LABELFREE #andJewish and it made me think about myself and how I identify. Each person in the #LABELFREE #andJewish campaign videos are eloquent and clear as they deliver their story, each one more interesting and thought provoking than the next. Grace, a transgender strong woman. Ed, a brave navy officer. Catherine, an empowering sportswoman. And Alyson, an edgy nurse. Each individual spoke about their story and how they’re using labels to be confident and to express their unique identity.
The other day, I read an extremely insightful piece written by Hannah Brady, UJS President, where she wrote about her own story with labels and her identity. It got me thinking about how I identify. Who am I? What am I? Where do I stand in the grand scheme of things?
Like most other students, I’ve been through stages in my life where I’ve had no clue what to do with my life. I still don’t but I’m getting there, and that’s okay.
We’re asked from a young age to label ourselves, for example, when I was young I would say “I have brown hair, I have brown eyes and I’m a girl.” As I got older, I labelled myself as a professional actress, (I’m still a drama queen) but as time evolved, so did I. Growing older still I wanted to be a Doctor, so I labelled myself ‘Doctor’. Then briefly after I decided I didn’t anymore. Through my teenage years, again like a lot of others, I suffered with depression, so I labelled myself depressed. This was the hardest label to shake off, but eventually I did not identify with that label either.
Now I stand as a 20 year old Consumer Behaviour and Marketing student from Reading University who needs to find a placement. Throughout all the applications, I have to describe myself. Who are you? Why do you want this placement? Why are you a good applicant for this placement? Again, I have no idea.
But do you know what I do know?
I’m Megan Islin. I’m 20 years old and I’m still trying to find my label. Oh! #andJewish.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
