Amelia is a dancer, personal trainer, and PhD candidate. All three of these endeavors culminate in her doctoral research on race, identity formation, embodiment, and pedagogy as she works to complete her degree in African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University.

How does the narrative of Cruces/Intersections affect you?

Crossroads have gotten more tangled as I’ve gotten older. Decisions feel bigger. Consequences are weigh more. The aging process seems intrinsically tied to how I’m experiencing pathways/caminos currently. I’m lucky—the best path always makes itself known. I don’t always have the courage to take it (immediately) but opportunity arises around every turn no matter how many times I “mess up.” I’ve learned to be grateful for choice. For uncertainty. For diversion. For another crossroad ahead.

What has Cruces/Intersections made you think about in your own life?

For me, this process illuminates the gratitude I feel for pathways being made clear to me. I sometimes feel immobilized by decision. Some of the best advice I’ve ever gotten: you oftentimes can’t make a wrong decision, there will always be the chance to shift or reroute if you change your mind. When I’m quiet and listen and don’t try to force a decision, the pathway becomes clear.