She is Simmons: Becca Crosswaith Represents a Multi-cultural Student Body
She buzzes about campus with a flower in her hair. Constantly mistaken for being Hawaiian, Becca Crosswaith is much more than a hula dancer.
In fact, she is a critical asset to the Simmons community, as she represents the student body both politically and culturally. Already having demonstrated political leadership at the young age of 21, Crosswaith stands for a broad spectrum of students and nationalities. This, she believes, will help her succeed in politics in the future.
Adopted at three months old, Crosswaith grew up in Connecticut, but always struggled with her lack of clarity around the family she came from.
"My friends always say I am 'ethnically ambiguous,'" she says.
But her 'ethnic ambiguity' never stopped her. After finally meeting her birth mother in 2006, Becca says she now is able to appreciate all parts of her racially mixed background - African American, Italian, and Cherokee.
That is not to say she does not appreciate the family in which she was raised.
Crosswaith says that her adoptive mother has influenced her the most, bestowing upon her traits such as assertiveness, confidence in sharing opinions, and "no poker face," she says.
After watching her mother balance a career in social work while raising a family, Crosswaith became determined to become as "extremely strong" as her mother.
"My parents keep me grounded," she says. "They're realists, while I'm an idealist."
Her parents have helped her to keep her dreams in perspective, she says, but when they told her that being on the State Board of Education in high school would be "too big a task" for her, she proved them wrong.
"If I'm determined to do something, I will do it," she says.
Crosswaith says that when people can relate to someone based on shared ethnic background or experience, they are more likely to care about what that person has to say.
A perfect formula for the politician Crosswaith hopes to become.
An international relations major with a minor in history, Crosswaith's college career has been peppered with political experience. Sophomore year she helped restart the Model UN group at Simmons College after it had been dormant for the last 10 years. A worthwhile endeavor, she believes.
"Model UN extends what you learn in the classroom," she says.
The Model UN conferences set the stage for Crosswaith's determination to run for her town office.
"Last spring, I ran to be a pledged delegate for Barack Obama," she says.
A pledged delegate is a person chosen on both state and local levels to represent a specific candidate, according to ProCon.org, an election education website. Typically this position is reserved for established politicians, she says. Crosswaith didn't have the connections of an elected official but beat people who were deeply involved in the state government, she says.
"An older man took me under his wing, and took me around and introduced me to people I needed to know," she says.
"People were excited to see youth that want to make a change. I got a lot of positive feedback," she says.
It was her initial interest in being a woman leader that put her at Simmons in the first place.
Recalling the president's meeting she attended with her mom three years ago, she says that her potential freshman perspective was of an environment where women can be strong.
"The women seemed empowered, strong, and assertive," she says.
Crosswaith says that without the small community at Simmons, she wouldn't have as easily been able to obtain the leadership roles she has.
From SGA representative to Simmons Democrats debater, to political co-chair of the Like-Minds Coalition, Crosswaith says that she has developed a unique ability to confidently speak about ethnic differences.
"Being a multi-racial woman in this world, Like-Minds has helped me stay grounded," she says. It has prepared her for life after Simmons, where the challenge to address multi-racial issues will be much greater, she says.
Crosswaith emphasizes the need to strike a balance between schoolwork and activities but says that getting involved in organizations is key to expanding a classroom education further.
"Get involved in something you are passionate about," she says. "And if it's not here, start it."
- Dorothy Manley
Contributing Writer
The Simmons Voice
"She is Simmons" is published weekly in The Simmons Voice. It profiles a senior who exemplifies the Simmons woman.
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posted: September 29, 2009
