Kaitlynn Allen

Artifact One

EDU 280
 Cultural Belonging

I was born in Las Vegas, Nevada of

the United States of America, and I have

lived here my entire life.

As a young caucasian woman in
My family came to Las
today's society, discovering my culture has
Vegas from all corners
been an adventure. My ancestors came from
of the country, from
European nations about 5 generations ago.
California to Illinois. My family was a little
On my father's side, it is heavily Irish and
separated. My mom's household would
Scottish heritage. On my mother's side, my
celebrate religious holidays, such as Easter
heritage is traced back to Lithuanian and
with a cake shaped like a lamb. Whereas my
Ukrainian.
father was from a non-religious household.

My favorite food is seafood. I have

yet to find a reason to fully devote myself to,

and make the choice to not actively

I was raised in an English-speaking
celebrate holidays until I do, so I can fully
household, but I am determined to embrace
honor what religion will fit me one day. As
multiculturalism and ensure one day my
of today, I believe in having an active
children will be raised in a bilingual
awareness of your own existence, and the
household. I am embracing today's
effect we can hold on our own mentalities.
ever-changing world.
Life Experiences experiences played a major role in who I am

I am young, but for my lack of years, today.

I can say confidently that I have lived more I was born into a major melting pot

than the years I have existed. When I was in city, where everywhere there was different

seventh grade, my uncle passed away culture surrounding me. I find that having

unexpectedly, on the way to his parent's that upbringing prevented me from

house that very same day; my family developing a lot of the unconscious biases

received a call that my grandfather had also someone from a different region might have.

passed. A month later at my grandfather's For my hobbies, I run a renaissance

funeral, my great-grandmother passed away. re-enactment group, and we perform and

This summer of events repeated itself for fairs all along the West Coast. We also help

most of my childhood, tallying upwards of run large fair events such as the Lake

thirty family members passing away. When I Havasu Renaissance Fair. During these

was young, the holidays were full of people events, I do everything from shooting black

and family coming to town from across the powder and archery to sword fighting and

country. By the time I was 16, there were dancing.

only my parents. In the Summer of 6th I love traveling, almost enough to

grade, I had my first surgery, three metal call it an addiction. This year alone I have

plates were installed into my kneecaps, and I traveled to all corners of the North

had to learn to walk again. Today I have American continent including Alaska,

received five major surgeries, with sixteen Canada, Seattle, Florida, Belize, Cozumel,

different intestines. These critical life Costa Maya, and I have stepped foot in both

the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

World View

I believe that life is meant to be

experienced and lived to its fullest. I believe I have many goals and dreams I

that time should be spent on adventures, would like to accomplish in my lifetime.

challenging yourself to be better: for every Next semester I will be achieving my

day I live is another memory I've made. associate's degree, and I hope that both my

I firmly believe that people should bachelor's and master's are not far behind. I

do the right thing, simply because it is the hope to purchase a house within the next

right thing. If you're not great at something, five years as well as pay off my car.

practice. If you want something, the only One day I hope to be an educator at

thing stopping you from accomplishing it both the high school as well as the

yourself. My values and standards as a community college level.

person are to try to be the best version of

myself I can be.

I believe that life is far too short to

live with any lasting regrets. These beliefs

and values have led me to be someone that I

am personally proud of. I run a lot of

different groups and at the end of the day, I

want nothing more than to be someone

worth following.
 to the Caribbean

Cultural Artifacts
My partner
My family has no cultural artifacts to
and I were in
pass down from one generation to the next.
Juneau, Alaska

I have not received many awards, but this past

month.
I have been blessed enough to be in a

position to offer rewards to others,

My interests and hobbies range far

from renaissance re-enacting to sword My Renaissance trope at the Las Vegas Renaissance fair

fighting. I love reading and painting. When

life offers me enough free time I enjoy

writing and hope to publish a book in my

lifetime.

I love my family and friends and

often travel and share adventures with them

all.

My best friend

and on a cruise Bundled up inside of Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska.