“This is something I really look back on and I’m like you know what, I knew my shit so like why wasn’t I proud of it? ”
Sumitra Bernardo is known for her social justice and advocacy work both on and off campus. Her involvement around campus shows her commitment to helping others in her community. What is so unique about Sumitra is how clear her leadership aspirations are solely to benefit and help others.
Bella: Hello Hello! Can you start by telling me your name, your year, your major, and what you do around campus?
Sumitra: My name is Sumitra Bernardo, I am currently a third year at Whittiter. I am the president of Women’s Leadership Association and also am a program intern at the Center for Engagement in Communities. I am a part of the program that’s like the high school human rights program. We basically help high school students in the Whittier Community become more politically aware. On top of that this will be my second year being a part of API grad. I’m now an organizer for the Whittier College Students for Justice page doing video work as well as outreach and organizing. I reach out to student leaders on campus to show solidarity and support; for example right now with the Bon Appetit workers and things like that. Overall we fight for fair wages and call out all injustices that we can that are occuring. As president of WLA I am interested in collaborating too because we want to put ourselves out there doing those types of rally types of things as well. Lastly, at CEC I am also a conference organizer and I am currently working with my co-worker and our intern director partnering with a conference called “Dream It Be It” which is a one day conference for high school girls in the Whittier area to be empowered and provide them with professional development and leadership skills but also further empower them as like a girl/ young woman in specific careers. On the side I like to make and sell zines when I can at local events just to spread the word and share the stories of empowered people through zines.
Bella: Amazing so you definitely keep busy around campus. Have you always been someone who likes to be involved even in high school?
Sumitra: I think I always knew that I was capable of so much at such a young age so even since middle school I’ve always liked wanting to be in leadership positions because I know I can envision something and then carry out that vision as well as work with other people. I know sometimes it’s hard for people to balance both or even be a leader and a team player and I feel I do well at both.
Bella: Ya because you have a very leadership oriented personality have you kind of always had that?
Sumitra: Ya I think I have. I feel like I’ve always been a more extroverted person and I think when I was younger I don’t think I was as much as I’d hoped to be and it was one of those fake it til you make it sort of deals and manifesting that kind of energy until I got older and started taking on more roles and taking initiative in the leadership positions available to me and then when I was in high school I sort seeked out opportunities that were not provided in my community itself that had leadership positions or maybe like creative inclusive spaces to partake in because there was a lack of that around my area. Because of Social media I was able to get more involved outside of my everyday circle especially in high school which also helped me a lot in contributing to pieces and online platforms, but also know how to take initiative as well. So I have always been a person who loves to keep busy and I love helping and empowering people and I want to do what I can to do that.
Bella: So that’s a pretty long time coming. Since middle school being involved in these leadership roles. Over all those years, how has gender played into these roles? Has it been a restrictor? Have there been any specific instances that you think stand out?
Sumitra: I was just thinking about this the other day actually. Literally the first time I was called a know-it-all and I think that is something that is so interesting being a young girl because I think I was in middle school or something and I took it as this negative thing. This is something I really look back on and I’m like you know what, I knew my shit so like why wasn’t I proud of it? But it is just because of these societal standards and these norms that make it seem like that is not ok. I think I have noticed that growing up there were always more girls involved in leadership positions in high school and middle school but then when I got to college it shifts a little bit; not as much at our school but in general. How people perceive me is a big part of my identity as well. As a woman of color you are more dismissed unless you make yourself noticed so after experiencing so much of that dismissal at a young age, when going to college it was the time I reassured myself of my self worth and how powerful I am as a person and how capable of a person I am. In high school I’d let men take the credit for things I did and I saw it as a sense of modesty and now I have learned that whenever I enter a room I enter like I know what is going on.
Bella: So gender stereotypes have affected you but you have kind of overpowered them or made them less apparent
Sumitra: Ya ya because I feel like it’s unfortunate but they are present.
Bella: Have you found yourself conforming to any of these stereotypes like the double bind or overly apologetic, or submissive just to fit the expectations of your leadership positions
Sumitra: When I was younger or in lower positions than male counterparts I did do that. I would let them take the reins even though I knew how capable I was. I know I have fallen into that where I take a step back because I didn’t have that confidence yet that made me feel like I am capable. I had to learn that if you can contribute something important then why not go for it especially if it will benefit others.
Bella: Can you talk a little bit about what your career goal is?
Sumitra: So I am a Poli-Sci major with minors in film and gender studies but I am at the point right now where I don’t want to have just one career in my life. I hopefully one day want to run for office, but I do want to work in the non-profit sector or political campaigns something dealing with politics because I am a firm believer in giving power to the people and grassroots organizations so I would love to work in that type of field as well as like also wanting to be a documentary filmmaker which kind of intersects. I absolutely love the way that narratives are told through documentary film and how it can make someone feel and how you can gain so much insight and knowledge from a subject. I find that so important. Something that reassured me was that documentary on Netflix “Knock Down the House”. I had the opportunity of going to the Netflix screening where I partook in the Q&A where I asked for advice for young women of color looking to run for office or create films. I told them I wanted to do one of those two careers and they told me “Why not both?” saying no one is going to do it unless you do. I just want to do it all and they reassured me that I can.
Bella: Alright I guess that’s about it. Thank you so much
**additionally mentioned post interview**
Sumitra: I am helping organize a new organization called Students For Justice. It is still in the works so we don’t yet have a set meeting time, but we plan to work with other organizations on campus to call out injustices and provide solidarity.
After hearing Sumitra’s story and seeing how motivated she is, I have no doubt that she will achieve all her goals and future endeavours. If you are interested in joining WLA they meet every Thursday at 5pm in SLC 205. You can follow @wc_wla to stay up to date on the organization and any events they may have coming up. Also see what Sumitra is up to on her personal instagram account @sumitrabernardo
