I’m saying goodbye to another set of friends who are leaving Dodge City and moving on to greener pastures outside of Kansas, writes Alejandro Rangel-Lopez. While this feeling first felt like a slight breeze, it now reflects the howling winds of the prairies as I struggle to hold on, like a tumbleweed in a barbed wire fence. In 2021, I graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree, a community organizing job in my hometown and a dream of empowering young southwest Kansans with the tools to build communities we can be proud to call home. Two years later, I’m saying goodbye to another set of friends who are leaving Dodge City and moving on to greener pastures out of Kansas, and I find myself reflecting on this dream as I continue to struggle to find my place on these desolate, open plains. When I first left my hometown of Dodge City after graduating from high school, I knew that I wanted to come back to where my family was and foster the idea that, as the youngest region in a state bursting with diversity, we deserve a say in the policies that affect our day-to-day lives and demand a better future for our children. I spent my time at college learning from both peers and professors the skills and information I’d need to help me in this endeavor. From taking classes about the politics of Latin America, to getting involved with campus organizations, to representing my fellow students as a student senator, I thought that I was setting myself up for great success as soon as I graduated. I didn’t foresee, however, how much the absence of those support systems would affect me and my ability to do the work necessary to build toward change. I took for granted how easy it was to see friends, meet new people with similar interests and do those things that make you look forward to the next day. Though I don’t miss the all-nighters I pulled to turn in papers and other projects on time, I can’t help but to feel as if I’m missing a part of myself. Or rather, missing out on opportunities to share moments with others. While this feeling first felt like a slight breeze, it now reflects the howling winds of the prairies as I struggle to hold on, like a tumbleweed in a barbed wire fence.
Source: Kansas Reflector