As my entire college career is winding down this week, I cannot help but reflect on this semester and acknowledge the moments in class that were most outstanding. Going into this class, I felt anxious to learn about homelessness. I knew that the conversations I was overhearing from family members about homeless people were wrong, but I didn’t know how to properly connect them. I mean, what do you really say when your outspoken uncle refers to all homeless people in Seattle as lazy, ungrateful people? Now I know that I have a multitude of responses lined up for the next time this conversation unfolds. Some of our most powerful moments in the class were when we all acknowledged that we need to humanize homelessness, but that doing just that won’t solve anything. Using our conversation from last class and reflecting on it, I think it’s important to keep in our minds that you can help people who are struggling and also fight against the structures that are making them struggle, all at the same time. Just because I want to “put band-aids on people” doesn’t mean I’m contributing to the same issue. I’m all about empathy and understanding and I think I will use those two traits moving forward when I continue to learn about homelessness and speak about homelessness with others. Breaking stereotypes and stigmas is one way that we can all start to change the conversation. While it’s not us fighting to change policy, it is a step in the right direction. I’m really grateful to have taken this class and to have learned so much in just a few short weeks!