Donna Gantt, Luis Almeida, Hyejung Ju, and Patrick Stearns (not pictured) all hail from different parts of the world, including Korea, Brazil, Texas, and Ohio. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we all came together at Claflin!

Today, at the Claflin Pedagogical Conference, we presented a panel on migration—a topic we don’t typically research, but one that reflects a shared experience among us, brought to light by chance.

It’s incredible that we all crossed paths in this state, despite the odds—coming from a middle-class Korean background, a modest Texas upbringing, and a vibrant Brazilian childhood.

Life is unpredictable, and maybe agency is overrated! It was meant to be—our destinies converged in the small town of Orangeburg, SC.