I am the only person of color in my department and I smile and make small talk but I go home exhausted from performing normal all day with no one who really sees me.
More people experience this than they realize.
Being the only representative of your identity in a space creates a double burden of professional performance and cultural translation that few recognize.
“Where Are You with Chronic loneliness vs. situational loneliness?”
If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.