Myagonzalez03 | Mya

Prompt: What Does Beatrice Mean To You

Name: @myagonzalez03 | Mya

Social Media: Twitter

'It Was Everyone but YOU’

I live in a state where we have the infamous "Don't Say Gay" law and now also an "Anti-Trans" law. It creates a hostile environment for those in the LGBTQ+ community and sends a message that their identities are shameful and should be kept hidden. In this time now more than ever, characters like Sister Beatrice are crucial in giving that positive representation and reassurance that who you are and who you love despite your religious beliefs does not matter and should not be punished.

For me, I grew up in a religious family and spent a lot of my early education in a Baptist Christian school. All my friends would get together at lunch or while we had outside time and talk about which boys they found cute, while I just sat there in silence not being able to bring myself to join in on these types of conversations. Early on I knew that I was different from the rest of my friends in a way that while they were talking about cute boys, in my head I was thinking about all the cute girls instead. It made me worry at such a young age that something was wrong with me, that I wasn't normal like the rest of my peers. I would sit in the chapel and bible classes and have to hear the pastor or teacher tell us about how loving those of the same sex was an automatic ticket to Hell. At the age of 10, I would spend nights praying to God asking Him to make me normal like the rest before silently crying myself to sleep in fear that because of who I love, despite my faith, I wouldn't be accepted into His open arms. Then, when I was outed by my older sibling, I had my mother send me all these religious articles about the sins I was committing and how when I died, I wouldn't be joining the rest of the family in Heaven. I was made to believe that I was the problem and that I didn't care about my family or my faith simply because of who I was made to love.

When I watched the show Warrior Nun and was introduced to Sister Beatrice for the first time, it was like everything was still for a moment and I was brought back to a time I was so desperately trying to forget about. The scene that got to me is when she and Ava were reading through Sister Melanie's journal entry, where we got the infamous line “Don'thate what you are, what you are is beautiful.” Hearing Beatrice talk about how she spent her whole life having people try to make her into someone she wasn't and to try to make her normal and acceptable is what broke me. It brought me back to when I was younger and felt so alone and was struggling to battle that internal self-hate just because of who I was and who I chose to love.

That whole monologue she has towards the end of that scene allowed for my younger self to finally be seen and recognized in a way I never thought would happen. I remember the first time watching that scene and having to pause the show immediately after because I couldn't control the sobs that were breaking from my chest. To go so long feeling so alone and not being able to put into words how I felt growing up and then seeing a scene like this on a popular television show allowed for a piece of me that I didn't know I needed to heal to finally start healing.

Kristina Tonteri-Young does a phenomenal job in bringing a beautiful character such as Sister Beatrice to life, and I can't thank her enough for that. What makes Sister Beatrice such a compelling character is her journey toward independence and self-discovery. She starts as a character who is defined by her loyalty to the Order but gradually learns to think for herself and develop her own sense of right and wrong. Her transformation is not easy, and she faces opposition from within the Order and from her own doubts and fears. However, by the end of the series, she has become a strong and confident character who is capable of making her own decisions and charting her own path.

She is an embodiment of strength, courage, and perseverance, and is essential in today's society as it serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of extreme opposition. Her perseverance and determination are what makes her a hero, and her character is a reminder that we all have the potential to be heroes in our own lives.

Whether it's standing up for what is right, fighting against injustice, or simply being kind and compassionate to those around us, we all have the power to make a positive difference in the world. In a media world full of hatred and darkness, characters like her are what bring a light of hope for the future generations to come.