Fun Facts About Michael-Faye
I thoroughly enjoy speaking, reading, and writing in Spanish.
Upon first learning Spanish in middle school, I remember being excited to learn a new language to communicate with my friends. As I grew, I wanted to be more immersed in Latinix culture by understanding the social norms, cuisine, and art forms. As a person interested in studying medicine in a Spanish-speaking country this joy of communicating in Spanish has become increasingly more important.
Doing makeup is therapeutic and a coping mechanism to balance and maintain my mental health.
When I was younger, I had a wonderful art teacher in elementary school named Joe McClain. He inspired me, even at the young age of 5 years old, to think of art beyond the arch of a rainbow. He extended my imagination and interpretation of art by introducing my classmates and me to many art mediums. Joe was so impactful that he encouraged me to create an art piece placed in a local gallery and photographed by The Berkeley Times newspaper. Unfortunately, Joe passed, and I was one of the people asked to speak at his community life celebration. I believe my story speaks to how the light of Joe's spirit continues to live on. Makeup is one of my favorite forms of expression and is a true art form that extends beyond the boundaries of capitalism, ageism, and Eurocentrism.
My top three favorite forms of exercise are hot yoga, weight lifting, and boxing.
Recently I was awarded a BIPOC scholarship for teacher training at a yoga studio I cleaned for a few years during and after college. The experiences I had learning the different styles of teaching and intentions of the instructors inspired me to take strides in the direction of making space for Black LGBTQIA2S+ folks such as myself to feel safe to use yoga as a tool to 1) practice the development of the relationship between mind body and spirit 2) be accepting and aware of the constant change in the fluidity of those intrapersonal relationships and their effects on our intrapersonal relationships. In addition, weightlifting has allowed me to grow into and honor my strengths. In high school, I could lift as much or more as some football players in my grade; however, I was often hypermasculinized due to misogynistic and transphobic ways of thinking. However, as I began to practice yoga, I understood through the limb ahimsa that most harm in the world is a part of a cycle of harm: hurt people, hurt people. Lastly, I have many fond memories from my childhood practicing punches and jabs with my Uncle Lester. That joy and power I remember feeling as a child ignited in me when I shadow box at the gym.
I was awarded the Hellen Croll Award during my junior year at Mills College.
This award recognizes a student, faculty, or staff member for their dedication to securing equal rights and combating discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. As a Two-Spirited, trans person, contributing to a holistically sound environment for LGBTQIA2S+folks was of great importance to me not only because of the oppression and trauma I have survived but also for the simple fact that all people should have the right to feel recognized and safe.
I was a theatre kid in middle school and high school.
In middle school, I embodied the pop culture reference, "Get you a girl who can do both." before it even hit the internet! At my school, scheduling conflicts made participating in sports and theatre difficult. However, with the help of my teachers, I made it work by my 7th-grade year. Mr. Silberg, my middle school theatre teacher, opened his doors to allow me and encouraged me to embrace my bubbly personality by participating in drama club. This educator provided a space for me to not only create a community of loving friends but also to imprint a love for the great abilities of my body that I sometimes lose but always find.