Sara Fimmano is a Good Faith Media Ernest C. Hynds Jr. intern for the summer 2023. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Fimmano is a student at Belmont University in Nashville, majoring in faith and social justice as well as rhetorical writing, and minoring in fashion studies and Italian.
1. What story, verse, or passage from your faith tradition’s sacred texts has significantly influenced/shaped your life?
I find great inspiration in the Samaritan woman at the well in the Gospel of John. When I started at my Catholic high school, our campus ministry group was called “Women at the Well.”
When I joined campus ministry, this story became a vivid image of what it means to be a compassionate activist. Jesus doesn’t just give water to the woman; he engages in conversation and shares a drink with her. That solidarity is crucial to meaningful service.
2. Who are three people (other than your family) who have shaped your life and worldview? Why?
Firstly, Cleo Wade comes to mind. Her book, Heart Talk, found me when I needed it the most. At a time when I lacked self-compassion, her poetry taught me that people treat us the way we teach them to. I realized the importance of loving myself the way I wanted to be loved by others. Her work encouraged me to establish healthy boundaries in my life, and I now enjoy listening to her on the Goop podcast.
Lady Gaga is another significant inspiration. We both attended Sacred Heart schools, so I have that connection with her. More importantly, she fearlessly pursues her passions — be it makeup, fashion, music or acting — unapologetically. Her courage has always been a source of inspiration.
Lastly, Sasha Colby amazes me. The kindness she showed on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 was incredible. She is a phenomenal example of acting with grace. As the first transgender woman of color to win RuPaul’s Drag Race, she has spoken at the Vice President’s Pride event and been interviewed by The New York Times. I can’t wait to see what she does next, as a performer and as an activist.
3. List three of your “desert island” books, movies, or TV shows.
Accidental Saints by Nadia Bolz-Weber, “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” and my collection of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
4. What is one of the most critical issues people are facing today?
I believe the world still has a long way to go with anti-racism, women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ rights. Moreover, until we address poverty, homelessness and the climate crisis on a global scale, significant progress against discrimination will be a struggle.
While there are many critical issues people face, I personally take issue with hustle culture. Equating worth with productivity, especially when measured solely by financial reward, is damaging. Given the vast wealth gaps in the U.S. and the mental health challenges my generation faces, emphasizing “grinding” and “hustling” feels inappropriate to me.
5. What are a few of your hobbies?
In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and practicing yoga. I also love exploring makeup as an art form. I dabble in various creative outlets, such as fashion sketches and poetry.
6. If you could freeze your life into an already-lived 10 seconds, what would they be?
It’s difficult to choose just one 10-second moment because there were many snippets I’d love to relive. However, the summer between high school and college holds a special place in my heart. Those three months were filled with magic, joy and love, and I would be thrilled to experience that level of happiness again.
7. Our tagline at Good Faith Media is, “There’s more to tell.” What’s your “more to tell”?
As an individual, I always have more to share. In theology-based spaces, I often defy expectations of how someone studying theology should look or behave. In creative spaces, people are often surprised to learn that I am religious.
People tend to assume I have to be more of one thing — more queer or more religious. My “more to tell” is that I am equally both, and it’s not a paradox. My faith and queerness inform and inspire me as a person, artist and activist.
No one person fits into a single category completely; we all embody paradoxes. To me, our paradoxes are little fragments of the divine within us.
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