Week Ten

Welcome to this week's topic - Degree Engagement

This week has been very fun, but it has also been very slow. I have had little motivation this week, which worries me a little. I am quite ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas break! This semester has been wonderful, but I am ready to move on. This week, I went to the fair with my friends, and we also had a bonfire Friday night at Kaylee's house. We had a great time, and I look forward to more memories that we will hopefully create :)

This week's FYE class was a change of pace from the past few weeks. This week, we focused on our majors and our values as individuals. A fun activity that we did Monday afternoon was narrow down different values from a list (1)  to create our own list of values. I really enjoyed this activity, and it was interesting to hear all of my classmates responses. Many of them pointed out how difficult it was for them to create such a small list. The five values that I ended up with were faith, family, hard work, freedom, and purpose. When I circled these values, I thought about my future and how I want to exhibit these values in my daily life. The five that I chose can all be intertwined.

We also watched a video titled, Working Backwards to Solve Problems (2). This video was very interesting, and it made multiple valuable points about how working backwards can be beneficial. I enjoyed this video, and I realized that I can apply the lessons it taught to my everyday life. I can look at the future knowing that there are multiple ways I can get to that point, but I have to create a point to aspire to reach.

(3)

My current major is Hospitality and Tourism Management. I chose this major because I have a heavy interest in vacationing and planning. Before I graduate college, I want to take part in the Disney College Program. I have done so much research about the application process and what it takes to be a cast member that I almost feel as if I have already done the program. I hope to apply soon, so I will have multiple chances to apply in case I do not get accepted the first time. Disney World brings so much happiness to my life, and it is something that I am truly passionate about. I have always hated the thought of having a "regular" or "normal" job, but I never really thought that I could find something suitable for me until I started to actually pursue my passions. I don't know what my future job will be, but I do know that I want to be happy at whatever I do. Honestly, this week's FYE has inspired me to truly recognize my values and my goals, not so that I can plan for them in the future, but so I can start creating them now.

Thank you for reading this week's post!

Resources:
(1)https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ye_iigqVEqDvf6uTMkAKNnZ1ESyuJVoZ7gbfnX8QZkI/edit?usp=sharing
(2) http://tiny.cc/workingbackwards
(3) https://images.app.goo.gl/j1KUuzMGqo8dzxWY7

Week Nine

Welcome to this week's topic - ...Take Things in your own Direction

This week has been very uneventful for me. It has been a good week, don't get me wrong, but I have completed little school work this week because I did not have much due. On Tuesday night, I went to watch one of the Georgia Southern theatre productions, The Importance of Being Earnest. I enjoyed the show very much, and I am glad I went (even though it was required for my theatre class). Wednesday night, my roommates, my friends, and I watched Riverdale. I also used up all 100 of my dining dollars this week, and I am quite sad - I know, you may be shocked that I spent it all halfway through the semester...but I love Chick Fil A a little too much. I am excited for the weekend because my friend is coming to visit, and we plan to go to the game on Saturday!

This week's FYE class was a continuation of last week's discussion regarding Make Your Home Among Strangers. I would like to point out that our class discussions this week have educated me on the true meaning of "white privilege" more than any peer, politician, or speaker has ever educated me on the topic. Whenever I used to hear the word "white privilege," I always associated it with either economic status or social status. This assumption caused me to believe that those discussing white privilege were grouping all white people into a single category that suggests white people's lives are "better off" than the lives of people of color. I know that this assumption is simply not true. There are people of color who have better lives than white people. I never questioned my beliefs because I was given the opportunity to think for myself and to create my own definition of white privilege.

So I wondered - In the past, why was I unable to grasp the true meaning of white privilege? The truth is, I thought I knew the true meaning. I saw wrongs and rights on both "sides" of the equation. I had my thoughts and my opinions about the topic aligned perfectly in my head.

But no one ever defined white privilege. Whenever I heard the term, I would always think - "My family goes through rough times too!" and "Just because I'm white doesn't mean life is easier for me."

White privilege can be simplified down to this - White people do not have to worry or fear for their lives in a certain situation because of the color of their skin.

To put it in perspective, as Dra. pointed out in class, she has never had to worry about being judged or targeted when she walks into a gas station because of her skin color. I, too, have never been afraid to walk into a building or an event because of my skin color. Sure, I've been afraid of going places - but not because of my skin color. Never once have I been worried because of my skin.

I believe the message surrounding white privilege is often distorted and miscommunicated. During Jennine Capo Crucet's speech (1) last week, she gave me the opportunity and the time to create my own definition of white privilege, as I'm sure most people in the room were able to do. As a white person, I have never had to experience being judged solely because of my skin color, so how would I ever be able to see the truth behind a person of color's perspective if no one ever told me? Jennine Capo Crucet was unclear in her approach, and she did nothing but create chaos and confusion in my mind. After she spoke, I did not know the true meaning of white privilege. Her approach failed. She failed to educate the white people in the room. It was my peers in my FYE class who helped me understand the true definition.

I believe that there needs to be more speakers who take an educational approach towards teaching white people what exactly white privilege is. People need to know its true definition - just like I needed to know. It does not mean that white people are "better off" economically or socially; it means that white people do not have to worry about the color of their skin when they go somewhere. I think the truth is that white people cannot comprehend the feelings unless someone gives them examples and teaches them the true definition.

My eyes have been opened, and I feel as though I take an entire different approach when I now think about white privilege. However, I think one reason why there are so many misconceptions surrounding the topic is because of the word "privilege." It implies "better off" or a "higher status," which leads to the confusion.

I do not know how to fix the issue or if it can ever truly be fixed. But I do know that the first step in solving the problem is first becoming aware of it. I don't think that white people are actually aware. Like I was just a few days ago, I did not know the true meaning of white privilege even after knowing about the term for years.

(3)

In the article that Dra. gave us titled, "11 ways white America avoids taking responsibility for its racism (2)," I have learned not to get defensive when someone questions my thoughts or my actions. I aim to learn from my mistakes and to help spread awareness and positivity. I also enjoyed reading the answers that my peers gave on our anonymous quiz. I found that the speech became rather personal for some people, and I do sympathize for them. To be honest, I keep a lot of school related issues to myself. Sure, the speech bothered me, but I didn't go home complaining to my parents. I sucked it up and realized that this is the real world. Not everyone is going to agree with me, and that is okay. The sooner I learn that, the better.

Thanks for reading this week's post.

Resources:
(1) https://youtu.be/5BJUta-9BsU
(2)https://www.salon.com/2015/06/16/11_ways_white_america_avoids_taking_responsibility_for_its_racism_partner/
(3)https://images.app.goo.gl/KazF4H6NT7L7Zj4w6

Week Eight

Welcome to this week's topic - Make Your Home Among Strangers

This week has been very good, but it has also been rather busy. I have had more work this week than

last week. On Tuesday, I volunteered at an event called Stir Up Some Fun, and I plan to go again this week. Friday, I brought my roommates to my hometown. We went to my old high school's football game Friday night, and then we went to the Kaolin Festival Saturday morning. I had a really great week, and I look forward to next week.

This week's FYE topic started out on a positive note. In class on Monday, all of the class got together in groups to discuss different themes from Make Your Home Among Strangers. I talked with Ebeni about the sheet that Dra. gave us. She and I had a nice discussion about our views on the novel. We discussed our current college experiences related to the narrator of the novel, Lizet. As a whole, our class read an article about Gaspar Leiva, a past Georgia Southern professor originally from Cuba. Dra. told us about Leiva and his wife because she knew them personally. I was very interested in hearing Leiva's story. We did not have class on Wednesday.

(1)

On Wednesday, I went to the PAC to watch Jennine Capo Crucet, the author of Make Your Home Among Strangers. Before the presentation began, I was excited to hear Crucet. I imagined her speech to be something around the realm of encouraging first year college students to "follow their dreams even when times get tough." Crucet's actual presentation proved to be different. Her speech started out normal; she was giving an overview of how she became a professor. Crucet mentioned her Cuban-American heritage in relation to the narrator of her novel. Midway through the speech Crucet's attitude and purpose of her speech shifted drastically from what I had imagined I would hear. She began to discuss her views on the reality of "white privilege." As a "white" person, I will say that I felt personally attacked. Since I have been at Georgia Southern, I have been in awe at the kindness and the "community" that exists between everyone at school. I love my college, and I love all of the wonderful people that I have come to meet so far. I am aggravated at how forceful and how negative Crucet became during her speech; I even think that she exhibited a rather "sassy" attitude at certain points. I think that Crucet's speech created more tension than there has ever been between the student body. I believe in equality. I truly love the student body at Georgia Southern, and I am upset that Crucet created more division than unity.

I have one issue with Crucet's speech. Anyone has the capability and the right to believe anything they want. I will agree to disagree with some of the points that Crucet made. I am not going to shame or to attack her for her beliefs, but like I said, I have one issue. During her speech, the crowd began to get louder, and people started to whisper to each other. In response to the commotion, Crucet stopped reading her script and looked at the crowd. She said, "What's going on? Why are we whispering? I'm

Screenshot from the moment
after the commotion incident

just always worried that someone is going to walk into the room with a gun...someone should make a loud noise if that happens, so I can jump off the stage. Oh, that's not what's happening - okay then we can all be quiet." After she said these words, she waited for the crowd to quiet. People were shocked, and they started to get even louder. As she waited quietly, Crucet stroked her chin and smirked.

I was extremely appalled by her actions. I do not care who you are or what you believe, but you should never make a joke about a gunman coming into a room to shoot people. It is unprofessional and just wrong. Because of this, I lost a lot of respect for Crucet.

I have one more of her comments that I would like to point out. At the beginning of her speech, Crucet said that students who have a professor who looks like them are more likely to be successful in school. Later in her speech, Crucet says that she had one professor who looked like her. She goes on to state that that professor was not the person who made an impact on her life. This proves the point that people do not have to be the same gender or the same race to have a strong impact on your life. We are all humans.

Instead of focusing on history's past mistakes, we should acknowledge them, learn from them, and move on. We students at Georgia Southern should not allow this woman's views to represent our own. No matter what anyone says, we are a strong, smart student body that cares for each other deeply. I love my school, and I believe that I always will.


Resources:
(1) https://images.app.goo.gl/K8LTWT6Q2poKP7GdA

Week Seven

Welcome to this week's topic - Diversity & Inclusion III - Instructions Not Included

Monday night sunset!

CCF Flag Football Game

This week has been very good! I feel as though I have fewer assignments, but I think that I am just learning to manage my time better. I have been making to-do lists, and I am working to stay on top of my tasks! This week I have had lots of free time to spend with my friends. On Tuesday, I had a flag football game with CCF. On Wednesday night, Gracen, Riley, Kaylee, Carleigh and I stayed at the apartment and played the Wii. Afterwards, we drove around town and listened to music. As I am writing this, today is Thursday. Around lunch today I met up with the fourth graders from my school that I graduated

Fourth Grade!

from. They were on a field trip visiting the planetarium. I was a teacher aide for these kids when they  were in first grade, so it was really fun to meet back up with them, and it really brightened my day! I am planning to go back home again this weekend, and I might go to Perry Fair this weekend.

(3)

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the FYE Film Instructions Not Included (1). This film was very touching, and it was actually entertaining. In class on Monday, we took a short participation quiz. On the quiz, Dra. asked each of us to list three themes that we would like to discuss regarding the film. I remember listing the issue of child custody. The class was divided into groups, and I discussed the film and my "quiz" answers with JD and Kinsley. I enjoyed getting to talk with the two of them because we sit far apart in class, and I am rarely paired up with them. The three of us agreed on most of our points. We listed one of the stereotypes to be "playboy" because at the beginning of the film, Valentin is portrayed as a man who sleeps around with multiple women. On the quiz, I had to describe the importance of the scene where Valentin has to jump off a high balcony to save baby Maggie from drowning in the hotel pool. After he saves the baby, Valentin realizes that he will go to any extent to protect his daughter. In this moment, he realizes that he wants to be her father, and he wants to provide for her.

In class on Wednesday, we continued our discussion about the film. I had a great discussion with Ebeni about the activity sheet that we were given. I always enjoy talking with her. Ebeni mentioned her family as the leading factor that caused her to experience selfless love, but outside of family, she mentioned her boyfriend. I was surprised at how similar our answers were, and I feel as though we really connected during this discussion. Overall, I really enjoyed the film. I liked hearing everyone's opinions and personal experiences with the various themes Dra. gathered from our quiz answers. This film is my favorite out of the ones that we have watched so far - probably because the film was more light-hearted, and it wasn't a documentary about unsettling issues.

For this blog, I read a review over Instructions Not Included by the Los Angeles Times (2). This review was rather short, and it listed mainly facts rather than opinions. I agreed with relatively the whole article. One thing I found interesting is that the article pointed out the difference between the English translation and the direct Spanish translation. The article declares that "No Returns Accepted" is a more appropriate description of the story. Dra. pointed out the difference to us in class, and I was surprised to see the similarities in the article and in our class discussions.

I really enjoyed class this week, and I am excited for next week! Thanks for reading!

Resources:
(1) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oDpARriao25gQMMwX6xTx6O211i5mdFm
(2) https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-instructions-not-included-review-story.html
(3) https://images.app.goo.gl/9n5jRZU8L7myS3Q96