Final Reflection

As an incoming freshman last year I can honestly say initially SHO TIME was not my favorite experience. Already being extremely nervous and overwhelmed, I felt even more overcome with a roller-coaster of emotions during the first few days on campus. Between the meetings about the academic requirements, panels on internships, and talk about a thesis, I thought there was no way I could do it – there was no way I could have fun as well as succeed in the honors college. The mentors were the ones that totally changed those negative thoughts.

I specifically remember feeling comforted that first dinner with my SHO TIME mentors and group. There was this sense of confidence that emanated from my upper-classmen mentors that enveloped me in a maternal embrace; I felt at ease. That was my goal of this past SHO TIME for the 2015-2016 school year. I wanted to be the support system that the freshman desperately needed.

From the start I made it my sole intention to create an environment that made my mentees feel a comfortable sense of relaxation. With the multiple academic meetings drilling in requirements and expectations, I wanted our group time to be the opportunity to step away from all of that, take a deep breath, and relax. College is not only about the academics, and while SHO TIME also does an informative job of conveying a fun aspect of the Honors College, I found that many of the new students focus their attention on the requirements, etc. causing overwhelming anxiety.

I think that one thing my co-mentor Marisa and I did well was connect with our mentees on a deeper level to be that rock that incoming students need when entering a new, unpredictable place. We focused on stressing the fact that we are there for them no matter what. No matter what. Whether they need a box of tissues when they are sick, a hug when they are homesick, or a friend to go to dinner with. Our last dinner together was really special as we spent about two hours just talking – talking about college. That’s really what it is all about. They really just want to know how to survive college. As a sophomore, I am not very much older than them, however, SHO TIME this year provided an environment where I could use my experiences I have had so far to just be a guide – a friend.

What I enjoyed most about SHO TIME this year was being able to make that intimate connection with fellow scholars. I was honored to be able to be one of the first faces they would meet upon arrival – the first friend. We were there for them with open arms when they were thrown into this new world. I loved every second that I got to help advise, counsel, and guide my mentees as well as other Schreyer freshman. I felt a great sense of accomplishment when I saw them work up the courage to go and talk to other freshman or sign up for a new club or jump into a game of Frisbee in the courtyard.

The overall sense of accomplishment when I realized the amazing things that this program did to incorporate the new students into the Schreyer Honors College and Penn State in general was what I enjoyed most about the entire experience.

One thing that I would like to see improved upon in the future is the coordination of the meals. I understand that it is very difficult to get people to follow the waves assigned to the minute, however, I think that the assigned food waves need to be reinforced further. The people with the later waves ended up waiting in line for a very long time due to the fact that people had not waited for their assigned time and went too early. In relation to this, I think that the dinners on the first two nights can be improved upon. Although difficult to accommodate all of the students in the buffet, the dinner options were not very well balanced meals. I would suggest more variety in vegetables and fruit be provided.

Overall, I think that SHO TIME 2015 was a roaring success. I can honestly say by the end of the week I saw friendships formed and confidence gained. Walking around campus the first day of classes I was lucky enough to see a few of my mentees and the second we spotted each other we ran up and gave each other a hug. The final promise they made to me was to give each other a hug or high five whenever they see each other around – a little reminder that although SHO TIME might be over, we are still always there for each other.

Gratitude Challenge: Increase your overall appreciation for life

“If we magnified blessings as much as we magnify disappointments, we would all be much happier.” ~ John Wooden

be-thankfulToday I am thankful …

  1. For the vibrant yellow daffodils brightening up the gloomy rainy day
  2. Yams in the dining hall at dinner <3 obsessed
  3. Psych exam is over!!!
  4. My grandmom called me to tell me a funny story about her plumber
  5. For forgetting an umbrella in the torrential downpour – got to laugh hysterically and run through the rain and splash in the puddles 🙂

What are you grateful for today? What specifically made today beautiful and special?

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It was the Friday night Easter weekend that I had an amazing realization – I have so much to be thankful for and it needs to be recognized. It was an eye-opening experience that has changed my perspective on every day as well as life in general so far this week…

Okay, so that sounded a lot more glorious and dazzling than how it really happened. In all reality, I hit a pretty low point. I was lying on my dorm bed, eating an entire sleeve of Ritz crackers (I gave up all sweets for lent until Sunday so this was the best I could get…), and staring at the blank screen of my laptop. It was the Friday night of Easter weekend. My whole entire family, including my brother who is never able to come home, was going to my Aunt’s house for Easter but I wasn’t able to go. My ride fell through, group projects piled up, papers continued to be unwritten, tests were quickly approaching and it just was not in the cards for me to be able to be with everyone on Easter.

Nothing seemed to go right. However, as I was laying there motionless, I began to think about the day that gratitute-turns-what-we-have-into-enough-imageI had. There was no way that everything was horrible about the day. No way. The world is too amazing for that. The flowers were in bloom, the birds were singing, I had a good hair day – life is good. It really is. A smile spread across my face. In that one instant I began to realize that I have so much to be thankful for. I have too amazing of a life to let little things like exams and not participating in family Easter bring me down.

Often, what happens when we, as college students, are busy trying to function in college life is we over look the things that we are grateful for. I tend to get swept up in the struggle to balance the overwhelming workload with a social life and sleep that I rush around without taking note of the amazing things around me that I should be extremely thankful for. I think the quote by Guillaume Aollinaire sums it up perfectly…

 “Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.” ~ Guillaume Apollinaire

 College students are on the pursuit of happiness. We are striving to stay afloat on the road to a successful future, the dream job and life. While we may be able to see our dreams clearly, this is in turn blinding us from the beautiful aspects of life in the NOW.

“Gratitude doesn’t change the scenery. It merely washes clean the glass you look through so you can clearly see the colors.” ~ Richelle E. Goodrich

Taking the time to be grateful for the amazing different aspects of life that surround me allows me to see the world clearly. My entire perspective is changed to have a more positive outlook. Loving the feeling that reflection on things I am grateful gave me, I decided to make it my new goal to write down three things I originalam grateful for each and every night. I am taking the time to sit down at the end of the day, reflect on that day in particular and what little aspects of the day made it special, and writing down exactly what I am thankful for that day in particular.

What I have noticed in the past week I have done this was I look at the world differently. Knowing I am going to be writing down my specific things that night, I take the time during the day as well to notice the sun peaking trough the shades in the library or the friendly hello from a friend in passing. I take the time to really appreciate a call from my mom as she constantly shows her love and support. I take the time to thank the person in front of me for holding the door open and thank my friends for always being there when I am having a rough day.

Curious if this daily reflection was actually changing my perspective on life, I looked up who else has also taken the pledge to express what they are grateful for every day. I came across the Gratitude Challenge. The Gratitude challenge consists of a 21 day challenge that is created to help participants take note of the brighter side of life. By providing blogs, inspiration, and prompts, Gratitude Challenge helps others to spend a few minute each day to count all of life’s blessing to change your entire commitment to living life in a sensational way.7f3d650ad077777a7b7a34ab82f976b4

One woman, Marianne, has taken a similar challenge and expressed how it has taught her that it is easy to be grateful when everything is going well. Anyone can do that. It is when your life is burdened with drama, struggles, and hard times that it can be a little bit more challenging but it is during those moments that change occurs. During those hard times is when you need to remember to highly value the life and lives all around.

See if you can try the challenge. Every day for 21 days sit down in your bed at night and write down three things you are thankful for that day 🙂 Will it change your entire perspective on life?

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The Swastika: A Sign of Good Luck and Well-being Becomes a Symbol of Evil

Swastika.

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What are your initial thoughts? What are you thinking? Many of you are probably absolutely shocked that I posted one on my blog. I can only infer that most likely an image of the Nazi flag popped into your mind – the flag blowing in the wind above the internment camps that imprisoned, abused, and murdered more than three million innocent Jews. The flag that flew behind Hitler as he rallied the people to develop and then portray a deep, unwavering hatred for the Jewish people. The flag that was carried by the Nazi soldiers, marching down the streets of Germany seeking out their next Jewish victims. The Nazi flag.

_78463617_swastika_comp624However, what many people do not realize is the swastika has an extremely extensive history that goes way beyond Hitler’s use of the ancient symbol. The symbol was used at least 5,000 years before Adolf Hitler had designed the Nazi flag with its use. The word swastika had traditionally been a sign of good fortune and well-being. The symbol itself was first used in Neolithic Eurasia to represent the movement of the sun through the sky and is associated with the worship of Aryan sun gods.

To this very day the swastika is a sacred, treasured symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Odinism as well as a Navajo sign. It is an ancient symbol that is present in numerous and diverse cultures all around the world, especially in many cultures in India, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, etc. In India especially, many times the houses and temples will have the swastika on the top of the building as a religious symbol and one of good health and well-being. It still retains its place of pre-eminence among the sub-continent’s spiritual symbols.

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When Hitler took over Germany the meaning of the Swastika changed significantly. Hitler chose this hooked cross symbol for its use by the Aryan nomads of India in the Second Millennium B.C.. Hitler Hitlertheorized that the Aryans used the swastika to portray their anti-Semitism and although the symbol has a pure origin, the first day that the flag was flown it did exactly what Hitler had intended – “hypnotized” the anti-Semites. As the flag was flown it seemed to beckon the population to act against the Jews. It had power. Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf, “In red we see the social idea of the movement, in white the Nationalist idea, and in the swastika the vision of the struggle for the victory of the Aryan man”. It symbolized the hate that arose towards the Jews and the inevitable fate they had to face.

For this reason, in Europe, as well as across may nations, the swastika became a symbol of evil – of death and suffering for millions of people. Yet the meaning was twisted from the symbol’s original intentions of good luck, good fortune, and well-being. Peace. Not exactly what it was and still is seen as in today’s society here in the United States as well as I’m sure in other nations. It is amazing how powerful a symbol can be and how the meaning of a symbol can be skewed and twisted by those manipulating them. The site Reclaim the Swastika has the goal of spreading awareness among people across the world that the swastika is no longer a symbol of the Nazis. It is no longer a symbol that Hitler owns and controls. They work to share information that reveals its long, positive aspects of history and deep spiritual meaning that often gets overlooked. The site said something quite thought-provoking towards the end of the site. “If we allow the swastika to remain forever distorted, then those responsible will have won”. 

One person commented on the website that he is not a Nazi or a racist but “couldn’t give two sh***s whether people get offended, the swastika is my identity dating back before any religion of the old testament… it defines my Hindu roots and I will continue to wear it with pride”. However, many are against the movement. Teri Zucker in her blog was appalled when she walked into a tattoo parlor and saw the option of the swastika as a tattoo option. She hoped that it was due to absolute ignorance that people would get that terrible symbol on their body. She was sickened by the idea of it.

Should we fight to gain back the original meaning of this spiritual symbol? Should we see it with a new light? Should we try to integrate it back into society and if so how? Is there any way to support the use of the swastika in modern day while still recognizing that it has deep meaning for those that went through the Holocaust? Would it offend them or upset them to see the symbol in every day life?

I hope that at least you had a little change of perspective and can begin to see the swastika symbol with fresh eyes that at least recognize it for its true, positive, spiritual meaning.

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One of the supporters of Learn to Love the Swastika Movement

“We just want people to know that the swastika comes in many other forms, none of which have ever been used for anything bad. We are also trying to show the right-wing fascists that it’s wrong to use this symbol. If we can educate the public about the true meanings of the swastika, maybe we can take it away from the fascists.”

Check out this interesting article giving a little bit of a deeper history on the swastika 🙂

Disabilities Are Not Full Identities

“It’s a really cool opportunity and I’m very grateful that they did think outside the box,” says DeVido

While reading the Philadelphia Inquire, I came across the article entitled “Comic may change your mind about wheelchairs” Changing minds… love it. I am all for a little change of perspective on this fine Wednesday morning! Before I even started to dive into the article itself, I took a moment to reflect on what preconceptions are associated with those in wheelchairs in society today. Since the article is promoting some sort of change or switch of views on people in wheelchairs, what are we as a society changing from?

As I thought back to my RHS 100 class, a class solely based on disability culture, I recalled one video in particular that highlighted society’s reactions towards those with physical disabilities. In one clip in shannondevido-1696-00270026_21particular, a man came upon a woman on the street where he made the statement, “she’s actually pretty for a girl in a wheelchair”. Rude. I know. Why even mention the wheelchair -why is she not just pretty? Sure the wheelchair is part of her identity and makes her who she is but why does her disability rise over every other quality or form of identity that she may have? The shocking reality is that many people have these ideas in their heads that a disability is the only identity for someone with a disability. Many people see someone in a wheelchair and only see the chair without taking the time to notice that the person may be a really great violin player or a wonderful teacher or downright funny person.

And speaking of funny people, comedian and actress Shannon DeVido is rising to the top. As I dug deep into the article I found that Shannon DeVido has spinal muscular atrophy and has been in a wheel chair since she was 4 years old. However, what I found even more interesting and encouraging was the fact that the article did not even mention this until about the second page of the article. When it was mentioned it was mentioned briefly and followed by the statement “it’s easy to mention that as an aside because it turns out, in DeVido’s life, it’s very much on the side” (Amorosi). DeVito does not see her life as defined by her disability. She does not let it consume her every day life or hold her back from success. It is a part of her just as much as her brown hair and quirky personality.

What really enlightened me on her positive outlook on her situation was when she stated, “I am a person with a disability, but it’s not who I am. It affects and shapes the way I view comedy, but I definitely don’t allow it to influence the entirety of my existence” (DeVido). Like wow. This is what all people in society need to read and understand. Sure I’m sure a lot of people did read the article, but did they really read it and understand what she means by this? Did they open their minds to the fact that this statement basically goes against the preconceived views that many people have towards people with disabilities, and are usually unaware of? DeVido does not want people to look at her and see that she is someone in a wheelchair but look at her and see a really funny person, a real person, who just happens to not be able to walk.

In DeVido’s YouTube show, Stare at Shannon, she plays with the idea of this negative stigma towards those with disabilities to turn the tables with social commentary on those who view the disabled with prejudice. She does not see her disability as the only thing that defines her but she does see her every day situations in life as something that can shine light on the prejudices in society. But in her new role in Difficult People, a show about two best friends living in NY city, disability is not the focus what so ever. DeVido plays a character who isn’t disabled and wasn’t intended to be. The fact that the producers gave her the opportunity to play someone who has nothing at all to do with a wheelchair is a big step in the right direction. They just saw the funny, not just the wheelchair.

Although people with disabilities are the largest minority group in the United States, they are never in the news, in movies, on TV shows, or in the newspapers unless to further promote the negative stigma. Even if they are in the media, they are seen as “super crips”(rare heroes) or the tragic. Shannon DeVido is finally shining a different light on those with disabilities. We usually see people with disabilities as the brunt of the joke not telling the jokes, making the agendas, telling stories about their lives with real human frankness and openness. Quite honestly, what’s so amazing, is she does not want the attention. She does not want to be seen as a hero for those that have disabilities. She just wants to be someone that can bring people into her world who might not know a lot about disabilities while cracking a few jokes here and there 🙂

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http://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-philadelphia-inquirer/20150311