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.

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

From Trash to Treasure – Can you see the magic in Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens?

I have been trying to make a total encyclopedic vision that has no parameters and no end. My work is marked by events and is a mirror of the mind that is building and falling apart, having a logic but close to chaos, refusing to stay still for the camera, and giving one a sense of heaven and hell simultaneously.

It is an impossible place, but you can visit and smile and know that it exists somewhere. Now you know that place is in Philadelphia, and you knew it all along, didn’t you?

– Isaiah Zagar

gardens artist

 

Try to think back on all of the things that you have carelessly tossed over your shoulder into the trashcan just today or even in the past week. Maybe you can remember throwing out a button that popped off your sweater, a broken mirror that smashed during your move back to campus after break, a shoelace that seemed to have lost its pair, or maybe even an empty bottle of wine or beer… not that any of you would be in possession of any bottles besides water bottles am I right? 🙂 I’m sure there are hundreds of other things that got the boot of rejection into the deep dark depths of the bottom of the trashcan without a single thought. Americans each and every day mindlessly throw away enough garbage to fill up 63,000 garbage trucks, which, if lined up for a year, would stretch halfway to the moon!! It’s nothing important it’s just trash. Right?

Well, to Isiah Zagar, mosaic artist, visionary, but most importantly dumpster diver, trash is the sole provider for his passion as well as career as a mosaic artist. In 1994, Zagar, after years of frustration that his work did not get selected to be shown in any museums, decided to instead create art in public places throughout Philadelphia in order for the entirety of the public to be inspired. In a vacant lot in the middle of South Street is where the magic began. After building walls, tunnels, stairs, and small caves throughout the 3,000 square foot space, this inspired mosaic mural artist took to the streets within the community in the search of little treasures, beautiful aspects of art, colorful pieces of glistening glass, or what some of us might call trash.

After about fourteen years of finding the potential in each and every scrap, Isaiah Zagar finished piecing together the vibrant, thought-provoking mosaic creation that is now named Philadelphia’s Magic Garden.

philly magic gardens       gardens

Over this past winter break, when I told my friends I hadn’t ever been, they were shocked so we hopped on the trolley and were there the next day.  I quickly learned that the mural exhibition was made from trash—entirely unwanted rubbish. Being an artist myself, I never would have imagined even attempting to make an art piece out of something as unattractive as things found in a smelly dumpster.

How can a garden be filled with trash? That doesn’t exactly sound like something that would be beautiful… but boy was I ever wrong. As I swung open the doors to the outdoor wonderland I had no idea what to expect. I had a connotation with trash that consisted of smelly piles of food scraps and dirty diapers; that is what my eyes saw and my mind thought when they looked at a pile of trash. Yet when I walked through that door and into the extravagant twinkling display that was so called “trash”, I did not see trash as I had once seen it before. As I ran my hand over the pieces of torn up dolls, recycled bicycle tires, and bits of colorful broken glass, I was not running my hand over undesirable junk as one perspective might see it; I was running my hands over the intricate components that pieced together this massive masterpiece.

philadelphia magic garden

My eyes were opened to the possibilities of beauty within unexpected forms of art.

Filled with different snippets of poetry, meaningful quotes, references to current events, and worldly cultural experiences, this magical world was overwhelmingly beautiful and deeply meaningful. It had heart. It had soul. It was art. It was trash. Yet, it is all about perspective. When I walked into Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens I instantly saw trash with fresh eyes. Each and every piece of broken teacup and cracked record were all key contributors to the vibrant colors and characters encompassed within the Magic Gardens. In order to feel the true magic that is possible at Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens all you have to do is open your mind to the beauty of art within the unexpected.

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Here we are!

Artists all over are crazy about this new medium of creating beautiful pieces of artwork from ordinary trash. Check it out!

http://www.noupe.com/inspiration/showcases/40-terrific-works-of-art-made-from-common-trash.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/31/washed-ashore-art_n_5420567.html

http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/recycled-art-masterpiece-made-from-junks/

Pubic School Forum — What is the 21st Century Mission for our Public Schools?

After a long, blustery walk in the 20-degree whether, Shannon and I finally made it to the school where the forum on the goals of public education was held. After signing in and getting our nametags, not sure at all what to expect, we made our way into the old, warm auditorium where we were faced with the fact that we were the only ones there besides about two other old men. I looked down at my phone; it was six o’clock, which was when the event was supposed to start. Where was everyone? My heart began to race as I realized that up on the stage of the auditorium was a circle of chairs and a huge camera and lights aimed on them. I then looked over my left shoulder where another large camera was set up aimed at the stage. What is this? Am I going to have to go up on stage and be filmed? I was terrified.school

After fifteen more minutes of waiting and a few more people trickling in, a man, probably head of the school district, came to the podium. He talked about how this was going to be an exercise in democracy and how everyone was going to be able to voice their opinion and deliberate what changes are needed in the public schooling system. Participate? I was not prepared to have to voice my opinion – what is my opinion? I started to get even more nervous. Then we split up into smaller groups where I was assigned to go to a classroom while others went on the stage and in other rooms.

Going around the room saying our names and describing a little bit about who we were I was so excited to see what everyone’s opinions were because the room was filled with a vast mix of different people. To my left was a retired civic engineer who was an owner of an engineering firm, Tom Songer, who believed strongly in assessing aptitude and then directing kids in fields that they would be successful in; he wanted public school to be more job focused. Next to him was Sarah Fisher, a former elementary school teacher who was back to Penn State to get her graduate degree in the pursuit to help change the public education system to be more connected with the community. There was then Lilian and Nicole, two other RCL students who were interested in finding out more about the possible changes to the system. Around the bend was Dan Duffy who was a retired school psychologist whose main focus was to get connected with the family and inform them on all of the options besides the set idea of college. There was then a high school senior, Matt, who had very strong opinions on building a strong basis with general classes so that the students have multiple options. Mediating the conversation was three education major seniors. It was quite an interesting crew with many different suggestions and options.

After introductions, we started off the discussion on Approach One which was basically that technological advances increasingly define today’s global economy and the top priority of our public schools must be to prepare students to succeed in the workplace and maintain a labor force that keep America economically strong. The discussion seemed to be in joint support of this option as Tom Songer controlled the conversation with is main proposal to have the kids take a series of tests to dictate which career path they should follow. They should then be taught applicable skills that make them better prepared for the workforce and in jobs that they are going to succeed in. Dan Duffy’s suggestion was to inform the kids on the other options besides college because college just isn’t the right path for everyone; some people would be better suited for technical schools or training in trades. Songer pointed out how decisions about the future are like “throwing a dart at the wall” where kids have no idea what they want to do as juniors and seniors when they are making a decision on what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Lilian and Matt pointed out how their schools have things like allied health programs and possibilities to shadow and see careers first hand. The only moment of disagreement was when Tom Songer was really persistent in having 7th and 8th graders take aptitude tests to already determine their future but others, especially the students, thought that people’s futures cannot be determined just by a test.

After about an hour we switched to discuss Approach Two, which was basically that the most important goal of public education should be to enable students to become responsible, contributing members of society and a sense of shared responsibility for our democracy by having schools take the lead in emphasizing development of character, civic knowledge, and service to the community. A new member got added to our group and she was a social studies teacher in State High so she was extremely in support of this option since she feels that civic engagement really is extremely important in community development and involvement. “It is all part of the mission. We need them to vote and care about the government and community”. Sarah, the elementary teacher, thinks that the key is breaking down the wall between community and the school with maybe programs where members of the community come into the schools and discuss career options or how to get involved with the community.

The last approach, Approach 3, was to help students discover and develop their own talents; the most important goal of public education is to help students develop their individual abilities not mold them into model workers and citizens but instead encourage them to do what they do best and want to do. Dan Duffy emphasized how society almost forces kids to think that college is the only option, however, public education should be a “smorgasbord for students to consider multiple options”. Many people agreed that public school should be a place to develop a full range of skills where choices can be made depending on interests. Matt thought that it isn’t that meaningful for schools to have graduation requirements, such as having to take chemistry and certain levels of math, because many people will never need that information the rest of their life. He suggested more ability to choose. The one-size-fits-all model does not serve all children of our society. Each kid has different strengths and weaknesses – this was the point that we all agreed upon.