This semester I am taking a course called Global International Studies 101 (GLIS). This is a course all about understanding the interconnectedness of people on a world wide level. So far in the course we have discussed broad subjects such as colonialism, migrants, and human rights. One of the deeper topics we dove into in the past weeks is prostitution, and whether or not it is something that should be legalized in the USA. One requirement of this specific course is a group debate project. The class is split up into groups of 5 to have an organized pro and con discussion on a topic that we discuss in class. This prostitution question was my topic of debate and unfortunately I was only given a group of 4. This meant that instead of each person doing a specific part of the debate (intro, point one, point two, point three, and closing) one person (me) would be covering two areas. I was in charge of the introduction and the closing.

With the upcoming debate I was feeling a little nervous because of the group project aspect. I am fairly comfortable talking in front of large groups of people however, my teammates did not seem to feel the same way. My Professor, Henry Morello, luckily has office hours directly after our class so it is pretty easy to attend. I had met with him once already in the beginning of the semester to discuss a possible minor in GLIS. I figured that since I had my two sections finished for the debate I would stop by his office and have him it look it over in order to make sure I was doing all I could for the group. I also had a few questions on the individual and group grading aspects.

After class I just walked with him to his office and made some small talk. When we arrived he had me read my two sections out loud as if I were presenting to this class. He gave me pointers on a few of my facts and pointed out that my teammates points (which I address in the intro) needed to be altered. He also reassured me that my grade would not suffer if one of my team members was a little shaky. It was a very helpful visit and I was able to provide my team with the information he had given me. I felt very comfortable and really like Professor Morello a lot. If I do end up pursuing a minor in GLIS he will be a great contact.

Our debate went very well, we ended up winning the class vote! I took all of his suggestions and my teammates did as well. After the debate Professor Morello usually goes through each team member and critics them however, when he got to me he didn’t have anything bad to say. He complimented my public speaking ability an my overall statement. I think it really did help going to see him and it was something I overall enjoyed!

COM Lecture with Hunter and Mary-Kate!

Today I went to the learning center as a part of required assignments for this class. I decided to go for drop in hours rather than making an appointment because my last class ends around 3:20 and I really had nothing else better to do. Oh, and my last class happened to be in Bouke (very convenient right?). So, after class I went to the learning center building and told the receptionist that I was there for drop in hours concerning writing. She pointed me in the correct direction and I signed my name on the check in bored. After that I sat down or tried to but my tutor was already calling my name before I could. I was impressed by the wait time because there was none. My tutors name was Marissa and she was very friendly and talkative which was nice and eliminated any awkwardness that could have come up. I decided to have her assist me with on of my previous blog posts for this class because none of my other classes require writing of an essay. (Except for Spanish but we aren’t allowed to get help on our Escritoras). We went through the blog post together. She had me read it out loud and suggested that I do this with any writing assignment that I have because its easier to find mistakes in grammar or word. choice. After we corrected the basic grammar mistakes we went back and went through the post for continuity and flow. She helped re-write sentences that made the entire post sound better and transition easier. Overall my experience with this tutor was wonderful she helped me in a timely manner however she didn’t do it for me. She sort of held my hand in a way that showed me I can do this on my own. I definitely think I will go back to the Learning Center because of how easy it was to get assistance and how beneficial it was overall. I also liked at the end of the session when I was asked to fill out a survey because it shows how the center cares about the individual experience of each student. They truly do want us to succeed in all that we do. I think the Learning Center is a great tool that our university provides for us in order to reach our full potential and be great students.

For class this week we had to talk to two couples, one that has been dating less than a year and another that has been dating more than a year. We presented them with the realistic romance quiz and asked each person to take it individually and then brought them together to discuss their answers and understandings.

The first couple I talked to where my friends Greta and Colvin. They have been together for less than a year. It was interesting for them to see what the other had put and some of Colvin’s answers Greta was very upset with. The question I was most intrigued with was the last one which state, “Since mass media portrayals of romance aren’t “real” they don’t really affect you”, they both answered no. So, then I started asking them if they are aware of any couples in movies, or celebrity couples. They both started going off about how they love how couples like Kim and Kanye are towards each other. Greta even said that when she was little she wanted to date/marry a man who would treat her like a princess. After this conversation they rethought their answer to that specific question. They also were very blown away when I explained to them that from a professional stand point all of the answers are false. They then began listing couples that did not end well based on things like, a girl trying to change a cheating man, or different religious beliefs. Overall, I believe presenting them with this quiz helped their relationship by bringing up conversations to make them establish a stronger connection.

The next couple I talked to was my sister and her boyfriend who have been dating for 4 years.  This was difficult for me because after reading my sisters responses I realized she had a bad perspective on what a relationship should look like. However, after bringing them to together we started to discuss the question that worried me the most. “The right mate “completes you”- filling your needs and making your dreams come true.” They both answered true to this. After filling them in on the secret that they are all False. They were taken aback by this question especially. I then tried to respectively talk to them about how a person in themselves should be complete and their partner should enhance them. I could tell that they had never thought about it in that way and needed to work on a few things. Then I talked to them about couples from TV or media that they noticed. My sister admitted that because of things like reality TV she has justified in her own mind bickering about things as okay. After all, the TV show couples turn out alright. I think I might have stirred up some potential issues with them, but they need worked out anyway so oh well. Overall, I think that this quiz can shift the way people view their relationships and will ultimately benefit anyone who takes it! (Here are the two couples! Guess which one is my sister!)

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Sumit Kumer is a junior this year at PSU and he is originally from India. He is studying to earn a degree in computer science. After asking Sumit about his media use he said that his is about the same as any college student. When he came to the US  he said that some apps got more attention than others he noted that, “Snapchat is not as big in India we mostly us WhatsApp.”  However, he later said that the transition to American used apps was very easy and he uses them almost every day now.

My next question had to do with Sumit’s friendships in the US as well as in India. He said that in India he had very close friends and he said, “They are like my brothers.” He said he has many “Brothers” back home that he can tell anything to. He described how it was nice to have such close friends because you can’t always tell your family everything. He then went on to say that the distance does make his friendships a little harder. This is because his friends don’t use the same apps as he does now and the time difference makes it difficult for them to speak often. As for his friendships here, Sumit said that he primarily has friends of the same culture as him. He described this as easier because he doesn’t have to explain himself or his actions all the time because they understand. He said that for the past three years he was lucky enough to be put with an Indian roommate. He said that he would not be opposed to a roommate from a different culture however, again it just made a lot of things easier. He does branch out, saying that he makes friends with people on his floor and has had the opportunity through that to learn about other cultures. He then talked to me about how he and his Indian friends also celebrate holidays together which is another convinces of having the same cultural background. When I asked about him sharing his culture with others he explained to me that it is very situationally based. So, if he is around some of his American friends and does something that would be out of the ordinary he will take the time to explain why he did that. He said that a common example is when he drops a pen or a paper in class. In his culture they see everything as god so when he picks it up off the ground there is a ritual to go along with it. Also, in class he said it is odd for him to have a causal relationship with his teacher. He explained that in India he would have to show them signs of respect by either bowing to them or touching their feet. He said he is happy he doesn’t have to do that here.

My next question had to do with the learning curve he would face when taking classes in primarily English. He told me he was lucky enough to attend an English-speaking high school, so he has been learning in English for a while now. He said he was 13 when he began learning English and he believes that if you have the will power you can definitely  learn anything. My next questions had to with stereotyping and portrayals of his culture. Sumit was happy to tell me that since he has been here he hasn’t  felt any discrimination or stereotyping. He explained that is a major difference between India and the culture in The United States. In India they are quick to judge other cultures, see them as inferior, and will avoid people with different beliefs. He likes that here people not only respect others beliefs but are curious about them. He said it makes him feel as if people want to know more about his culture.

He then went on to say that he thinks that movie portrayals of his culture aren’t terribly off because India is a big part of the movie industry. He explained how movies are very popular in India and said it is very similar to here where everyone has their favorite actor or actress. He even shared a story of a favorited actor being imprisoned for illegal poaching and having riots of fans that got him released on bail.

My next couple questions had to do with relationships. I asked him first what he thought about dating and relationships in America compared to India. In response to my question he said, “They are very good here because women have equal rights”, he went on to explain that he really did like that fact that women have a say in their lives here. He said that in India girls are married at 18 and then not expected to do anything but clean, cook, look good, and take care of children. Even if they are educated which Sumit doesn’t understand, as he mentioned, “If they are educated I don’t see why they cannot work.” He then went on to say how women have no say in family decisions. He explained that it was hard to go back and have his mother not be able to decide anything because his father always does it for her. Something else his father will decide is who Sumit will marry. In Indian culture the parents pick the husband or wife, which Sumit says is okay because they will pick the right one for you. He said that sometimes girls refuse to marry who their parents pick and bring shame on their family. In some cases, so much shame that the father will kill his own daughter to save his families name. For men they usually just go along with whatever they are told. They will start getting married around 20, and by 25 if you are not married people will start teasing about how they might not be able to make it to your wedding because they will be so old. This is very different in American culture because most people don’t want to be married until after 25.

I then asked Sumit what made him want to come to America to study and he explained that a lot of people in his country decide to join the military because of the high honor of respect. He knew that wasn’t for him and he wanted something different. Luckily his father approved and supported his decision. Sumit explains that is was perfect for him, “I Love it here and I’m glad I came I wouldn’t change it for the world.” He does eventually want to return to India and work there. He feels a strong cultural tie to his home and would like to be near his family when he begins his adult life.

Ad number 1 positive:

This advertisement is for bras and underwear, it was posted in an article by the Huffington Post and the target audience is women. My personal thoughts on this ad is that I really like it. I think Arie is one of the only companies that is actively trying to portray women in a real way. The advertiser is Arie and they are physically advertising bra and underwear. Reading into this ad I think the company is trying to say their product is for real people and all people. I think they are trying to say that everyone should be comfortable in their own skin and own undergarments. I think they are putting out there that all people are beautiful. Personally I don’t think there is really anything concerning about this ad. I think this ad is positive because it shines light on women for once is a good way. Ads that I can compare to this are every single Victoria Secret ad. In those ads all the women are “perfect” and how women “should look”. Personally I don’t think there is a lot to critique about this ad I really like the way the photo was shot in manners of angles. I also like how they straight up state that the women was not retouched.

Ad number 2 negative:

This ad is for beer, it was a run ad in 2017 the target audience is Heineken consumers. I think that this ad can be taken in two ways. The first being in a race way making a racist comment claiming that “Lighter is better”. The other way could be offensive to either women of men saying that being a lighter weight is better then being heavy. The advertiser is Heineken. They are advertising beer. After reading into this ad I think the message they are trying to send is highly offensive in either regard. Saying that “lighter is better” is supporting racism and is just overall a racist comment. On the other side of it, this ad could be attacking the overweight demographic of our society joining in on the hate and body shamming for a product that technically doesn’t have to deal with ones body in the first place. The most concerning thing about this add is the phrase that is corespondent with the light beer. In my opinion this ad is negative because even if it’s intention wasn’t to be racist or offensive it can be taken as that which could be taken negatively by some of their consumers. Similar ads include BUDLIGHT beer ads where their tag line was “Light, not subtle” talking about the taste of the beer making it not offensive in anyway. Overall the picture of the ad is not bad and very pleasing to the eye the tagline should definitely be changed to something talking about the taste of the beer not something offensive. I think I would critique the ad designers as well as the PR director for the company for approving the ad in the first place.

Ad number 3 negative:

This product is for Bacardi Breezer an alcoholic drink. It was an online ad, the target audience is women. In my opinion this portrays women as selfish people who only look out for themselves. The advertiser is Bacardi, they are advertising one of their summer drinks. After reading into this ad the message behind it is putting out is the way to make yourself look better is to always have someone “less” then you around. For this ad to be put out and directed toward women when its based on putting down other women and labeling and rating women is truly disgusting. The most concerning thing about this ad is the labeling of  the “ugly girlfriend” with a photo of a model that then stereotypes a certain type of girl as “ugly” when in fact no human being is ugly because that is just a concept that is specific for all people. The negativity from the ad is the generalization and use of the “ugly girlfriend” that is one labeling women as well as itemizing them as just something to bring along. A similar ad is for Smirnoff Ice which is the same type of drink as the Bacardi Breezer. However the Ice ad doesn’t focus on offending people it focuses on when is a good time to have the drink itself which is more beneficial. I would criticize pretty much every aspect of this ad from the picture to the tagline. Nothing about it is okay and should have never been posted.

So today actually I attended the Library open house. Mostly because we had to but honestly a little part. of me was happy I went. The way it worked is we were guided through the different parts of the library stuff like the stacks, or the tech center. Then we would swipe our id’s and it would mark off that we went to that station. It was actually interesting because I even though I knew the library was so big I didn’t think there were that many places to actually study. I have visited the library a few times but have only gone to what we called in class the “Harry Potter” room and it isn’t really my style. It is one of those you breath and everyone in the room stares you down as if you had just screamed bloody murder. Again just not my vibe. However, because of the open house I learned that library has a lot more to offer then scary quite rooms. I am excited to go back and try a new section that might be a better fit for me. Something else that was cool about the open house is a made a couple new friends who also had to go through for a class but it was nice! It helped me reach my goal of meeting new people for the week so it was definitely a win win situation. The library also did a fantastic job of keeping the stations short and somewhat entertaining. I spent I think about 40 minutes there so definitely not bad for all that I learned. Im excited to attempt to use the library later sometime with all my new knowledge of it!

So my Freshmen Year Seminar (FYE) has the subtitle of Sex, Love, and Romance in the Media (SLR). Unlike other FYE’s this class is splitting up the required course freshman have to take with analyzing whats happening in the media with regards to you guessed it sex, love and romance. If I am being completely honest after the first week of classes I was sitting and listening to my friends discuss their FYE classes and I was pretty heated. They were all basically study halls with their first homework assignment being something along the lines of go out and buy a planner. All the while here I was starting my blogging career way earlier than expected (okay yes maybe I have fantasied about starting a blog about my awesome mom life sharing recipes and pictures of my adorable kids but don’t we all???). Then I took a step back and thought about the pros and cons of the class. Yes it may be different than all my friends classes but that didn’t necessarily make it a bad different? It was interesting and cool and exactly that different. While my friends were getting lectures about doing their homework, I was getting a little bit of that mixed in with discussion about what fighting in a relationship can do for their sex lives. As the week continued and I was writing my required once a week blog post I found myself actually being thankful for the class. It was giving me a reason to step back and actually reflect on my week. What was good, what was bad, what was embarrassing. This class also has made me realize how much I miss daily journaling and how starting that up again could potentially make my weekly blog posts even better! Something else I really enjoy about this class is the fact that we are required to turn off and put our phones out of sight for the entire class. I didn’t realize how helpful this actually was until I started doing it in my other classes as well. I found myself more engaged in lectures and felt I was actually learning materials not just being told. Another plus about this class is that it is a smaller number class. A lot of people told me that coming to a school so big would make me feel as if I was just a number. Honestly in some classes this can stand true, however in classes like SLR I feel like people know me and I am not just a statistic. Overall I think that this class will be beneficial even if it does seem like a lot of work and I might “hate” that sometimes. I think it will teach me skills I didn’t even really know I needed and I can’t wait! #journaljunkyisback

Tony Robbins once said, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible”. My entire life I have been told very similar things. Over the course of the last four years I have set goals worked toward them and reached things I never imagined possible. As I had seen my goals play out in high school I figured setting goals in college would probably be a good idea. I was thankful to see this assignment pushing me to what I needed to do.

Coming to Penn State this year I was very excited about three things. First and foremost, FOOTBALL.

Secondly, I was excited to meet new people. As I mentioned in my “About Me” post I come from a very small town. I am pumped to widen my circle of friends and acquaintances. Lastly, I was excited for this new age of independence. I was in charge of myself fully for the first time ever. No one to tell me to come home, clean my room, and do my homework. I am amped to see how I handle of this new responsibility, hopefully all goes well. However, I did have some major worries. They are derived from things I need to improve about myself. Probably the biggest worry I have is making the cut into my major. Public Relations is a controlled major here and there are requirements I need to obtain before being in the program. A few things I will need to improve to lessen my worrying are my studying, prioritizing, and procrastination habits. The next worries I had were making a solid group of friends, and finding a balance of work and play. There are a lot of people here in State College and finding a group that would push me in my studies but still have fun seems almost unattainable. However, because Penn State is so massive there are a lot of things to get involved with. The three things I have been most interested in looking into are THON, CRU, and a musical theater group. Along with those things I have set three goals for myself. The first is semester based and goes along with being excited to meet new people. I have made it a goal for me to introduce, exchange contact information and just have a conversation with three brand new people a week. This will ensure that I am actively looking for good friends. The second goal I have is something I will obtain over the course of this year. I will be actively involved in two club organizations. “Actively” to me is joining a committee or a weekly bible study. My third goal for myself is over the course of 4 years. I need to make time in my busy schedule to go to the library and study three times a week. I know from past experience I will stay focused in a library environment as opposed to studying in my room where there are tons of distractions.

Goals can just become a random to-do list if one is not actively working towards them every day. What makes this easier is if you have someone to keep you in check. I have informed three people of my goals. I believe that this step is what can make or break a person. The three people I have chosen for this are my mom. My floormate Gianna, and my best friend from high school who attends Penn State Michael. I cannot wait to meet and exceed my goals for this coming year and the years to follow.