Digital Detox Experience

In my Marketing and Digital Media class at Penn State Berks, we were assigned a digital detox assignment without our phones for several days, and it taught us a lot about how dependent society is on digital technology.

As a society, everyone has become addicted to their phones. With the pandemic, we learned that our phones are not only useful tools, but they are also our lifeline to the outside world. Staying connected to friends, family, and even coworkers has never been easier. Yet, coming back to the fully in-person setup, it is hard to remove our devices. All over the world people have become so dependent on technology that a world without phones and computers would be almost unimaginable. That’s why this project reached every aspect of my life. Two days without using electronic devices has taught me a lot about myself.

Right away, I realized that my phone is like a lifeline. I use it for my music in the morning to get me energized for my day. My upbeat music sets the tone for my morning. I also check my messages right when I wake up, so of course I still checked my email because this is class-related, however I did not go on Snapchat or play my connect the dots game that I play every day, Flow. This was a change of pace for me, as I have my daily routine, and social media is how I stay plugged in. I get the newest gossip, keep in contact with my friends who went to University Park, and even my buddies from Berks just to see who wants to meet up for lunch.

Without this, I felt disconnected to the online world. I was so focused on what I was missing online that at first, I couldn’t think about the freeing effect it had on me. My phone was across the room on silent and it would vibrate occasionally, and I was so tempted to check it. These feelings were strongest in the morning when I didn’t have a ton going on. There’s this constant feeling like what if it’s something urgent and someone needs me? Then when I check, it’s just an email from the PSU Bookstore letting me know that “Books are 15 percent off today only”. Yet the inability to check it made me feel panicky and nervous. I really disliked that feeling and it took a little bit before I was able to focus on other things.

I opened my windows and let the light in appreciating the physical world right in front of me instead of focusing only on a screen. This was such a freeing experience because I am usually on the go and rushing around, I finally took the time to appreciate life and slow down for a little bit. Instead of browsing social media, I sat there and picked up my ukulele which I haven’t played since the semester began. That was such a nice feeling to unwind and not be wrapped up in my phone.

Then, I went shopping with some friends. I ended up buying a new plant and had a blast with my friends. I wasn’t even tempted to check my phone except to make dinner plans with my parents. At dinner, I had my phone away in my pocket the whole time and was able to focus on them and the conversation. It made me feel freer and I was able to focus on the conversation more clearly rather than getting distracted seeing my phone light up every few minutes with some new notification that can wait until later.

Honestly, my experience didn’t change too much over the two days. One thing I did notice though was that the longer I was away from my phone, the less likely I was to check it. Also, I found it interesting that when I kept it out of sight and not in my pocket it was easier to ignore the urges. I learned that I spend a lot of time on my phone and that I should really focus on the people and things around me in life. This experience gave me a lot more time for free thought and reflection which was nice. I also found I was able to sleep better without being on my phone as much. One of the days I ended up sleeping for several extra hours since I wasn’t playing on my phone before bed.

Going forward, I will be more conscious of how much I am using my phone especially when it comes to social settings. I hadn’t realized how often I casually glance at my phone, and that is just a sign that I am not fully present in the moment, and I really need to change that.

The “Impossible” Task of Community Building

What is a community? Each person may have their own definition based on life experiences and ideas. Personally, I define community as a group of people all living together in basic harmony while supporting each other and coexisting. In life, we are all parts of different communities. This could be in your school or work environment, a neighborhood, a group or organization, and even your local township or city. There are levels to each community, and the important question is, how does a positive community form?

It takes hard work and dedication in order to create a positive environment and close-knit community. I have personally seen the effects within the college setting as a Resident Assistant. At first, the incoming students are so shy and nervous. Most of them are new to school and terrified at the prospect of not knowing anyone. It’s my job to help them adjust, and you may be wondering how to do just that.

"People will never forget the way you made them feel" — A quote to live by

First Step – Say HI!

A tiny thing that I have learned is to greet everyone. I always give them a big smile and interact just to let them know that they are seen. Although it may seem meaningless, learn everyone’s name. When someone is addressed by name, this shows them that they matter and that someone cares enough to remember who they are. This can mean the world to some people and brighten their day.

Host Programs

Some bigger ways to get people connected is by hosting programs. As an RA I have hosted a variety of community builders such as bingo, trivia, a cup pong tournament, paint night, and much more. These fun activities give the students a chance to meet their neighbors in a low-stress environment. I make sure to do some ice breakers and I encourage teamwork when possible.

Programs are also their chance to see me in a more positive light. Sometimes leaders get a “bad rap” for providing structure and enforcing policies, but programming is my chance to connect with the students while they connect with each other. I want them to know that they are valued and that I am always here to support them.

I have also experienced event planning on a much larger scale with our Campus Activities Board, where we host events for the entire campus such as comedians, bus

trips, dance parties, craft nights, bingos, and sunset cinema movie nights. These events are great because they are a way for students to connect over mutual interests outside of class. The more people that are invited, the more chance for socialization there is. A tip of programming advice: food is always appreciated and prizes are great incentives. Even virtually, the incentive piece is huge to get people to attend, as long as there is interactivity and fun once they arrive.

Get Creative

Capitalize on what your group wants to do. If there are a ton of singers around, Karaoke is the way to go. Play into their interests and keep an open mind since the program is all about the attendees.

Tips to Know Before You Go

Make sure that as a community leader you’re always positive and leading by example. I always try to show my most bubbly side and push myself to be outgoing. The most successful pieces of community building are making sure that everyone has a voice, feels safe and comfortable, and most of all that they are able to thrive in their environment and they know that you will have their back if they need you.

Learning Curves with Leading Meetings

My Learning Curve with Leading Meetings

While at PSU Berks, I decided to get super involved in clubs and organizations. This gave me the platform to learn and develop a variety of skill sets such as:

Communication Skills
Conflict Mediation
Public Speaking
Running meetings
Conducting weekly 1-1s with my team
Team Building
Event Planning

The most important thing that I learned so far at Berks was how to manage a team and host one-on-one weekly meetings with each executive board member. At first, I thought that the only objective of meetings was to talk about pressing issues within our organization, however I quickly realized that the purpose of the one-on-ones was not only to talk business.

My team members were struggling with adjusting to their new positions, and they needed me to act as a mentor to help them gain coping skills and help them better manage their time. I hadn’t realized that they were struggling because I never thought to ask about their personal lives and was too focused on our organizational goals rather than their personal needs.

I remember the exact moment that this need was brought to my attention. My one team member came to me and interrupted me as I was running through my list of responsibilities. I was taken aback for a moment until she said, “Katie can I talk to you about something important in my life?”, of course I was willing to listen, and I realized that she had a huge personal issue going on in her life. She was comfortable enough to share this with me, if only I had been willing to listen. Once she got that information off of her chest I was better able to understand her and I could adjust my perspective as to how many responsibilities she could handle at that moment.

From then on, I realized the importance of being a support role for my team members rather than pushing them to their limits and strictly adhering to a business-only approach. This change in method and perspective led me to be a more understanding and effective manager of the team, and from there I could build more personal relationships with each person and created a bond with each of them which ultimately improved the organization as a whole.

Introducing Me – Katie Anders

Introducing Me

My sisters and I — My Triplet Sisters (Right-Left, Me, Megan, Morgan, Madison)

Hello, my name is Katie Anders, and I am currently a junior Business Marketing Management major at Penn State Berks planning to graduate in the Spring of 2023. My hometown is Boyertown PA, go Bears! A fun fact about myself is that I have triplet sisters. They have shaped me to be who I am today, and growing up I learned a lot about what it means to be a mentor and leader through being their older sister. With that said, I am also super involved on campus in a wide range of activities including the following:

Resident Assistant
President of the Campus Activities Board
Lion Ambassador
Outreach Captain for Berks Benefitting THON
Homecoming Committee

In my leadership roles, I have hosted a variety of events and I ran a marketing subcommittee to help promote events on campus. In the gallery below, you will see some promotional materials.

When it comes to my professional interests, my dream job is to work for Disney. I have been interested in the Disney College Program ever since I was a child, and with my specialization in Marketing Management I would ultimately love to be part of the magic in the studios.

If you would like to reach out, please connect on LinkedIn.

RA Interactive Alcohol Awareness Board — RA Interactive Alcohol Board

SGA Awards Ceremony — I received the “Spirit Award” in Spring 2021

CAB's Hallo-week Showcase — CAB’s Hallo-week Showcase

My Berks Story – Katie Anders

My Berks Story

Who am I?

This is the question that Jean Valjean of Le Mis asks himself, and it is one that we all need to reflect on. Who am I? The answer to this question is in a constant state of change. Looking back to when I first arrived at Berks, I was super quiet and shy. A continuation of what I had been in high school, the girl who mostly just stays quiet and sticks to her little group of friends. My goal was to change this. I wasn’t necessarily embarrassed of who I was, but going into college, I had decided I wanted to be known and remembered.

Something that stuck out to me is that my class president from high school came to Berks too. When he “met” me for the first time at Berks, he had no idea who I was. What made it worse, he was shocked to have met someone he didn’t know from high school. I was the girl who blends in almost to the point of disappearing. In college, I decided to make a name for myself. When I came to campus, I signed up for the canoeing trip and met the Campus Activities Board Advisor, Felicia Nelson, someone who I immediately connected with. Already, I could feel myself growing and coming out of my shell.

Where It All Began – 1st Year of College

When school started in the Fall, I was so nervous, but I didn’t let it show. I already knew a friend from the canoeing trip, and she turned out to be my neighbor. From there, we met friends like crazy and ultimately grew into a monstrously amazing friend group. I let that friend group consume me. The friendships were real, and we became like a huge family.

Friend Group 2019 — We did a little photo shoot – We were still missing people in this one!!

We took up every single seat in the library and pushed together 8 tables at Tully’s (our dining hall) for our “family dinners”. Of course, there was a lot of drama, but that was to be expected for a group of 30 college kids. I learned a lot from them, and I figured out quickly that I wasn’t interested in the “college experience”, as some people would call it. However, I still made every choice in my life based on what my friends thought. There was a guy I liked but I turned him down because the girls seemed to think he wasn’t good enough. Plus, the group started getting in trouble. The RA’s took notice to all of us hanging out and being loud in lounges at night and the librarians didn’t take kindly to our large group of people goofing off. It was so much fun that I was blinded to what people outside of the group thought of me.

Group Silly Pic — Our RA Photobombed!! – He’s in the back 🙂

Later into the semester, I had begun seeing my friend group the way that outsiders did, yet I was a bit at war with myself because I was living the “good old days” and having fun. At this point, I was getting more involved in clubs and organizations. I had interviewed to become an Outreach Captain for THON, and even ended up acquiring the role of “Creative Programming Chair” for CAB. Things were going really well for me, and I leaned on one of CAB’s Executive Board members to help me through navigating the overwhelming issues both within my friend group and the stresses that come with being a leader on campus. I was learning how to navigate everything and practicing the balance between fun and responsibility. From there, I applied to be an RA and a Lion Ambassador as well as the President of CAB. I did not expect to be accepted into every role I applied to, but somehow, I did.

The Revolution of Change – A Pandemic

Once COVID hit, things started to change, I was isolated from my friends and that was tough for me. I did realize though, how much my life had come to depend on what they were all up to. When left to my own devices, I felt sad and alone. A reminder of who I had been. Part of me hated it, but part of me was so excited to have changed and grown, knowing that I was not that quiet girl anymore.

Friends on Zoom — My friends created a Zoom meeting for my 20th birthday, it was so sweet right after our virtual finals week.

From there, I realized who my true friends were, the ones who kept in contact and maintained a relationship with me. I started to focus more on my leadership skills and consider what it takes to be a good leader. My mom was the one who really helped me through everything, and she rationalized everything that I had been going through. I was essentially trying to find my role and figure out who I wanted to be, and she helped me through it all. No matter what, having her in my corner made everything okay.

Getting Back to Work – Year Two Hits Hard With Hybrid

Right before I came back to school, I had a little existential crisis about not being ready for so much responsibility and the fear that I would drown in all my commitments. Fortunately for me, the community at Berks is amazing. The RA staff and people in Residence Life were so welcoming and supportive, plus everyone associated with CAB made me feel like what I was doing was important and mattered. That feeling was what kept me going through it all. I realized that all I want is to be accepted and make a difference.

I still made time for my friend group, at least those who were willing to stay in contact. And I allowed myself to make new friends and become closer with the people in CAB. Throughout the semester, the friendships and relationships that I made along the way were the most important thing to me. It was these bonds and sense of community that made me ultimately decide to stay at Berks and let go of my offer to the “SMEAL College of Business” up at University Park.

Looking Forward – Nowhere To Go But Up

Now, my newest struggle has been deciding what to do next. I absolutely love CAB and all the clubs I am in, but I need to make some decisions and prioritize what is most important. There are so many opportunities here, that my new challenge is to balance what I want and what I need. That is part of being a leader, I have realized. Finding balance in your life and not spreading yourself too thin.

No matter what, even in a pandemic I have managed to make the best of things and still stay on the bright side. To leave things off, I would like to say this, no matter who you are or what you are doing, take time to enjoy the journey. It goes by so fast.

Me and My Best Friend — My PSU Best Friend: Elizabeth Leh

Three Essential Rules of Leadership

Leadership: What Is It?

Three Essential Rules of Leadership

Most people think of leaders as Presidents and millionaires such as Bill Gates. In reality, leaders are all around us. They are the ones who take initiative, ask bold questions, take responsibility, mentor others, and most of all they challenge and motivate their team.

Being a leader is a daunting task, but take my advice. Anyone can build their skills using my Three Essential Rules of Leadership: building bonds, being genuine, and self care.

Rule One: Building Bonds!

Get to know your teammates. Understanding each member’s strengths and weaknesses is essential to keeping up morale and productivity. I can’t be the one motivating them if I don’t understand what set their fire in the first place.

Rule Two: Be Genuine!

If you’re acting fake, nobody will trust you and they definitely won’t be inspired by you. It’s okay to have a bad day here or there, the most important thing is the ability to bounce back and find a way to persevere. Staying in touch with your genuine self is also a way of grounding yourself and sticking with your goals for the organization.

Rule Three: Self Care!

Take care of yourself so that you can continue to support your team. A quote that has helped me immensely as a student leader (And just in general) is “You can’t pour from an empty cup”. My advisor told me this when I became a Resident Assistant. I was stretching myself so thin to accommodate for everyone else’s needs that I forgot to fill my own cup. At that point, there was nothing left in me even for myself and my residents suffered. Check in with yourself regularly so you never get to that point.

I hope that you have found these tips helpful. They have been a great tool in my life, and I’m looking forward to seeing other people put them into action.