Feminism is always a word that I have turned away from. After taking this class I realized that there are many different parts of feminism that I never knew existed. I like to think that I am a feminist. I think being a feminist at times gets a really bad reputation mainly due to the radical feminists that exist in the world. I think that I am a feminist in the sense that I want women to be treated 100% as equally as me, as all people in this world should. I think that I don’t broadcast my feminist views all the time, but I of course feel strongly about them. It think at times I can have characteristics of every aspect of being a feminist, but I like to think I am my own feminist. I chose when to stand up for myself and other women, I don’t always agree with what other people have to say about the issue, but that is true for a lot of things in life. I stand up for what I think is right, and sometimes I let things go because it is simply not worth fighting with someone who definitely does not want to listen to my opinions and ideas.

The one thing we watched this semester that really stands out to me is the video of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who was talking about the views of feminism throughout the world. I think that it stands out because she really talked about how everyone and anyone can be a feminist. You don’t necessarily have to even be a woman to be a feminist. If you believe in equal rights for women you are a feminist. It doesn’t mean you are a lesbian or are a radical feminist who goes to protests. Anyone can be a feminist. In the video we watched, she specifically says we should all be feminists and that is something that I truly believe we should all become. Everyone in this world should want equal rights for women, and even if you don’t want to be called a feminist it is still something that people should believe in. Her talk definitely made me realize that I am a feminist and it doesn’t mean I am a “man hater”, I just think women should be treated equally, and it is as simple as that.

College dating is something I came into thinking that it would be nothing like high school dating. Boy was I wrong. College Dating is like most things in this world. It is messy, unpredictable, unreliable, and can sometimes be downright cruel. I think the big issue with college dating is that this is a very transitional period in most people’s life and sometimes that can lead to a lot of relationships that don’t mean much, mainly because people aren’t really sure of what they want in life. It is a very awkward phase in ones life because you’re old enough to be in a serious relationship but too young to want to be in that serious of a commitment. I can’t help but be a little disappointed of my initial reaction to relationships in college mainly because I always though it would be much more mature and easy. I thought that guys would want to be in relationships, and that it is a place where you meet your future husband.

I think the hardest part of dating in college more than high school is that in reality everyone is stranger’s. You have no idea of previous relationships people have been in and you have no idea if you’re getting the whole truth about their past. At least in high school all your friends knew everything about the guy you were dating and your pretty got the whole truth about the person. In college it is really scary thing to put yourself out there and attempt to date someone you know nothing about.

The hookup culture in college is a huge thing, especially at a huge school like Penn State. The huge hookup culture I believe goes along with the fact that this is a huge party school. The one thing about parties that bothers me is that a lot of the time they can turn into just a giant hookup party, which isn’t always the best thing. I think that hookups are something that is way to common in our society today. Intimate relationships used to be something that was respected and special and now because most of our society prefers hooking up, we have lost a sense of intimacy associated with physically being with someone.

I truthfully believe that no matter what girls say hooking up emotionally damages people in some way. I think that when you are getting physical and emotional with someone without any attachment there always is a way someone will be hurt in some way. I believe that there are people out there that want relationships rather than hookups and that college is a hard place for anyone to decide what they truly want. I believe that the idea of hooking up has become too much of a natural occurrence and that intimate relationships between young people will continue to suffer until the hookup culture is under control.

The idea of marriage is something that has always left me asking society questions. I think ideally the idea of marriage is something that should be treasured and respected. But in all honesty it isn’t for everyone and it isn’t by any means an easy thing. People associate marriage with something that comes after being in a serious relationship or is the only way to acceptably have children. I do not agree with that statement at all. I think that everyone sees life differently and has different views on certain things, marriage being something that is truly different for everyone. I think of marriage is something you do when you think your relationship is in the right place and you feel that it is completely right. I think that a lot of people think that they have to get married or that if they don’t something is wrong with them.

My Aunt is 43 years old and unmarried. Her whole life she planned on getting married and I think she has come to the realization that it’s not in the cards for her. It is very surprising in my family that she hasn’t gotten married because of how many people she was in relationships with throughout high school and college. I see my aunt as a happy person, and although her life didn’t go completely as planned, she is able to be happy without marriage. If someone wants to get married then they should be able to, it’s as simple as that. I think the idea of marriage should be more sacred then it is now, but it still a freedom we have as Americans and I think people should be able to do what they please.

I am someone that has always wanted to get married and most likely will always want to. I see marriage as taking the next step with someone you love. I would never feel forced into marriage by my family or friends, but in some cases that is what others must go through. Marriage is a sensitive topic for many couples around the world, and I think it is because marriage can bring a lot of unnecessary stress into relationships. Marriage is truly what you make it in life and it is something that should be treasured rather than abused. It is something that everyone should have equal rights to, and even though mistakes may be made it is still something that people have the right to decide on.

Have you ever had to make a life altering decision? How about a decision so permanent that affects no only you, but everyone around you? The story I am referring to is about 29-year-old Brittany Maynard. Brittany has decided to end her own life by the hands of lethal injection after suffering from a malignant brain tumor; that will give her only a few very painful months to live. Brittany’s story has really touched me because of how brave she truly is. Her doctors told her that she had only a few months to live and that the last few months would be especially painful. Brittany wanted to have complete control over her body and that is why she has chosen to end her on life, therefore not allowing her brain tumor to have complete control over her body. So Brittany moved her family to Oregon, where it is legal for someone to end their own life with lethal medication.

The hardest part of this story is hearing about how young Brittany is. She enjoys running half-marathons and has even climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. Brittany is someone that continued to live her life even after being diagnosed by taking trips with her family and friends and not allowing for her diagnosis to completely take over every aspect of her life.

The way this story is told is very heartfelt no matter what news outlet you are reading it from. The one thing that struck me most is that Brittany is currently fighting for laws to be in place that makes it legal in more states for people to have the rights to end their own life. This is something that Brittany feels very passionate about because she is in such a painful place and would rather end her own life than have her cancer end it. She was quoted saying, “I’m dying, but I’m choosing to suffer less, to put myself through less physical and emotional pain and my family as well.” The article is told in a very somber and respectful way but also explains all the facts and options Brittany has in making this decision.

The article opens up the controversial topic of “right-to-die laws”. And although this is a very heartbreaking story that most people would sympathize to there are people out there that do not agree with Brittany’s decision to end her life, even after looking at the facts from doctors and attempting to put themselves into Brittany’s shoes. That is something that article brings up that gives this story more of a moral view on Brittany’s choice.

I believe the article I chose is very respectful and would truly touch most people and make them upset about the way Brittany’s life has unfolded. It was important that all the facts were presented and explained because the title “Why I’m taking my own life” gives readers an automatic assumption of suicide when they are skimming through the homepage on the website. I think the writer does a good job of drawing attention to the story but in a respectful way that gives you a raw view to Brittany’s heartbreaking decision.

Brittany’s story really touched me and I think she is one of the strongest women I have read about in a long time, and I hope you will feel a connection to this story as well!

Watch the video that supports the Brittany Maynard Fund below!

Article From: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/07/brittany-maynard-death-with-dignity-newser/16851903/

I strongly believe in life there is no other way to live than being true to oneself. In society my regards to that view have brought me some unsettling experiences with different people. I have never struggled with being true to myself even though sometimes society can allow people to change their views. I think it is very important to stay true to yourself and although society can add a lot of everyday pressure to peoples lives, I have always tried to stay above the pressures and live my life the way I want to live it. College has definitely given me a first hand experience about societal pressures and has made me realize that I sometimes conflict with societal norms. There are constantly people around me that are trying to be people they are not and fall into the pressure to fit in to society.

I consider myself a very strong and independent person. I like to think that I say what’s on my mind and I always speak up for myself. I believe that is what people in society are lacking. The desire people have to constantly prove something is very unsettling it has become a very common thing in our everyday society. People are becoming more and more comfortable with doing things that make other people happy rather than for themselves. I try to always think about other people’s feelings but also make sure I am thinking about myself. People in society have become prone to the idea that they can’t always be themselves or they have to prove who they are to other people. I conflict with those views of society because I always try to be myself and don’t let other people’s decisions impact how I live my life. It is important to remember who you no matter what the social constructs are.

Coming to college and starting a new chapter in my life hasn’t been an easy process, but staying true to myself and not letting negative influences around me change who I am has made it easier. I think it is unfair that people are so influenced to conform to how society thinks a person should act. I have come to the realization that I will not accept what society expects of me I will only do what I expect of myself. Going against societal norms isn’t always the easiest thing in the world but if you truly want to be your own person then you have to stat true to yourself.

The immediate character that comes to my mind when relating my life to Pride and Prejudice is Elizabeth Bennet. I find her quick witted and strong personality relatable. She is a strong woman who fights through the pressures at home and still remains true to herself. I really respect the fact that although Elizabeth is pressured by her mother to get married she still does not settle. She rejects Mr. Collins proposal because she does not feel the desire to just marry anyone, despite what her mother would want her to do. I found myself becoming very angry with Mrs. Bennet for constantly meddling in her children’s lives, but I am also very impressed with the way Elizabeth handles her controlling mother.  It is important that women, especially during Elizabeth’s time stand up for what they believe in because it is already such a difficult time in history to be a woman. Elizabeth took a stand against the typical stereotypes against women regarding marriage and that was very unique during that time period. I would only hope that I would be strong enough to go against societal beliefs in order to do what I feel is right for myself.

What I enjoy the most about Elizabeth is the class she carries herself with. She doesn’t fall into the societal norms that follow someone with her social ranking. Although Elizabeth has a very strong willed personality she eventually is able to open up and do what truly makes her happy. I think that I enjoy Elizabeth’s character so much because I like to think that I carry myself somewhat similar to the way Elizabeth does. I always try to stay true to myself and not let other influences around me impact the choices I make. When Elizabeth rejects Mr. Collins it gives me a sense of comfort that although she was fighting against the odds she was able to do what was best for her.

I can relate a lot to Elizabeth because she is a young woman that has her whole life ahead of her. I think that although Elizabeth doesn’t have a great family dynamic she is able to be independent. I consider myself a very independent person and although I have great support from my family I can still relate to the way Elizabeth lives her life. She is clever and honest and that is something that I think is very important to have in life. I admire that Elizabeth is such a strong woman despite her family and social ranking. I find a connection to Elizabeth’s character and I respect what she stands for and believes in.

At the start of High School I believe that is when ones gender really begins to influence their life. Boys really begin to like girls at that age and there is a huge difference in the overall way females are treated and looked at.   I think that as someone develops their maturity they begin to notice the obvious differences between the sexes.

For me I really started to notice the differences between the sexes and also feel differently as a woman in High School. I think things really begin to change because High School is the time to be more social with the opposite sex and really explore the differences between the two genders. When I began to notice that boys saw me as a girl before a person, that’s when I started to realize that there is a huge difference between the way girls are treated versus boys.

I’ve always seen myself as a strong person regardless of my sex and that is because of how I was raised. I’ve never let anyone tell me I can’t do something because I am not strong enough or I am not “man” enough. I don’t let comments like that bother me because I am proud to be a woman. There is definitely a lot of expectations and judgment that comes from being a female. For instance what you where, how much makeup you wear, the stores you shop at, the sports you play; all these things are just a few of the things women are judged on and especially judge each other on.

Growing up throughout High School, I definitely felt pressured to act and dress a certain way because of my sex. I though it was important to dress up for school and as I started to grow I realized you should dress however I felt comfortable. I always felt as though there is a certain way women should act and a certain way men should act, and that is definitely something that shaped the way I carry myself today. I try to be the strongest woman I know how to be. Although there are things that separate men and women I think if you are comfortable with yourself and are able to be the strongest person you know how to be than you will have no problem staying confident in yourself. High School is a hard time for everyone and looking back it definitely brought a lot of change into my life. It was the time where people started to grow up and see life and people in a different way.

It is crazy to think my first Semester in College is over! Click on the link below to learn about some of my tips that I am taking with me as we head into the fall semester! Peace out Summer Session 2014!

I can’t believe that there is now only one full week left of summer session! I would have never guessed that these six weeks would have gone by so fast. As much as I dreaded coming for the summer, it was not nearly as bad as I had expected. Summer in State College is something I am so glad I got to experience. Although I miss home and definitely miss having my summer off, I feel so much better about starting school in the fall.

Even though this summer has been an emotional rollercoaster for me I still feel as though I have become a stronger person. I have really had time to learn about myself and also figure out how I am going to make this whole college thing work.

The one thing that really made me agree to come to summer session was the ability to do LEAP and start at a much more calmer pace before the fall comes and things get crazy. I think I have learned so much about Penn State and feel like everything will come so naturally to me in the fall.

I have had the opportunity to go home a few times this summer and I’m not sure if because of that I have gotten completely used to living in the dorms. Going home as often as I have, has made the transition a lot easier. Rather then just coming for the whole six weeks I did a week or two at a time. I am not too worried about making the full transition for the fall, but I am predicting some serious homesickness.

Moving in to college 10 days after graduating high school is the scariest thing I have ever done, but because of it I think I have become a much stronger independent adult. Now that I see all my friends from home packing their things up to go to school, it makes it all feel so much more real. I know that this is something every college student goes through and I think I will always have the upper hand because I started early and did Summer Session!

How did you spend your summer days? Do you feel like you are ready for all the craziness in the fall? Leave a comment below!

When I realized that I had to go outside my comfort zone and look for someone from a different culture then myself it was a lot more challenging then I predicted. At home I was friends with people of all different cultures and backgrounds, and at Penn State it is a lot more challenging to meet people of different cultures; it seems like most cultural groups stay together. I sat down with Ruiqi Zhang, an international first year student at Penn State. We got right into a great conversation and talked for over an hour. She was so sweet about it and had no problem answering any of my questions.

Ruiqi Zhang is from Beijing, China. She is 18 years old and is planning on becoming a doctor, like both of her parents. One of the first things I asked her is how she is adjusting here at Penn State. She said it is hard being away from her family but she is keeping busy with schoolwork, which is something I can completely relate to. When I asked her about some of her hobbies, she immediately pointed to her textbook, and said that she reads and writes all the time. That began our discussion about the education system in China and how different it is from the United States. I found it really interesting when she said that in her spare time she reads and studies. She explained to me that in the Chinese culture you must work hard in school and put your studies first. Her work ethic is so strong and even though I only talked to her for a little while I know she works extremely hard. Ruiqi said that she was raised to work hard in school because in China that is the only way to succeed. Due to China’s high population there are so many smart students competing to get into good universities, Ruiqi told me that everyone studies so hard in Bejing that she had no other option than to compete against her fellow classmates. She said that the classes she has taken at Penn State are difficult because she is used to being told exactly what to do, and the professors here give her a lot more independence with her schoolwork. She knows she is going to have to work hard to earn her degree.

The colleges in China are much more challenging to get into, so Ruiqi explained to me that’s one of the main reasons she came to America. She speaks English very well and has been to the United States before. She actually has family that lives in Princeton, New Jersey, which is really coincidental because I live in that area. She says it is nice knowing that although her parents are in China she still has relatives somewhat close by. Ruiqi explained to me how hot it is in Beijing and even though it can be hot in State College she says it is always cool to her. She is looking forward to coming to State College every summer to either take classes or work.

When I asked Ruiqi about the activities she plans to participate in at Penn State, she said that maybe she would go to a football game or play intramural tennis. When we talked a little about the football games, she simply said “ I’ll go to a game if I can get tickets”. It is so interesting to me because even though Ruiqi is an international student she still wants to have the same experiences as American students. She applied for a job for the fall in the HUB, and is excited about meeting friends that way. Another thing that we both have in common is we love the show “The Vampire Diaries”. We talked about that show for a few minutes and even though we have such different backgrounds we had the same opinions about the show. I learned that Ruiqi and I have a lot of similar interests and although she is an international student we are going through the same exact things that first year students go through. We are both trying to make friends and get used to living away from home.

When I asked Ruiqi about any stereotypes she has had to deal with she looked a little confused. I explained to her what a stereotype was and how some people at Penn State might see her a different way because she is an international student from China. She told me that even if people were being prejudice towards her she wouldn’t really know because her English isn’t that great. I couldn’t help but laugh when she said that because she is so innocent to all the stereotypes that we have in the United States. In China, she said that most people look the same and are the same culture so no one is really mean to each other based on their cultures. There is no doubt that there are stereotypes about international students at Penn State and they are going to exist no matter what. It just goes to show that as long as you are confident in your own skin, other people’s comments will not affect you. Ruiqi and I are both treated the same way, I have not had any negative encounters because of my culture and it seems like she hasn’t either. I think it is because we are both so young and have not really had enough experiences with stereotypes yet. Ruiqi has not had any negative encounters with stereotypes here at Penn State, it could be because she is a freshman but she says that she can’t imagine anyone here really insulting her based on her culture.

When we talked about how she likes the United States so far, she said she loves it! When she was explaining American people she said “very open”, we are a lot more accepting and open to trying new things. That is something she is not used to in China because everyone does the same things and takes their schoolwork so seriously all the time. She says that when she isn’t doing homework she likes to watch movies with her friends and she hopes to have a good group of friends so she can do the same here. Ruiqi thinks that Penn State is a great campus for international students because she feels at home and there are plenty of things for her to do!

As our conversation was coming to an end I asked Ruiqi if she had any questions for me. The first thing she wanted to know about is the parties at Penn State. With a laugh I told her that some of them are fun and some of them aren’t. I think that she was so intrigued that so many Penn State students go to these parties at all times of the week. I also find that interesting because I never knew a party could take place on a Monday night. We laughed a lot about the fact that people party too much and how they are always screaming outside our dorm rooms at all times of the night. I got the feeling that Ruiqi maybe wants to go to one of these parties, so I told her to call me if she ever wants to come out! I think it is safe to say that Ruiqi is going to be just fine at Penn State and although she is a little scared I ensured her that everyone is in the same position. We talked about how people sometimes are better at hiding their nervousness and can make it seem like they are completely confident in school even if they are not. We both agree that it is important to stay true to oneself in college and that all the scary things will eventually go away. It was great to talk to Ruiqi about the important things in life and just to reassure each other that things will start to get easier as we adjust to this new change in our lives.

Thank you Ruiqi for answering my questions and having a great talk with me!