#ear128

As the semester comes to a close, I have a lot to look back on.  Taking 15 credits was pretty relaxed for me, but I still struggled with other things: bad roommates, finding an internship, being in a sorority that had skew values, etc. But I always had one class to look forward to: Knowledge and Power.

This class, when I first registered, was intimidating, I admit.  I had taken one class before on Women in Gender Studies, and the professor had us read dozens of pages for each class, along with groups sitting in the front of the classroom “dictating” each lecture.  It was terrifying, due to my rough patch of anxiety at the time, but I managed to get through it.

From the moment I stepped into class, though, I knew it would be different.  Just the atmosphere in the classroom was enough to settle my apprehension and calm me down.  One by one, girls started to drizzle in and take their seats.  Over the course, I learned a lot about myself. Sometimes I tend to say “micro-aggressions,” and that could potentially really hurt someone, even if they don’t say it.  I learned a lot about being transgender, whereas before I had only minimal knowledge.  I learned about the tiniest biases that even technology has planted into our minds as “normal”, like fake pockets and one-size-fits-all aprons (that do NOT cover most chests, may I add). 

I came to look forward to every class, eager to learn new things.  This has been a class where I can truly be myself, even if I don’t say much. But I think that overall, I have learned so much more than in any other class, and I know that this knowledge will truly help me become a better person, and help those around me become more aware of the gender issues around them, as well.

Rabbi Esther Reed, Dr. Traci West, and Dr. Sandy Jones all spoke about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and how their positions in their respective religions has affected them - not only as women, but also as women in power and religion.  

While I am not active in religion, I was raised Roman Catholic - went to church every Sunday with my family, said Grace, nightly prayers, attended CCD classes every week and made all of the sacraments up until Confirmation. A large portion of why I don’t attend church often anymore is because I’m in college, and I didn’t really enjoy going to mass every Sunday: sitting in a pew surrounded by people listening to someone talk about things that happened thousands of years ago never really interested me. But, since I was basically forced by my parents to go, I went with them and sat through it, trying not to fall asleep in the process.  Another reason why I am not really into believing in a higher power anymore is because I’ve gone through bouts of severe depression and anxiety - and often found myself asking “If God is supposed to make sure His people are safe and healthy, why am I feeling this way? Why me? What did I do to make Him think I deserved this?”  Straying from the religious community has been liberating for me - I don’t have to believe there is a higher power that can condemn me to Heaven or Hell, and I don’t have to rely on faith when something goes wrong - I CREATE my own luck, my own accomplishments, and when something good happens to me, I just call it being in the right place at the right time.

I attended the DRC event “Activist Art for the Soul” that was held on April 7th in the Douglass Lounge.

I had no idea what to expect going into the event, besides that there would be PLENTY of art - and there was! There were singers, spoken word, bands, and MCs. They were all very warm and they had knew a lot about their content, and they were able to express it in a very artistic way.

One of the bands, “Outernational” came all the way from New York City to play for us, and they played a song called “Deportees” by Andy Guthrie. The song was powerful, and it portrayed very well how the Mexicans who had died in the plane crash were not given names, but just bunched together into one group called “deportees” - they weren't even deportees, they were people who the US hired, and were sent back when their work was finished.

The entire night, I was mesmerized by all the different ways art was portrayed, and I had a great time. It was a very inspiring event, and I am very happy that I went. 

It was nice to sit in a room with complete strangers, all focused on the same thing, and it was a very comforting feeling.

I absolutely LOVED todays plenary.  I thought that since the woman was from a STEM background, I wouldn’t connect as much as other plenary speakers, but BOY was I wrong.

This woman is INSPIRATIONAL. She took all of my fears and anxieties and told me that everything would be okay. That not having a set goal is very common. And no matter what I get my degree in, I should just follow my heart and jump at every opportunity, and eventually I will find the job of my dreams.