BOTW 4/15

By Paige Waskow

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

By Peggy McIntosh

The book of the week is not exactly a book. Instead, I thought I would post this resource about white privilege.

What is it about?

This resource, which comes from a larger publication by McIntosh, helps identify what white privilege looks like in everyday society. This list of statements allow the reader to look at their own lives and see how they are able to interact with the world in comparison to others. White privilege does not always mean active violence, it is ingrained in every part of society.

Here are the first seven (out of 50) examples from McIntosh's list of what white privilege looks like:

"1. I can if I wish arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.

2. I can avoid spending time with people whom I was trained to mistrust and who have learned to mistrust my kind or me.

3. If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.

4. I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.

5. I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.

6. I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.

7. When I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it what it is" (McIntosh 1988, 2).

                                   

via GIPHY

Why did I choose it?

I think this resource is a great way to target what privilege looks like for white people. What I mean is that as a white person, I am able to ignore or more seamlessly move through society in a way that people of color cannot. I get to choose whether or not I want to think about how society is privileged to white people. I do not have to experience it.

All of the statements that McIntosh mentions are crucial to understanding what white privilege looks like, and they should make you uncomfortable- especially if you are not a person of color. I think this source challenges my normal and helps me remember to be aware of what I can do without feeling awkward, fearful, isolated, or ignored because of the color of my skin. It is so so so important that those who have privilege in society challenge themselves to see bias and then change how they act or don't act. One thing that I have learned is that listening and learning go a long way. Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack is a way to actively listen and challenge the status quo.

Where can you view it?

Right here! This is a PDF document of the list (but not the whole publication).

Is there anything else you should know?

If you would like to view another post I wrote about white privilege, you can click here. I added some resources that I have found useful to that post. Additionally, if you have any resources, comments, or questions, please leave them below. Happy reading!

References

McIntosh, Peggy. 1988. "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack." (part of "White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming To See Correspondences through Work in Women's Studies") https://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/mcintosh.pdf. April 17, 2019.

What is Coe's Center for Creativity and Careers?

By Paige Waskow



Many people know or have heard of C3 here at Coe, but what do they do and how can they help you? How can you get that internship you've always wanted or make a lasting impression at a job? I talked with Joe Demarest, an Internship Specialist at C3, to ask some questions about what C3 does and how everyone can take steps towards having a successful post college career.

What is your job at C3?

So my title is Internship Specialist, but I deal with a lot more than just that. All the C3 consultants help with career exploration and consulting. We all help students get connected to Cedar Rapids and engage with community members.

What can students get help with?

I think it really is about meeting the student where they are at. One of the first questions I ask is: How can I help you? Not every student needs the same interaction and has the same needs. For some students it can be an interest inventory (like looking at majors) or job shadowing. Sophomores and Juniors typically do cover letters, job searching, and networking. It could be making the transition from the academic environment to real world.

What opportunity should every student take at C3?

I think every student should meet with us at least once to see where they want to be in the future. Different career paths may change how much a student interacts with C3. Their experience, if in the hard sciences, may be more professor based versus a student who wants to be in social work and needs help connecting with nonprofits. My biggest fear is a student leaving thinking that they are going to be happy but not having experiences and not having it figured out. Outside input is great for every student.

What are the most important things a student should do each year?

Freshman:

Freshman year is really about transition to college, 1st semester is getting into the new environment, and learning what you need to do to be successful. Asking: what might my future hold? And thinking about thing long term. Freshman should start trying different things and doing networking opportunities through C3.

Sophomore:

Sophomore year can often get lost in the mix. Ideally a Sophomore should start thinking more about how they can do some real exploration along the lines of summer opportunities and research. They should have more conversation about things like LinkedIn and start thinking about audience. Asking: How am I starting to engage? Some themes include: Internships to just get some experience. A working cover letter. More leadership opportunities in clubs. Considering life after college. (Grad school, working, etc.)

Junior:

Junior year is very important, you don’t want to slip through and not pay attention. It is a continuation of what has been done Sophomore year.

Senior:

Senior year is a lot about tying up loose ends such as practicums and ensuring that you are able to graduate. There should be more focus on life after college but still finishing strong.

via GIPHY

In your experience, what kind of students stand out the most when applying for internships, jobs, etc.?

Those that start early (and it doesn’t need to be full throttle but it does need to be engaged.) Acknowledging time and how important it is and how fast it really goes. If you always think you have more time, you don’t realize how quickly it goes until it is gone.

What C3 event should every student attend?

You should attend all of them. The career fair is one that would be really good to go to. Getting to know local employers and opportunities even for 1st year students is very important. Getting on the company’s radar as an interested student and making connections can be really helpful. Sip and Socialize is another good event to attend. So many jobs are being landed through networking and being able to connect with alumni. Data shows that networking is key. It’s also about learning how to have those conversations with professionals when you leave college.

Thanks to Joe for taking the time to answer my questions!

Learning Commons Book Favorites!

By Paige Waskow

What do the writers of the Learning Commons Blog like to read?!

From social justice to sci-fi to romance, check out the list of unique books below!

Bridget Atkinson-Moore
Recommended book:  The Hand of the Devil by Dean Vincent Carter

Why it's one of my favorites: "One of my favorite books to read over and over again (I read it at least twice a year, once for Halloween and once sometime during the spring) is The Hand of the Devil by Dean Vincent Carter. It's such a great horror story set on a remote island with really great creepy imagery. It made me scared to encounter a mosquito for a while after I first read it!"

Jasmine Barlow
Recommended book:  The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Why it's one of my favorites: "My favorite book is "The Hate U Give". It was the first book to make me cry (not just "feel sad", many tears fell in many different chapters) because I relate to Starr. I love reading and have read many fantastic books, but Starr was the first person I could truly understand. It hit home and I recommend everyone to broaden their horizons and learn how people of different backgrounds and cultures see the same world, through what they have to live through. I tend to be drawn towards books written by Black women, but I've never read a character so close to my age, from the same time period, from a big city. I'm still in awe."


Arabella Chamberlain
Recommended book:  Saturn Run by John Sandford

Why it's one of my favorites: "This book tells a story of drama, mystery, science, and a great race through space. It's such a page-turner and full of surprises. Sandford's voice is really enjoyable and makes the story come to life. With moments of drama and suspense to moments of hilarious absurdity, this sci-fi is one to pick up."

Taylor Nosekabel
Recommended book:  Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Why it's one of my favorites: "I love this book because the main character is very relatable and it deals with difficult family topics in a believable and understandable way. Also, the romance is fantastic."


Paige Waskow
Recommended book:  Artemis by Andy Weir

Why it's one of my favorites: "Artemis is a really unique book that is incredibly imaginative. It follows the life of Jazz Bashara on Artemis, the first city on the moon, and her accidental involvement in a very complicated space heist involving global powers. It is action packed, hilarious, and science-y. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in two days."

If you have any favorites, leave them below for others to see.

Happy Reading!

via GIPHY, Ana Caro

My thanks to the writing commons blog writers for their willingness to help make this post and interest in reading.

Image made with Canva

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Need a Book?

via GIPHY, Benjy Brooke

By: Paige Waskow

     The world of books is massive. From Shakespeare to Maya Angelou to John Green and many, many in between, it is hard to know where to start. Whether you are looking for adventure, a good scare, or a personal biography, hopefully the list below will help you find some reads you are interested in! This is not a complete list of genres or titles. If you have any books, authors, or genres you recommend, leave them in the comment section.

General:

If you want to read popular books, classics, or iconic titles (such as 1984, The Color Purple, and Beloved) check out these books everyone should read. Or maybe you are competitive and want to read the 200 books from this website (including The Book Thief, Speak, and The Great Gatsby). It could also give you some general ideas of books to read.

Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi:

Sadly, Halloween has come and gone, BUT if you are still feeling spooky or want to explore the world of horror, check out these stories from NPR. Or maybe you want to take a look at some of the best of fantasy and sci-fi. Check out this article of 100 fan-favorite books.

Examples include: Frankenstein, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Yellow Wallpaper, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451.

Mystery Books:

Often overlapping with horror, social justice, or sci-fi, mystery books are a lot of fun, come in a diverse landscape of whodunits, and challenge our perception of the world. Check out this list of favorite mysteries or this list of crime mystery.

Examples include: And Then There Were None, The Godfather, The Da Vinci Code, Shutter Island, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

Books by Women of Color:

Although the list below includes women from all backgrounds, women of color have been writing for many years and yet, they are often overlooked as writers. Check out this list of books that everyone should read or this list which specifically has newly released books from 2018.

Examples include: Americanah, The House on Mango Street, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Binti, and When They Call You a Terrorist.

Books by Women:

From horror to justice to classics, women have written impressive and diverse books. If you are looking for recent books by women, check out this list of 35 books. If you are looking for a large list of books with famous women authors and praised books, check out this list.

Examples include: The Handmaid's Tale, Song of Solomon, The Harry Potter Series, Where'd Ya Go Bernadette, and Pride and Prejudice.

Books about Social Justice Issues:

If you are looking for books that address social justice issues (including police brutality, homophobia, and immigration) in both the United States and the world check out this long list of books. If you want a shorter list to choose from that is only fiction, take a look at these reads from the Seattle Public Library.

Examples include: Just Mercy, Between the World and Me, The Hate You Give, I am Malala, and How Dare the Sun Rise.

Biographies, Memoirs, and Autobiographies:

People's personal experiences shape ours. We are motivated by those around us and their stories. Check out this list of 100 Biography and Memoirs to learn more about human hardship, success, and life.

Examples include: The Diary of a Young Girl, Unbroken, Persepolis, 12 Years a Slave, and A Walk in the Woods

Books about the Environment:

Maybe you heard of the United Nations report on the state of our climate. Perhaps you want to learn more about why people are so invested in the climate change debate. Or maybe you want to learn more about the issue or transcend political boundaries. Check out this list if you are interested in climate change effects or this list if you want to read fiction stories with an environmental message.

Examples include: Who Fears Death, Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know, Six Degrees, The Sixth Extinction, and Gold Fame Citrus

Additional Reads that are not part of the lists: Silent Spring, The Water Will Come, The Human Age, Drawdown, The Nature Fix, How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate, Eco-Mind, and Truth to Power

Happy Reading!

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References:

     Bologna, C. (2018, March 14). 35 Must-Read Books By Women From The Past 5 Years. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/35-books-by-women-writers-from-the-past-5-years_us_5a8c6b2ce4b0273053a54eb8

     Blair, K. (2018, March 10). 23 Books by Women of Color You Need to Read in 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from http://www.keishablair.com/uncategorized/23-books-by-women-of-color-you-need-to-read-in-2018/

     Carroll, T. (2017, December 29). These 8 Books are Fiction, but Climate Change is Not. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://electricliterature.com/these-8-books-are-fiction-but-climate-change-is-not-977f94d7b30

     Chui, A. (2018, August 06). 30 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/30-books-that-everyone-should-read-least-once-their-lives.html

     Depenbrock, J. (2017, June 30). Summer Reading For The College-Bound. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/06/30/534458892/the-books-college-kids-are-reading-this-summer

     Doyle, J. (n.d.). The Best Female Authors of All Time. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.abebooks.com/books/best-female-authors/index.shtml

     FamousAuthors.org. (2012). 10 Best Mystery Books of All Time. Retrieved November 8, 2018 from https://www.famousauthors.org/best-mystery-books

     GoodReads. (n.d.). 100 Biographies & Memoirs to Read in a Lifetime: Readers' Picks (1203 books). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/85102.100_Biographies_Memoirs_to_Read_in_a_Lifetime_Readers_Picks

     GoodReads. (n.d.). Best Crime & Mystery Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/11.Best_Crime_Mystery_Books

     GoodReads. (n.d.). Popular Social Justice Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/social-justice

     Mayer, P. (2018, August 16). Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories. Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2018/08/16/632779706/click-if-you-dare-100-favorite-horror-stories

     Paul, C. (2018, January 10). 11 Must-Read Books By Women Of Color Coming Out In 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.bustle.com/p/11-new-books-by-women-of-color-everyone-needs-to-read-in-2018-7839819

     The Seattle Public Library. (n.d.). Social Justice Books for Teens - The Seattle Public Library. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200121216/675212937

     Sutter, J. D. (2015, May 20). Books: 12 must-reads on climate change (2 degrees). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/19/opinions/sutter-2-degrees-book-club/index.html

     Weldon, G. (2011, August 11). Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/139085843/your-picks-top-100-science-fiction-fantasy-books

     Wright, K. (2018, March 3). 49 Books That Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2018/03/03/books-that-everyone-should-read

     Zottino, T. (n.d.). 200 Books Everyone Should Read - How many have you read? Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.listchallenges.com/200-books-everyone-should-read

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Enjoying Reading

By: Paige Waskow

How do you read more? How do you make reading something you enjoy and want to do on a regular basis especially if you are not used to doing so?

1. Don't feel like you have to read certain books (and if you don't like one, you can stop).
Finding books is hard to do, but finding a good book can be even harder. This is especially true for those who have read a lot or hardly any at all. To avoid this problem, experiment with books and try out different genres, authors, and topics. Asking others their favorite books is a great way to find a good read, especially if you share tastes in music, TV shows, or hobbies. Additionally, there will be a post about books to read coming out soon to give you some book ideas!

One important thing to remember is that you absolutely do not have to finish a book. If you are not enjoying it, it is okay to move to something else (especially if you have another one you want to read!) Reading is a process, what matters is putting interest into what you are doing.

2. Take your book places (and read it).
In forming a reading habit, it is important to practice it. This is not to say you ALWAYS have to be reading, but you can give yourself the opportunity to do so. For example, instead of scrolling through social media while waiting at an appointment, you can get a few pages in. It will also make your free time or waiting time more interesting and feel like you are not wasting it. Books are also great because you can go at your own pace, and take your time. They are quite forgiving if you take a break for a while.

3. Make the experience something to remember.
Reading does not always have to be limited to reading a book. In fact, it often is not. In order to motivate yourself or get more out of a book, you can try the following things. If you want to make reading a social experience or to keep yourself accountable, you could start or join a book club. If you are feeling more personal, you can always set your own goals. Do you want to read a certain amount of pages in a day or a certain amount of books? Maybe your goal is to read that one book you have been meaning to read forever. Additionally, you can remember your books by writing down quotes or things that stood out to you.

4. Try different types of reading
Like life, people prefer different things and experiences. Reading can be the same as there are many ways to enjoy a book. Perhaps you like audio books and listening to them when working out or traveling somewhere. Or maybe you are like me and want to have a real book that you can carry around and hold. Additionally, many people like reading on electronic devices, and that option can often be a lot cheaper and manageable when it comes to space and carrying something around. Both Coe's library the Cedar Rapids Public Library has books in all types of formats that you can try.

Again, there will be a post about books to read coming out soon to give you some book ideas!

via GIPHY,  Alexandra Dvorniokova

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References:

Babauta, L. (2017, June 29). 14 Ways to Cultivate a Lifetime Reading Habit. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/featured/14-ways-to-cultivate-a-lifetime-reading-habit.html

Kaplan, E. (2017, March 27). How to Read (a Lot) More Books This Year, According to Harvard Research. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://medium.com/the-mission/how-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year-according-to-harvard-research-e1dfc55e0b9f

Popova, M. (2016, September 06). Neil Gaiman on Why We Read and What Books Do for the Human Experience. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/08/03/neil-gaiman-view-from-the-cheap-seats-reading/

Rampton, J. (2017, June 27). 25 Expert Tips to Reading WAY More Books This Year. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/25-ways-to-read-a-lot-more-books-this-year.html

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Why Does Reading Matter?

By: Paige Waskow

What is the importance of reading? Why should we spend our time reading, especially as busy college students? In reading, there are both many educational and personal benefits. Additionally, it is important to remember how valuable being able to read really is and experience fiction worlds, true stories, and what is going on in the world. Let's dive a bit deeper into what this all means through some key points.

via GIPHY

1. Reading is a good escape and can be incredibly relaxing.
Life can be busy, overwhelming, and uncontrollable, especially if you have lots of classes, work, and sports. Managing it can be incredibly difficult and working through the stress that comes with it can often be much worse. One benefit of reading is that is it is an escape and break from that stress. Finding a good book can take you to new world, explore complex problems, and provide hours of entertainment. Reading is a choice. You can choose what you want to read and explore without fear of getting to a certain page number or writing a paper about thematic character actions. Additionally, reading may help you feel understood and understanding. As author John Green simply stated, "Great books help you understand, and they help you to feel understood".

2. Reading helps you see the world in new ways (and challenge it).
There is a reason books are criticized, praised, or incredibly popular. Books are complex and provide a voice to ideas and concepts. From banned books to those that provide criticism on culture, reading opens the door to the world. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences; we each have our own story. Through reading, you have the opportunity to expand your bubble and even break the expectations you have of yourself and the world. Additionally, it brings you closer to others. Reading is special in that even if we know of a concept or idea, by exploring and reading we gain new knowledge and learn from a new perspective. We are able to grow into people who care more about ideas, humanity, and solutions.

In one of her articles about the importance of reading, Brain Pickings writer Maria Popova quotes author Neil Gaiman on his perspective of fiction's value. "'Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you’ve never been. Once you’ve visited other worlds, like those who ate fairy fruit, you can never be entirely content with the world that you grew up in. And discontent is a good thing: people can modify and improve their worlds, leave them better, leave them different, if they’re discontented,'" (Popova, Gaiman).

3. Reading opens the door to community.
Although books are often seen as a personal and introverted activity, they can also be used as a way to socialize and grow friendships with others. Take book clubs, recommending books to others, and popular culture references as examples. Books and stories bring people together while helping challenge us in our experience and being willing to share it with others.

4. Reading can educate you in what you need to know and help give you more information about what you care about.
Books are a form of media, and like all media, they are biased in some way. But, they also take more time to write and often more care before publishing. Books can provide information that is easily compared with other sources, insight, and perspective. In regards to non-fiction, reading a lot of books allows for the opportunity to learn more about issues that matter to you. Additionally, they may help you have the ability to understand and be less overwhelmed by issues in culture, then being able to formulate opinions and solutions. This then can be useful in classes, as you have more sources and understanding about why you believe something, as well as knowledge to share with other people.

5. Not reading all together undermines the value of books in society.
According to Pew Research,"About a quarter of American adults (24%) say they haven’t read a book in whole or in part in the past year, whether in print, electronic or audio form," (Perrin 2016). This is definitely at least a whelming statement. Books are such a rich source of knowledge and can provide and bring so much into people's lives and experiences, as stated in the points above. When we do not read or use books, we may begin to believe that they are of less worth than they provide. This is not to enact fear of a Fahrenheit 451 or 1984 like society, but it is important to note that how we gain information matters. How we communicate and grow as people is where we get information and how we process it in our daily lives. We should not read out of fear of losing books but out of enjoyment and pursuit of learning. What we give attention to is what grows and flourishes.

Additional note: I want to share this NPR article about reading literacy in the US and how many people are learning to read for the first time as adults.

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References:

Perrin, A. (2018, March 23). Who doesn't read books in America? Retrieved October 29, 2018, from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/03/23/who-doesnt-read-books-in-america/

DesMarais, C. (2018, March 15). Why Reading Books Should Be Your Priority, According to Science. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.inc.com/christina-desmarais/why-reading-books-should-be-your-priority-according-to-science.html

Popova, M. (2016, September 06). Neil Gaiman on Why We Read and What Books Do for the Human Experience. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/08/03/neil-gaiman-view-from-the-cheap-seats-reading/

Block, M., & Peñaloza, M. (2018, April 26). Casting Aside Shame And Stigma, Adults Tackle Struggles With Literacy. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/26/602797769/casting-aside-shame-and-stigma-adults-tackle-struggles-with-literacy

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How do you ADVOCATE for yourself?

By Paige Waskow

Advocating for yourself can often be really hard. Like, really REALLY difficult. You may have to talk to a boss, a professor you dislike, or a friend who is making you uncomfortable. It may be as simple as asking your roommate to turn off the light at a certain time or as complicated as asking for funding for research. Yet, we need to advocate for ourselves. It is an incredibly helpful skill to have and will help you move forward to do the things you want to do. You will be able to gain confidence and compromise with others, while pursuing your goals and needs. By starting now, you will benefit yourself in future jobs and interactions with people.

Here are three tips and reminders about advocating for yourself:

(In addition, look out for more tips in an additional posts coming soon!)

1. It might be uncomfortable or put you in an awkward position, but that is okay

Standing up for yourself is often uncomfortable. It is an active action and requires stepping out of passivity and not accepting the current situation to ask for what you want. It may not be received well or you may not get the answer you want. The goal is not to change everything to be perfect but to address a particular need or concern. In addition, talking about a problem when it first comes up allows for you to hopefully avoid further complication and make your insight heard.

2. You need to actually do something about it

It is really, incredibly easy to do nothing at all. It is even easier to gossip about a problem and perpetuate how upset you are about it. This may be obvious, but this solves absolutely nothing. If anything, it may make your problem worse. The person may take offense to gossip and make it harder for you and your wants to be acknowledged and taken seriously in the future. It takes courage and uncomfortability to talk to someone, as mentioned above, but it is your best chance at getting an outcome that is favorable to you. Without taking that step, the situation you are in will continue to be the same.

3. Advocating for yourself will get easier with practice and is a learned skill

Small steps:

Although you may and can accomplish a big advocating goal whenever you want to, it is often helpful to get in the practice of starting small. Practice figuring out what you want or what you see a problem with. This is not to say you should always feel the need to address everything, but if you have a legitimate opinion or concern about something, have the conversation. This will help you prepare for the future, become more comfortable talking to others, and build the habit to address a pressing concern.

Small wins and compromise:

Not every conversation will go well or how you want it to. Perhaps your teacher did not understand why you think that their homework assignments are sporadic and do not help you learn. Or maybe, your boss will not change your shift exactly how you want it. This can be extremely frustrating, as we often have one idea of the perfect situation, however, small wins can be a big deal and so can compromise. By creating even that small change, you have changed something. And now, the person you talked to knows it is a concern to you! Your situation will most likely be more in your favor. In addition, remember that you have the right to ask and your concern is legitimate.

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I want to add that this may be particularly difficult for many people in society and in certain situations. There is often a lot of backlash or disregard of importance when a person tries to advocate for themselves. Being a woman, person of color, part of the lgbtqia+ community, physically disabled, pregnant, Muslim (or of another religious group), or having social anxiety can affect how people are treated and viewed when speaking up (and this is not a complete list).This is not to alternate confidence of speaking up but to address that this is a real problem we have in society. The more we address it and talk about it, the better we can support ourselves and others to be more confident in how we advocate for ourselves.

Resources:

Choi, Lily. “How to Advocate for Yourself as a Woman of Color in the Workplace.” How to Advocate for Yourself as a Woman of Color in the Workplace, The Everygirl, 20 June 2018, theeverygirl.com/being-a-woc-in-the-workplace/.

Patel, Deep. “10 Powerful Ways to Stand Up for Yourself in Any Situation.” 10 Powerful Ways to Stand Up for Yourself in Any Situation, SUCCESS, 4 April 2017, www.success.com/10-powerful-ways-to-stand-up-for-yourself-in-any-situation/.

Galinsky, Adam . “How to Speak up for Yourself.” How to Speak up for Yourself, Ideas.ted.com, 17 Feb. 2017, ideas.ted.com/how-to-speak-up-for-yourself/.

McLeod, Lea, Feeling Frustrated? How to Advocate for Yourself at Work. The Muse, 5 July 2013, www.themuse.com/advice/feeling-frustrated-how-to-advocate-for-yourself-at-work.

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Get Outdoors 1: An Introduction

By Paige Waskow

We all value the outdoors.

     Perhaps you read that sentence and completely disagree. You hate bugs, the hot weather, the rain or something in between. But it is true that there is something we all like about it. You may be an outdoor adventurer, rock climbing tall mountains or camping in complete isolation from society. You may be repulsed by the idea of being outside, but you enjoy fake indoor plants and flower tapestries. Perhaps you are somewhere in between, a potted plant is alright and you will take a walk outside once and awhile. Maybe you don’t even think about it on a daily basis.

     But the thing is, as humans, there is something we deem as aesthetic, beautiful, or free about nature and the wilderness. We take pictures of it and post it on social media, we turn it into football fields and golf courses, we make headbands out of flowers and deem their wearers as having a free spirit. But why is that? Why are we so obsessed with nature, and what does or can it really provide for us? 

     In this blog series, we will discuss the importance of nature for our mentality and well being. We will look at how it shapes what we value and want in our world, and how it could even change your work habits. From there, you can learn about the types of nature around you and how you can engage with it. Whether you want to camp, canoe, go on a hike, plant tomatoes, or buy local produce, this series will cover it.