Overheard in Art Class...

With the semester and my college career winding down, I'm a bit overwhelmed, so I figured that I would infuse some humor into my blog. Today, while helping in an art class with pre-kindergarten students, I heard some of the kids whispering about a "marriage proposal."

Here's an excerpt from a conversation I had with one of the students:

Me: Did he just ask you to marry him?
5-year-old art student: Yes, he's in love with me.
Me: Oh, that's nice, but you don't sound very happy about it.
5-year-old art student: I don't know. He's not very nice to me.
Me: What do you mean?
5-year-old art student: Sometimes he doesn't want to play with me.
Me: Well, men send a lot of mixed signals.

Oh, the trials of young love...

Check out this cool new blog!

I am TAing a class this semester called "Empowering Girls." The students have a class blog where they will be posting thought-provoking links, clips, etc. Check out this link!

When you’re LOST, go to Iceland

As a senior in college, I frequently find myself the victim of dramatic mood swings. One moment I’m fed up with the drama of being around 18 to 22 year-olds and two minutes later I’m sobbing because I dread the moment I’ll have to say goodbye to my Denison family. In honor of my 21^st birthday a few weeks ago, I’ve chosen to write a reflective post about the lessons I’ve learned and the mistakes I want to warn myself against making again.

1. People will disappoint you, and they won’t acknowledge that they hurt your feelings. Some people deserve to be forgiven and deserve second chances, and others do not. People come and go in your life, but your true friends will make their presence felt even when they’re thousands of miles away.
2. Even the people that seem like they have their acts together are just as insecure as you are. They just hide it better.
3. One person’s perfect fit isn’t yours. Over the past semester, I’ve listened to hundreds of people give me their “life plans” after college. My reactions tend to range from happiness to jealousy to deep anxiety that my “life plan” is just not good enough or as prestigious. What I’ve learned is that YOU need to do what is best for YOU. I would also say this lesson applies to romantic relationships. Over the past few years, I’ve had a lot of anxiety about not fitting into appropriate social norms, and to be bluntly honest, I’d rather kiss a boy that thinks I’m wonderful than hook up with a bunch of random people, which leads me to my next lesson…
4. I’m a hopeless romantic, and I’m not compromising this even if the male market is looking sparse. Women deserve a hell of a lot more than a post-it, email, Facebook chat or texting relationship!
5. It’s okay if other people don’t get you. In the long run, fitting in just doesn’t matter as much. Anyhow, I’d rather stand out!
6. When you’re lost, go to Iceland because why not??!! Life is short, and I think if you don’t take chances, you’ll miss out on something wonderful.

Alright, after this melodramatic rant, I will be back to feminist blogging because I watched a lot of television over Thanksgiving, and I have a lot to say!

Iceland.

In the mood for some dessert? Here’s a slice of “Humble” pie…

Lately, I’ve been realizing how important being a “humble” person and surrounding myself with “humble” people is to me. I think it is easy after traveling abroad to believe that I am now more “worldly” and that my learning is behind me, but I don’t see it that way at all. Arrogance is the easy way out, but humility is the harder path. To me, having humility means seeing that there are other people around you that are struggling too and their problems are bigger than yours. Sometimes I feel that the more I learn, the more I realize what I do not know. It is that thought that propels me to keep learning, wondering, and questioning. Just some food for thought…

(Also, I love any excuse to put food up on my blog!)

Another article of interest relating to this post is from EcoSalon called "Rolling Around in Insane Potential: It's Bright Faith, Baby." It describes a level of faith called "bright faith" where people bring passion, enthusiasm and appreciation to their lives. She ends on an optimistic, positive note writing:

"That fresh salad you get with your entrée. The insurance on your car. The clothes you wear, where you want. The hands you hold in public.
 The light you’re reading by. That vaccination scar on your arm. 
Your innocence.
 
Really, what’s the worst of your problems?

Perspective isn’t everything in terms of have’s and have nots. But you can work it to your very great advantage."

Take a look: http://ecosalon.com/rolling-around-in-insane-potential-it’s-bright-faith-baby/

Special thanks to Hillary Combs for sending me the article.

My Quest for Authenticity

As I get older the more difficult it becomes to stay true to who I am. In my Child Development course, we learned that babies always show their "true" emotions. When they are crying, they are sad, and when they are smiling, they are happy, yet as they become older they learn how they should act in certain situations and begin to modify their behaviors based on other people's perceptions. I think it's sad that we have to do so much pretending in our interactions with others. We live in a world that tells us that fake is beautiful. Plastic surgery, makeup and other enhancements are the only ways to "snag a man." The other day as I was walking back to my dorm I passed two girls and two boys in "going out clothes" laughing and giggling. The girls were being incredibly fake, and it just made me sad and angry that those girls are what men want. But, what about being a genuine person? Shouldn't that matter more than having a perfect appearance that's going to fade eventually? I choose to believe that being authentic and real is more valuable, and I'm on a quest to live those words in practice.

"Dream Big"

In my naiveté and ignorance before attending college, I did not know how privileged I was to have that option. For me, university was not an option. It was assumed that I would go to college and be released into the “real world” after four years. My Denison education has taught me how lucky I am to have that privilege that many women will never have access to.

Over the past week as I looked around my female-dominated classrooms, my high-achieving feminist peers inspired me. In my “Social Cultural Methods” course, we grappled with issues of doing research with indigenous participants and began with the basics of who is considered “indigenous.” In my “Imagining the Body” course, we discussed the oppressive systems that convince women that outer appearances determine self-worth and confidence. As I listened to the research interests of my peers, I admired how daring and courageous each of them are. I also have a group of fantastic friends that accept me no matter what and stick to who they are. They are unique, sassy, and beautiful. These are the women I want to read about and see in magazines. I want to hear their stories and aspirations. I want to inspire young girls to dream big. I’m just looking for a career to do so.


(Yes, my title is inspired by a quote from Juno).