Although my main goal has changed, I still want to be an activist and this step will help me achieve that. My next step was to begin setting up an internship/volunteering with someone from one of my interviews. Through a few emails we have set up opportunities for me to volunteer with the organization. There are many different avenues that I can volunteer with this organization, but I will start by selling fair trade necklaces on campus, with friends and through other routes. I was not prepared for the speed with which things would start happening after my interviews with role models. I am very excited to be a part of something I love, fair trade. I am also excited about the opportunities this will bring me and the contacts too!
I also need to start the first step to my new goal, which will be finding 5 graduate programs that I am interested in applying for.
1. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2. University of Arizona
3. University of Illinois At Urbana - Champaign
4. University of Wisconsin Madison
5. Loyola University
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
3 Interviews / New Flow Chart / New Problems
Final Three Interviews
These interviews turned out to be very valuable both in jump-starting my dreams and building bridges from my dreams to reality.
This was a bit difficult, yet convenient because I have changed my goal to be a professor/activist. So although it’s inconvenient to restart my flow chart, problems, etc. it’s convenient in the sense that, as a student, I am surrounded by professors. Because I am Sociology major and a qualitative researcher it is ingrained in me to change the names of my interviewees.
I decided to interview 2 graduate students at UIC, both from the Sociology department.
1.The first I will call Anna. I asked her about her journey and how plausible it is to be both an academic and an activist. She described to me the way she came to be at UIC, its difficulties and triumphs. The most valuable thing I took from this conversation is that she described to me that some universities are activist friendly, while others do not want professors to be activist. She told me that I should look into each university and the professors there and that will help me find a program where I can grow as a student/academic and grow as an activist. I found this very interesting and valuable because I did not know that such favoritism existed in universities. This interview will definitely help me with finding grad programs as well as motivation to get to grad school.
2. The second grad student lets call her Brittany, mostly spoke about how-tos of getting into grad school. This was extremely helpful because as someone from a large family to be the first to get a Bachelor’s degree and the first possible graduate school candidate it seems like an unfamiliar life path. She described to me the do’s and don’t’s of applications, searching for the right grad program and most salient to me contacting those in the grad program to speak with. I found this amazing because although we are doing these exercises it still seems like some people are so far away. But she suggested that I contact professors that I would like to work with because this will help me better connect, understand and possibly get me through the door. Another important tip that I learned from this interview is funding for grad programs. I did not know prior to this interview that I could get so much funding and that I shouldn’t pay for the program, but that they can pay me! This is huge because on of my problems was financial constraints! I learned a lot from this TA and realized how much other people can be such a source of information! She spoke more about her story and the more I heard both her story and my other interviewee’s story the more I realized the possibility that I too can get into grad school.
3. Lastly I spoke with a Professor who very respected academically and also is very active in social issues that are important to her. I asked her about her story, how she got to graduate school, why she chose Sociology, how she juggles academia and social activism. Although she did not have much time to talk as she had wisdom to share, I did get a lot out of this interview. She actually was a completely different major before Sociology and went right into school. But when I told her that I was taking a break from school for at least a year she said that this was a good plan because she had gotten so burned out from going straight to school. She was great in giving me a lot of helpful tips and telling me about great Sociology grad programs and what I could do during my break between my undergrad and grad school. I left feeling like I could do just about anything and had won a million dollars worth of advice, which is so valuable. I also left feeling that I had a contact with someone who could set me up with people from other grad schools. The interview helped motivate me and open doors and possibilities.
New Flow Chart
Research grad programs that interest me-Find my top ten grad programs-Study for the GRE-Pay and schedule time to take GRE-Pass the GRE-Get three letters of recommendation- Write a great personal statement- Contact people in grad program I’d like to study under-Apply to funded grad programs- Contact financial aid at grad programs-Get accepted into a grad program-Make sure financial aid is available for me-
GOAL: Get Into Fully Funded Ph.D. Program
Problems
-GRE (bad at standardized tests)
-Money
-Finding the right program
-Lengthy applications
-Know-how
These interviews turned out to be very valuable both in jump-starting my dreams and building bridges from my dreams to reality.
This was a bit difficult, yet convenient because I have changed my goal to be a professor/activist. So although it’s inconvenient to restart my flow chart, problems, etc. it’s convenient in the sense that, as a student, I am surrounded by professors. Because I am Sociology major and a qualitative researcher it is ingrained in me to change the names of my interviewees.
I decided to interview 2 graduate students at UIC, both from the Sociology department.
1.The first I will call Anna. I asked her about her journey and how plausible it is to be both an academic and an activist. She described to me the way she came to be at UIC, its difficulties and triumphs. The most valuable thing I took from this conversation is that she described to me that some universities are activist friendly, while others do not want professors to be activist. She told me that I should look into each university and the professors there and that will help me find a program where I can grow as a student/academic and grow as an activist. I found this very interesting and valuable because I did not know that such favoritism existed in universities. This interview will definitely help me with finding grad programs as well as motivation to get to grad school.
2. The second grad student lets call her Brittany, mostly spoke about how-tos of getting into grad school. This was extremely helpful because as someone from a large family to be the first to get a Bachelor’s degree and the first possible graduate school candidate it seems like an unfamiliar life path. She described to me the do’s and don’t’s of applications, searching for the right grad program and most salient to me contacting those in the grad program to speak with. I found this amazing because although we are doing these exercises it still seems like some people are so far away. But she suggested that I contact professors that I would like to work with because this will help me better connect, understand and possibly get me through the door. Another important tip that I learned from this interview is funding for grad programs. I did not know prior to this interview that I could get so much funding and that I shouldn’t pay for the program, but that they can pay me! This is huge because on of my problems was financial constraints! I learned a lot from this TA and realized how much other people can be such a source of information! She spoke more about her story and the more I heard both her story and my other interviewee’s story the more I realized the possibility that I too can get into grad school.
3. Lastly I spoke with a Professor who very respected academically and also is very active in social issues that are important to her. I asked her about her story, how she got to graduate school, why she chose Sociology, how she juggles academia and social activism. Although she did not have much time to talk as she had wisdom to share, I did get a lot out of this interview. She actually was a completely different major before Sociology and went right into school. But when I told her that I was taking a break from school for at least a year she said that this was a good plan because she had gotten so burned out from going straight to school. She was great in giving me a lot of helpful tips and telling me about great Sociology grad programs and what I could do during my break between my undergrad and grad school. I left feeling like I could do just about anything and had won a million dollars worth of advice, which is so valuable. I also left feeling that I had a contact with someone who could set me up with people from other grad schools. The interview helped motivate me and open doors and possibilities.
New Flow Chart
Research grad programs that interest me-Find my top ten grad programs-Study for the GRE-Pay and schedule time to take GRE-Pass the GRE-Get three letters of recommendation- Write a great personal statement- Contact people in grad program I’d like to study under-Apply to funded grad programs- Contact financial aid at grad programs-Get accepted into a grad program-Make sure financial aid is available for me-
GOAL: Get Into Fully Funded Ph.D. Program
Problems
-GRE (bad at standardized tests)
-Money
-Finding the right program
-Lengthy applications
-Know-how
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Three Interviews....and another on the way!
So I got the interviews. This week I finished three and I have another this Thursday! I learned a lot from the interviews, some things I wanted to learn and other things I did not expect. I realized that my goal is not what I exactly wanted, which is frustrating yet good. I had the goal of starting a nonprofit about fair trade, but realized that I want to be both a professor and an activist.
(All of my interview participants have fake names or are anonymous to protect their identity).
Interview # 1: Nancy from Project Fair.
I have interviewed Nancy via email because she is in another country doing what I would love to do, international fair trade. I actually got her name through a friend of a friend at a dinner party! He was talking about his work and I brought up my dreams and he actually knew someone who did just what I wanted to! So after a few emails we have connected about what she needs and how I would like to get involved. Although I wish we could have spoken in person, it is still amazing to speak to someone who is doing something so similar to something I would like to become involved in. Her business sells crafts that are made from women in impoverished communities and then the profits go directly to the women who made the goods. It is interesting that I wanted to interview her and she needed help to sell the crafts ended up in each one of us helping each other. We are setting up a volunteer opportunity for me, which is great because one of my problems is lack of experience. She is such a resource of knowledge and I feel very privileged to have gotten a hold of her. She is my first step, where I am trying to set up an internship/volunteer opportunity to gain experience and network in this realm. I am really excited to see where this contact can bring me, already just emailing back and forth has really motivated and inspired me.
Interview # 2: Anonymous professor at UIC.
This was by far the most stimulating conversation I have had in such a long time. At first I did not think that this person has much to do with what I wanted to do, but then that changed very quickly. To even have time with this person made me feel important and special. This professor is both an activist and an academic, which at first I did not know existed. The more I learned from this professor the more I realized that this is what I wanted to be! She spent time just talking about her experience and I was clinging to every word. During and after the interview I knew that this is what I wanted to do because I was so charged with energy that I could barely sleep and woke up early bursting with energy. Although it startled me a little to know that my goal had changed, it also felt like this new goal was right. We spoke of my goals, experience and expectations in life, which made me feel important. The best thing that came out of this interview was the opportunity to work with this professor on research that has both an activist and an academic approach. I left with an opportunity to extend this relationship with a professor as well as the opportunity to being this goal that before the conversation I did not know existed!
Interview # 3: Joe from Mission Art.
My last interview was done with a person who started a nonprofit and had much wisdom on the topic. After interviewing this individual I realized that I did need to change my goal as I had thought I needed to. I realized that I wanted to be a part of nonprofits, social movements, social change, etc. yet the way in which I carried out that participation was different than I had expected. I asked this person about the qualities that an individual needs to start a nonprofit and realized with his experience that I was not the right fit and this goal was not mine. Although I was thinking about changing my goal, this interview was the final straw that made me realize that the goal I had chosen was not really what I wanted. This does suck because I have put a lot of work into this goal already, but as Palmer would say we learn as much from what we are not good at than we learn from what we are good at. This person did set my up with at least 6 more people to interview and possibly job openings to help me in finding what I really wanted to do. It is amazing the amount of wisdom someone else will freely poor into another, as well as the contacts and help.
My planning wall:
This is now more difficult because I just changed my goal, target, role models, etc. so I will post this when it is finished. I have to make up quite a lot of missed time because I have completely changed my main goal along with my plans. The last interview mentioned (interview # 3) happened tonight and was the final influence that made me change my goal. I am glad I switched my goal because I think it is more along the lines of my touchstone, personality and gifts. This brings me back to brain storming and creating a new flow chart...success team get ready!
(All of my interview participants have fake names or are anonymous to protect their identity).
Interview # 1: Nancy from Project Fair.
I have interviewed Nancy via email because she is in another country doing what I would love to do, international fair trade. I actually got her name through a friend of a friend at a dinner party! He was talking about his work and I brought up my dreams and he actually knew someone who did just what I wanted to! So after a few emails we have connected about what she needs and how I would like to get involved. Although I wish we could have spoken in person, it is still amazing to speak to someone who is doing something so similar to something I would like to become involved in. Her business sells crafts that are made from women in impoverished communities and then the profits go directly to the women who made the goods. It is interesting that I wanted to interview her and she needed help to sell the crafts ended up in each one of us helping each other. We are setting up a volunteer opportunity for me, which is great because one of my problems is lack of experience. She is such a resource of knowledge and I feel very privileged to have gotten a hold of her. She is my first step, where I am trying to set up an internship/volunteer opportunity to gain experience and network in this realm. I am really excited to see where this contact can bring me, already just emailing back and forth has really motivated and inspired me.
Interview # 2: Anonymous professor at UIC.
This was by far the most stimulating conversation I have had in such a long time. At first I did not think that this person has much to do with what I wanted to do, but then that changed very quickly. To even have time with this person made me feel important and special. This professor is both an activist and an academic, which at first I did not know existed. The more I learned from this professor the more I realized that this is what I wanted to be! She spent time just talking about her experience and I was clinging to every word. During and after the interview I knew that this is what I wanted to do because I was so charged with energy that I could barely sleep and woke up early bursting with energy. Although it startled me a little to know that my goal had changed, it also felt like this new goal was right. We spoke of my goals, experience and expectations in life, which made me feel important. The best thing that came out of this interview was the opportunity to work with this professor on research that has both an activist and an academic approach. I left with an opportunity to extend this relationship with a professor as well as the opportunity to being this goal that before the conversation I did not know existed!
Interview # 3: Joe from Mission Art.
My last interview was done with a person who started a nonprofit and had much wisdom on the topic. After interviewing this individual I realized that I did need to change my goal as I had thought I needed to. I realized that I wanted to be a part of nonprofits, social movements, social change, etc. yet the way in which I carried out that participation was different than I had expected. I asked this person about the qualities that an individual needs to start a nonprofit and realized with his experience that I was not the right fit and this goal was not mine. Although I was thinking about changing my goal, this interview was the final straw that made me realize that the goal I had chosen was not really what I wanted. This does suck because I have put a lot of work into this goal already, but as Palmer would say we learn as much from what we are not good at than we learn from what we are good at. This person did set my up with at least 6 more people to interview and possibly job openings to help me in finding what I really wanted to do. It is amazing the amount of wisdom someone else will freely poor into another, as well as the contacts and help.
My planning wall:
This is now more difficult because I just changed my goal, target, role models, etc. so I will post this when it is finished. I have to make up quite a lot of missed time because I have completely changed my main goal along with my plans. The last interview mentioned (interview # 3) happened tonight and was the final influence that made me change my goal. I am glad I switched my goal because I think it is more along the lines of my touchstone, personality and gifts. This brings me back to brain storming and creating a new flow chart...success team get ready!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Interviews…uuummm… / Optional activity
Unfortunately I still have not gotten any interviews, but I am setting up two. One person I knew before this class and another is through the help of my supportive and awesome success team. Some of the people I really wanted to interview I have been stalking and still no reply. Like one person who I would LOVE to interview…I found her on facebook, sent her a message, tried to add her as a friend, but she must have thought I was a crazy person. I also think that this assignment is particularly hard for me and for personalities like me who do not like to step on toes. What I mean is that I am not a pushy person, so when I send an email to a person it is hard for me to call the next day and not feel like I am being too pushy or needy. This is not an excuse, but it is really my personality. I feel like I am bothering someone if I push too hard for an interview. But I guess I need to get over that.
I did get an email back from someone who started a nonprofit, although the mission is different than mine, I am really excited due to her experience and willingness to help me. She sent me an email with great information! She sent me a link about funding a nonprofit, information on a conference about federal funding coming up, and a nonprofit start-up guide! Its amazing how one person can be such a resource and be willing to share it freely! It does make me feel better about this assignment. I was beginning to get a little pessimistic about the assignment because I was having so much trouble, but this one positive experience has made me more willing to keep going.
If anyone reading this knows of someone who has started a nonprofit or works with an organization that does fair trade I would greatly appreciate their information. Thank you.
Optional Activity:
This optional activity was actually unexpected. One of the activities that I loved as a child is spending quality time with my older sister Jessica. I would love to spend time with my sister, just the two of us, and talk and talk and talk…. I still appreciate that kind of time with people. This is the best way I feel I get to know people, spending one-on-one time just talking and talking and talking. I did this when I spent the night at a friend’s place. It was unexpected, but it always brings me back to when I was a little kid and could completely confide and connect with a safe and loving person. We actually ended up talking until 4:00 am! This activity is hard to classify, but this was one of the things I did as a child that I loved and I still cherish the memories. I think I could also be a counselor if the nonprofit creation does not work or maybe I could combine the two. Because when I was a child similar to the time I spent with my friend talking, I enjoy talking to people about what is going on in their lives, struggles, success, etc. for hours. The time I spent with my older and wiser sister as a child allowed me to appreciate the quality time spent in the presence of another’s conversation.
I did get an email back from someone who started a nonprofit, although the mission is different than mine, I am really excited due to her experience and willingness to help me. She sent me an email with great information! She sent me a link about funding a nonprofit, information on a conference about federal funding coming up, and a nonprofit start-up guide! Its amazing how one person can be such a resource and be willing to share it freely! It does make me feel better about this assignment. I was beginning to get a little pessimistic about the assignment because I was having so much trouble, but this one positive experience has made me more willing to keep going.
If anyone reading this knows of someone who has started a nonprofit or works with an organization that does fair trade I would greatly appreciate their information. Thank you.
Optional Activity:
This optional activity was actually unexpected. One of the activities that I loved as a child is spending quality time with my older sister Jessica. I would love to spend time with my sister, just the two of us, and talk and talk and talk…. I still appreciate that kind of time with people. This is the best way I feel I get to know people, spending one-on-one time just talking and talking and talking. I did this when I spent the night at a friend’s place. It was unexpected, but it always brings me back to when I was a little kid and could completely confide and connect with a safe and loving person. We actually ended up talking until 4:00 am! This activity is hard to classify, but this was one of the things I did as a child that I loved and I still cherish the memories. I think I could also be a counselor if the nonprofit creation does not work or maybe I could combine the two. Because when I was a child similar to the time I spent with my friend talking, I enjoy talking to people about what is going on in their lives, struggles, success, etc. for hours. The time I spent with my older and wiser sister as a child allowed me to appreciate the quality time spent in the presence of another’s conversation.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Frustrated.....
I have been getting a bit frustrated because I want to have a role model that is a woman! My dream is to start an international nonprofit that works with women internationally on projects such as fair trade and/or microfinance and for me I want to look up to someone who is more similar to me...a person I can relate to and that is a female role model. Not that a male role model would be bad, but I just connect and feel more comfortable confiding my largest hopes and dreams to a female role model. Because my dream is starting or being the owner of a large nonprofit, historically many of those positions (such as CEO) are filled with men, where are the women??!!?? Sorry for the outbreak, but I guess I was a bit heartbroken because although I know female CEO do exist, I am having a hard time finding some to connect to. And I guess it also makes my dream and the possibility of that dream feel farther when there a few women that have achieved it. This was just a random thought I had to get out. Has anyone else experienced similar frustrations? On a positive note I guess I should see this as a barrier to overcome, not a barrier to be defeated by. End random outburst.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Assignment #7
Unfortunately I was not able to interview any role models yet, but I will post interviews as soon as I can.
I did do the optional assignment, one of the activities I love from the in-class activity on week 2.
I was able to sing in front of a medium-large group of people when I went out to a karaoke bar with friends. I actually had not planned the event, but it was a rather random occasion. I had planned to go do homework when a friend asked if I wanted to go to a karaoke bar. Even though the night was bad for the progress of my homework, it was good for my heart. I love singing in front of others in a relaxed and open atmosphere. It is good for me to sing in front of others because it helps boost my self-confidence and helps me get over being nervous. I got many compliments on my voice, which always feels good. And the night helped me realize that while I often neglect music/singing during the stresses of school it is still a part of me and something I love to do. The night also led to more singing as I realized I might want to sing at open mics.
List of songs I sang by myself:
Hit Me With your Best Shot –Pat Benatar
Your Song-Elton John
I Don’t Know Why-Norah Jones
Criminal-Fiona Apple
I did do the optional assignment, one of the activities I love from the in-class activity on week 2.
I was able to sing in front of a medium-large group of people when I went out to a karaoke bar with friends. I actually had not planned the event, but it was a rather random occasion. I had planned to go do homework when a friend asked if I wanted to go to a karaoke bar. Even though the night was bad for the progress of my homework, it was good for my heart. I love singing in front of others in a relaxed and open atmosphere. It is good for me to sing in front of others because it helps boost my self-confidence and helps me get over being nervous. I got many compliments on my voice, which always feels good. And the night helped me realize that while I often neglect music/singing during the stresses of school it is still a part of me and something I love to do. The night also led to more singing as I realized I might want to sing at open mics.
List of songs I sang by myself:
Hit Me With your Best Shot –Pat Benatar
Your Song-Elton John
I Don’t Know Why-Norah Jones
Criminal-Fiona Apple
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)