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University 101: Reflections
Reflection #1: Life Map
This past Tuesday, I created my first Life Map. I thought I built it because my instructor required me to, but then I realized I was building it to gain a better view of myself and where I came from. While I was presenting my map, I definitely felt a little uncomfortable and almost embarrassed at first. I was worried that I would be judged about my past. It was much easier to talk about the good in my life than it was to talk about the bad; however, after I discussed the fact that the recession had hit my family pretty bad, a girl in my group immediately made me feel more comfortable by confiding that her family had gone through the same thing.
By having us present our Life Maps in small groups, it forced us to be vulnerable. In a big group, it’s harder to open up. Small groups gave us the chance to release our inhibitions. Speaking in small groups also revealed the similarities and differences between our stories, which helped connect us throughout the activity. As I mentioned before, making myself vulnerable was difficult. I’m usually the bubbly and chatty one, eager to share my perspective. And while I was excited to talk about the high points in my life, I was skeptical about sharing the low points in my life with people I had just met. Once we all shared our stories, though, I realized we were all in the same boat. My Life Map taught me that I have a lot to be proud of, and that the things I am not proud of must be taken into account as well because they have lead me to where I am now. This activity was a great opportunity to reflect about myself and to share my story with new friends.
By having us present our Life Maps in small groups, it forced us to be vulnerable. In a big group, it’s harder to open up. Small groups gave us the chance to release our inhibitions. Speaking in small groups also revealed the similarities and differences between our stories, which helped connect us throughout the activity. As I mentioned before, making myself vulnerable was difficult. I’m usually the bubbly and chatty one, eager to share my perspective. And while I was excited to talk about the high points in my life, I was skeptical about sharing the low points in my life with people I had just met. Once we all shared our stories, though, I realized we were all in the same boat. My Life Map taught me that I have a lot to be proud of, and that the things I am not proud of must be taken into account as well because they have lead me to where I am now. This activity was a great opportunity to reflect about myself and to share my story with new friends.
Reflection #2: Privilege 101
I read the article about privilege on Thursday, September 29th after my classes for the day were over. I read this article for an assignment, and the reason that we were asked to read it was to gain an understanding of what it means to be privileged versus what it means to be oppressed. A broader reason that we were asked to read it was to connect our Jesuit education to ways in which we can help the oppressed using, essentially, our privileges. While I was reading the article, I noticed myself agreeing with the author, nodding along to the words I read. After reading, I felt more informed and more enlightened because the article gave me a new perspective about what it means to be privileged.
The article was attempting to teach us what privilege really means, and how what we think we know about privilege might be different from what it actually is. The article, toward the end, switched gears and attempted to teach us how to push back against the system that dictates which qualities are “good” and which qualities are “bad.” The article was definitely successful in teaching me these lessons by being easy to understand and ending with a proper call to action. While reading this article, I was reminded of the book Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I read it during my junior year in high school and had to write about the oppression shown in the book. Although the book took place in the past, it contrasted the privileged to the oppressed, which is relevant to this day.
From this article, I learned that privilege is defined by which group you belong to within the kyriarchy. If you belong to the “right” race, gender, sexual orientation, mental state, you are considered privileged and dominant. This article reinforced the views I had about oppression, and it reminded me to always be aware of the fact that no matter what struggles I may be going though, someone is going through something worse. Whenever I hear about stories of injustice, it always rekindles the fire in my soul to do something about it; however, my own daily challenges and responsibilities often distract me from that goal, and I need to be reminded that I have a responsibility to others as well. This article reminded me of this, and I know that through future volunteering and my possible future career as a doctor will help me help others who are not as privileged as I am.
The article was attempting to teach us what privilege really means, and how what we think we know about privilege might be different from what it actually is. The article, toward the end, switched gears and attempted to teach us how to push back against the system that dictates which qualities are “good” and which qualities are “bad.” The article was definitely successful in teaching me these lessons by being easy to understand and ending with a proper call to action. While reading this article, I was reminded of the book Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I read it during my junior year in high school and had to write about the oppression shown in the book. Although the book took place in the past, it contrasted the privileged to the oppressed, which is relevant to this day.
From this article, I learned that privilege is defined by which group you belong to within the kyriarchy. If you belong to the “right” race, gender, sexual orientation, mental state, you are considered privileged and dominant. This article reinforced the views I had about oppression, and it reminded me to always be aware of the fact that no matter what struggles I may be going though, someone is going through something worse. Whenever I hear about stories of injustice, it always rekindles the fire in my soul to do something about it; however, my own daily challenges and responsibilities often distract me from that goal, and I need to be reminded that I have a responsibility to others as well. This article reminded me of this, and I know that through future volunteering and my possible future career as a doctor will help me help others who are not as privileged as I am.