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AbiolaFasehunSecondPaper 4 - 11 Jul 2012 - Main.AbiolaFasehun
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| META TOPICPARENT | name="SecondPaper" |
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Escaping the Noise Through Self-Examination | | |
Introduction | |
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< | In college I created a community project to address an issue that I witnessed fester among youth- an unawareness that through self-examination they could be motivated to achieve something greater than themselves. My target was teenage women. I didn't need statistics from an article or the latest research to educate me on the challenges that young women faced. I knew from volunteering in the community, mentoring, and directing a non-profit, that youth were constantly being bombarded by messages industries generated to limit their ability to think independently. I embarked on the creation of my project with a belief that the teenagers I worked with had the most to gain. Little did I know, my project would not only change the girls I worked with but would also change me. | >
> | In college I created a community project to address an issue that I witnessed fester among youth- an unawareness that through self-examination they could be motivated to achieve something greater than themselves. My target was teenage women. I didn't rely on statistics from an article or the latest research to educate me on the challenges that young women faced. I knew from volunteering in the community, mentoring, and directing a non-profit, that youth were constantly being bombarded by messages industries generated to limit their ability to think independently. I embarked on the creation of my project with a belief that the teenagers I worked with had the most to gain, but eventually I discovered the importance of creating an on going process of self-examination to fuel my life's work. | | |
Falling prey to my own message | | | To an outsider my program appeared to be a success, but in my mind I questioned my legitimacy. After the program, I received an email from a mother who wanted advice on how to help her daughter overcome insecurities. I responded to the email like a pro. I gave her the advice she sought and offered to mentor her daughter, but in the back of my mind, a familiar doubt arose: Who was I to offer such advice? | |
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< | I didn't entirely follow my message. I remained plugged into a world which attempted to define me. A world that was orchestrated by the media, societal norms, and others' expectations of what was appropriate for a black female. I was a cheerleader in college because that was how I defined the image of a fun and charismatic individual. Beyonce or any pop star was an ideal, and I found myself emulating the vainglorious nature that the media engendered. | >
> | I didn't entirely follow my message. I remained plugged into a world which attempted to define me. A world that was orchestrated by the media, societal norms, and others' expectations of what was appropriate for a black female. A world in which I declined to be different. I was a cheerleader in college because that was how I defined the image of a fun and charismatic individual. Beyonce or any female pop star was an ideal, and I found myself emulating the vainglorious nature that the media engendered in my style, purchases, and interests. | | | Can we escape being swindled?
From the moment we are brought into this world, there is an attempt to define our identity. Baby girls are cloaked in pink, while boys are cloaked in blue. We get a little older and the categories remain the same- it's the mechanisms which change. Girls play with barbies. We are taught to be nurturing and to value what sparkles. Boys play with soldiers. They are taught not to cry, welcome challenges, and be physical. Once in awhile an individual may try to buck the role he or she was born into; succeeding in one obstacle, to falter in another. | | | Turning off the noise to guide our life's work
Despite the maddening pace and messages we are given, we all share the beauty of choice. By limiting my interactions with electronic devices, websites, and the accumulation of stuff that attempted to define me, I was able to examine who I was. I longed to dedicate my life to something greater than myself, yet I found my motivation from within. | |
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< | Prior to law school elements of my life could be categorized into stereotypical labels. These labels defined my world and helped to keep me within a mold. Upon completing my first year of law school, I prefer the labels that now accompany my identity: activist, writer, budding attorney. These labels are not barriers, but represent the motivation I gained from my own self-examination. These labels are a reminder of where I have been and what I hope to achieve.
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> | Prior to law school elements of my life could be categorized into stereotypical labels. These labels defined my world and helped to keep me within a mold. Upon completing my first year of law school, I prefer the labels that now accompany my identity: activist, writer, budding attorney. These labels are not barriers, but represent the motivation I gained from my own self-examination. These labels are a reminder of where I have been and what I hope to achieve. -- AbiolaFasehun - 10 Jul 2012
(999) | | | Eben, I would like to continue working on both of my papers and would greatly appreciate any comments you can provide. |
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