The Unnoticed Privilege

Often time, we live our lives without acknowledging that what we have on the day-to-day basis is what many people are fighting their whole life for. Heterosexual Privilege, for example, is something most of us barely pay much attention to. However, to many people, being able to love openly and receive the same rights are all they've ever wanted.

After reading the 30+ Examples of Heterosexual Privileges, it breaks my heart to see how unsettling and unequal our so-called equal society still is. Who are we to tell other people they do not have the right to love and marry who they love? Who are we to prevent them from having immediate access to their loved ones in case of emergency? Who are we to tell them that their basic civil rights can be denied and outlawed anytime just because we do not approve their sexuality?

This also reminds me of my music teacher in high school and his husband's story. For fifteen years, they had been trying to adopt a child into their household. However, because of Florida's specifically restricted same-sex adoption law, they could not. Until very recently, they moved to Washington D.C., they were finally able to welcome a 5-year-old boy to their home. What saddens me the most about their story is that both of them are financially and emotionally qualified to adopt a child. Yet, the so-called law prevented them to create a loving home for a child who is so desperate for one. Hopefully, in the near future, we will be able to live in a world where everyone are equal and "heterosexual privilege" will only be a term that no one even talks about anymore.

As an international student, I have never got the chance to actually understand much about the issue of "being undocumented." After watching the two videos, it did open my eyes to so many things that I would otherwise never think of before. Children, who had no choice but coming to America with their parents years ago, who have spent most of their lives in this country, get denied to become American citizens. I cannot imagine how hard it must be like to live in a country without any reassurance about the future. My relatives, for instance, also came to the United States from Vietnam after the war. Even though it has been more than thirty years, their stories of once being undocumented still scare me. What people do not usually understand is that these undocumented people have to sacrifice so much to be able to come here. They had to live their roots and everything they are familiar with to search for better futures in this country. If Americans always value the American Dream, then why does unfortunate people like the undocumented are not allowed to receive the life they work so hard for? I really do hope that in the future, this would not be an issue anymore, and the undocumented will be able to live the life they deserve to have.

Microaggressions and My Thoughts on Self-Growth

• 18 Chances You Will Not Regret Taking In Life

We will all die someday. Yes, it is sad but it is true. Often in life, many of us take things for granted then later look back and regret on what we have done. Life is too short to live with so many "what if's," or waste your time in doubt.

The article, "18 Chances You Will Not Regret Taking In Life," really makes me think. For the longest time of my life, I always lived with dozens of regrets. I was not happy with who I was and often tried to adjust myself in order to fit in with the expectations of others. Looking back, I realized that I was constantly putting myself down and spent too much time on being unhappy. I decided that I needed to change, and so I did. Instead of always focusing on the negative things, I spend my time on doing what I love and giving back to other people around me. Now, I am a much happier person. I understand my limitations, feel comfortable with who I am, and try to help other people around me see the value in themselves as well.

• Microaggressions

Sue et al. (2007) describe microaggressions as, “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward people.” - Wikipedia

"Microaggression" is a very serious problem that numerous American teenagers (of colors) have faced nowadays. These types of behaviors, whether intentionally or unintentionally, make a significantly negative impact on the people who are affected by those stereotypes.

 

The way one looks, what one believes in, or how one identifies his sexual orientation should not be the reason that lowers his or her standing in the society. Everyone should feel free to express who they are and what they believe in without having to worry that people will not accept it (unless their motives are something real wicked and destructive lol).

 

1. As young adults, I know more than well that expectation from others play a huge role in how we think of ourselves. Looking back, all my life, I always hear people telling me I shouldn't do this, or I shouldn't wear that. However, I finally realized that what they say does not matter. What truly matters is what you see in yourselves. If you are comfortable in our own skin and feel content with the way you live, then that is enough. Others' opinions are not always bad, still, do not let them bring you down. Learn to love yourself for who you really are, and you will be surprised!

2. "Where are you from?" - "Vietnam" - "Wait, is that a part of China?" Since I first came to America, I was shocked by the questions that other people used to ask me. In my mind, I always thought that Vietnam is a quite distinct country that most Americans should know of (because of the Vietnam War). However, I was wrong. Many people seemed to think that Asian people who come to America are only from either China, Japan, or Korea. It was not a big deal to me at first, however, being repeatedly classified as Chinese because of the way I look really upsets me. I understand that not many people can tell the differences between Asians, but I do not agree how some people immediately classify us without taking the time to get to know the person. 

3. I am a huge feminist. Personally, I believe that men and women should have equal opportunity to grow and succeed. It frustrates me to see women get treated differently just because they are not males. This is clearly a prime example of how unsettling our society still is. I really hope that as years go by, this situation will get better, and the next generation will not have to deal with this gender stereotype anymore. 

Privilege, Allyship, & Safe Space

I thought the article "Privilege, Allyship, & Safe Space" was very thought-provoking. Being a part of the society that continuously claims itself to be just, yet everyday, people are crying for equality. The issue of equality does not only revolve around races, but it also relates to gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, harassment and so on. This article somehow reminds me of one of the short but powerful stories I read not very long ago online. An educated college graduate, who is very knowledgeable about the NASA's works, were with his new colleagues discussing an issue about where they should send the next shuttle or how much money they should spend on space travel. No matter how hard he tried, none of his opinions were taken seriously frankly just because he is gay. 

Connecting this back to the issue of equality, being straight or gay does not give one the privilege to consider him- or herself higher than anybody who holds a different value. That goes the same way for people who are racially different or hold different religious views. As the new generation in this society, we have to take action in order to achieve the goal of "liberating ourselves from cycles of oppression" by deciding what needs to be done, then making sure specific actions taken. Like Will Rogers said, "we will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others."

e-Portfolio Reflection

For the e-portfolio session, I personally thought it was very helpful. It opened my eyes to many possibilities and creative ideas that I can collaborate into my own e-Porfolio and use it to impress my future employers and colleagues. More importantly, I have also learned that e-porfolio can serve in so many purposes, and help us students above and beyond college.

Discovering the Inner Beauty of Serving Others

Discovering the Inner Beauty of Serving Others

Personally, I found "Create Meaning by Helping Others" very interesting and thought-provoking. Like the author, throughout my life thus far, I always find the enjoyment in helping other people. However, most of the time, I realized I was seeking for validation instead of the potential difference I could make in other people's lives. This article opened my eyes to a new, different level. I finally see things in a different perspectives. First of all, I've learned that serving is not only physically helping others, but mentally supporting them by helping them gain insights into their lives and be the best version of themselves. Serving others not only help the other people's lives to become a better place, but it also makes one's life more meaningful and happy. 

Serving others also plays a vital role in leadership. When we become a responsible for others, we no longer focus only on ourselves. Even though self-care and self-understanding are very important for every type of leader, caring for our own needs without considering about others is a huge mistake. As leaders, we can serve the people around us in several ways:

1. Create awareness for [others] about how beautiful they are.

2. Get people to be curious about their lives.

3. Share the passion your talent brings.

4. Believe in yourself and show others it's possible.

About Family Matters, at first, I actually did not really like it. I still remember when I first met my mentee, she looked very unhappy and unenthusiastic to start our tutoring session. We went through our first reading and I found out that her reading level was not as high as many of her peers. I was very worried because she did not seem to enjoy it, and I was not sure on how I should help her. Then, I spend the last 30 minutes to just chat and get to know her more. I asked her many random questions and she started to open up. She told me about her family, her favorite Disney's movies, and even the guy in her class that she didn't like. After that day, we worked much better together. She finished her homework early, and as a reward, I gave her ten minutes in the end of our session to play games or watch youtube videos. As for now, she is gradually improving in her reading as well as math's skills. Even though there is still quite a lot we need to work on, I am very glad that the two of us bonded so well. I am also very happy that I am able to be a part of her life, and hopefully become a positive influence on her for her later.

Servant Leadership

When it comes to leadership, one often has in mind an image of a powerful leader who holds the authority and directs others. However, leadership is actually a very broad and complex concept that conveys many different branches.  

My favorite social justice quote is from Nelson Mandela:  "Poverty is not an accident. Like slavery and apartheid, it is man-made and can be removed by the actions of human beings." Personally, I strongly believe that our world is how we make it to be. Therefore, we undoubtedly have the power to either move it to a good or bad direction. Nobody is born with hatred or selfishness. "People learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than the opposite."

The Servant Leadership workshop opened my eyes to a whole new level. It taught me that one of the most vital qualities of a good leader is to serve for the best interest of others. Servant leadership enriches the lives of individuals, builds better organization and ultimately creates a more just and caring world. Similar to John Stuart Mill's philosophical ideology, a servant leader is the one who primarily strives for the larger benefit and well-being of the people in the communities more than his or her own personal goods. 

 

In regards to Servant Leadership, I believe the characteristics that I hold are listening, empathy, and stewardship and commitment to the growth of people. In the future, I am planning to obtain more necessary skills to better myself as a leader. I will try my best to be more aware of what happens around me, learn to be more persuasive, and especially gain more experiences to foresight the upcoming events. 

​

My dream job is to become a Nurse Practitioner. In my opinion, through this profession, I am able to dedicate my time and effort to promote health, prevent diseases and most importantly help patients overcome illness. I can help ensure the well-being of people by providing direct patient care, observing symptoms and recording progresses. In a more personal level, I would also cooperate with my coworkers to reassure that the patients will receive the best possible care they need to recover. 

In Every Mistake There is a Potential for Growth

After reading the School-to-Prison Pipeline, I honestly feel very upset. In the society we are in where everyone is claimed to be equal and able to receive the same opportunities, this is totally against it. First of, scientifically, a youth's brain is not fully developed until he or she hits his or her 20s. Therefore, expecting a child not make any mistake is exactly like forcing him or her to go against the natural growth cycle. Moreover, one has to fall in order to learn and grow. As educators, they should teach their young students to understand what is right and what is wrong. Also, they should emphasize the importance of discipline, especially in school's setting. 

 

Regarding to the issue, I will try my best to address the education inequalities that exist in the city of Chicago by participating in community services where I have the opportunity to help and educate the children and young adults about the existing problem. As a STARS Leader, I will be more involved in activities in which I can help mentor the young students to achieve a good level of education they deserve. 

Even though I have only been to Family Matters twice thus far, I have learned many things I would not be able to understand otherwise. Working with my kid, I have realized that each individual is different and requires different mentoring style. Also, patience is a vital key when interacting with the younger kids. Lastly and most importantly, in order to be a good leader, I should also respect and be open-minded to learn about different cultures and backgrounds.   

Discovering Your Mentoring Style

What is mentoring? Why do people need it to succeed in life?

"Successful people never reach their goal alone."

If one was to look up the word "mentor", one would be very surprised that the origin of the word itself came from Homer in his well-known work, Odyssey, to describe Odysseus's wise counselor and teacher. In modern English, we understand "mentor" as a person who gives advice and guidance as well as provide support and assistance to a specific individual or a group of individuals. As a mentor, the ultimate goal one should drive for is to give beneficial advice, encourage one's mentee to believe in him- or herself and positively grow as a person. 

Surprisingly, there are many types of mentoring which all benefit both the mentor and mentee in their unique ways. Personally, I tend to fall between the "Active Listening" and "Advisory" categories. I believe that listening is definitely a vital of mentoring. Since everybody is different, we should first try to pay attention and listen to what our mentee has to say. Sometimes, it is for the best to give them some space and show them that we actually understand. However, there are times when mentors have to be actively involved into helping the mentees with their problems. Yet, mentors should give advice and suggestions as an objective outsider; and mentee should be encouraged to make their own decision.

As for Family Matters, I actually very enjoyed my time there with my mentee, Shavon. Even though she seemed shy at first, she opened up much more after the icebreaker. I've got to learn about her family, her usual day at school, or even tiny thing like the guy who sits next to her in class. Shavon is definitely a very smart kid. I am very glad that I'm able to be a part of her life and hopefully make a positive impact on her.