April 20, 2013

The Race Between Education and Catastrophe

Originally published in the RE: Boston edition of The Roundtable, a student-run publication at Wellesley University, on April 20, 2013.

Throughout history, humans have endeavored to educate ourselves about the issues that define us. From the recent MIT shooting to the Boston terror bombings, we strive to gather information about events that could impact us, have caused others injury or could spark debate.

Thousands gather for a vigil to remember those lost in the Boston terror bombings. (CNN Connecticut)

In The Outline of History, H.G. Wells states that “human history [is]…a race between education and catastrophe.” Though this statement has many implications, all of which provide a profound message about the nature of society today, I prefer to keep it simple. Now, more than ever, we must put in the effort to learn from each other, to grow toward a mutual cooperation to create positive change. We must try to learn, not just to prevent catastrophes, but to learn better how to react to them.

Novelist John Green wrote, “Literacy is vital, but literacy is not the finish line.” It is not enough to possess knowledge – it must be employed, expanded upon and shared. His web-based YouTube history program CrashCourse is Green’s way of doing this; it is an accessible platform with which to distribute educational resources, communicate and unite.

As we strive forward, making scientific discoveries and technological innovations, we must remember that failing to appreciate the basics will get us nowhere. Too often we regard concepts as too complex, and then not complex enough.

It seems that children are always better than adults at keeping things uncomplicated. Henry, John Green’s son, was in a recent episode of Green’s web show where, in the midst of discussing a protest at a military funeral, Henry asked, “Can’t people just be nice?”

It took a 3-year-old to ask what should be obvious to us all, but we get caught up in semantics and intricacies that don’t need to exist. In reality, Henry was spot on. If people took the time to try to understand the perspective of their peers, we would face far less discrimination and misunderstanding.

And there you have it. Easy, right?

I work to break down my own ignorance by focusing on gendered language. I have worked with others to become educated about transgender terminology and within my day-to-day life, I implement what I’ve learned. I endeavor to share what I know in the hope of eliminating the current stigma against this community.

The race between education and catastrophe is not so much a race between either knowledge or destruction, but the opportunity for growth between people. Following the example of innocents like Henry, our first step towards solving any problem is defining it. Only by becoming aware of an issue can understanding can we create change.

Even if we cannot change the outcome of an event, we can alter how we respond.

Too often, I hear of traumas like the MIT shooting or the Boston terror bombings and only research the culprit, or who died. I forget to investigate whatever small amounts of good came from the situation. Because in the midst of trauma, they just aren’t as interesting. But we need to make them the focal point.

So, as we educate ourselves about the many horrors that happen around the world each and every day, we must remember to concentrate on the positive: the stories of hope, of love and of mutual understanding. We must recognize the biased lens of the media and look a little deeper.

“Yet, clumsily or smoothly, the world, it seems, progresses and will progress,” Wells wrote. With open-mindedness and communication, this progress will march on. As simple-minded as it sounds, perhaps then, people will just be nice.

March 28, 2013

Spring Break Service with 826 Chicago!

This past spring break, I travelled to Chicago with five other awesome females to work with 826 Chicago, a non-profit writing and tutoring center. The trip was organized by KU Alternative Breaks, an organization that sends students on service trips all around the country! I wrote a blog post about each day of our trip – and here they are.

Monday

Bailey looks ethereally at the camera as we shop for groceries at the market.

This morning, our all-female group woke up at the leisurely hour of 7:15 a.m. in our lovely room at Hostelling International in Chi-town. After a complimentary breakfast at the hostel and a run-in with a KState Alternative Breaks group, we headed to a small locally owned grocery store about 10 minutes away called the South Loop Market.

After an adventurous and food-filled morning we finally headed to the Boring Store! (It’s definitely not a spy store or anything.) We got to meet the full-time employees at 826 Chicago, including an adorable long-haired dachsund named Chester. He’s not an employee. I don’t think.

Then they did the worst.

They handed the six of us a stack of books written by the kids of 826 Chicago over the past few years and told us to go to a totally hipster coffee shop around the corner and read up for the next few hours. And that we did. We reveled in the stories and poems of kids ages 6 to 18. I read a funny compilation about a funny guy named Jared who liked to play with eraser cubes and wear a muumuu, as well as an introspective story about a trash can called “Keeper of Past Importance.”

A lovely fifth grader named Jocelyn Ortega wrote, “The leaves fall down from the trees because they want to kiss the sidewalk and want to go trick-or-treating.”

Ashley, Bailey and Maddy reading books written by the kids of 826 at Filter!

Amazing.

After our glorious reading time, Bailey and I went to Clemente High School with Zach from 826 to work with a writing class. It was an interesting experience. Erik Adams, the assistant TV editor for the AV Club, a subsidiary of the Onion, spoke to the class about interviewing tactics. Picture this: Second semester seniors in an elective class. On a Monday. During the last period of class for the day. The students were not quite captivated, but it was a good experience nonetheless.

Around 3:30 p.m., Bailey and I headed back to our site to participate in 826’s after school tutoring program! I got to help this super awesome 6^th grader named Cristian with his math homework. Fractions are hard, man. Real hard. I hope to work with Cristian again, though, because I think we really connected in regards to trapezoids and video games.

Maddy is a pro at onion stirring.

Finally, our group made a delicious late dinner of fajitas and reflected about each other’s personal goals for the trip. It was fantastic to hear everyone else’s personal goals too – from lofty to simplistic.

Tuesday – here we come.

Tuesday

Bright and early this morning, we headed to the Chicago Public Library to mount about 18 escalators up to the ninth floor. Our touristy thing for the day: we visited the Bean! We also got free Starbucks on the street! Awesome!

The group visiting the public library. Check out the mini-Bean!

Around 1 p.m., we attempted some papercrafts for 826’s spring fundraiser: Promic-con. (Previous prom-themed Prom Hanks and Keep Prom and Carry On). Maddie was an expert at said papercrafts.

We also worked as tutors in the afterschool tutoring program again. Tilyn and I got to work at the writing station, where students could go when they wanted to take a break from their homework. Each student got the same prompt and then wrote away! Today’s prompt involved a 30-hour dance party. It was fantastic.

Papercrafts! I was def the nerdy one in the group. D&D? I’ve got that. Avengers, Dr. Who, HP? Oh yeah.

From first graders to sixth, there were more unique, weird and awesome stories than I’ve heard, quite possibly ever. I specifically adored witnessing a fifth grader named Harry write his piece about Gangnam Style. His voice showed so clearly in his writing, despite his extremely quiet demeanor. At the end of his story he wrote, “They served beer at the dance, but as that would be inappropriate for the writer of the story, I stuck with water.” Genius.

Obviously, I also enjoyed connecting with the kids about One Direction. So many of the girls loved hearing that I was obsessed with the five boys, and after shaking his head that he didn’t like them, a little boy named Jose shrugged and then responded, “Well…I actually really like Niall’s hair.” Not an experience that I would give up for the world.

We left 826 after the new-volunteer orientation and had a tense time at the Jewel Osco as we attempted to purchase food for our dinner. Carb-starved, we grabbed some frozen chicken nuggets and splurged on deluxe macaroni for $2.55.

Artsy macaroni!

Then, as we do, we got locked out of our room at the hostel. We cooked a delicious and non-extraordinarily healthy dinner with a group from Oklahoma. While our noodles boiled, we danced to Beyonce with some of the people from Oklahoma missions group in the hostel kitchen. I had this surreal experience when Love on Top came on, which was the song of my previous break group. That group defined so much of my college experience. Like two paths that I thought were different, coming together.

The ladies of 826 then bonded over burlesque dance moves, bra sizes and penguin gummies. A great day!

Wednesday

Today began early for four of us; Megan, Tilyn, Ashley and Maddy went to Cameron Elementary School to work on a project with some seventh graders at 8:45 a.m., while Bailey and I got to sleep in a while longer. We had a lovely breakfast of toast and marmalade at the hostel before heading to our site. Our leisurely day rapidly became slightly more stressful though, when we accidently took the L-train the opposite direction of our site. Whoops!

We made it to 826 Chicago just in time to witness an amazing program that 826 puts on almost every day during the week – a class field trip! Second and third grade classes file into the main room at the site at the premise of helping one of the employees write a story! The students create the illustrations with a fantastic artist and then get their stories approved by the “boss of the publishing company”, the intimidating Admiral Moody. Complete with improv acting and creative story-telling techniques, the students create different endings for a story that they created together.

Bailey and I got to work with the students on their individual stories, which was, well, a really cute experience. The class was from a Spanish speaking school so they were allowed to write their stories in either English or Spanish. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Jesus, who finished his story about Chuck the Hamburger Man and his sidekick, Robo Jack, by having them vanquish the horrible villain Mike Ninja amidst a dangerous jewel heist. Sweet success.

The rest of our group joined us for lunch (boat-sized portions of rice and vegetables) and then we changed into our oh-so-attractive paint clothes to decorate the Boring Store, the front “façade” of the organization. Each 826 chapter is complete with an accompanying store. 826’s is called The Boring Store and sells spy supplies! We got to spackle and sand down the walls of the store and paint it a cool retro gray hue. Again, sweet.

As we have every day this week, we helped out with tutoring again. Tilyn and I took our coveted place at the writing table where we got to work with students like Yesi and Ingrid! Yesi, who was all-too excited about my “You’re on the top of a giant boulder in a magical dark forest. How do you get out?” prompt from yesterday, was desperate for more fun times. Today I told her to describe a day in her life, as if she was her cat and a day in her cat’s life, if her cat was in her body. Suffice to say, she had a very creative response.

Pancakes, sausage and eggs for dinner were the perfect almost-ending to our day. Post-deliciousness, we visited the room of our KState Alternative Break friends to set up a breakfast meeting. Bailey, our ever-cheerful leader invitingly knocked on their door, strode in and proclaimed, “Hi KState! It’s KU! We’d like to formally invite you to break fast with us tomorrow morning!”

Diplomacy at its finest.

Thursday

Regardless of my lack of loquaciousness today, we had an amazingly long and full day.

Tilyn donned a disguise at the writing table at 826 to greet the kids who came to spread their creative genius.

The whole group started up the morning with a field trip at the site. Third graders are the bomb. They are full of more enthusiasm and brilliance than I’ve seen in a long while. Though I thought this break would decrease my faith in humanity and all of that, the adventures of a villainous cat named Scooter Fuzzy as developed by a group of inner-city third graders has given me a renewed faith.

Post-lunch we went to LaSalle II Elementary School to work with a group of eighth graders on a project in conjunction with our site. They were assigned to write a short story about anything that they chose. And boy did they have some insanely creative pieces. We each got the chance to work one-on-one with a few students to revise their pieces. I met with Jose, Diamond and Malik. Jose wrote about a bullying and a school shooting, while Diamond decided upon a 16-page melodrama about a 14-year old girl with two boyfriends who decides to go on a shopping spree with her father’s credit card.

I connected best with a confident young man named Malik. He wrote an incredibly imagery heavy short about a high-school age boy named Christopher. During a meeting with one of his teachers after school, Chris is asked how he feels about death. He brushes it off, only to realize that his teacher has passed the Grim Reaper scythe to him. He wakes up the next day to realize that he has transformed into his worst nightmare. Intensity ensues.

Tilyn and I created a collage of our favorite words to inspire the kids at the writing table!

Once again, Tilyn and I got to work at the writing center during after-school tutoring time. Making short, but lasting connections with a few kids that had visited our table day after day has been my favorite part of this entire break experience. We even ran into Yesi, a girl from our site, at LaSalle II this morning! She was so excited to show us where she came to learn each day.

Back at the hostel, we dined with the students from a fifth grade private school class who cooked our dinner based on a country they were studying at school. The hostel has a program in which students from local schools study a country (this time, it was Brazil) and then come to the hostel to share it with people from all over! I found it fascinating to explore the different types of education options that a city of this size has to offer.

Just meerkating around in our hostel room.

We ended the day with an intense talk about the relation between race and socio-economic level, played Spoons and then played with some more spoons. Maddy is really good at making some sweet noises, for any lovers of the unique instrument out there.

Friday

What a fantastic final day. After the normal L-train ride and breakfast of muffins and toast, we knocked on the door of the Boring Store for the last time.

Kendra, the volunteer coordinator, sent us out on the streets of Chicago, armed with our smartphones (for navigation purposes) and an armful of 826 PR materials. We canvassed local coffee shops and bakeries, spreading the good word of the organization.

One last look at the Boring Store!

Over the course of the next few hours, we explored some of the most hipster and amazing-smelling locales in Wicker Park. I may have bought a delicious chocolate pastry and a balsamic fig macaroon. Also a ginger and peach Kombucha drink. Because I’m that fancy.

We ate a delicious lunch of cheese sticks, Greek yogurt and PB&Js made with jelly donated from a local coffee shop. The six of us worked on small things around the site, like finding a local store to donate paint and primer for a fundraiser and finishing our clean-up of the Boring Store.

As we were saying goodbye to all of the awesome leadership at 826 Chicago, they gave us certificates for volunteering there, a free book written by the kids, and spy name badges with our pictures on them. These folks are some of the sweetest people on the planet.

Ever-faithful Jayhawks, we headed to the Crossing, a KU-centric sports bar to watch the game, decked out in our Kansas apparel. Despite having to watch the game out in the cold Chi-town air, we had a blast and spoiler alert, we won the game against WVU.

Ashley, Bailey, Megan, me, Tilyn and Maddy, in front of the Boring Store, the storefront to 826 Chicago. This store brings about 10 percent of the funds for 826 and is a successful channel between the local community and the organization.

Nothing we did this week felt like work. I am so fortunate to have spent the last week with a group of fabulous females, learning about our amazing site. I was blown away by the respect that the employees at 826 had for each other and the incredibly mission-driven aspect of this organization. As Ashley said – those who can do, teach. I loved tutoring Cristian, making up prompts for Yesi at the writing table, and helping Malik create his Grim Reaper short story.

Yes, I’m stressed about what I’m going back to, but I love what I’ve learned, and the inspiring and ingenious people I have met this week. I have so enjoyed being a Site Leader with Bailey and without her leadership we would not be as unified. She is brilliant at knowing when to take charge, ask for input and claims the respect of others easily.

Thanks, Alternative Breaks, 826 Chicago and my lovely ladies Maddy, Tilyn, Megan, Ashley and Bailey. You rock.

If you’re interested in reading about my last service trip with KU Alternative Breaks to the LGBT Center of Charlotte, click here.

March 10, 2013

A Fantastic Female

Last week, when I found out that Friday was International Women’s Day and that Sunday was Mothering Sunday (celebrated in the U.K.), I knew that I wanted to say something.

Circa 1999.

I fully intended to write a humorous post about my favorite females in pop culture. From Buffy to the X-Files, I was ready to celebrate the ladies. But then something happened. My mom happened. Or, rather, she texted me. And it hit me like a flying meerkat. I realized that I have someone in my life who embodies all of traits I find admirable in these amazing fictional women.

My mom is my Buffy. My C.J. Cregg. My Dana Scully. My Minerva McGonagall.

She is all of those fantastic female role models rolled up into one amazing person. My mother taught me how to be strong, work diligently and have an open mind. She taught me that learning is endless and that being “weird” doesn’t mean that you won’t have true friends.

July 2000.

She let me wear my Cinderella costume to the grocery store and my grimy overalls out to dinner.

Instead of beating it into my head that beauty ruled above all, my mom used to repeat to me, “You are smart. You are beautiful. You are funny.” She taught me to celebrate my body and value my intelligence and wit.

2006.

My mom gave me my work ethic – she has been a working mother since I was born and was a single parent for years.

For a long time, I didn’t understand why she wasn’t there when I got home from school. Complete, of course, with a plate of warm cookies like she had always told me my grandma had done for her. But as I got older, I realized that she worked, not simply to make money for us, but because she achieved satisfaction from it. And I know that’s what I’ll do too.

2012.

Maybe I’ll choose to have kids. Maybe I won’t. But whatever I decide, I am positive that she will be there to support me, not simply as my mother, but as a fellow woman.

I am a feminist. I am pro-choice. I am a student. And I have the strength to make those choices and stand up for them because of her support. Some might say that she does all of this because she’s my mother. And it’s true. But she didn’t just teach me how to be a good mother – she taught me how to be a good person. And for that, I will be forever grateful.

Thanks, mom.

Mischief Managed.

February 26, 2013

7 Things That Look Like Quentin Tarantino’s Face

My friend Libby and I watched the Academy Awards this weekend. Revolutionary, aren’t we? Amidst staring lovingly at Meryl Streep when she picked her wedgie and admiring Hugh Jackman’s chivalry when Jennifer Lawrence tripped, we realized that Quentin Tarantino is a weird guy. Revolutionary once again.

As he sauntered to the stage to accept his award for Best Original Screenplay, we saw his face in profile. At that moment an overwhelming flood of metaphors for QT’s bizarre facial structure rushed to our brains. This is what resulted: Our Top 7 List of Things Quentin Tarantino’s Face Resembles.

1. A banana. This one is pretty obvious. From the curve of his chin to the brightness of his eyes, Tarantino is a banana.

2. A tongue depressor. You know, after it’s been pushed onto a tongue. Sidenote: what’s the purpose of tongue depressors anyway? Besides being great additions to my mom’s craft closet, they don’t seem to have a point (PUN.)

3. A bent fork. Forks are the edgiest of utensils, not counting knives. Let’s not talk about knives. Or fondue forks. Let’s not talk about those either. A bent fork has sass and mystery, much like Tarantino. How did it get bent? What happened in this fork’s life that led to this oddness. We may never know.

4. A nubby gourd. Quentin has a hint of autumn in him. Plus, everyone loves gourds. They’re fun. You can’t eat them, but then again, you probably shouldn’t consume QT’s face either.

5. A bicycle seat. Sleek. Smooth. Sexy? Uh. Oh man. We’re uncomfortable now. Don’t put your butt on his face. Please. Oh gosh. Where is this going? Let’s move on.

6. A melty popsicle. Popsicles have this messy swag about them, which QT certainly shares. I mean, this man was in an episode of Golden Girls. How messier or swaggier can you get?

7. Metapod. ‘Nuff said.

Don’t get us wrong, we’ve got a load of respect for this lovely man. And his face, too.

-Mischief Managed.

February 15, 2013

Hello, I’m Leslie Knope

So, I’ve been watching Parks and Recreation. It’s baller. Yeah, baller. Mostly due to the fact that Leslie Knope, portrayed by Amy Poehler, speaks to me. She IS me. And this may be an unpopular opinion, but I’m going for it: I’m like Amy Poehler more than Tina Fey.

While I let that sink in, I’d love to share a few reasons why Ms. Knope, Pawnee superstar, represents all that I hold dear.

Knope and I sure do know how to pick ‘em.

We’re freakishly obsessed with Joe Biden. Smiles knows what’s up. He’s a bro to the highest degree. He fist pumps, does push-ups with kids and totally wing-man’s it for the Prez. Did I mention his awesome eye-crinkles?

We love puns. I’m one of the few people I’ve ever stumbled across, who actually laughs out loud at puns. They’re clever. I can’t help it that I love me a clever joke. And no one else can truly appreciate a pun like Leslie Knope, when she’s suggesting headlines to local reporter Shauna Malwae-Tweep.

We’ve both coined slang terms for the restroom. Leslie chose “wiz palace” while I’ve been a fan of “pee station” since I was old enough to read the dirty writing on the inside of stall doors. Leslie also says that she’s “going to see a man about some porcelain.” Class. She has it. I have it.

St. Elmo’s Fire was the shiz. “Classic! And depressing.” – Chris Traeger

I’d love to spend all day with Rob Lowe. Leslie actually does. This doesn’t really need an explanation. Who wouldn’t want to spend as much time as possible in an office with this glorious being?

We both have beautiful best friends, who are slightly more normal than us. My lovely friend, Helen, is as quirky and gorgeous as Ann Perkins, with that added twinge of abnormality that I hold so dear. She, like Ann, supports my inane schemes, though she may not always love ‘em, simply because she loves me. Queue awwwwwwws

I could go on.

Note: I also have 40 out of the 50 traits on the Thought Catalog article, “50 Signs You are Leslie Knope.”

Mischief Managed. Literally.

February 1, 2013

The Candy Corn–Napoleon Theorem

So, my friend Libby and I have this theory. Let’s start out slow.

Candy corn is one of those things that you either hate or love – there is no in-between. As is the film Napoleon Dynamite. Have you seen that movie? A llama named Tina, chapstick woes, boondoggle keychains, puffy prom sleeves. No one has mild feelings towards a llama named Tina.

Our theory is thus: feelings toward the film Napoleon Dynamite and those toward candy corn are directly correlated. Those who like candy corn, enjoy Napoleon Dynamite. Likewise, those who dislike candy corn, aren’t fans of Napoleon Dynamite.

Many people went through a Napoleon phase during late middle school or early high school. I, for example, would often ask my friends if I could have their tots, and I owned a poster from the movie that hung on the back of my closet door. However, in watching the film recently, I did not enjoy it. The correlation has thus been supported. While I understand that correlation does not equal causation, the two subjects are inexorably linked.

There are those who are not passionate about either, but everyone falls on one side of the scale or the other. Some people will eat candy corn, but not truly enjoy it. Other will watch Napoleon, but have no strong feelings about it.

We also have this subtheory that individuals with names beginning with the sound cluster [kl-] (such as Chloe or Clay) often partake in some candy corn munching, but do not appreciate Napoleon Dynamite.

Second subtheory: those who are first-generation American may adore candy corn, but often have an abhorrence for Napoleon.

Research is ongoing. We may be making this up as we go along.

Mischief Managed.

January 25, 2013

Coolest of the Cool

Once again, it’s time for me to gush about some fonts. Prepare yourselves, because I’ve got some winners today.

My lovely friend Hannah introduced me to Edmondsans, another glorious specimen from the Lost Type Co-op. This is one of the more versatile choices on my list today and would make a clinically clean header. I don’t think I’ve mentioned before, but I see every font in a specific time and place, with a clear-cut personality. Edmondsans is a well-dressed man in his mid-30s. He loves the TV show Columbo and studies cartography in his spare time. So that’s that.

Now Ferrum is a bit of a stretch for me. Literally. I don’t usually enjoy such stretched-out serif fonts, but I’ve got a good vibe from this little guy. What I’m really fascinated by is the spacing of the individual letters. While this can obviously be changed in any editing program, I have a fine appreciation for the natural kerning in Ferrum. Try this bad boy out, fellow font snobs.

Boy, I love Franks. It’s cinematic – Franks’ curved and spacey design reminds me of those old-school creature movies – “The Glob”, “E.T.”, “Gremlins.” It’s cheesy like “Scooby Doo” and “Muppets from Space”, because it’s not meant to be taken too seriously.

I’m a bit biased in regards to Gill Sans – it’s the typeface that my university uses in its press materials. My university even has a super impressive webpage that discusses its “visual identity” in regards the fonts and typography it has chosen. I love it, I love it, I love it. Ala Molly Shannon in the SNL skit.

Hype is just cool. It’s clean, thin and easily readable. I can imagine Hype would look beautimous etched on some stationary or printed across a T-shirt. Or anywhere else, really. It’s just cool. While Edmondsans is a 30-year-old man, Hype is a contemporary almost-adult who reads Catcher in the Rye and sits at the Roasterie all morning, scoffing at the people with Macbook Pros instead of Macbook Airs. Did I mention that Hype was cool?

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