How to have a better conversation

In her TedTalk, Celeste Headlee talks about ways in which one can be a better conversationalist and gives ten rules one should follow when having a conversation. I personally found each rule helpful, and plan to implement as many as possible, but one in particular stood out to me. And I would like to share that rule with you. Headlee states "Don't Pontificate". She goes on to explain that everybody is an expert on something, and that you can learn from everyone. As I began to think about this, the impact of this quote really started to resonate with me. As I began to think, it became clear, that if everyone has something to learn, then everyone should be equal, and treated with the same respect. And this might seem like common sense, but it's shocking to see how many people view others "as below them". Handlee brings up great conversation points, but also shows how you should look at conversations as a learning experience. Handlee expresses a main concept throughout her video, that you should just listen and learn. So, I encourage you in your next conversation, to just listen and really think about what you're hearing.

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Toxic Masculinity

Whether we realize it or not, toxic masculinity is plaguing the United States. In the movie Tough Guise 2, director Jackson Katz, describes what toxic masculinity is and how it is affecting men today. Personally, I had heard very little on the topic, and was shocked when I found out the truth about why many men behave the way they do. Growing up as a girl, I was never shamed for crying or showing emotion. In fact, it was completely normal. But, I grew older and realized that men were not granted the same privileges. Katz explains why this is: toxic masculinity. From a young age boys are told to be tough and hide their emotions. And when they do show their emotions, they are called harsh nicknames and made fun of. Unfortunately, this type of behavior is cyclical, and roots back to old fashioned and outdated stereotypes. The idea that men need to constantly be tough and mighty, has very negative impacts. All of ...

The Five Most Important Things I Have Learned

Everything that we encounter in life is a learning experience. Whether it be an obstacle we must overcome or a moment of gratitude. That is why it is so important to take a moment to slow down and reflect on our past experiences, take what we learned, and apply to the future. Over the past year I have not only grown as a writer, but also as a person. I want to take the time to reflect on my five biggest takeaways from this year, not just regarding my writing, but also my growth as a person. The biggest and possibly most important lesson I learned this year was to push the boundaries and not stick to the norm. As I looked through all of my assignments, videos, and work that I completed, I noticed that they all had something in common. Each assignment assessed a norm within society, and encouraged me to reflect on that specific norm. From breaking apart a famous New Yorker image to assessing a documentary on minimalism ; each video, article, o...

Was it Really That Great?

While the the documentary Minimalism: A Documentary on the Important Things was interesting to watch, the argument was overall ineffective and the main message was lost. After watching the documentary and reviewing my notes, I came to the conclusion that the film was trying to show people that they should try and focus on relationships and people, rather than products that only give temporary satisfaction. This is an inspiring and important message, but was lost in translation throughout the film. The first thing that I believe could have been done to create a more effective argument was to focus less on Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Milburn´s trip. Although their trip around the country played an important part in the film, I feel that the time that was focused on the trip could have been used more wisely. Such as focusing on how their lives changed specifically after being a minimalist, or even how minimalism allowed...

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