The Art of Living

       Responsibility. It is a really big word, and sometimes what a person has to do is not nearly as easy as saying the word. I have so many responsibilities that sometimes I get frustrated when I see my people that I care about slacking on theirs. Recently my family has been getting on my case as to “What I am going to do with my life.” “Where is my husband or boyfriend?” “You know your life is not just about work.” I always respond with, “I am doing what I think is best.” But sometimes they really do not like that answer. I wish that people I cared about would take responsibilities seriously, where my friends fully understand (for the most part) that I am doing what I think I need to. It seems as though my family has no idea what my goals are. Where my mom is the most supportive person in earth, everyone else on her side of the family seems to think I am crazy for not getting a “real job.” I wish sometimes that they would understand that I care about everything I do and that I am driven to get out and be better than I could have dreamed about. Maybe I am focusing on my work and education more than anything else, and that could be wrong. But it is not wrong for me right now. I just wish everyone could realize this. Where some might be focusing on making money now, I am driven to make money in my future and not just make money for myself, but improve the world around me. My major is community and nonprofit development for a reason. I do not just want to sit idly by and watch as the world gets better or worse on its own. I want to make a difference, maybe it will only be for one or two people. But what does it matter the amount so long as their experience improves their lives? So yes, I am focused on my work and education. But that is because it is best for me. In the end, that is the best I can do.

Voice Your Point 2012

                This past weekend I had the amazing opportunity to go to a United Council conference. It took a lot of work to be able to attend this conference, and at the end I was not disappointed in all the steps I took to get there. I have never felt as empowered as a student in my life before. United council is a bipartisan nonprofit that I am fortunate enough to have an internship with this year. So far I have worked on a VOTE campaign to help students register and be informed on what their rights as students are when they vote on issues.

                This conference was really pushing their campaigns; I was VERY fortunate and got to actually present a workshop on how to have tough conversations with administration. Specifically bringing up the need for gender neutral facilities. I gave the group that came in for my two workshops specific steps to take when you are planning out a campaign and how to bring it to the administration's attention.

                Through my workshop, I talked about how important it is to keep a clear head in difficult situations where maybe administration is afraid of a certain aspect of your position. I came up with four general steps to take, and then went into detail on how to achieve effectively achieve those steps. While doing my workshop, I learned that there are a lot of struggles that campuses face in trying to make gender neutral spaces. Where in one case the money for a gender neutral bathroom can be hard to get with a two-year campus. At a four year campus, they are specifically looking at getting gender neutral housing spaces. I am excited for these things that are coming up in the future of our colleges in the University of Wisconsin system- even if I know that the time frame will be exceedingly large.

                Though the workshops presented at this conference, it gave the students a way to feel empowered about their positions in the UW-System. Not just that they are students, but that they have shared governance on the decisions that are being made. I feel very proud, that I am in the University of Wisconsin system. Especially after learning so much as this conference.