5 – Module 11 Archive
Out of the five Items to Archive I chose, module 11 was my least favorite because it forced me to think about how my family and friends around me act. More specifically, this module forced me to think about how unhappy some of my family members are, which is something that makes me upset. Despite these feelings, I still believe that I learned a lot from module 11; for instance, I learned that some people are happy for the wrong reasons, such as acting in selfish ways. An example of a Happy-Selfish pairing would be a person who comes off as extremely happy but at the cost of other people. Most of the time, these people are either spoiled, inconsiderate, and/or oblivious. In contrast to this, most people are happy and unselfish, for those who are happy tend to donate and volunteer more frequently. Oftentimes, these kind gestures bring about more happiness for them.
The visual above is a screenshot of my matrix results. As I mentioned before, it’s very rare for selfishness and happiness to be perceived together because most people who are perceived as happy are individuals who are often compassionate and empathetic to those around them, but this does not mean that it is impossible for a Selfish-Happy pairing to occur. I chose this photo to represent the rare occasion in which selfish people are perceived as happy.
4 – Module 8 Archive
Module 8 was another Item to Archive I chose to include in my top 5, and although it wasn’t my least favorite, I had a difficult time enjoying this assignment because I realized how much I didn’t know about ethnic and racial groups. This ignorance led me to stereotype several groups of people. I learned that part of my ignorance stems from the way social media portrays other races. For example, social media has improved how the public views the black community due to large movements such as the Black Lives Matter Movement; however social media has also harmed the black community by depicting black individuals as criminals, poor, disruptive, and so on. From this activity, I also learned that I need to start becoming more knowledgeable and aware of those who are different from me and my family. In becoming more knowledgeable about specific races, ethnicities, cultures, etc., my personal beliefs and stereotypes will begin to change for the better.
The visual above represents the race to which I belong with characteristics and/or adjectives that I personally believe characterizes this group. Prior to picking my race, I had several other groups in mind that I felt like I belonged to, such as the LGBTQ+ community and Hispanic community; however, I came to the conclusion that most of my qualities fall within the Filipino community. As the word cloud suggests, many Filipinos are religious, respectful, musical, superstitious, opinionated, and loving, but the most important adjective that represents this group is family-oriented. This adjective describes me wholeheartedly, for I come from a huge family with 30 cousins on my father’s side and about 20 cousins on my mother’s side. Whether it be Thanksgiving and Christmas or a spontaneous barbecue at the park, there is never a time when my family isn’t together.
3 – Module 14 Archive
Module 14 was one of the Items to Archive that I really enjoyed doing, hence the reason why it is part of my top three. This assignment forced to me think about how happy I actually am, and to my surprise, my Subjective Happiness score (4.75) showcased that I was happier than I anticipated. Despite this, I believe that this score is a bit deceiving. This is because I believe that happiness cannot be measured with numbers: it can only be witnessed and shared in brief moments. It’s difficult to really grasp how happy someone is when constant cultural pressure is being applied. Often times, individuals conform to their race in order to prevent tension between them and their families. Just because smiles are visible and laughter is present doesn’t mean that genuine happiness is present. Happiness can be represented in small gestures or tangible items, but it varies from person to person.
Visualized above is a photo of my little sister painting on a pair of shoes. I believe that this photo encompasses happiness because it represents what my sister considers her “happy place,” which is anywhere that she’s able to sit down, put some music on, and create art freely. Like I mentioned before, I believe that happiness cannot be measured with numbers; instead, it can only be witnessed and shared in brief moments. In this visual, this idea is proven to be true. By looking at this photo, it’s impossible to measure how happy my sister is; however, if you understand the meaning behind it, you’re able to witness and share a moment of her happiness.
2 – Module 5 Archive
Much like module 14, module 5 was another Item to Archive that I really enjoyed doing. Prior to completing this assignment, I’d never realized how much effort I put into making a good first impression for the people that I meet. In doing this activity, I learned that a lot of my self-enhancement and other enhancement strategies are the same when it comes to meeting new people, but it varies with the environment that I’m in and the people I expect to meet. This means that for the most part, I dress up, make myself more look presentable, and take out my facial piercings when meeting someone new, whether it be my future in-laws or other professionals. Other enhancements that I use very frequently are acts of curiosity and agreement.
Photos From: https://www.atriumstaff.com/interview-checklists/
The photo collage above not only represents a checklist that I would use to ensure that I’m prepared for an interview, but it also illustrates a checklist that I would use after I complete an interview to ensure that I’m a qualified and persistent candidate for the job. Ever since high school, I’ve always prepared myself for what’s to come and what comes after. I chose to use both of these photos because both of these checklists represent how I perceive myself to be in regards to how I prepare for my professional life.
1 – Module 7 Archive
Out of all of the Items to Archive that I chose for my top five, module 7 was definitely the most informative and enjoyable one to complete. I liked this one the most because it literally put me out of my comfort zone. While completing this assignment, I experienced cognitive dissonance, which is the state in which a person feels uncomfortable or uneasy because his or her actions do not match up with his or her attitudes and beliefs. From this activity, I learned that my everyday actions do not match up with the beliefs that I have about certain things; for example, I think that physical activity and a balanced diet promote good health and a longer life; however, I don’t engage in a daily physical activity routine. This inconsistency makes me feel bad about myself, but by acknowledging this imbalance, I know now that I must make some changes to my daily routine in order to achieve the feeling of balance.
Photo From: https://www.newyorker.com/humor/daily-shouts/cognitive-dissonances-im-comfortable-with
Illustrated above is an example of cognitive dissonance. I chose this cartoon to represent an example of cognitive dissonance I’ve experienced in the past. Instagram, a form of social media, is an example of a toxic environment, and there was a time when I felt like it was the source of all of my jealousy towards my friends, family, and strangers. Instead of getting rid of the app or removing the causes of my jealousy, I would continue to showcase the most lavish parts of my life in hopes of making other people feel jealous about my own life. Because of this inconsistency, I would feel uncomfortable. In order to achieve some sort of balance between the two, I changed my beliefs about envy. Now, I believe that Instagram is a beautiful platform that individuals to share their greatest and happiest moments with the people they care about. Rather than being envious of other people’s lives, I’m trying to learn how to be more supportive of the people that I follow while being grateful for my own life experiences.