Hands, Haiti, and Humanitarianism

Our talk this week will be held virtually on Friday, 11/19 from 5:00 - 6:00. 

While I could go on about how interesting and amazing it is, I think I'll let Jade tell us all about this amazing opportunity to talk about interesting things in a impactful way.

Inhumane Humanitarianism: When good intensions have bad consequences

As a global society, we are coming to realize that our most critical problems exist in the context of complex adaptive systems that are difficult to model and predict. Working with people from various disciplines and backgrounds can help us better understand and adapt our solutions within these systems—whether they involve policy, new processes, or goods and services-- without causing major new problems and is one of the main challenges of humanity moving into future.

Offering effective humanitarian aid in areas experiencing extreme poverty, natural disasters, or acts of war requires a deep understanding the nuances of the needs of each of the parties that hold a stake—positive or negative— in that area.

Join Jade as she relates her first- “hand” experiences in the field of upper-limb prosthetics needs assessment—when it’s gone terribly wrong and what it looks like when it is done right-- and lessons learned from time spent doing collaborative clinical, design, and ethnographic research in the field in the low-resource, disaster affected area of Haiti.

Jade Myers

Jade holds positions as both Visiting Scientist at the RIT LiveAbility Lab and Adjunct Faculty within the Biomedical Engineering Department and the School of Individualized Studies at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She has served as Research & Development Associate and Haiti Project Team Lead for LimbForge (in partnership with Victoria Hand Project), a non-profit specializing in increasing access to quality prostheses for underserved communities throughout the world and has collaborated with Doctors without Borders (MSF) on international ultra-low-cost medical device projects involving 3D printing within low-income countries, disaster areas and war zones. Her team’s work has been showcased in such venues as Time magazine and was recently on display at Hartford University as a part of the Design Museum installation, “Bespoke Bodies: The Design & Craft of Prosthetics.” Its accompanying book features a prosthetic her team designed on its cover. Jade instructs and co-instructs several courses including “Medical Device Design,” “Wicked Problems,” and "3D-Technologies for Prosthetic Applications," an interdisciplinary, project-based class that leverages 3D-printing, scanning, and CAD to engage students in the many facets of prosthetic design. Concurrently a Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Ph.D. student at RIT, her research centers on finding novel ways to improve the design of prosthetic sockets using 3D-printable lattice structures, and she ultimately strives to increase access to low-cost, medical grade 3D-printed prosthetic devices for those with the greatest need across the globe. Jade is a 2012 alumnus of FLCC and was a member of its Honors program.

 

 

Looking inward to better what's outward...

 

HONORS TALK SERIES

Cultural Competence vs. Cultural Humility

Wednesday, November 10

5:00 - 6:00

Room 2310 or VIA WEBEX (password is HonorsTalk5 if needed)

Speaker:  Nasim Sarvaiya, Assistant Professor, Social Science

That's quite a title, isn't it?  There's a lot to unpack in it and rather than try to do it myself - since I am often learning right along with the other attendees at the talks - I asked Nasim to explain what it meant.  This is what she said:

Cultural humility goes beyond cultural competence in that it is a tool for an increased awareness of self in order to understand the "other" by going beyond learning about other cultures and reflect on one's own history. Cultural humility requires considering the "other" as an expert in his/her own experiences. Cultural humility is more engaging so that each can discover him/herself and their own beliefs in order to become more of aware of bias, stereotypes, and judgment.

This is so very important - today and every day.  I think there's a lot we can learn from Nasim about how to be better citizens of the world and I am looking forward to the talk.  Nasim herself comes from a pretty powerful background.  When I asked her to tell me a little about herself, this is what she shared with me:

 I did not have a straight and narrow career path. When in graduate school, I aspired to work with women centering on mainly women’s issues such as domestic abuse, prenatal care, women’s health, etc. My college advisor at that time suggested “exploring” men’s issues so I did my first graduate internship at a medium security prison for men. That experience changed the course of my career path. This began my new journey capturing human service work within the criminal justice arena.   ​Through all of my positions, I learned that no one is solely his/her crime, disability, circumstance, etc. Every individual was born equal and so much of who we are is molded by our environment in context of family, culture, sub-culture, race, and ethnicity to name some factors. 

I really hope you will join us for this important talk.  With all that is going on in the world around us, we need as many tools as we can get for how to engage with those around us in thoughtful, meaningful, and healing ways.  There is no other way that we will create a world that treats everyone with equal humanity, acceptance, and respect.

C'mon Everyone...Let's SCIENCE!

 VIRTUAL TALK THIS WEDNESDAY

John Bateman...scientist, conservationist, assistant professor, Honors advocate, and all around good guy.  He has so much enthusiasm and passion for the world around us and wants to share that with everyone.  His unique approach to all things science is one that is infectious (see what I did there?  Science word?) for everyone...even those of us who claim that science is not a strength (or maybe even a joy).  When I asked him to describe his talk this Wednesday (and his class in the spring), this is what he had to say:

Are you curious about the world around you? Have you ever wondered about the world around us or natural phenomena you’ve witnessed, such as how a rainbow forms, how our universe began, or why we no longer have dinosaurs? If so, you’re already on the path to being a scientist. While the word “science” can intimidate a lot of people, at its root it is about curiosity and inquiry, finding order out of chaos, and testing predictions. Science is a powerful discipline that has reshaped our society again and again. Can you imagine a world without it? It would be like going back to the Stone Age, as the growth of humankind is dependent upon science. Without it, progress stops. So, imagine for a second…what would your life be like without antibiotics, clean water, electricity, or (gasp!) your smartphone? Despite this, we live in a time where the word science in America seems to have a stigma attached to it. Half-truths and outright lies have created a cloud of doubt that hangs over the heads of too many citizens, and due to this, progress is likely slowing as a result.

I hope that I’ve caught your attention by this point and that the last sentence is not sitting well with you. If so, I have something to offer so that you are not one of those with a cloud of doubt enveloping your head.

This coming spring, I am teaching an Honors science course that is designed for non-science majors and this Wednesday, I'm going to touch on some of the things the course will entail.  In short, we are going to talk science in the modern age and how we can all take steps to juggle everything that is out there.  In the talk (which does not require you to take the course), I hope to start to instill an appreciation for science and an understanding of the scientific method.  I want students to be able to comprehend the level of rigor and certainty it takes for a new finding to be deemed acceptable by the scientific community. We will cover a number of science topics that are considered hot-button issues in our country, such as vaccines, evolution, the age of our Earth, climate change, gene modification, and the re-wilding of extinct species.  

Then, in the spring, students will investigate both sides of the story and be able to come to their own factual-based opinion. Hopefully, you will then be willing to share that opinion with others. My goal for students taking the course in the spring is that they will be able to weed through the massive amount of information that is available to us (or, in some cases, shoved in our face) to find the truth. I hope you can attend my talk. Perhaps I might even see you in class come spring!

Count me in...I'm there.  Will YOU be?

Wednesday from 5:00 - 6:00 via WebEx.

Password is HonorsTalk4 if needed.

....Satisfaction Brought It Back

This week's blog title is the second half of the oft-repeated phrase "curiosity killed the cat" that few seem to really know.  I love it because it implies that curiosity and the satisfaction of that curiosity is a cycle.  That when we embark on a life of exploring that which we are curious about, we then will lead a life full of interesting pursuits and moments of satisfaction.  That sounds pretty incredible, doesn't it?  There is a reason that STAY CURIOUS is the motto of Honors.  In service to that and to all of our intellectual endeavors in the pursuit of satisfaction, our next Honors talk will focus on curiosity itself.  Dr. Jonathan Keiser, the FLCC Provost, has this to say about the conversation we will have...

Cultivating Curiosity: Who is going to encourage you to Stay Curious after graduation?  …you are!

Curiosity is often an overlooked and under researched personality trait in the Cognitive Sciences despite a widespread belief that it’s an important attribute for personal growth and career success. This Honors Talk will provide a brief overview of some research on curiosity and offer suggestions for developing a curious mind to support self-development, interpersonal relationships, and professional achievements.

Jonathan Keiser became interested in how be people learn and acquire knowledge while teaching Biology courses as a graduate student. He later went on to formally study learning and teaching theory and earned a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a doctoral minor in Educational Psychology from University of Minnesota. He served as a consultant to City University Hong Kong in designing and assessing discovery enriched curriculum which focused on leveraging and cultivating students’ intellectual curiosity to gain a deeper and broader understanding of discipline-specific learning outcomes across multiple fields of study. Fostering curiosity is a core tenant of his personal and professional philosophy for managing teams and leading a learning-centered organization.   

I hope that you can join us on MONDAY, 10/18 from 5:00 - 6:00 in room 2310 or via WebEx.

You can also earn an Honors point by attending an event being put on by the Social Science department the next day, Laker Day.  Some information on that event:

Meagan Sylvester is an author and senior lecturer at the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies in Trinidad and Tobago. She will give a virtual talk on the role of music in Caribbean society, on Tuesday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. via this link.

Sylvester’s research topics include music and national identity in Calypso and Soca and music and human rights in the Americas. Her talk is titled “People Power Movements in Caribbean Festival Culture: The Calypso Experience.”

The event is part of the History, Culture and Diversity series organized by Robert Brown, professor of history.

Join at this link: https://flcc.webex.com/meet/robert.brown

Hope to see you at one or both of these events!  Free T-shirts to those who come!  :)

Look...and Look Past

 

This week, on Wednesday, we have another FLCC alum coming to talk to you about some important things.  I asked her to share a short explanation of who she is and what she would talk about it and this is what she said...

Hi, I’m Jenna and I’m an alcoholic…but, I’m also a Criminal Defense Legal Assistant, a graduate of the FLCC Creative Writing Program, a sobriety and mental health advocate, a runner, a rock climber, a good friend, a respectful daughter and a supportive sister. Let’s talk about how all of that is possible while the first fact will forever be true!

In just these few sentences, we have such a powerful statement.  Most of society, and perhaps you yourself, would focus on the phrase "I'm an alcoholic" and perhaps not pay attention to the rest of it.  But there is so much here.  These labels we attach to people - like the week we talked about mental health - can sometimes be overly limited.  They can focus too much on one thing to the exclusion of everything else.  Jenna, like Laura from a couple of weeks ago, is more than just that short phrase.  She has accomplished so much in her life and we cannot look at her and just see that one word.  Alcoholism - like any addiction - is a disease.  We need to acknowledge that and we need to treat it just like we treat any other disease.  

We also need to not reduce those who suffer from it to JUST that.  Jenna may not look like what you think of when you see the word 'alcoholic' and that is yet another reminder that we have to fight the urge to judge others and to make assumptions about who they are based on the labels they may carry.  She is not just her disease.

I invite you to come see her.  REALLY see her.  Listen to her.  And maybe we can all learn something about addiction, sobriety, and strengthen our own life and choices.

Wednesday, 10/13

5:00 - 6:00

Room 2310

Or via WebEx.

Where Three Roads Began...

Good evening, friends…

How many of you are earning your degree in Liberals Arts?  Do you know what you are going to do afterwards?  Go into the work force?  Go onto to a four-year university or college?  Don’t know yet?  Well, have we got a talk for you, then.  Come virtually or in person on Friday, from 5:00 – 6:00 to listen to three speakers talk about how they walked the very path you are on.

Let’s face it, a Liberal Arts Degree from a Community College is sometimes a catch-all for students who aren’t quite sure what career they want to pursue.  For others, it’s a way to complete general education requirements before continuing on to a four-year institution (and beyond) for more focused study.  Regardless of why a Liberal Arts degree is chosen, the path from that degree to a job and a career is sometimes a meandering one and sometimes leads in unexpected directions.  Join three alumni of FLCC as they talk about the choices they made and the places it led, and is still leading, them.

Cheyenne works as a social services assistant at the VA and lives in Geneva.  She has done various things in between her graduation and her current position.  Jeff is an instructional designer at FLCC.  After earning his liberal arts degree here, he went on to get his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from Buffalo State.  He currently lives in Fairport with his family.  Mandi Brown is currently a Technology Clerk for the Launch Pad at Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.  She, too, has done a number of other things between graduating and what she does now.  She currently lives in Buffalo.

All of these are valuable, valid, and worthwhile uses of an Associates degree and perfectly acceptable ways of being in the world.  And they are worth hearing about, too.

So, join us!  T-shirts available for all FLCC students who attend!  (Will be mailed to those who attend virtually).

Three very different people.

Three very different journeys.

Three very different results.

Date:  Friday, 8 October 2021

Time:  5:00 - 6:00

Location:  2310 or WebEx

Save your spoons...First Honors Talk, Fall 2021

 

...Honors Talk Series...

"Mental Wellness When the Rest of the World Doesn't Seem to Care"

Speaker:  Laura Johnson, FLCC Book Nook

Even in the best of times, there are those among us who struggle with mental health and wellness.  And you might be one of those people.  Add to this the idea that we are, and have been, living in some difficult times.  What we end up with is the raw fact that many of us are looking about for support, for coping mechanisms, for answers, and for acceptance.  Too often the world seems unable or unwilling to give those things.

I consider myself a fairly happy person, but there are times when I really struggle to understand why I feel the way I do or what I can do about it when I am feeling less than my best self and I have no idea why.  I have chronic pain, so I somewhat understand things that are hard to explain to others (and sometimes to ourselves) because others can’t see them.

I struggle with it, and yet I know that it doesn’t come close to how someone who suffers from depression must feel.  I want to be better equipped to help myself when I need to so that I can better support those around me who need me to be a good advocate for them and, so I can understand, so I can be a reliable member of their support network.  Even when times are dark or hard or a struggle, we need to know that we are not alone and we need to find ways to help ourselves and each other. 

Because we all know that sometimes it feels like the world doesn’t understand us, doesn’t see us, and has no idea how to help us or even that we need help.  Often, we are right.

Like my own chronic pain, mental un-wellness is often an invisible struggle and as a society we aren’t often terribly good at understanding things we can’t see.  Broken bones we understand.  A cut arm we understand.  Colds and headaches we understand.  But mental health?  That one is hard.  Not only is it often invisible, but it manifests itself in ways that seem ‘easy’ to fix for those who aren’t suffering from it.  Just go outside.  Just talk to more people and make friends. Get more sun.  You have no reason to be unhappy, so cheer up.  Just do the thing.

Have you tried not having the flu?

That’s what it seems like these sorts of suggestions or statements are saying.  None of them acknowledge the difficulty or uselessness of doing any of those things if the problem is beyond our personal control.  If you just. Can’t.  Some call this not having enough spoons.  Some call it having demons.  Some use the official names from the DSM-V.  Some make jokes about it. Some just smile and say they are okay because they are so tired of trying to explain.  And some don’t call it anything at all, because why bother?

But we HAVE to bother.  All of us together.  And that means talking about it.  So, we are gathering to do just that.  Laura Johnson knows these things all too well and she will share her thoughts with us and guide us in discussion.

Wednesday, 9/29, 5:00 – 6:00

Room 2310 with masks on (capacity 24)

Or come remotely via Webex.

Speaker:  Laura Johnson, FLCC Book Nook

 

We Need to Talk About Mental Health

Let the Talks Begin!

Happy Week Four, friends!

I am excited to announce that we are officially beginning the Honors Talk Series (HTS) for Fall 2021.  Our first speaker is Laura Johnson, who works in the bookstore as a store manager.  She has this to say about who she is and what she is calling us together to talk about:

Laura Johnson is a second-generation collegiate retail professional with an addiction to subsistence living. After living through a lifetime’s worth of experiences in mental illness, disability services, alcohol and drug addiction, marriage, divorce, love and heartache, the laugh and worry lines are well earned. Subsistence living and homesteading is a passion that maintains her sanity, as well as a healthy dose of therapy and healthy respect for medication.  Never one to let a living thing suffer, she named her homestead after the oddities and misfits: “Off Center Acres- Redefining normal, one living creature at a time.”

We hear time and time again that mental health is increasingly important and yet, there seems to be no shifts in how we operate to treat those suffering from mental illnesses. Society still operates as if mental health is somehow “other” from physical illness. This talk is to reinforce mechanisms to protect our mental health and reinforce our right to prioritize our mental health as part of our overall healthy lifestyle.

I don’t think I can convey how much I love this.  So many suffer from mental health challenges and they are too often overlooked, judged, disbelieved, or otherwise silenced.  This needs to stop.  We have to support those who struggle with issues relating to mental health, just as we support those with physical challenges.  Come engage in this conversation with us.

All are welcome – whether you have your own mental health challenges or you simply want to hear the conversation and brainstorm ways we can support those in our lives who face these obstacles.  Mental health should never stop someone from living their fullest life and we should never reduce someone to just their diagnoses.  Let’s have this conversation together; you are not alone.

You can attend this talk virtually or join us in a classroom on the FLCC campus.  Here is what you need to know:

Talk Title:  “Mental Wellness When the Rest of the World Doesn’t Value It”

Date:  Wednesday, 29 September 2021

Time:  5:00 – 6:00

Room:  2310 (24 person capacity, masks required)

WebEx Link

(email me if you need more information or other WebEx login info)

Come Chatterbox with Us....

Hello and well met, friends!

I am excited to have just completed the second week of the semester and beginning the third.  We still seem to be holding healthy and though there’s a flurry of activity around testing, vaccinations, and uploading paperwork, there is also a steady focus on learning and getting back into the swing of education in an actual classroom.  I hope that you are finding the transition a relatively painless one though I suspect that many of you, like me, are finding it remarkably exhausting as well.  It’s okay to be tired and a little overwhelmed.  Hopefully things are going to settle down for us all and we will forge ahead with a semester of good learning and good experiences at FLCC.

I’m pleased to announce that we will be continuing the Honors Talk Series this semester, with an added twist!  Since we are now back on campus, I’m happy to say that our talks can now be a mixture of in-person and virtual.  FLCC has these amazing classrooms that are fitted to serve students who are remote as well as ones sitting in the room so I think that is a perfect way for us to have these talks.  This allows you to choose each time; you can come to an actual room with the speakers and hang out with others (masked, of course!) or log in from the comfort of your car, home, or wherever else.  Either option will allow you to participate in any discussion, ask questions, and be present in real time.  So far, this is what we are working on...

• “Cultivating Curiosity” with Dr. Jonathan Keiser, Provost of FLCC
• “What I Did With My Liberal Arts Degree” with three FLCC alumni: Mandi Brown (’09), Jeff Dugan (’12), and Cheyenne Wilke (’15)
• "Exploring Science in Our World" with John Bateman, Assistant Professor in Conservation
• “Marketing and Selling Your Art” with Sara Jackson (’12)
• “Tales from the West Coast” with Riot Games narrative writer Ro Williams
• “Wooly to Wearable, the Joy of Sheep Keeping” with Lydia Garofalo (’21)
• "Cultural Competency and Cultural Humility" with Nasim Sarvaiya, Assistant Professor of Social Science
• "Inhumane Humanitarianism" with Jade Myers (’12)
• "Addiction and Navigating Sobriety" with Jenna Williams (’20)
• "Mental Wellness in a World that Doesn't Value It" with Laura Johnson, Bookstore Director at FLCC

I think this is an AMAZING list and I hope there is something on here that you find interesting.  We will have dates and descriptions coming soon, so keep your eyes open.

You may have also noticed, if you are enrolled in an FLCC Honors class this semester, that you are now getting emails from me.  I hope this will help us to communicate more smoothly.  We also have Facebook and I am in the process of setting up a Discord for Honors.  Let me know if you want to be part of this project.  Perhaps you even want to help resurrect the Honors Club at FLCC?  There are so many ways to get involved and I hope that you will find your place at FLCC and in FLCC Honors. 

Half a face is better than no face...

 

Happy new semester one and all!

Whether you are brand new, returning, or returning after a time away, welcome!  I am so excited to be back in my office, hearing the chatter of voices in the hallway.  They may be muffled by masks, but they are there.  The halls and classrooms across campus have life and energy again and that feels amazing.  We aren’t out of the woods yet, of course.  We have some work to do to ensure the health of everyone around us, but we are making strides towards a world with less COVID in it.  And that’s not a bad thing.

It’s been an interesting ride, hasn’t it?  Strides are being made, but we have also seen politics and fear get in the way of the greater good.  It’s troubling to see, but I hope you know that SUNY and FLCC and Honors are doing what we can to bring folks back and to keep them healthy while here.  So, keep your mask on, keep your distance when you can and when you smile?  Well, make sure it reaches your eyes – that way we can all see it even with the mask on!

And maybe you aren't on campus much and are taking online classes or remote ones or hyflex ones.  It doesn't really matter what format your classes take.  What matters is that you are here and that you are ready to learn.  It's the start of a new semester - we are still in summer weather, but we know those chill days are coming.  We know some of what lies ahead, but there is always the unknown, too.  Find excitement in these early days of the semester.  Think about all the friends and acquaintances you will make, the things you will learn, the strides you will make towards reaching your goals.  We are glad you are here...in whatever form that 'here' takes.

I wish you all the very best in the days and months ahead.  We have a small number of Honors classes this semester – in English, science, and sociology.  We hope to have more in the future, but we have struggled in the pandemic, like everyone else.  That Honors feeling is hard to capture when we cannot share the same space.  We did a good job with what we had, but being in the same space for as long as we can will make a huge difference and I am so glad you're going to be a part of it.

So, stay healthy, get good sleep and good nutrition, stay tuned for Honors events you can attend in person or virtually, and, of course, STAY CURIOUS!

Best,

-T

Come Sit at the Table

There is a house on a road near where I live that has had, since the pandemic started, signs on its mailbox post with inspirational messages.  I have been so thankful for these signs that I sent a card to the elderly couple that live there, thanking them for being a bright spot whenever I have to out into the world to accomplish some task or another.  I don't know them, but since I could see their address, I figured a card would get to them.  I can't help but want to be appreciative for their delivery of positivity into a world that often seems devoid of it.  The message today is this:

Be curious and wonder.

That is such a perfect message for a blog to the Honors community.  Honors, at its core, is about curiosity.  It's about preserving the wonder that we too often lose as we age and grow more and more aware of the pain and darkness around us.  Rather than pull inward, we have to celebrate the wonders that the world has to offer us.  We have to stop and see the small, beautiful moments that are around us every day.  From birds in the trees to someone holding the door open for someone else.  When our mouths are covered, we have to look into the eyes of others and when we smile, we have to smile with our whole face, so that those smiles can be seen.  We have to take the time to explore perspectives and lives that are different than our own.  And that, my friends, leads me to the topic of our talk this week.  On Wednesday, from 5:00 - 6:00, I hope you will join us for a talk called "All are Welcome At My Table: Inclusive Heathenry."  I asked Burdock, our guest speaker, to share with me what they felt was the 'elevator pitch' for their topic, since it is one I know so very little about myself.  This is what they said...

"The media is heavy with imagery of blond-haired, blue-eyed Vikings. There is an insidious assumption one has to look like that sort of Viking if you want to walk the path of Norse spirituality. Norse symbology has been commandeered by the alt-right movement and there are related factions within the broader Nordic belief system that are dangerously exclusive and focus on bloodline and privilege. Inclusive heathenry is the shield wall raised against those factions, and that wall protects the more vulnerable members of our community. Because all are welcome in the inclusive heathen community. Learn more about the Norse path, why I use the term ‘heathenry’ instead of ‘asatru’, why I am protective of the Othala rune, and why Declaration 127 is so important."

Some of this I understand, much of it I do not.  But I have wondered about it.  I am curious.  I've been watching my husband play Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.  I saw him play God of War.  I read Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman.  I have laughed at Loki's antics in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  I have asked Burdock to pull runes for me when they offer.  But, these have only made me more curious.  And now, I will have the chance to hear more about this.  Maybe you want to hear more, too.  Come, join us at Burdock's table.

Be curious and wonder.

April Flowers, Mother Earth

This is Earth Week, did you know?

A time to celebrate the planet on which we live, even as it wakes up from the long sleep.  There is so much more green these days, have you noticed?  More sunlight and an energy in the air that has long been lacking.  There really is no better time to talk about how we can individually make a difference in the fate of our planet.  So, I have asked a friend and colleague to come and talk with us.  When I asked him to write a blurb about the talk, this is what he said...

Join us this Wednesday when John Bateman (Conservation) talks about the history of Earth Day, the current state of our environment, and what individuals can do to lessen their environmental impact.  John will cover the specific events leading up to the environmental movement, including extinction and pollution, as well as how they helped the environmental movement gain inertia.  He will also cover contemporary issues, like climate change and single-use plastics, and how we, as individuals, can make changes that will benefit our planet without sacrificing our lifestyle. ​

I don't know about you, but this sounds like something I can really find some lasting value in.  I can walk away from this talk with some definitive changes I can make to how I function in the world that may contribute to leaving a lasting legacy for the children of humanity.  I hope you will join me.  An hour of time for a lifetime of choices about how to leave less harmful footprints around us.

And so, I'll leave you with a choice about whether or not to join us.  And with two quotes between which I could NOT choose.  Have a lovely day!

“The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.”
—Ernest Hemingway

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.”
—Jane Goodall

The Winds of Change

Today is Monday, 29 March 2021.  The sun is shining and it is officially spring.

The seasons are changing.  We still have cold days, but the sun seems more consistent, there are so many more birds in the skies and in the trees, and I have even seen flowers popping their little heads up - yellow and purple and green against the brown grass that hasn't quite begun to brighten just yet.  

We were supposed to have a talk tomorrow wherein our guest, Blinne (class of 2019) chatted with us about some of the work she has done since graduation - writing and publishing campaign modules for Dungeons and Dragons.  However, life has a way of happening while we are making plans, yes?

So, that talk is being moved.

We were supposed to have a talk next week by another alum of FLCC who was going to talk about how they have accomplished some pretty nifty things since she graduated as well, despite having some pretty anxieties and fears.  However, life has a way of happening while we are making plans, yes?

So, that talk has been cancelled.

But, if we have learned nothing in the last year, we have learned that we need to roll with the changes.  And so, that is what we shall do.

Change can be upsetting and bothersome in many circumstances, but I don't think this needs to be one of those times.   We still have an amazing speaker coming to visit with us.  And we have room later in the semester if someone would like to give a talk - on accomplishing things in the face of fear, or something else altogether.  

So, I hope you will join us next Wednesday for our talk about passion and publishing and persistence.  We will roll with the changes just as we have learned to do about things that are so much harder and more difficult.

My wish for you on this Monday morning is that all the changes in your life be ones that are so easily remedied and may you have many things in your life to look forward to.  May the change in the seasons bring you happiness and joy in these days to come.  May you hear the birds and see the flowers and bask in the sunshine of warmer days.

Spring, Rest, and Self-Care

Spring is most decidedly coming.  We can feel the energy in the sunlight and while there may still be cold days ahead, we know.  Somewhere deep inside we know that Spring is right around the corner.  Maybe it's the flurry of birds.  The longer days.  Something in the air.  A hint of buds on the trees.  Whatever it is, I'm sure you are welcoming it just as I am.  We need the extra energy that spring seems to bring every living creature.

Because we are tired.  Tired and even as we are stuck at home most of the time and not doing as much out there in the world, we are busy.  It feels like there is always something we have to do - whether it's school or family or household or job or anything else under the sun, we have so much to do.

So, let's take an hour to gather together and learn what we can do about that.  Just because we are busy and tired doesn't mean we can't take a moment to relax.  In fact, it's all the more reason to do just that!  There are lots of things we can do that don't necessarily need to take a lot of time, but can do a world of good for our state of mind.  The library has gathered a whole slew of De-Stressing Activities and Ideas into one place, for instance.

And next week is our first talk in the Honors Talk Series.  Sean Maley, Associate Professor of Mathematics, is also trained in Mindfulness and he is going to show us some techniques that we can use to slow down just a little bit now and then in our busy lives.  His talk, "Mindfulness for Busy People" will be held March 23, 2021 at 5:00 via WebEx.  Meeting information has been mailed out, and the link to it is right here.  The password, if you need it, is breathe.

Take some time out for yourself, because if you aren't taking care of you, then you can't take care of all the things you are responsible for.

"Come, Rest Awhile" by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Come, rest awhile, and let us idly stray
In glimmering valleys, cool and far away.

Come from the greedy mart, the troubled street,
And listen to the music, faint and sweet,

That echoes ever to a listening ear,
Unheard by those who will not pause to hear­

The wayward chimes of memory’s pensive bells,
Wind-blown o’er misty hills and curtained dells.

One step aside and dewy buds unclose
The sweetness of the violet and the rose;

Song and romance still linger in the green,
Emblossomed ways by you so seldom seen,

And near at hand, would you but see them, lie
All lovely things beloved in days gone by.

You have forgotten what it is to smile
In your too busy life­come, rest awhile.

Looking Ahead...

 Hello, Honors Friends!

Well, we are now at the end of week three of the semester and we've already had two snow days.  Texas is cold, we are covered in snow, Asian-Americans are worried about their safety, and the pandemic rages on.  But the world keeps turning in spite of all of these things.

I've seen the sun recently, and it was amazing.  I have talkative students in my classes and I'm rather caught up on my work.  Our near feral cat let me scritch her jaw just a little bit today.  My husband is vaccinated.  There are things to celebrate and take joy in.  I hope that you, too, have reasons to smile.

I have something to celebrate as we look ahead to the rest of the semester.  We are continuing our Honors Talk Series this semester and this is what we have on the docket so far:

March 23 (5:00 - 6:00) - Sean Maley will talk about meditation and finding some peace in his talk "Mindfulness for Busy People"

March 26 - (2:00) - Not part of the Honors Talk Series, per se, but another event at which you can earn an Honors point.  More importantly, you will be able to virtually listen to and talk with Anna Garner, visiting artist.

March 30 (5:00 - 6:00) - Blinne Krieger ('19) will talk about the world of Freelance Story Crafting and engaging in your writing passion from the first word straight through to getting published

April 5 (5:00 - 6:00) - Loren Manchester ('19) will talk about Facing One's Fears and how to accomplish interesting things in spite of - or perhaps because of - those fears.

April 13 - Not part of the Honors Talk Series, per se, but another event that you can use to gain Honors points and, more importantly, a broader perspective about the world around us.  From 12:00 - 4:00, the library and Honors Studies will be hosting a virtual Human Library.  Unjudge someone.

April 13 (2:00) - Not part of the Honors Talk Series, per se, but another event at which you can earn an Honors point.  More importantly, you will be able to virtually listen to and talk with Brittney Leanne Williams, visiting artist.

April 21 (5:00 - 6:00) - John Bateman, Instructor of Environmental Conservation, will talk about Earth Day and about changes you can make in your life to make a difference in his talk "Earth Day:  Looking Back, Looking Forward."

April 28 (5:00 - 6:00) - Burdock (April) Broughton, Access Services and Resource Sharing Librarian as well as the Honors Librarian, will talk about their belief system in their talk "All Are Welcome at My Table:  Inclusive Heathenry"

May 4 (5:00 - 6:00) - Bucket Abdallah ('21) - Bucket will talk about what it means to be Non-Binary and how it can impact family and friend relationships.

TBD - "So, You Want to Make Games" - In this talk, Ro Williams, narrative writer for Riot Games, will meet with folks interested in the gaming industry and how one might find their way into that world.  They will talk about their experiences, how they got started, along with answering questions about their field.

As you can see, we've packed a lot into the semester and we hope to see you at one or more of these talks.  Come if you want points, come if you just want to share in the experience.  You can earn up to 4 points of Honors through this talk series.

Resolutions and Revolutions

 Vol 5 No 8   

Well, here we are again - the start of a new semester.  A semester that is already strange.  It's day three and we've already had a snow day and a delayed start day.  We are still largely remote.  The pandemic is still ongoing, though there is hope in the form of vaccines.  We may be around the corner, but there is still a ways to go.  The future continues to be uncertain and yet spring WILL come.

A new semester, a new year, a new president.  We don't know what the future will hold, but I can tell you at least one thing that is coming.

I'm going to be better.  Honors is struggling a bit, as many of you may know.  Colleges in general are struggling.  We are not really designed for this kind of learning and community can be hard to build when you spend each day at home and your classmates feel like just a square on a screen.  But we are still here and I plan to work harder to keep this blog updated.  To find ways for us to 'gather' and see one another and learn outside of the classrooms.  Your Honors faculty remain committed to the mission of Honors and what it means for the students in it.  We are going to have speakers once more.  We are going to have new ways for you earn Honors points, starting with an opportunity this Friday evening.  We are going to get you a T-shirt if you don't have one.  We are going to have a virtual Convocation this semester, because we missed it so sorely last fall.  We are still here and we will endure.  Thrive, even, if we can.  Will YOU be part of our endeavors?

Please do, because we need you.  And maybe you need us, too....perhaps in ways you haven't even considered yet.  

Welcome to the Spring 2021 Semester.  Let's roll up our sleeves and see what we've got, eh?

-T

This Friday is the first opportunity to earn an Honors point! We have an artist's work on display at FLCC's ArtSpace36 and said artist will be giving a virtual talk and hosting an opening reception this Friday at 5:00.  Click on this link to find out all the information, including WebEx information needed for the event.