I kind of want to throw it back to when we were all little this is little me so
we were all little this is little me so
we were all little this is little me so when you were younger everybody asked
when you were younger everybody asked
when you were younger everybody asked you you know what do you want to be when
you you know what do you want to be when
you you know what do you want to be when you grow up and most people said like
you grow up and most people said like
you grow up and most people said like doctor or astronaut or nurse or
doctor or astronaut or nurse or
doctor or astronaut or nurse or accountant or kind of those kind of
accountant or kind of those kind of
accountant or kind of those kind of things but I told everybody that I
things but I told everybody that I
things but I told everybody that I wanted to own a shoe shop because I
wanted to own a shoe shop because I
wanted to own a shoe shop because I loved shoes so I was like let’s do that
loved shoes so I was like let’s do that
loved shoes so I was like let’s do that so I was super excited about that but
so I was super excited about that but
so I was super excited about that but then kind of the pressure started to set
then kind of the pressure started to set
then kind of the pressure started to set in and I went to high school and I
in and I went to high school and I
in and I went to high school and I realized that maybe owning a shoe shop
realized that maybe owning a shoe shop
realized that maybe owning a shoe shop isn’t the best thing that I could do
isn’t the best thing that I could do
isn’t the best thing that I could do with my life and that pressure kind of
with my life and that pressure kind of
with my life and that pressure kind of came from high school when you had all
came from high school when you had all
came from high school when you had all your friends asking like were you going
your friends asking like were you going
your friends asking like were you going to college and get all your high school
to college and get all your high school
to college and get all your high school teachers saying you should go do this
teachers saying you should go do this
teachers saying you should go do this and your friends wanted to go to college
and your friends wanted to go to college
and your friends wanted to go to college with you and your parents wanted you to
with you and your parents wanted you to
with you and your parents wanted you to get a career that was going to make you
get a career that was going to make you
get a career that was going to make you a lot of money I didn’t do that but out
a lot of money I didn’t do that but out
a lot of money I didn’t do that but out of all this pressure and out of all this
of all this pressure and out of all this
of all this pressure and out of all this stress and I didn’t know what to do
stress and I didn’t know what to do
stress and I didn’t know what to do about it
about it
about it I turned to my sister she’s 10 years
I turned to my sister she’s 10 years
I turned to my sister she’s 10 years older than me the older cooler wiser one
older than me the older cooler wiser one
older than me the older cooler wiser one and I kind of asked her when I needed to
and I kind of asked her when I needed to
and I kind of asked her when I needed to do in this situation because I was
do in this situation because I was
do in this situation because I was freaking out and she said well why don’t
freaking out and she said well why don’t
freaking out and she said well why don’t you just pick something that you enjoy
you just pick something that you enjoy
you just pick something that you enjoy like I don’t know I didn’t think of that
like I don’t know I didn’t think of that
like I don’t know I didn’t think of that so she was like you’re gonna be spending
so she was like you’re gonna be spending
so she was like you’re gonna be spending every single day for four years studying
every single day for four years studying
every single day for four years studying this thing and it’s gonna be your whole
this thing and it’s gonna be your whole
this thing and it’s gonna be your whole life and you have a choice in what it is
life and you have a choice in what it is
life and you have a choice in what it is so why not pick something that is good
so why not pick something that is good
so why not pick something that is good and that you’re gonna actually enjoy and
and that you’re gonna actually enjoy and
and that you’re gonna actually enjoy and that you’re gonna have a passion for so
that you’re gonna have a passion for so
that you’re gonna have a passion for so that wasn’t my breakthrough moment but I
that wasn’t my breakthrough moment but I
that wasn’t my breakthrough moment but I like to say it’s my epiphany moment
like to say it’s my epiphany moment
like to say it’s my epiphany moment where I was like I don’t know why I
where I was like I don’t know why I
where I was like I don’t know why I didn’t just think about that you know
didn’t just think about that you know
didn’t just think about that you know everyone gives you all these pressures
everyone gives you all these pressures
everyone gives you all these pressures and what you should be doing but if you
and what you should be doing but if you
and what you should be doing but if you have a choice then why not enjoy it so
have a choice then why not enjoy it so
have a choice then why not enjoy it so now that I knew I needed to pick
now that I knew I needed to pick
now that I knew I needed to pick something I like I had to think about
something I like I had to think about
something I like I had to think about well what do I like so I had already
well what do I like so I had already
well what do I like so I had already been studying French for 4 years in high
been studying French for 4 years in high
been studying French for 4 years in high school so I knew I was gonna do French
school so I knew I was gonna do French
school so I knew I was gonna do French but I wanted to add something else onto
but I wanted to add something else onto
but I wanted to add something else onto that so I knew that I liked talking to
that so I knew that I liked talking to
that so I knew that I liked talking to people I liked meeting new people in
people I liked meeting new people in
people I liked meeting new people in different cultures and I liked history
different cultures and I liked history
different cultures and I liked history so I googled that all together and the
so I googled that all together and the
so I googled that all together and the word anthropology came up and I was like
word anthropology came up and I was like
word anthropology came up and I was like aunt anthropophaga anthropology and then
aunt anthropophaga anthropology and then
aunt anthropophaga anthropology and then I picked Wesleyan because it was close
I picked Wesleyan because it was close
I picked Wesleyan because it was close and it missed my parents so Wesleyan and
and it missed my parents so Wesleyan and
and it missed my parents so Wesleyan and anthropology came together and I was
anthropology came together and I was
anthropology came together and I was super excited I was like I’m gonna do
super excited I was like I’m gonna do
super excited I was like I’m gonna do this I’m gonna do manthra Paula G and I
this I’m gonna do manthra Paula G and I
this I’m gonna do manthra Paula G and I remember I went to kind of like a
remember I went to kind of like a
remember I went to kind of like a neighborhood party in my neighborhood
neighborhood party in my neighborhood
neighborhood party in my neighborhood and everybody got to go around and say
and everybody got to go around and say
and everybody got to go around and say where they were going for college and
where they were going for college and
where they were going for college and what they were studying and I was so
what they were studying and I was so
what they were studying and I was so excited to say anthropology and then the
excited to say anthropology and then the
excited to say anthropology and then the lady across the table laughed at me and
lady across the table laughed at me and
lady across the table laughed at me and said I’ll see you working at McDonald’s
said I’ll see you working at McDonald’s
said I’ll see you working at McDonald’s and I was like okay well so I was gonna
and I was like okay well so I was gonna
and I was like okay well so I was gonna prove her wrong and I was going to study
prove her wrong and I was going to study
prove her wrong and I was going to study the crap out of anthropology and that’s
the crap out of anthropology and that’s
the crap out of anthropology and that’s what I did
what I did
what I did so I came to Iowa in fall of 2013 super
so I came to Iowa in fall of 2013 super
so I came to Iowa in fall of 2013 super nervous I was like I don’t even know
nervous I was like I don’t even know
nervous I was like I don’t even know what anthro is I don’t know what I’m
what anthro is I don’t know what I’m
what anthro is I don’t know what I’m doing but I’m just gonna do it so I was
doing but I’m just gonna do it so I was
doing but I’m just gonna do it so I was starting to get a little nervous kind of
starting to get a little nervous kind of
starting to get a little nervous kind of about where this was going because I
about where this was going because I
about where this was going because I just focused on my gen Ed’s first my
just focused on my gen Ed’s first my
just focused on my gen Ed’s first my French classes first and I just ignored
French classes first and I just ignored
French classes first and I just ignored all those nervous feelings and I studied
all those nervous feelings and I studied
all those nervous feelings and I studied abroad so I studied abroad in Rennes
abroad so I studied abroad in Rennes
abroad so I studied abroad in Rennes France and it was like the most amazing
France and it was like the most amazing
France and it was like the most amazing experience of my whole life but that can
experience of my whole life but that can
experience of my whole life but that can kind of be a whole talk on its own but I
kind of be a whole talk on its own but I
kind of be a whole talk on its own but I studied abroad I got on my french out of
studied abroad I got on my french out of
studied abroad I got on my french out of the way and ignored whatever
the way and ignored whatever
the way and ignored whatever anthropology was and then I got back to
anthropology was and then I got back to
anthropology was and then I got back to campus and then because I fish my gen
campus and then because I fish my gen
campus and then because I fish my gen Ed’s and I finish on my French credits
Ed’s and I finish on my French credits
Ed’s and I finish on my French credits it was kind of my time to go into anthro
it was kind of my time to go into anthro
it was kind of my time to go into anthro and again I was feeling nervous because
and again I was feeling nervous because
and again I was feeling nervous because sometimes just studying the skulls on
sometimes just studying the skulls on
sometimes just studying the skulls on the side of the table but then sometimes
the side of the table but then sometimes
the side of the table but then sometimes it’s looking at your own cultures and
it’s looking at your own cultures and
it’s looking at your own cultures and your own tribes so I was like let’s just
your own tribes so I was like let’s just
your own tribes so I was like let’s just let’s just do this anthro thing so I did
let’s just do this anthro thing so I did
let’s just do this anthro thing so I did and then think I actually fell in love
and then think I actually fell in love
and then think I actually fell in love with it and I was like I did pick the
with it and I was like I did pick the
with it and I was like I did pick the right major and I started to realize how
right major and I started to realize how
right major and I started to realize how amazing anthropology is and that was
amazing anthropology is and that was
amazing anthropology is and that was mainly because of a professor called
mainly because of a professor called
mainly because of a professor called Chuck Springwood I don’t know if any of
Chuck Springwood I don’t know if any of
Chuck Springwood I don’t know if any of you guys know him but I’m his biggest
you guys know him but I’m his biggest
you guys know him but I’m his biggest fan I don’t know if he knows that but I
fan I don’t know if he knows that but I
fan I don’t know if he knows that but I am and he had two main classes that I
am and he had two main classes that I
am and he had two main classes that I took with him they were race and racism
took with him they were race and racism
took with him they were race and racism in America and then the second was
in America and then the second was
in America and then the second was gender in a cross-cultural perspective
gender in a cross-cultural perspective
gender in a cross-cultural perspective so I learned kind of about how even the
so I learned kind of about how even the
so I learned kind of about how even the word race developed how racism developed
word race developed how racism developed
word race developed how racism developed who started it and how we perpetuate it
who started it and how we perpetuate it
who started it and how we perpetuate it and how it’s part of like our everyday
and how it’s part of like our everyday
and how it’s part of like our everyday discourse and then in my gender class I
discourse and then in my gender class I
discourse and then in my gender class I learned that’s Chuck I learned about how
learned that’s Chuck I learned about how
learned that’s Chuck I learned about how sexism is in different countries how
sexism is in different countries how
sexism is in different countries how gender is and then how the patriarchy
gender is and then how the patriarchy
gender is and then how the patriarchy started and then kind of like white
started and then kind of like white
started and then kind of like white girls wear pink why boys wear blue and
girls wear pink why boys wear blue and
girls wear pink why boys wear blue and why all this comes together and this was
why all this comes together and this was
why all this comes together and this was kind of where my big breakthrough came
kind of where my big breakthrough came
kind of where my big breakthrough came through because I realized how messed up
through because I realized how messed up
through because I realized how messed up our society is and how there is a lot of
our society is and how there is a lot of
our society is and how there is a lot of oppression and things that have built up
oppression and things that have built up
oppression and things that have built up to put down other people so I thought
to put down other people so I thought
to put down other people so I thought now that I’ve learned all this I don’t
now that I’ve learned all this I don’t
now that I’ve learned all this I don’t want to just not do anything about it
want to just not do anything about it
want to just not do anything about it you know with great knowledge comes
you know with great knowledge comes
you know with great knowledge comes great responsibility so I thought now
great responsibility so I thought now
great responsibility so I thought now that I know all this I think that’s
that I know all this I think that’s
that I know all this I think that’s where I want to go with my career and I
where I want to go with my career and I
where I want to go with my career and I was finally like you know what I’m gonna
was finally like you know what I’m gonna
was finally like you know what I’m gonna be when I grow up so that was kind of my
be when I grow up so that was kind of my
be when I grow up so that was kind of my junior year of college when I realized
junior year of college when I realized
junior year of college when I realized that I wanted to go into social justice
that I wanted to go into social justice
that I wanted to go into social justice or Social Work and that was my big
or Social Work and that was my big
or Social Work and that was my big breakthrough that I will helped me so
breakthrough that I will helped me so
breakthrough that I will helped me so much and Chuck helped me so much an
much and Chuck helped me so much an
much and Chuck helped me so much an anthropology taught me that there’s
anthropology taught me that there’s
anthropology taught me that there’s somewhere you can go with anthropology
somewhere you can go with anthropology
somewhere you can go with anthropology and that is into social justice and into
and that is into social justice and into
and that is into social justice and into Social Work because you learn a
Social Work because you learn a
Social Work because you learn a different perspective and you learn how
different perspective and you learn how
different perspective and you learn how different people work and you learn how
different people work and you learn how
different people work and you learn how to connect with different people from
to connect with different people from
to connect with different people from anthropology so I thought I wanted to
anthropology so I thought I wanted to
anthropology so I thought I wanted to use that to to go through something like
use that to to go through something like
use that to to go through something like social justice or social work so like
social justice or social work so like
social justice or social work so like mentioned before I now work as a child
mentioned before I now work as a child
mentioned before I now work as a child and family advocate I’m on the right and
and family advocate I’m on the right and
and family advocate I’m on the right and then we have a therapist and another
then we have a therapist and another
then we have a therapist and another advocate and we have a support dog and
advocate and we have a support dog and
advocate and we have a support dog and his name is Jacque and he’s the sweetest
his name is Jacque and he’s the sweetest
his name is Jacque and he’s the sweetest thing and he’s just as a rock star for
thing and he’s just as a rock star for
thing and he’s just as a rock star for Halloween it’s our biggest fan so like
Halloween it’s our biggest fan so like
Halloween it’s our biggest fan so like he mentioned before I work in the
he mentioned before I work in the
he mentioned before I work in the investigative process of child sex abuse
investigative process of child sex abuse
investigative process of child sex abuse cases and it is a really hard job I
cases and it is a really hard job I
cases and it is a really hard job I cried on my first day called my best
cried on my first day called my best
cried on my first day called my best friend but once I started to realize
friend but once I started to realize
friend but once I started to realize that the work I was doing was making a
that the work I was doing was making a
that the work I was doing was making a difference I think that really helped
difference I think that really helped
difference I think that really helped it’s a lot nicer when you wake up in the
it’s a lot nicer when you wake up in the
it’s a lot nicer when you wake up in the morning that you know you’re working for
morning that you know you’re working for
morning that you know you’re working for somebody else and you’re not working for
somebody else and you’re not working for
somebody else and you’re not working for yourself if I sleep and I’m not screwing
yourself if I sleep and I’m not screwing
yourself if I sleep and I’m not screwing myself over I’m screwing out the
myself over I’m screwing out the
myself over I’m screwing out the families we serve so I turned that
families we serve so I turned that
families we serve so I turned that passion that I had for anthropology that
passion that I had for anthropology that
passion that I had for anthropology that came through all these years of taking
came through all these years of taking
came through all these years of taking classes and turned that passion into
classes and turned that passion into
classes and turned that passion into what I wanted to do so I like to say
what I wanted to do so I like to say
what I wanted to do so I like to say that I have a really meaningful job and
that I have a really meaningful job and
that I have a really meaningful job and that kind of makes my own life happy
that kind of makes my own life happy
that kind of makes my own life happy knowing that I have passion for it and
knowing that I have passion for it and
knowing that I have passion for it and that was I who taught me to pick my
that was I who taught me to pick my
that was I who taught me to pick my passion and to go forward with it so I
passion and to go forward with it so I
passion and to go forward with it so I wanted such as any other students or any
wanted such as any other students or any
wanted such as any other students or any other people who were starting a new
other people who were starting a new
other people who were starting a new career or starting a new job that it’s
career or starting a new job that it’s
career or starting a new job that it’s okay to pick something that you enjoy
okay to pick something that you enjoy
okay to pick something that you enjoy because you can be selfish with your own
because you can be selfish with your own
because you can be selfish with your own life and I think you can choose to do
life and I think you can choose to do
life and I think you can choose to do what makes you happy so if art makes you
what makes you happy so if art makes you
what makes you happy so if art makes you happy then do that and
happy then do that and
happy then do that and think there’s a lot of stress on people
think there’s a lot of stress on people
think there’s a lot of stress on people who don’t pick like accounting no
who don’t pick like accounting no
who don’t pick like accounting no offense to accounting people or physics
offense to accounting people or physics
offense to accounting people or physics or things that go directly towards a job
or things that go directly towards a job
or things that go directly towards a job like that because you know it’s your
like that because you know it’s your
like that because you know it’s your life and why not pick something that
life and why not pick something that
life and why not pick something that gives you passion because overall
gives you passion because overall
gives you passion because overall they’re gonna be happy with it and I
they’re gonna be happy with it and I
they’re gonna be happy with it and I think these people don’t get credit
think these people don’t get credit
think these people don’t get credit people that pick things like
people that pick things like
people that pick things like anthropology or sociology psychology
anthropology or sociology psychology
anthropology or sociology psychology philosophy I think any of those ending
philosophy I think any of those ending
philosophy I think any of those ending in those apologies kind of get looked
in those apologies kind of get looked
in those apologies kind of get looked down upon but there are the ones that
down upon but there are the ones that
down upon but there are the ones that are making the big difference in our
are making the big difference in our
are making the big difference in our communities so just so you know I’m not
communities so just so you know I’m not
communities so just so you know I’m not like biessing everything I’m saying up
like biessing everything I’m saying up
like biessing everything I’m saying up here there are some stats to back it up
here there are some stats to back it up
here there are some stats to back it up this shows that only 27% of the people
this shows that only 27% of the people
this shows that only 27% of the people are working a job that’s related to
are working a job that’s related to
are working a job that’s related to their college major so just because you
their college major so just because you
their college major so just because you did studying anthropology I don’t you
did studying anthropology I don’t you
did studying anthropology I don’t you don’t have to become an anthropologist
don’t have to become an anthropologist
don’t have to become an anthropologist out of that there’s so many different
out of that there’s so many different
out of that there’s so many different ways that you can go you can become the
ways that you can go you can become the
ways that you can go you can become the social worker you can come and do
social worker you can come and do
social worker you can come and do whenever you want so if you’re coming
whenever you want so if you’re coming
whenever you want so if you’re coming into Wesleyan undecided and I’m jealous
into Wesleyan undecided and I’m jealous
into Wesleyan undecided and I’m jealous of you because you have the whole door
of you because you have the whole door
of you because you have the whole door open to you and you don’t have to take
open to you and you don’t have to take
open to you and you don’t have to take all the pressures of this is what I’m
all the pressures of this is what I’m
all the pressures of this is what I’m going to do for the rest of my life you
going to do for the rest of my life you
going to do for the rest of my life you know so you have a choice in that
know so you have a choice in that
know so you have a choice in that and then like I kind of said before even
and then like I kind of said before even
and then like I kind of said before even if you go to Wesleyan you’re gonna
if you go to Wesleyan you’re gonna
if you go to Wesleyan you’re gonna succeed and you’re gonna get a job and I
succeed and you’re gonna get a job and I
succeed and you’re gonna get a job and I don’t want you to feel kind of bad just
don’t want you to feel kind of bad just
don’t want you to feel kind of bad just because you didn’t pick a really typical
because you didn’t pick a really typical
because you didn’t pick a really typical major that’s gonna make you a bunch of
major that’s gonna make you a bunch of
major that’s gonna make you a bunch of money this just shows all the different
money this just shows all the different
money this just shows all the different avenues that you can go when you pick
avenues that you can go when you pick
avenues that you can go when you pick these majors you have a really open door
these majors you have a really open door
these majors you have a really open door like I am that tiny sliver of social
like I am that tiny sliver of social
like I am that tiny sliver of social work but there’s a whole bunch of other
work but there’s a whole bunch of other
work but there’s a whole bunch of other ones that people can go through so when
ones that people can go through so when
ones that people can go through so when I first told everybody that I was
I first told everybody that I was
I first told everybody that I was studying anthropology and they were like
studying anthropology and they were like
studying anthropology and they were like what are you gonna do with that and I
what are you gonna do with that and I
what are you gonna do with that and I was like well I’m not gonna work at
was like well I’m not gonna work at
was like well I’m not gonna work at McDonald’s which I don’t I think that
McDonald’s which I don’t I think that
McDonald’s which I don’t I think that it’s a good to reply back to somebody
it’s a good to reply back to somebody
it’s a good to reply back to somebody well what can’t you do because that door
well what can’t you do because that door
well what can’t you do because that door is so much more open if you study
is so much more open if you study
is so much more open if you study nursing you can go into other things but
nursing you can go into other things but
nursing you can go into other things but if you study one of my majors that I
if you study one of my majors that I
if you study one of my majors that I like and that the doors more open and I
like and that the doors more open and I
like and that the doors more open and I think you have a lot more opportunity to
think you have a lot more opportunity to
think you have a lot more opportunity to go forth with your life so I basically I
go forth with your life so I basically I
go forth with your life so I basically I loved anthropology here at Wesleyan and
loved anthropology here at Wesleyan and
loved anthropology here at Wesleyan and I think it’s the best major and I know a
I think it’s the best major and I know a
I think it’s the best major and I know a lot of people don’t know what it is I
lot of people don’t know what it is I
lot of people don’t know what it is I didn’t either until I
didn’t either until I
didn’t either until I googled it but I studied ant throw
googled it but I studied ant throw
googled it but I studied ant throw because it was my passion and then I
because it was my passion and then I
because it was my passion and then I turned that passion into what I do now
turned that passion into what I do now
turned that passion into what I do now in the social work and I love that now
”
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