Sunday, March 7, 2010
Thinking...
Music does something to me. It facilitates my mood, my thoughts, etc. I just got a whole bunch of new music and am kind of overloading myself right now. I should be reading for class this week, but my mind is too preoccupied with contemplation and imagination. I just had a whirlwind week in NYC at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. I haven't been able to unwind, soak it in, and reflect yet cause I've been thrown right back into school. I need time. I want to live, not just study. Music helps me feel alive. I wish I were good enough at guitar and singing and songwriting to actually be a musician, cause I would do that in an instant. I'm just amazed at the brilliant, talented people in the world...I wish I was one of them. Anyways...I'm just thinking out loud. I should go to bed. On that note, in the words of Jason Mraz: "Hey love...don't fall out of bed..."
Sunday, September 6, 2009
should I stay or should I go now...
Wow. It's been so long, I totally forgot I had a blog. I kept sitting here thinking, "I need to write these thoughts down or something!". Duh! Blogspot! Anyways, I just moved to Boston to start grad school. I start classes after Labor Day. So in the meantime I am getting a little lonely and sad. I mean, Boston is great. I love the area, the weather, the people. It's all pretty wonderful. However...if you know me there are a few things in this world that I live for, that keep me going through the tough times. One of those things is music...specifically Jason Mraz's music. I especially live for seeing him live in concert because it is truely a magical, spiritual experience for me. He feeds my mind, heart and soul. Basicly he has been on tour this summer/fall. He played 2 shows in Boston the first week of August (while I was still living in California). Then he has a couple of shows in Northern CA the last week of August (while I was moving to Boston). So, to say the least, I was a little upset. I have not missed Jason on tour since I started listening to him about 6 years or so ago. Anyways, it wasn't THAT big of a deal at first because the shows he was playing in norcal were not full shows anyway. The one in Fresno was an opening gig for Dave Matthews Band; the one in San Francisco was part of the Outside Lands Music Festival; and the other one was out in the middle of nowhere Murphys, CA which I have never heard of and was not worth traveling to anyway. So, I tried to shrug it off...no big deal, even if I was in Nor Cal it wouldn't have been a full Jason show as part of the tour anyway (which, btw, strikes me as VERY strange that the name of the tour is the Gratitude Cafe Tour, which is inspired by the real Gratitude Cafe which is only in the SF Bay AREA!!!! Yet he doesn't play a concert in the bay area for the namesake tour??? WTF!!). Anyways, guess what. Jason must have realized this conundrum because he added a tour date in Berkeley, CA Oct.10th!! Of course I am still in Boston at school during that! Then Charlie tells me that Bushwalla is doing another house show in Santa Rosa Thanksgiving weekend!! And I was planning on going to my mom's in TN for Thanksgiving!! So, now I am very sad and confused that I have to miss these 2 incredible events for the betterment of my education and career! I am SERIOUSLY tempted to buy a plane ticket home for the weekend to see Jason play in concert. I do have a free roundtrip ticket with Jetblue right now. And there are still tickets available to the concert. But I have no idea how hard the course work schedule is gonna be, or if I'll have a job by then, or if I'll have a project due that week or something!! How do I decide?? What do I do? Do I just wait around for another tour? I'm just so sad about it. Sorry to blab because I'm sure nobobdy really gives a shit. But this really means alot to me. His music seriously inspires me. And I can't help but want to experience his magical voice in person again. I guess the ONLY saving grace right now is that he did record a dvd of this tour that's supposed to be out for the holidays. But it's just not the same...Somebody help me decide what to do!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
I made it...
Well, I made it. I have been accepted to grad school!! Yay!! Now is the hard part. Figuring out the money situation, living situation, whether I should drive my car ther or not, if I should bring my dog or not...and the list goes on. I am excited, scared, thrilled, happy, intimidated, and anxious. More hard work to come. I hope I can do it without any nervous break downs! Anyways...just thought I would update the bloggie. Until next time-
Trista
Trista
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
my purpose is this statement, this statement is my purpose...
What is a "statement of purpose"? How can one sum up one's "purpose" in a "statement" of less than 2 pages? How does one even know what one's "purpose" is? Well, you better figure it out if you intend on applying to grad school. Because this is what is asked of you. So I gave it a shot. The "statement of purpose" is also known as a "statement of professional goals" or a "personal statement". Basicly, it is your only chance to show the admissions committee who you are, what you want to do, adn why they should accept you and not the other guy/girl. So, here is what I came up with. I just hope it was enough to make me stand out. I won't know if I've been accepted for a couple of months but I will let you know!
Trista Akers
3/8/09
Statement of Purpose
The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, “It’s a girl.” –Shirley Chisholm
The above quote reflects my passion for women’s health because it names a fundamental way in which the medical industry treats women differently from birth. I first discovered the importance of this quote when I took a general education course at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) called “Women and Their Bodies” with Dr. Monica Lange. This class changed my perspective about the power of gender, sexuality, and race in cultural, historical, and medical discourses. Through this course I learned answers to questions I had never really asked myself before: Why am I unhappy with the way I look? Why don’t I know more about my menstrual cycle and how my own body works? Importantly, here in this course I also learned about feminism. Combining these two modes of knowledge, I found my passion and ambition: it is through a feminist perspective that I wish to bring awareness and education to women about their bodies and their health.
As I discovered during my first year in college, there is so much that women are systematically not taught about their bodies and their health in this country and most others, too. Too often the topics relating to this subject—like sex, body image, and reproductive rights—are considered taboo, and because of this factual information for women is not always accessible, much less easily accessible. These reasons, among personal experiences, have driven me to pursue a number of goals which I believe a Master’s in Women’s Health from Suffolk University will help me accomplish. First I wish to participate in the development of comprehensive sex education programs. Second, I intend to promote awareness about midwives and other alternate forms of childbirth experiences. Third I wish to effectively lobby and advocate for women’s health education for underprivileged women, through community outreach programs.
A specific personal experience that shaped my goals was facilitating for “Women and Their Bodies”. This class took a more unusual approach to talking about health care. We began to explore how sexism affects women’s body image, self-esteem, relationships and perpetuates systemic violence against women, among other important topics. For the first time in my life I was taught about my menstrual cycle in a thorough, “non-sugar-coated” way. I learned how to figure out when I was ovulating based on the texture of my vaginal discharge. I was warned about menstrual “sanitary” products that contain harmful chemicals that are known to cause cancer. I learned more about my body and myself as a person in that class, than I ever learned up until that point. I was frustrated that I was never exposed to this kind of information earlier in my youth. Since then I have desired more knowledge and information about these topics. Indeed, I became hooked on the subject of women’s health; over the years, this interest has only grown stronger.
I became a peer facilitator for “Women and their Bodies” the following semester. I would facilitate a group of about 7-10 students on topics from the course. As the facilitator I developed skills in confidentiality and tolerance. My job was to keep the conversation on topic and to provide a feminist perspective on women’s health and body
issues that many students had never been exposed to before. One of the most significant
Trista Akers
3/8/09
topics we discussed was the impact of the media on body image and identity, particularly
for those who feel they do not meet the stereotypical, heterosexual beauty norms. We also examined why many women do not have regular breast and pelvic exams and how men and women experience the healthcare system differently. We discussed the myths surrounding contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted infections. And we addressed the complex relationship between gender socialization and issues such as sexualized violence and identity formation. I deeply believe that the unique experience of peer facilitation gave me more and more insight into how much education is sorely needed in the field of women’s health.
After facilitating groups of students every semester until I graduated, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that encouraged me to put my knowledge into action, illuminating others with important information that could empower them to achieve optimal health physically and mentally. I believe I would be both happy and successful promoting comprehensive sex education and women’s health awareness, especially considering that there is a dire need in our country for this information.
I’ve already begun to put my knowledge on women’s health into practice. In 2006, I participated in a roundtable discussion with Dr. Lange and other students at the National Women’s Studies Association’s annual conference in Oakland, CA, and the following year in Chicago, IL. Our discussions challenged the hegemonic ideology that locates virginity in a girl’s hymen and equates her intact hymen to innocence and purity. We deconstructed virginity pledge programs as a product of two costly federal programs that developed from the 1996 Welfare Reform Act: Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage education and the Healthy Marriages Initiative. We exposed the anti-woman and anti-LGBTQ motivation for advancing specific religious and political ideology. We also discussed the significant research findings that show abstinence-only education is not preventing young people from having sex, and is actually misinforming teens about the efficacy of condoms and birth control, if they are even mentioned at all. These conferences were my first experiences presenting what I have learned and am passionate about in a public arena.
My experiences with conference presentations and my women’s studies education have inspired me to continue my education in women’s health issues with the ultimate goal of participating in the formation of comprehensive sex education and community outreach programs. The combination of Dr. Ptacek’s interests in masculinity and violence as well as systemic gendered violence against women, along with Dr. Agigian’s focus on gender studies and LGBTQ studies are relevant to my own interests because they center on the intersections of health and human rights. I look forward to working with the experienced faculty. I believe a Master’s in Women’s Health from Suffolk University will give me the research and public speaking tools to help me establish a professional career in the field of women’s health education.
Trista Akers
3/8/09
Statement of Purpose
The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, “It’s a girl.” –Shirley Chisholm
The above quote reflects my passion for women’s health because it names a fundamental way in which the medical industry treats women differently from birth. I first discovered the importance of this quote when I took a general education course at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) called “Women and Their Bodies” with Dr. Monica Lange. This class changed my perspective about the power of gender, sexuality, and race in cultural, historical, and medical discourses. Through this course I learned answers to questions I had never really asked myself before: Why am I unhappy with the way I look? Why don’t I know more about my menstrual cycle and how my own body works? Importantly, here in this course I also learned about feminism. Combining these two modes of knowledge, I found my passion and ambition: it is through a feminist perspective that I wish to bring awareness and education to women about their bodies and their health.
As I discovered during my first year in college, there is so much that women are systematically not taught about their bodies and their health in this country and most others, too. Too often the topics relating to this subject—like sex, body image, and reproductive rights—are considered taboo, and because of this factual information for women is not always accessible, much less easily accessible. These reasons, among personal experiences, have driven me to pursue a number of goals which I believe a Master’s in Women’s Health from Suffolk University will help me accomplish. First I wish to participate in the development of comprehensive sex education programs. Second, I intend to promote awareness about midwives and other alternate forms of childbirth experiences. Third I wish to effectively lobby and advocate for women’s health education for underprivileged women, through community outreach programs.
A specific personal experience that shaped my goals was facilitating for “Women and Their Bodies”. This class took a more unusual approach to talking about health care. We began to explore how sexism affects women’s body image, self-esteem, relationships and perpetuates systemic violence against women, among other important topics. For the first time in my life I was taught about my menstrual cycle in a thorough, “non-sugar-coated” way. I learned how to figure out when I was ovulating based on the texture of my vaginal discharge. I was warned about menstrual “sanitary” products that contain harmful chemicals that are known to cause cancer. I learned more about my body and myself as a person in that class, than I ever learned up until that point. I was frustrated that I was never exposed to this kind of information earlier in my youth. Since then I have desired more knowledge and information about these topics. Indeed, I became hooked on the subject of women’s health; over the years, this interest has only grown stronger.
I became a peer facilitator for “Women and their Bodies” the following semester. I would facilitate a group of about 7-10 students on topics from the course. As the facilitator I developed skills in confidentiality and tolerance. My job was to keep the conversation on topic and to provide a feminist perspective on women’s health and body
issues that many students had never been exposed to before. One of the most significant
Trista Akers
3/8/09
topics we discussed was the impact of the media on body image and identity, particularly
for those who feel they do not meet the stereotypical, heterosexual beauty norms. We also examined why many women do not have regular breast and pelvic exams and how men and women experience the healthcare system differently. We discussed the myths surrounding contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted infections. And we addressed the complex relationship between gender socialization and issues such as sexualized violence and identity formation. I deeply believe that the unique experience of peer facilitation gave me more and more insight into how much education is sorely needed in the field of women’s health.
After facilitating groups of students every semester until I graduated, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that encouraged me to put my knowledge into action, illuminating others with important information that could empower them to achieve optimal health physically and mentally. I believe I would be both happy and successful promoting comprehensive sex education and women’s health awareness, especially considering that there is a dire need in our country for this information.
I’ve already begun to put my knowledge on women’s health into practice. In 2006, I participated in a roundtable discussion with Dr. Lange and other students at the National Women’s Studies Association’s annual conference in Oakland, CA, and the following year in Chicago, IL. Our discussions challenged the hegemonic ideology that locates virginity in a girl’s hymen and equates her intact hymen to innocence and purity. We deconstructed virginity pledge programs as a product of two costly federal programs that developed from the 1996 Welfare Reform Act: Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage education and the Healthy Marriages Initiative. We exposed the anti-woman and anti-LGBTQ motivation for advancing specific religious and political ideology. We also discussed the significant research findings that show abstinence-only education is not preventing young people from having sex, and is actually misinforming teens about the efficacy of condoms and birth control, if they are even mentioned at all. These conferences were my first experiences presenting what I have learned and am passionate about in a public arena.
My experiences with conference presentations and my women’s studies education have inspired me to continue my education in women’s health issues with the ultimate goal of participating in the formation of comprehensive sex education and community outreach programs. The combination of Dr. Ptacek’s interests in masculinity and violence as well as systemic gendered violence against women, along with Dr. Agigian’s focus on gender studies and LGBTQ studies are relevant to my own interests because they center on the intersections of health and human rights. I look forward to working with the experienced faculty. I believe a Master’s in Women’s Health from Suffolk University will give me the research and public speaking tools to help me establish a professional career in the field of women’s health education.
Monday, October 20, 2008
the world in which we live in...
Well, I am sitting at my computer at work, bored out of my mind. So I am writing this nonsensical blog. Well, I experienced Europe for a month and loved it. I can't wait to go back. But who knows when the heck that will be. Since I've been back I've had alot to think about. I have decided to apply to the grad school program I have been looking at for the last year or so. It is a Master's in Women's Health at Suffolk University in Boston. The only reason I had almost ruled out going to this school was because my ex-boyfriend recently moved to Boston with his current girlfriend. So the thought of going to Boston was making me sick. Then after looking for similiar master's programs in CA and other places, I couldn't find a program that even compares to the one in Boston. So I decided that I need to stop letting him make decisions for me, without even being around me. It is stupid to let a stupid ex-boyfriend get in the way of my professional dreams and doing what's best for me and my future. So fuck him. I'm going to Boston. I haven't talked to him since just before he left to move there, and I probably won't talk to him again. And Boston is a big city, so it is unlikely I would run into him there. Plus, I wouldn't be going there until fall of next year, and who knows if he would even still be living there. So, I am not gonaa let him influence my choice. I'm gonna do what I want. And now I am actually excited to start this program next year. Ofcourse I still have to be accepted to the program first!! Let's keep our fingers crossed!!
P.S. Don't forget to vote! Don't let someone else decide for you!!
P.S. Don't forget to vote! Don't let someone else decide for you!!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
this land is your land, this land is my land...
Well. In about 2 days I will be sitting in a coffee shop in London, watching the passerby. I have been dreaming of this trip to Europe for about 3 yrs now, and it is finally a reality. I am excited and a little bit scared! But the excitement has really taken over! I can't wait for all the great experiences I am going to have and all the people I will meet. I am looking forward to finding out new things about myself, and hopefully becoming a stronger person. But mostly I just wanna have fun and take it all in!! So, I will check back in later! See ya on the flip side!
Friday, May 30, 2008
oh what a world, what a world...
I haven't written in a while, but have yet to come up with anything really clever in my own words worth jotting down. And my brain is far too fried and emotionally overloaded right now to do much of anything. So I figured, why not write down some of my favorite qoutes from other people? So, that's what I'm going to do. I will put the author on the ones I know for sure and remember the author's name. So for now, enjoy these words that have either brought me joy, sadness, strength, inspiration, or laughter.
"For sorrow memory was given; if peace of mind is your demand, forget!" - form the book "Astrid and Veronika" by Linda Olsson* (any other quotes marked with a * are from this same author)
"Tonight you're invited to dance with the mist..." *
"for nothing hurts like you..." *
"I whisper 'yes' and 'always' as I lie waiting for thunder from a stone sky" *
"Oh how can I quiet my heart, that is tossed from north to south?" *
"now let me sing you gentle songs..." *
"first you wanna ride off into the sun, then you wanna shoot straight to the -moon..." - Bright Eyes
"Leap and the net will appear" - Jason Mraz (Make it Mine)
"Open up your mind and see like me. Open up your plans and damn your free..." -Jason Mraz (I'm Yours)
"See that girl, as her own new world. Though her home is on the surface, she is still a universe. Glory God, oh God is peeking through the blinds. Are we all here standing naked, taking guesses, at the actual date and time..." - Jason Mraz (Live High)
"Maybe I'll build my house on your cloud..." - Jason Mraz (Plane)
"And I will find a way to you if it kills me, if it kills me...I think it might kill me..." - Jason Mraz (If It Kills Me)
"You are strong, but you're needy; humble but you're greedy; and based on your body language and shotty cursive I've been reading, your style is quite selective, though your mind is rather wreckless; well I guess this just suggests that this is just what happiness is..." - Jason Mraz (Beautiful Mess)
"I do not keep up with statistics, I do not sleep without a mistress. I do not eat unless it's fixed with some kind of sweet like the licorice. My home is deep inside the mystics, I'm known to keep diggin' on existence. I'm holdin' in the heat like a fishstick, my phone it beeps because I missed it..." - Jason Mraz (Dynamo of Voltion)
"If it's a broken part, replace it. If it's a broken arm, then brace it. If it's a broken heart, then face it..." - Jason Mraz (Details in the Fabric)
Ok, that's enough for one night. These are by no means all of the quotes I meant to put up here. I keep thinking of more and more, but my head is sleepy and I must work tomorrow morning. So, another day I will add more.
"For sorrow memory was given; if peace of mind is your demand, forget!" - form the book "Astrid and Veronika" by Linda Olsson* (any other quotes marked with a * are from this same author)
"Tonight you're invited to dance with the mist..." *
"for nothing hurts like you..." *
"I whisper 'yes' and 'always' as I lie waiting for thunder from a stone sky" *
"Oh how can I quiet my heart, that is tossed from north to south?" *
"now let me sing you gentle songs..." *
"first you wanna ride off into the sun, then you wanna shoot straight to the -moon..." - Bright Eyes
"Leap and the net will appear" - Jason Mraz (Make it Mine)
"Open up your mind and see like me. Open up your plans and damn your free..." -Jason Mraz (I'm Yours)
"See that girl, as her own new world. Though her home is on the surface, she is still a universe. Glory God, oh God is peeking through the blinds. Are we all here standing naked, taking guesses, at the actual date and time..." - Jason Mraz (Live High)
"Maybe I'll build my house on your cloud..." - Jason Mraz (Plane)
"And I will find a way to you if it kills me, if it kills me...I think it might kill me..." - Jason Mraz (If It Kills Me)
"You are strong, but you're needy; humble but you're greedy; and based on your body language and shotty cursive I've been reading, your style is quite selective, though your mind is rather wreckless; well I guess this just suggests that this is just what happiness is..." - Jason Mraz (Beautiful Mess)
"I do not keep up with statistics, I do not sleep without a mistress. I do not eat unless it's fixed with some kind of sweet like the licorice. My home is deep inside the mystics, I'm known to keep diggin' on existence. I'm holdin' in the heat like a fishstick, my phone it beeps because I missed it..." - Jason Mraz (Dynamo of Voltion)
"If it's a broken part, replace it. If it's a broken arm, then brace it. If it's a broken heart, then face it..." - Jason Mraz (Details in the Fabric)
Ok, that's enough for one night. These are by no means all of the quotes I meant to put up here. I keep thinking of more and more, but my head is sleepy and I must work tomorrow morning. So, another day I will add more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
