The Last Man Standing: Survivor and Gender

Close your eyes and picture a survivalist, fighting against the elements on a deserted island. What do they look like? Something like this? Or maybe this: Or maybe one of these: The image of a strong (usually white) man using his muscles and wit to weather the wilderness has a unique place in the cultural … Continue reading The Last Man Standing: Survivor and Gender

Sex and Teenagers: What TV Keeps Getting Wrong

Cuties, while portraying a plausible scenario, goes too far in it's presentation. No actress here is older than 14. If you happened to be part of that very large intersection of individuals that participated in the death scroll of YouTube and the endless consumption of Netflix during the early days of quarantine, then you’ve more … Continue reading Sex and Teenagers: What TV Keeps Getting Wrong

Muddling of Mental Illness

Back in 2017, the television show “13 Reasons Why” aired. The show presented the story of a fictional teenage girl, Hannah, who leaves behind 13 recordings on her cassette after killing herself. Each recording blames a person who supposedly played a role in Hannah’s decision to commit suicide… Dark, I know. The show drew massive … Continue reading Muddling of Mental Illness

The Riches of the Small Screen

When examining the popular tv shows of the past few decades a common theme, for a lack of better wording, is “rich”. While the premises of these shows may vary, there is a commonality rooted in wealth. For as long as we can remember, television show makers and viewers have held an infatuation with the … Continue reading The Riches of the Small Screen

Vandalism, Activism, or Both?

Often, we don't take a second look at spray paint-covered walls when we walk down the streets; we avert our eyes or ignore tagged bricks on our daily commutes. Usually, it's a lot easier to look away or only think about it long enough to hazard a guess on gasp hypothetically-effected property values. But the … Continue reading Vandalism, Activism, or Both?

Rap scene or Drug scene?

In Korea, drugs are banned. The word "drugs" is often linked with jail, illegal activity, and prohibition. The public’s reaction to celebrities who get caught taking drugs is harsher than in the States. People who take drugs often lose their reputation in society and are rebuked for setting a bad example. Yet, as much as … Continue reading Rap scene or Drug scene?

FP 4: Big Brothers Big Sisters

In these posts I have discussed the goals of Big Brothers Big Sisters, my personal experiences with my Little, the strengths of the program, and my recent experiences with the program during COVID-19. I would like to spend this post talking about the overall impact Big Brothers Big Sisters has had in the United States. … Continue reading FP 4: Big Brothers Big Sisters

FP 5: Bringing it all together.

In this final post, I want to further discuss how Casa Azafrán, the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), and the Tennessee Office for Refugees (TOR) all uniquely serve immigrants and refugees—but also work together—in order to create a well-founded network of support. Most of my time with these organizations was spent with Nashville’s refugees … Continue reading FP 5: Bringing it all together.

FP 4: Stateless.

The last organization that I was able to connect with this semester is the Tennessee Office for Refugees (TOR). I had briefly heard about the office while volunteering with the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE), and after reaching out to TOR about their volunteer opportunities, I was put in contact with Emily, one of … Continue reading FP 4: Stateless.