Becoming something…

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• Aid for Myanmar Mobilizes, Mixed With Criticism

“A powerful cyclone that destroyed a vast swath of coastal Myanmar and left many thousands of people dead prompted the country’s military leaders to allow some foreign aid groups to deliver relief supplies on Tuesday.”

• Photographs From Myanmar
• I.O.C. Rules Will Limit Protests by Athletes

“Athletes who compete in the Beijing Olympics will not be allowed to wave flags, make gestures or alter their external appearance to make a political statement, according to guidelines issued in April by the International Olympic Committee.”

• Global Economic Minute: Immigration’s past and present

• Senator Clinton stays in the race despite lackluster Tuesday, are there Rewards For Dropping Out?
• Iron Man (movie) gets generally favorable reviews
• Poll: Only 2.5 percent of Americans are LGB

“Hunter College released the results of a groundbreaking poll Wednesday that found only 2.9 percent of Americans older than 18 identify as LGB, lower than the 4-5 percent often cited in voter exit polls.”

• The Sustainable City–Ecological Dream or Technocratic Nightmare?

“And while the little boy in me thrills at the science-fiction stylishness of some of the architects’ renderings of these cities of the future (of which the picture above is a sample), another part of me wonders whether the promises now being made about these projects have even a chance of being fulfilled.”

PDF Version (last updated - May 8 2008) - Download

**Objective**

Combine current cultural, social and economic knowledge with new ideas and concepts in a rigorous learning environment exposing new solutions for today’s businesses and organizations.

**Education**

Kalamazoo College Bachelor of Arts Kalamazoo, MI 2003-2007
+ Major in Economics and Business - Minor in Chinese - 3.4 GPA
+ Senior Individualized Project - English Department - “Couches”

Capital Normal University Intensive Mandarin Study Beijing, China 2005-2006
+Cultural/Sociological focus
+Intercultural Research Project: observed local restaurant business

**Employment**

MI Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA MI 2007-2008
+Is national service fighting poverty through student empowerment and departmental development via service at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) to the campus and surrounding community.
+ Administered scholarship; 250% increased enrollment
+ Created and/or facilitated over 25 professional level trainings
+ Established department standard for tracking Learning Beyond the Classroom, a general education requirement
+ Developed training curriculum and new recruitment system
+ Helped recruit over 600 volunteers who served over 2,700 hours

Kalamazoo College Computer Lab Assistant Supervisor MI 2004-2007

Y.M.C.A. Professional Rescuer & Swim Instructor MI 2003-2006

Times Ledger Newspaper Subscription Telemarketer NY 2005

**Other Experiences**

Community Records Volunteer
+Attend board meetings and vital to recent recording project

National Collegiate Athletics Association Swimmer
+Teamwork, led underclassmen, time management, goal setting, Most Valuable Freshman

Answers for Students with Sexuality Questions (ASSQ) Founder
+ Campaigned successfully for gender neutral restrooms; peer-counseling

Human Rights Campaign Statistical Analyst
+Introduction to statistical results, pre-coursework conceptual application

Manpower Inc. – Externship Executive Assistant
+Presented customer intake analysis, front-desk, assistant to Vice President

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS

**Professional Development**

MCC Solutions Summit –
+A collaboration between groups/educators with similar missions who want to encourage the greening of service-learning, volunteerism, community-based research and place-based education
National Society for Experiential Education (NSEE) conference -
+Focusing on precision in experiential education outcomes, assessment and promising practices
IMPACT conference -
+The largest campus community conference on service, activism, politics, advocacy, and other socially responsible work across philosophical and ideological lines
Pre-Service Orientation -
+Campus Compact AmeriCorps*VISTA; community partnerships, identity and privilege, recruitment and volunteerism
The Institute -
+Tackling issues and exposing best practices in service-learning and civic engagement
EMU Office of Research and Development grant writing workshops –
+Topics included an introduction to and funding sources
MCC AmeriCorps*VISTA trainings –
+Fine tuning the skills of collaboration, meeting facilitation, problem solving, and youth outreach

**Trainer Experiences**

ASSQ and EMU’s PRIDE Education Coalition - sexual identity and peer counseling
EMU students and staff - general education system
EMU Emerging Leaders - citizenship and service
EMU New Student Orientation Advisors - diversity issues and awareness
Life-size Game of LIFE reflection activity - social privilege
EMU student program coordinators and staff - program development, delegation
Michigan Service Scholars - cohort development
One-on-one student development and mediation; including web-based group surveys and team building activities

**Professional Skills**

+Scholarship administration
+Job description development
+Volunteer recruitment
+Workflow and staffing systems
+Staff orientations, student/staff meetings, and classroom presentations
+Conflict facilitation and resolution
+Program presentations and promotion
+Hiring and interviewing systems

I feel so controversial! I also feel sad because I really planned to step up my blogging for the trip, sorry for the lack of content over the past week.

I’m not kidding though, I had no access to any part of my site (even uploads) the entire time I was in Beijing. Even friend’s computers couldn’t access the site (sometimes it just depends on what government controlled up-link it leaves on). It’s kinda cool to be among the ranks of Wikipedia, banned historical truths, and other such controversial information.

I do plan to look into it, as it is a group of people who might appreciate my Chinese content and other such life changing information. Oh, China.

In one corner we have the most individual of the individual, Justin-China. In the other you have the opposite in strength, clearly more settled and definitely not alone, Justin-Committed Relationship (CR).

The rink, Beijing, is home turf for Justin-China. Yet, much of his support is missing or under pressure.

As for Justin-CR, the significant-other is right at his side for the ride. It is as though the Justin-CR’s birth mother is in the front row, eyes watching.

So enough of this metaphor speak. We are going to Beijing, China for a bit of travel. The tickets were cheap, I guess people don’t go to China for Thanksgiving! China was a life of individualism for me, the back story
of any study abroad trip. Since graduation, I’m paying rent, working, living with the guy in my life, and looking at what stability I can find in my future. This is a long way off from good ole Junior year. Sure I’ll still have a beer in the streets of Beijing and find a moment of Zen. Just this time there will be someone else in the equation, zen +1.

Rightfully so, our lives have been centered around ourselves for some portion here and there. It’s only appropriate, considering that for us, it’s where things begin. Yet here and there other people enter life. Especially after graduation, we learn that even when we are alone there are still people all around us that matter and our actions have an impact on. That “feelin’ kinda down” day doesn’t mean homework just doesn’t get done, it can fade into job and relationship performance. Now you ask, “you are right, but any advice?” I can’t say I have anything specific this time around. Just stick to your guns, usually your intuition has the best words for your ears.

We begin to learn that zen +1 can feel just as good as a solid self-centered moment. Zen +1 can also take more work. Just remember there is a context to yourself. We are all supported by a social network around us, even it if at times it feels very impersonal. You have an obligation to the most self-centered cell in your body to learn what around you makes you an individual. Go in, be an individual, and then come out. It may be a closet or it could be out of a shell, but just come out and share yourself with the world around you. We all don’t live around our own Walden Ponds for a reason.

In this battle, hopefully everyone wins.

Be an individual of many…Zen +many.