Prior to this week, I would have agreed with someone when they said the common phrase, “It’s a small world.” when speaking about Socal. However, experiencing the first week at AYA has debunked this belief of mine. Not only was I unaware of how vast my area was, but never would I have thought it was possible to learn so much in such a short period of four days. Stepping into the first day of AYA I was met with an immediate shock. The feeling of intimidation combating the feeling of suspense for what’s ahead overflowed in my mind until I walked into the classroom. Being met with the welcoming atmosphere, my anxieties began to fade, and I felt ready to embrace the exciting journey to come.
When I started my first class, COMMS 101, the environment was one that I had never experienced before. I was astonished by collectively how captivated and engaged all my peers were. Not only was I taken aback by the environment, but the content itself. Concluding these four days, my eyes have been opened to the topic of civic engagement and civic media, topics that I was oblivious to and had never heard discussed in school. The interworkings of the history of communication were a subtopic that I found specifically fascinating. The idea that humanity has developed from talking about current events in coffee houses to today in social media platforms I feel is powerful evidence that shows how much we have developed over the years. Most recently, I have found the connection to superheroes most compelling in our readings. Here Eric Gordon and Paul Mihailids touch on how many DREAMers, immigrant American youth, use superheroes as a political gateway. A prime example was Superman, an immigrant, forced to conceal his identity, and strongly stands behind American ideals. The harsh reality is that many face these same realities in today’s day of age but are significantly not as celebrated as the superhero. This comparison was not just something that I can relate to but I was blind to, despite the many people that live like the youth spoken about in this text in my community and family. Learnings like these only intrigue me more for what’s to come out of this class.
When starting out in AYA the class that I was most excited about was JOUR 101, I was eager to improve my skills that could push me to be a better writer and interviewer. I was ecstatic to collaborate and learn from my peers so that I can apply these learnings to my academics when I leave the program. After just these few days I can confidently say that I have learned a drastic amount already. I was immediately intrigued by Professor Lopez’s teachings, knowing his experience, and wanting to soak in all that I could. I specifically enjoyed the interviews we conducted with our seat partners, because not only was I able to practice my interviewing, but I was able to learn more about my peers. For me, one of the most joyous experiences was becoming acquainted with my counterparts.
Being in an environment with students who all share a common interest as you is truly unique. On the other hand, it is even more captivating to me how diverse each and every person is. It’s remarkable how, despite our shared passions, each individual’s background, experiences, and viewpoints are distinct, turning this supposedly small world into an expansive community, we call Socal. This first week at AYA has shown me that the world, especially within our own community, is far larger and more intricate than I had ever imagined. A prime example of this was the field trip to the Japanese American National Museum. Here my eyes were opened to the immense historic and cultural contributions of Japanese-Americans that have come to make our nation of today. From the creation of the Hawaiian shirt to the contributions in WWII, I was able to learn so much about our history beyond the surface level. Overall educating me beyond what I could have ever expected making this program a priceless experience.
Communicating Change 