The second week of AYA has flown by, and with this experience I have already built tons of new connections. I eat lunch with friends every day at the dining hall, I discuss project material with my group, and throughout these interactions, more and more people are joining this social circle.
When I participate in summer programs, my top priority is to build new relationships. Of course, it is important to learn, but I consider that a close second. Without these connections, it may be a little less easier to truly experience the program to its fullest. That is why I believe that at AYA, I should make the most of my time here to form amazing friendships all while learning together.
This week, we covered the history and importance of podcasts in our society today. In the article reading, “Public Narrative, Collective Action, and Power,” the author Marshall Ganz talks about how public narrative allows us to communicate our thoughts into actions. He discusses how emotions are a key factor into how we send our moral values or beliefs to the audience. I understood it as the use of pathos: a literary device that we use more often than we think, to appeal to the audience’s emotions and target their empathy. It is one of my personal favorites, because we see so many examples of it—whether that’s on television, social media, business, or daily interactions. This ties in with how my group can utilize these tactics in our podcast.
We have begun to work more seriously on our group projects—both the infographic and podcast. I remember we struggled a bit on what topic to focus on for the podcast. At first we considered issues like government corruption and national conflict because of their relevance to the current events of the world. However, after some much-needed consulting, we decided that it would be best to continue discussing the same topic as our infographic: the teen mental health crisis. Because our topic is one that suggests serious dialogue, we want our messages to be delivered with much clarity. Our goal is to communicate to our target audience (teens and other youth) the importance of content awareness on the internet. Although we have only just started, I think that our progress has evolved greatly, as well as our bond with one another. Ever since we have really started to work with each other, I have been able to understand what my group members’ interests are, what they are passionate about. Some of us have even spent some time outside of class to work, and that has also helped us grow closer as a group. This is why I value friendship and connection so greatly.
Overall, I think that this week has been all about getting to truly know each other. It has been one of my favorite parts about this program—being involved in so many projects together and working as one big team. This also makes us all come to the realization that the program is wrapping up as the third and final week approaches. I would still hope to see many of us, if not all, continue to keep in touch.
A shot of the ceiling at the intersection in the Natural History Museum. I really admire this type of art portrayed in old buildings like these.
Communicating Change 