Refugees: In Search of A Good Life

Syrian refugees. Images of families, individuals, women, children, young men flooding into other countries, scared and afraid, seeking shelter. Injured physically, mentally, and emotionally, escaping their war-torn homeland, Syrians are turning to other countries for help in their time of need. But, who cares about the Syrians when there are so many more interesting topics to report about? New stations are supposed to report about global events, educate viewers on what is happening in the world around them. However,  covering popular celebrities, infamous politicians, and the economy in online articles and local news channels are guaranteed to generate more views and revenue than would a segment series on Syrian refugees. Social media, apart from activist websites and international news, are dominated by pop culture, heckling American politics, and how-to food videos.

Syrian civilians, at risk of kidnapping, torture, and death from their own government, are flooding into countries that hopefully will grant them refugee status. Arab countries such as Lebanon and Jordan, that border Syria, are the first place refugees think to go because they are so close; perhaps they have connections or family there. However, these small nations only have to much physical space and resources to distribute among the refugees. A more permanent country with better job opportunities, that are farther away from the conflict, would seem better long term options that Lebanon or Syria. European countries such as Germany and France are opening their door to Syrian refugees, despite the fact that there have already been acts of terrorism in France, realizing that these are also human beings who are in need of help. Perhaps the reason for Europe’s open arms is that this is not their first experience with war; during World Wars I and II, refugees were displaced from Poland, Prague, France, Germany, Yugoslavia, and other countries and were forced to seek shelter in neutral nations. The United States is debating whether or not to let large numbers of Syrian refugees inside its borders; to date, less than 2,000 Syrian refugees have been admitted into the United States since the Syrian conflict began. The reason? Fear of the unknown; fear of a repeat of what happened in New York fifteen years ago; fear of minority groups in general, especially those from the Middle East because they are subconsciously associated with the recent ISIS terrorist attacks around the world (ex. Paris, France in 2015).

Though is is a possible threat to America’s security to permit large numbers of refugees in (through which terrorists - who can be young or older - can slip in, posing as refugees), I believe America has forgotten what it means to be human and to be compassionate towards the peoples of other nations. If America is truly a superpower, should we not help set an example to the rest of the world what it means to help the less fortunate? In this discussion, I believe we have also forgotten the countless numbers of poor and underprivileged in other areas of the world that also need help: those in Africa, India, South America, that are suffering and dying from hunger and disease every single day. Why suddenly helping the Syrian refugees become such a big issue, when for years other nations have needed our help just as badly? Perhaps aiding the Syrians has become a popular topic that suddenly is a means by which to judge affluent nations on how successful they are.  News stations no longer stress the importance of or question America’s involvement about conflict in Africa or helping starving children in India; just because Syria’s refugees are a relatively new news topic, does that make them any more important than those in need on other parts of the world?

Immigrants as well as refugees face many of the same struggles: the challenge of moving to a new country and leaving everything behind, learning a new language, assimilating into a new culture, maintaining one’s cultural history in a different society, finding employment, etc. Immigrants seek a better life from the conditions they were living in before, and make a conscious choice to uproot and migrate to a new land. Refugees, on the other hand, don’t have  much of a choice in regards to moving out; either they move out and move on, or perish in their homeland. Whether or not the new country(s) they migrate to hold better opportunities for them is another matter.

America’s politicians personally may believe in supporting causes such as allowing refugees into the United States and permitting immigration, but they publicly do not state so because to say that would mean political suicide. It is up to us as individual Americans to take a stand for what we believe is right and moral. In our own faith communities, such as in my home parish, we can advocate and raise awareness for the starving children in Africa and India, abandoned baby girls in China, and Syrian refugees that are in need of a place to stay. All human beings are in search of a good life; by seeking security in other countries, refugees can reassert and begin to reconstruct their cultural identity within a new place, and create a living space in which to feel safe and secure. Their journey from across the Atlantic will not be in vain; united in faith with others that have come before them, and individuals who welcome them into the promise of a new life, the Syrian refugees can hopefully continue on their path to a ‘good life’ here in the United States.

Works Cited

Altman, Alex, and Dallas. "What It's Like To Be A Syrian Refugee In America." Time. Time. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <http://time.com/a-syrian-refugee-story/>.

Bosman, Julie. "A Chill Grips a Michigan Haven for Syrian Families." The New York Times. The New York Times, 23 Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/us/syrian-refugees-cling-to-a-longtime-haven-in-michigan.html?_r=2>.

Sullivan, Kevin. "Refuge: 18 Stories from the Syrian Exodus." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2016. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/syrian-refugees/story/refuge/>.

Latino Immigration: Peril or Promise

When I hear the word immigration, an image comes to mind of masses of people passing through customs at a security center, all holding baggage and identification papers and waiting for their turn in line to be checked. Numerous and diverse, the multitudes consist of men and women, elderly and children of all colors, ethnicities, and ages.

Immigration, especially Latino immigration, has always had a negative connotation, especially here in the South. Dr. Vilma Fuentes, in her presentation on the perils and promises Latinos face when they choose to emigrate to America, specifically  addressed the Latino Diaspora in the 1980s when hundreds of thousands of Central Americans (Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Nicaraguans) fleeing death squads and mass murders at home, came flooding into Miami, Florida, and neighboring cities. Though Latino influence had already become prevalent in pop culture, (such as Rita Moreno in the film West Side Story, starring as Anita), education (when Chicano and Latino studies were incorporated into school curriculum), and politics (formation of a Chicano political party in Texas), hostility was rampant in the South. Many whites advocated for the Spanish language to be banned, for the borders to be closed, and for all Latino immigrants to be deported back to their home country. However, to do so would deprive many corporate American manufacturers of their primary source of labor. Enticed by the possibility of a better life and the ability to earn more money than they could in their homelands, Latinos soon became an irreplaceable fixture of many factories, service industries, and hard labor jobs, such as fruit picking, lawn work, and construction. As Latinos continued to spread into the continental United States, the coalescence of a new phenomenon called Latino American culture began, as Latinos spread geographically and made their mark in music, sports, politics, business, and education.

Like many other immigrants who have come here to the United States, Latinos are seeking a better life than what they had in their homeland. The opportunities of security, financial stability, social mobility, and education enable Latinos to pursue their version of a ‘good life’ here in America, without the fear of being kidnapped or killed by the government. By journeying to a new land to pursue a good life, while recreating their cultural identity and constructing spaces in which to continue living out their ways of life, Latinos are better equipped to succeed in the United States and to find and live out their version of happiness.

As Americans, by educating ourselves and becoming aware of where Latinos and other immigrants are coming from (geographically and culturally), we can become more aware of Latino background and understanding their history. I have several Latino friends, and their reasons for being here are for escaping domestic and government violence, and for seeking better opportunities here in the U.S. By encouraging higher education of Latinos, all immigrants and Americans, and by providing the same opportunities of success for all, we will be better equipped for the future as a peaceful multicultural society.

Deconstructing the "Game of Life"

The Game of Life is a treacherous game to play. It's not like Candyland, where everyone reaches the end all happy and colorful within a half hour, and gets to claim bragging rights for reaching King Kandy. Life is a backstabbing mistress that will do with you as she pleases, and there is nothing you can do other than make the best of the cards she gives you, and hope you don't spontaneously perish or become broke in the process.

In all seriousness, Milton Bradley's Game of Life is a game based largely on chance. Players who make bank at the beginning of the game can lose their fortune in an instant, and others who began dirt poor can make a comeback as the wealthiest on the board. Though participants must all go through some of the same life events (such as getting married, having children, etc., though this differs in the various editions that have been released), you can choose whether or not to go to college, to invest in property, to buy a house, taking on additional schooling, and many other choices  that a majority of the population experiences or will experience later in life. Though not all individuals will really choose to get married or to buys  house, the game itself as a product must have some standard equilibrium for its players to be judged upon.

Just as one cannot control how the dice will roll during a board game, many things happen in life that are unexplainable and due purely to chance, despite the good or bad decisions we may have previously made. Just last week, upon coming home from school to my apartment, I discovered a massive leak in our fridge that had flooded the kitchen; it was no fault of mine, yet it happened.  Why? Perhaps the fridge was having a bad day and just needed to let loose some tears of sorrow. Whatever the cause, I sopped up the water and put in a request to plumbing maintenance to schedule a therapy session with the emotional appliance.

It is interesting to see the definition of success the various versions of Life in contrast to how everyday people define success. For some, gaining wealth and accumulating assets is the greatest and highest form of achievement one can earn, as is the criteria for winning the board game of Life. This was Josh's goal throughout the entire game, as he sought to increase our team's income and assets by all possible means,  However, many people during our game, including Heather and Devaki, viewed being successful in life as not the amount of money you have, but the amount of happiness you experience on your life journey. For Heather, this was having one or two children and living in a moderately nice home; to her, income and assets didn't matter.

Though one can make good choices in life that do have direct and foreseeable payoff, such as going to college or investing in a portfolio at an early age, there will unavoidably be occurrences along the way that no one expects but must be dealt with. Such is life- an unpredictable, volatile experience, but with the potential to find happiness along the way.

Constructing A Cultural Identity

I am a cradle Catholic. Ever since I can remember, my family has religiously gone to Sunday mass (pun intended) and to all of the holy days as prescribed by the church. All of the sacraments we received - First Communion, Reconciliation, Confirmation - took place in our home parish, Holy Family Catholic Church. The church has aged with us, grown with us. From being a modest parish in the ‘90s to the most successful Catholic parish in the Central Florida area, Holy Family has grown in its following and size while I was growing in my faith. Supplemented by countless youth group meetings, retreats, spiritual advisement, frequent reception of communion and Confession, and the example of my parents being active members of our parish, my love for the Catholic faith has grown exponentially over the years.

But Catholicism is only a part of what I consider to be my cultural identity. In addition to being a Jesus-lover, I can proudly say that I am an American, born and bred in the South and into a very patriotic family. Along with the American history learned in school, my dad used to read every night out of a 'this day in history' book and then quiz us on events, such as how the Boston Tea Party was organized, , the origin and evolution of the American flag and anthem, and why the South suffered as much as the North when Abraham Lincoln was killed. From the example of an uncle who is a Colonel in the Army, I have learned to appreciate and have a very grateful attitude towards our American military (and all militaries around the world) for the sacrifice of their lives and liberty for the safety of the rest of our nation.

On a daily basis, to the best of my ability, I continue to reinforce my cultural heritage by several means. Though I don't have as much time as I used to, and no longer live at home with my  patriotic Catholic parental units, I still make an effort to attend Sunday mass and frequently receive the sacraments. Just last weekend I attended a retreat held by the University of Florida’s Catholic Student Union, and had the opportunity for personal reflection and Confession. I also enjoy going to adoration (prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament) with my boyfriend, who is Christian. My schoolwork is supplemented with reading 'this day in American history' from a blog I follow, and make an effort to attend Memorial Day and Independence Day services, and I often drag friends along with me to share in remembering and honoring  our American heritage by our presence at such ceremonies.

Memory, History, Identity, and A Good Life

In our modern world, not much thought is given to family ancestry or origin. With so many other diversions to amuse us, including sports, technology, education, and entertainment, little time is left for family and learning about family history. At most we learn about how mom and dad met, or what our first names mean.

The significance of ancestry has been lost over the past few generations, due to our culture's changes in way of life and childrearing. No more do grandma and grandpa live in the house when they grow old; no more do siblings continue to live under the same roof when they get married and have children. We would like to imagine that we care for what our grandparents and parents have to say about family history and why certain family traditions exist, but there seems to be precious little time in which to do so. If the ancestry and culture of individual families are continually being lost, where then is the identity of the general population? If we as Americans,, already a melting pot of diverse backgrounds and cultural struggles, do not take measures to preserve and learn about our immediate family history, our identity as a country will be lost.

To a point, our identity is our family: its traditions, lineage, history, and stories. Our parents, grandparents, and ancestors have written tomes of history before our time; our duty as the new generation is to begin writing our own stories where they left off. To continue a new and unique path in life, one of our own choosing, is just as important as recognizing the weight and importance of the chapters that have been written and lived before us.

Works Cited

Keita: Heritage of the Griot. Dir. Dani Kouyate. Perf. Seydou Boro, Hamed Dicko, Abdoulaye Komboudri. Afix Productions, 1996. DVD. Canvas. California Newsreel. Web. 15 Feb. 2016.

Governing A Good Life

As Americans, we continually seek products and activities that we believe will contribute the most to our well being and happiness. Gym memberships, eating healthy, all natural food, buying high brands of clothing and shoes, belonging to a religious sect, the list goes on and on. It is even stated in our Declaration of Independence that happiness, as well as safety, liberty, equality, and justice, are among the most basic human rights that should be protected by the government.

However, many Americans today complain that the federal government is too big, even infringing upon the most basic rights of its citizens. Rather than be a hindrance to the well being of its citizens, government should provide security of safety and the pursuit of happiness, and broad regulation of activities as a means for individuals to pursue their version of a good life.

The government of Bhutan is far ahead of the rest of the world in actively and directly implementing measures to protect and promote the happiness of its citizens (Canvas video). Ten years ago, Bhutan’s fourth king implemented a program called the Gross National Happiness (GNH), making it the first country to ever attribute its success due to the overall happiness of its people rather than economic success (GDP). National happiness is based upon four pillars of cultural promotion, environmental conservation, equitable and sustainable economic development, and good governance, each one measured statistically through seventy-two variables (e.g. overall health of population,, educational attainment, quality of environment living standards, economic security, etc.) Though we only know one side of the success of GNH in Bhutan (the viewpoint of the elite male politicians rather than the lower classes who are experiencing the first hand effects of the program), its richly Buddhist culture spans back thousands of years, uniting its people in a religious and cultural identity.

Having a general knowledge of Bhutan’s people and other global cultures is crucial to having a balanced worldview. Ignorance of other cultures can lead to a fear of them, as the unknown tends to be feared and ostracized; a sort of ‘us’ vs ‘them’ mentality. Generalizations about other peoples can lead to judgement and condemnation of them without ever knowing the facts, such as the Americans’ view of Asians after Pearl Harbor. Americans subsequently adopted a hatred of the entire Asian culture, when really it was the decision of a few elite Japanese politicians to bomb Pearl Harbor.

Overcoming ignorance of other cultures enables us to relate to other peoples in ways we could have never imagined before. Almost all cultures and religions share the same core values, including the promotion of peace, aid to those in need, and compassion for all people, even one’s enemies. Karen Armstrong notes that the implementation of the Golden Rule- doing unto others what you would have them do unto you- is at the center of every single religion in existence. The only way religions differ is in that implementation of compassion to your fellow men; this is where specific religious practices differ in their rules and teachings to its members. Therefore, communicating between cultures is key to understanding and learning from each other. The United Nations’ development of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights post World War II implemented this idea of compassion globally.

In order to efficiently and adequately govern a good life, government needs to be able to enact rules and guidelines of activities in order to provide a safe and secure environment for its citizens to achieve a good life, including conserving the environment, promoting the health of its citizens and cultural richness, and ensuring good governance. However, it is up to each individual citizen to emulate compassion and understanding to all of his fellow citizens, in order to attain a friendly and happy society that is balanced and informed on all matters, promoting a good life for all.

Works Cited

 Armstrong, Karen. "My Wish: The Charter for Compassion." TED Talks. TED Talks. Web. 13 Feb. 2016. 

"Bhutan: Gross National Happiness." Canvas. Santa Fe College. Web. 13 Feb. 2016.

"Charter for Compassion." YouTube. Santa Fe College, 18 Nov. 2012. Web. 13 Feb. 2016.

"The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription." The Charters. National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 13 Feb. 2016.

"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights | United Nations." UN News Center. United Nations, 10 Dec. 1948. Web. 13 Feb. 2016.

Service for A Good Life

Mission church construction mission, led by young adults ages 17-24

I am a millennial. Though many older adults have a negative perspective towards my generation, I don’t believe we are as hopeless and immoral as they make us out to be. Many of us are genuinely nice people. People still perform random acts of kindness. Among our generation, smoking has decreased and tolerance of other ethnicities, races, gender identities, and religions has increased. However, there is always room for improvement.

The amount of civic and social capital produced by Generations X, Y, and Z has declined over the years, as involvement and membership in local organizations and clubs has decreased, even driving some to extinction (Putnam). Though we are participating in a worldwide increase in social media activism, this alone is not effective in generating much physical presence at social events and political protests, which Gladwell states motivates people to do the things that people do when they are not motivated enough to make a real sacrifice, such as donating a dollar online for Syrian refugees rather than protesting for a day in Washington D.C. for the same cause.

Both sides of activism are equally important, and need to be in balance in order for high amounts of civic and social capital to be reached. Political and humane organizations and clubs need two things:

1. Financial backing and popularity in order to function and to raise awareness for their causes. This is currently done through the internet and social media.
2. Physical membership and involvement in order to motivate politicians and local governments to action. Members are needed to attend club meetings, host fundraisers, and participate in events and protests.

A balance between the two will ensure that organizations have the awareness and active membership  that they need to achieve specific efforts and fundraising goals. Though much of our generation is currently more active on social media than in memberships of organizations, many that are currently involved find great personal fulfillment and would participate in said activities again and again, some in the hope that in the future they too will benefit from other nonprofit organizations in the future. This principle of generated reciprocity can not only aid our local municipal, religious, educational, athletic, and destitute communities,  but also help young people to care and help people other than themselves. Our American culture of individualism is defeated when youth go out of their way to serve others and to help others around them, without expecting something back (Tocqueville).

Works Cited

Gladwell, Malcolm. "Small Change - The New Yorker." The New Yorker. The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2010. Web. 07 Feb. 2016.

Simon, and Schuster. "Bowling Alone The Collapse and Revival of American Community." New York Times on the Web. New York Times, 2000. Web. 7 Feb. 2016.

Tocqueville. "Tocqueville Reading." Canvas. Instructure. Web. 7 Feb. 2016.

Thinking About A Good Life

In my own experience, pursuing the good life has been a combination of several different philosophies. I am a practicing Catholic, and my faith is important to me in my daily life, both in what I believe and how I live. Though Camus would classify me a coward, I accept it wholeheartedly if being a coward means loving my fellow man and God and becoming the best human being I can possibly be; a well rounded. intellectual, traveled woman. The pursuit of reason and intellect, which is ultimately truth (which Aristotle theorizes is the highest purpose I can accomplish), is my PRIMARY purpose as a student for the next ten years of my life, as I hope to be a surgeon. My love for learning about biology and the human body is great, but during our class discussion last Thursday, I have since been questioning my current career path. I am passionate about the arts, especially drama, TV production, and chorus. Though I believe in the long run being a doctor will make me happy, right now being involved in chorus and drama (which pursuing financially would be frivolous nonsense) is what I find most fulfilling and what makes me happy. Should I merge with the chaos of the universe myself, as Watts would advise, and pursue the utter glorious nonsense that is the arts, or, pursue something that in the moment that is not significant for me, and thus set myself up for a life that is perhaps financially successful but personally unfulfilling? Either way, becoming a doctor or actress, neither is what my parents pursued in life, so I would definitely be creating my own story, which is what Machen wanted students to get out of learning about the ‘good life’ anyway.  

Imagining Florida Series: Lauren Groff

Around three weeks ago I attended a lecture session at the Alachua County Library (Headquarters branch) featuring the renowned author Lauren Groff, on her most recent literary success Fates and Furies (fall 2015). This session was a part of the Imagining Florida Series, the first of a five-part lecture and discussion series in which Florida residents from all backgrounds are invited to share their stories about making Florida home.

Stepping into the crowded room at exactly 2:30pm (the time the session was scheduled to begin), I had to sit on the floor near the front, as all seats and other walls were either occupied or standing room only. This was actually a great advantage, as I basically had a front row seat and could hear and see Mrs. Groff very well, unlike the poor unfortunates in the back.

I expected the session to be a class type setting, with Groff telling us what certain things in her book meant explaining deeper meanings, etc. However, when she took the podium after being introduced, she announced that she wanted this to be a question and answer session, not a lecture where she would be the only one talking. This was a nice surprise for all in attendance, and an enthusiastic interrogation of Mrs. Lauren Groff began.

Over the next sixty minutes, after Groff read an excerpt from Fates and Furies, questions were asked that reflected on her personal journey as a writer; the content and meaning of plots and characters in her books; balancing her personal life with her career; and lessons and advice she has learned throughout her life. Groff began writing poetry in high school, and moved onto prose in college and continued writing into graduate school. She is currently 37 and married with two young children, who were in attendance, and is also the primary breadwinner, while her husband holds down the fort at home. After hearing her, I can say that Mrs. Groff is one of the funniest, prettiest, most intellectual introverts I have ever had the privilege to encounter.

My view of Groff, sitting crisscrossed on the floor,
in the front of a very crowded lecture hall. 

For Groff, self doubt is a big component in her writing process, but believes it is a necessary feeling. One should always feel anxious about their work; you must be honest and keep writing despite any doubts you may have about how ‘good’ it is. If not, how can you ever hope to publish a piece when you never think it is ready?

In addition, Groff advises women who are also the main income providers to maintain their space and to do what you love, even when if it goes against social norms. It is definitely harder for the husband to be the parent who stays at home, but for Groff this does not diminish or lessen her role as a mother.

This session was full of ideas, questions, and answers applicable to my own life. In the future, I see myself married and working as a surgeon, and a potential consequence of that would be having my husband be the stay at home parent. In my immediate and extended family, I do not know of a couple where the woman has brought in the primary source of income. Honestly, I am a little afraid of how such a relationship would turn out, especially for my future children. But Groff is a compelling example of how a woman can be the moneymaker in the marriage, and still have a successful and happy relationship with her spouse and children. Seeing her encourages me to pursue my dream against what I am accustomed to seeing in families. Societal pressures expect the woman to be the homemaker, but it can definitely go both ways.

I love to write. In the future I definitely see myself publishing a book or two. One of my strongest interests is in compiling the experiences of some friends and I that went on a mission trip together, and writing a book on them. My fear is, will anyone ever think what I wrote is worth reading? This is the self doubt issue that Groff addressed. Regardless of my fears of being potentially rejected by the literate community, I need to write despite any doubts I may have, and to be honest in my perspective of the story at hand. To feel anxious is a good thing, because how else can you better yourself? But to be worried to the point of never publishing is a different scenario.

As the discussion came to an end, I was the last person allowed to ask a question to Mrs. Groff. From my seat on the floor, I asked her if there was any advice she had for young writers nowadays, and if there was anything she wished she had done when she was younger that she could recommend to current aspiring authors. The following quote is not verbatim, but close to what she answered me:

“Young writers need to be aware of the world around them, to be involved in current society. You need to LIVE and not just focus on yourself, on inner things, like relationships or your circle of friends, but rather focus on acquiring a big picture view of  the world and current events, in order to experience them and live them, and to be able to relate and describe such experiences in your writing.”

I would like to thank Mrs. Groff for taking the time to speak at the Imagining Florida Lecture Series, as I am sure her testimony has not only inspired myself, but countless other youth who were in attendance or who read her works to continue to pursue their dreams, regardless of any self doubt  or personal struggles they may encounter. Thank you, Mrs. Groff, and keep being a ‘shining one’ to the world!

What is 'A Good Life'?

Playa del Yucatan, Cancun

Ever since I can remember, I have always wanted to go on a mission trip. Fifteen months ago, fresh out of high school, I decided to make my dream a reality. I got my passport, did research on different mission organizations, set up a fundraising account on GoFundMe.com, reserved plane tickets, and packed everything on the suggested list provided by the mission office. Looking back now, it is all a blur: kissing my parents goodbye, checking my luggage, boarding the plane and saying goodbye to Florida as the plane flew over the Gulf of Mexico to what was to be my home for the next four months: Cancun.

What did I expect out of this endeavor? I was leaving my family and friends (and a boyfriend who did NOT want to see me go), delaying my admission to college, going out of the United States for the first time to a country I knew little about, and hoping to return somewhat tanner than my skin tone normally permits. I had goals in mind: to deepen my relationship with God by giving of my time and talent to those in need, to learn what I could of the Spanish language and Mexican culture,  and experiencing mission life to explore as a possible career path.

Locals in the pueblo Tres Reyes,Quintana Roo,
with two missionaries from my group.
(Left to right: Alan, Erica, Dani, Blanca Flor, Lucy, Cami) 

Though over the course of the semester I did accomplish my small list, there was something else that I found that I was not expecting at all: friendship.
I was not alone on my missionary quest. Seven other girls, most from Mexico and one from Ecuador, also signed up for the same semester as me. Over the course of our four months living, eating, sleeping, praying, cleaning, and laughing in the same house, we became fast friends and sisters. Through teaching catechism, speaking with students, battling mosquito bites, supervising Bible studies, and torching tarantulas, we developed a strong relationship between the eight of us that continues to unite us in friendship and faith.

Carlos, one of the children in the free daycare we worked in.

In my own experience, I have not only had good relationships with my missionary friends, but also friends from school, cousins and relatives, and coworkers. I believe that having quality relationships and connections can not only make one happy, but also make one feel more fulfilled and give a sense of greater purpose in life. In addition, it can significantly benefit one’s health down the road, including memory, longevity, and overall physical wellness. (Walldinger)  

I find great purpose when I spend time with and help others. It is not a pursuit for possessions or activities that I feel will benefit me, but rather a question of, ‘What can I do today to serve those around me/make them happy?’ It is in giving yourself to others that meaning and purpose is found, despite the inconvenience or lack of happiness that may cause. (Smith) But I disagree with saying that happiness (benefiting from others/being a ‘taker’) is essentially incompatible with having a meaningful life (helping others/being a ‘giver’). Not that the two are mutually exclusive, but that it is hard to feel good when you are constantly dealing with children and high stress levels. This is true; however in the long term, some people look back and say that despite such circumstances, they were happy in their service to others. Happiness is being compassionate and a having good heart (Preston), and is associated with finding inner peace (Kolakowski). No, we cannot ignore the fact that there is human suffering and misery in the world, but this does not need to preclude us from enjoying what we can while doing what we can to help those in need.

Perhaps complete, true happiness (where worldwide everyone is in an emotional happy state) has never been and will never be a reality. Perhaps it is only something we can only imagine. Even so, a God who created humans to love and be loved would not want to see those who have the opportunity to be happy and find meaning waste it by constantly worrying about things out of their control.

Mural we painted in Tres Reyes during our last few days in the pueblo.
 "Christ is not worth the pain; he is worth life."

Works Cited

Kolakowski, Lesek. "Is God Happy?" The New York Review of Books. 20 Dec. 2012. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.

Preston, Douglas. "I Took the Dalai Lama to a Ski Resort and He Told Me the Meaning of Life." CultureBox. 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.

Smith, Emily. "There's More To Life Than Being Happy." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 9 Jan. 2013. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.

Waldinger, Robert. "What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness." TED Talks. Web. 21 Jan. 2016.

What Are The Humanities, and Why We Should Study Them? - a Brief Dissertation

Upon asking three of my acquaintances the following question, “What are the humanities, and why should we study them?”, I received the following responses:

“Nobody asks questions like that in real life, but to answer you, we study the humanities to preserve the culture that humanity has become and has developed into over time. If we are where we are, it’s because we stand on the shoulders of giants.”

-Jeremiah, a white 25 year old male at the University of Florida, majoring in business and going to work at BMW this upcoming summer. Was a seminarian for the priesthood for 3 years before coming to university.

“Humanities are liberal arts that help us to focus on global cultures. It’s important but I don’t know why; music and whatever is important. I don’t know.”

-Elizabeth, a white 15 year old female who aspires to major in history at UF.

“The humanities, in general, are the study of humans, our past and our present. We should study humanities for multiple reason; to better understand our culture as it evolved through art, religion, war, social changes, etc., and to understand past failures and successes to better our future.”

-Sean, a white 49 year old male who went to UF and majored in construction management.  

These responses, when interpreted in relation to the video published by the New Hampshire Humanities Council, coincide with trends found in the video. Older, more educated individuals, have a deeper understanding of the meaning of the humanities and the importance that they place upon them, as Sean’s response displayed. Younger and less educated persons, such as Elizabeth, have a grasp as to what the concept of humanities is, but cannot accurately describe it or its significance. However, taking the general public as a whole, most people do not have an understanding of what the humanities are nor why we should study them.

The humanities, broadly defined as a whole, are the branches of knowledge concerned with human thought and culture, which can include the studies of language, history, literature, civics, philosophy, ethics, jurisprudence, religion, anthropology, and archaeology, as stated by the Minnesota Humanities Center’s What Are The Humanities?. Despite the public mentality that obtaining a degree in humanities will get you nowhere, Landy proves quite the contrary in his address to college freshman; that indeed there are many wealthy and successful people today who studied humanities in university, including actor Sigourney Weaver and Nextag manager Brian Bird (Landy, “In Defense of Humanities”). In our modern world today, humanities not only serves as a cultural balance to the increasing influence of secular science and technology in our society, but also as a huge potential for self-development and realization about the deeper meaning of life and existence here on earth. John Horgan eloquently states that “they keep us from being trapped by our own desire for certainty.”

In my personal life, I have not had much academic experience with the humanities, except for taking AP World and United States History, of which I remember nothing of except that I got 5’s on the AP exams for them. However, outside of the classroom, I have participated in theatre all throughout my 4 years of high school, have been in chorus since I was 8 years old, and took ballet until I was 9 and realized that I was a foot taller than all the other little midgets in my class and decided to leave.

I truly enjoy the arts for what they stand for and what they are- an expression of human culture and history throughout time, expressed in interpretive dance, music, theatre, and works of art. Choral music (ethnic, sacred, and classical) especially has been important to me throughout my life; it has been a defining characteristic of my life as a unifying force between peoples of all beliefs and backgrounds, and truly has the power to change lives through its sound.

Works Cited

- Horgan, John. "Why Study Humanities? What I Tell Engineering Freshmen." Scientific American. Scientific American Blog Network, 20 June 2013. Web. 6 Jan. 2016.

- In Defense Of Humanities. Dir. John Landy. Perf. John Landy. Stanford University,

Youtube, 2010. Film.

- What Are the Humanities? Minnesota Humanities Center, 2009. Film.