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Hi! I'm Emily Howard. I'm a junior at CU Boulder studying History and Spanish with minors in Dance and Jewish Studies and a certificate in LGBT Studies. Due to my focus in many different areas, I can easily adapt skills I've learned to a wide variety of situations and needs. I have experience in research and archiving, especially regarding historically marginalized groups. As an example, I worked with Norlin Library to help arrange the Boulder Gay Liberation archive last semester so that the previously ignored queer history of the campus could be made more readily available to CU students and the larger Boulder public. I am passionate about amplifying marginalized voices and making sure that all people have the power to tell their own stories. I am also passionate about making information more widely available so people from all walks of life can access it and educate themselves. I'm looking for ways to apply my passions to practical work in the information sciences and to use my previous experiences in research and archiving to help empower marginalized groups and make historically buried stories accessible to everyone.
On finding balance...
As students explored their definitions of success, some of the main facets of 鈥渟uccess鈥� that came up for this group were: (1) finding balance, (2) being a changemaker, (3) embracing life pivots, and (4) overcoming obstacles. In preparing for their final showcase, students reflected on one of these aspects and how they related to this aspect of success.
What is your story around this topic?
I鈥檝e always struggled finding a balance. In high school, I had no balance. I went to school, then I鈥檇 come home and study for 8 hours. I鈥檇 sleep, then start over. Being valedictorian mattered so much to me that I neglected every other aspect of my life, convinced that I only mattered to people because I was smart. Then I graduated as valedictorian. And it did nothing. I ended up at the same college with the same scholarships that everyone else got. I had worked so hard for nothing more than a medal; I didn鈥檛 even get to give the speech. My world view was shattered, so I decided to make a change. Once college started, I started reserving time for myself and my social life. Being the perfect student got me nothing, so I鈥檝e been working to find a balance where academics still has a place in my life, but one that doesn鈥檛 overpower everything else. It鈥檚 a work in progress.听
What have you struggled with in regards to this aspect of success?
I definitely struggle finding time for myself. I feel guilty if I鈥檓 not productive, so even if I鈥檓 not doing schoolwork, I feel compelled to get ahead on homework or clean the apartment or make something else. I need to get better at prioritizing my own health.听
Where have you shined on this aspect of success?
I have definitely gotten much better at balancing school and a social life. My relationships are so foundational to me and I always make the time to talk to the people I love.听
What tools have you found to be helpful in navigating this aspect of success?
I read an article on burnout that said 鈥淚f you don鈥檛 take time to take care of yourself, your body will make time,鈥� meaning that if you don鈥檛 rest and push yourself too far, eventually, you鈥檒l get sick or injured and you鈥檒l have no choice. Remembering that and moving past the myth of laziness is helpful. Taking rest days and making time for yourself isn鈥檛 lazy or selfish, it鈥檚 vital. Another thing that has helped me is not overexplaining my reasons. If I tell someone I鈥檓 unavailable, unless I made a prior commitment, I don鈥檛 owe them an explanation. I鈥檓 allowed to say no and not have to explain why. Also, my therapist told me about the six categories of self care and thinking of balancing those helps too (practical, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social).听
CHANGE Collective program reflections
Embarking on this program听
I was nervous for the first session, but pleasantly surprised with how it went. Everyone we got to meet was so nice and I鈥檓 excited to get to know them better. It was also nice to talk with Jim and figure out more of what I鈥檓 doing, although I am worried that I don鈥檛 know enough anthropology to be qualified. I guess I鈥檓 just nervous that I鈥檓 not going to fit well and that I won鈥檛 be good at my job, but I know that everyone starts somewhere and once I鈥檓 shown what I鈥檓 supposed to do, I鈥檒l be fine. I hope that throughout this process, I鈥檒l gain more confidence in myself and my own abilities, as well as hands-on museum experience. I truly did love DMNS so so much and I鈥檓 excited to be back in a museum.
Mid-year reflection听
Adjusting to this job definitely took some time, but now that I have, I鈥檓 really enjoying it. The main struggle I had was fitting it into my schedule, but now that I鈥檓 into the swing of things I feel that things are going very well. The past few weeks, I鈥檝e been helping to put together fossil kits so we can mail them out to schools. While I wish I could be interacting directly with the students/visitors, I鈥檓 happy to be contributing to something that helps students get exciting lesson plans with hands-on components. I know I would鈥檝e loved to get one of these kits when I was in school!
I also really enjoy being a part of the Change Collective. It鈥檚 so nice to have that support network that I鈥檓 guaranteed to meet up with at least every other week. All of the other members are so kind and supportive, it鈥檚 such a lovely environment to work in. I know it鈥檚 unavoidable because everyone has class during the day, but getting out late of the CC meetings on Wednesdays isn鈥檛 ideal. Still, I know it can鈥檛 be changed and I鈥檓 so grateful for those meetings in every other regard!
I definitely have improved my time management throughout this experience. I鈥檝e had to learn how to balance this internship with another internship at the library, with schoolwork and classes, with some health challenges I鈥檝e been facing, with household chores, and with self-care and rest. It鈥檚 been a difficult balance to find, but I think I鈥檝e finally started to get a handle at it. I鈥檝e also learned new things about fossils just by putting together the kits! Overall, this experience has been a very rewarding one that I鈥檓 excited to continue to grow from.
Final program reflection
What are you most proud of?
I鈥檓 most proud of myself for getting out of my shell and making connections with my coworkers, since I usually have a harder time opening up.
What was the best thing you gained from this program?
The best thing I gained is a better understanding of myself and my goals for my future and how my version of success doesn鈥檛 have to align with what others say it should be.
If you were to recommend changes to the program, what would you recommend? What didn't work so well for you? Feel free to consider the structure of your museum job, the bi-weekly sessions, the microcredential requirements, how you were hired.听
I would recommend either being more aware of time so you can get out as scheduled or scheduling more time so you鈥檒l just know to expect to be there longer.
What about this program would you recommend keeping the same? What worked really well for you?
I would recommend keeping the assignments mostly the same or keeping at least similar prompts. I鈥檇 also recommend keeping the interaction between coworkers the same so they have the chance to bond in a less professional, more informal way.
How do you hope to build upon what you've gained from this program (including any insights around the types of work or experiences that did not work for you)?
I hope to continue following my passion and staying true to my definition of success. I also hope to continue allowing myself to open up to new people and opportunities.