Raise Your Voice!

Do you know that one person in class who always something to say? How about the person who never speaks? Have you ever wondered why these people are so different? Or why participation even matters so much in class?

Well I did. And so I went on a hunt to find out why I have such a hard time speaking up in class while it comes naturally to others. And why participation even matters. I mean why grade participation, it seriously affects my grades! Well, here’s what I found.

3 Benefits of Participation:

1. Good Discussions- No one likes one-sided arguments or discussions, it just seems so unfair to only hear one side of the story. With good participation comes good discussions. Also, it’s no fun listening to your professor/teacher talk the whole class period, that gets boring really fast.
2. Your Voice is Heard- When you participate, your voice is heard. Your thoughts and your opinions are the center of attention. This point relates back to the good discussion point also. Your thoughts help in making good discussion, because your thoughts add to the conversation. They give the discussion a new perspective that others might not have thought about. Also, when you speak up, your professor/teacher notices you and how involved you are in class. This attention from your professor/teacher can have good effects in your future, like your grades and/or letters of recommendations.
3. You Learn More- The more involved you are in the topic of your study, the more better you will remember what your reading and/or discussion. The longer things stay in your head, the more you learn. Participation has been shown as an effective way to get students to learn better, because students have to use the information they have read and apply it to class discussions.

3 Reasons Why People Don’t Participate

1. They’re Shy- A lot of people are just shy and can’t raise their voice in discussions or classrooms. They need time to get use to the class and break out their shells.
2. What Will My Peers Think- To some people, what other people will think about them, is enough to stop them from participating.
3. What I Have To Say Doesn’t Matter- A surprising finding was that a lot of people don’t participate because they feel like what they have to say doesn’t matter. This isn't true. Every person’s opinion matters and only adds to the conversation. Picture:www.deviantart.com

Why You Should Stay Positve

6 Reasons to Stay Positve

How about staying positive? In this day and age I find that the majority of people are negative and tend to focus on the parts of their lives that are negative or that they can not change. With everyone being negative all the time, can you imagine all the negativity that we are spewing out into the atmosphere everyday? All that stress and negative thoughts that we are spreading to everyone around us? Now I am not a psychologist or counselor or anything along those lines, but I do have my own experiences that have forced me to think about positivity and negativity. And I have come to the conclusion that leading a life where you try to stay positive is more helpful and fulfilling than leading a negative life. I have come up with a quick list for reasons why I believe you should stay positive.

Here are five important reasons why you should stay positive:

1. Positivity and Negativity Affects Your Health

    Studies show that positive minds tend to lead healthier lives. Whether it’s because of stress levels or crazy hormones, optimists are more happy and healthy than pessimists. Also, according to some studies, being positive can also help you overcome some diseases and illnesses faster than people who are always negative. According to Psychcentral, a site run by a group of psychologists and psychiatrists, no one knows exactly why positivity helps people recover faster from surgeries or cope better with disease, but studies have shown that is just the case.

2. Stress Levels

    On the other hand, people who are negative tend to have higher stress levels and we’ve all heard what too much stress can do to our health. In general, stress is a good thing if you know how to manage it, but too much stress can push you over the top and you can end up hurting yourself, both in physical and mental health.

3. How You Feel

    Positive minds see the world a little brighter than others, making those people feel better about life in general. Wouldn’t you just want to see the world in bring colors instead of gloomy days?

4. Problem Management

    When you feel good about the world, you are able to tackle your problems with an open mind and are able to feel positive about the outcome of your efforts. Even if they don't work, you are able to try, try, again.

5. Relationships

    Whatever attitude we put on does not only just affect us, it affects the people around us. So, if you’re positive you send out rays of sunshine all around you, affecting the people near or close to you. I don’t think anyone wants to hurt the people close to them, but sometimes we do not even noticing it. When we have a negative mindset, little things start to bother us about others and we are more likely to start arguments that strain our relationships. But when you’re positive, you are able to look past people’s faults that annoy you, helping you create and maintain better relationships.  

6. Self Image

    Lastly, is self image. When we have negative attitudes it seems impossible to think of anything positive about anything, including ourselves. The first target of negative thoughts seem to be directed to our own faults and instead of trying to fix them, we go down a spiral and can only think of how terrible we are. Self image is very important and it is always the first thing to go out the window. With low self-esteem comes many more problems. But these problems don’t have to become a reality if you try to keep positive. With positive minds we are able to find our faults and of think of different ways to fix them, instead of dwelling on them too long.We are able to trust ourselves and our decisions and hold ourselves as valuable people.

Now I understand it is very difficult to stay positive, and I totally agree. We all have those days, weeks, and sometimes even months or years where nothing goes our way. But here are some quick links that I think help and give good ideas on how to stay positive, even in the toughest of times.

http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-power-of-positive-thinking/000227

http://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2013/08/08/518/

I hope this post helps and convinces you to lead a life where you try to stay as positive as you can!

Pictures:

http://holisticallyfit.com/2013/09/23/weekly-challenge-stay-positive/ 

http://weheartit.com/entry/group/28910752 

http://www.eng.morgan.edu/~mahmud/learning/stress.htm 

https://thepracticalpriestess.wordpress.com/2014/11/04/what-a-wonderful-world/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130409115905-284615-how-to-build-lasting-business-relationships 

http://examinedexistence.com/how-to-get-rid-of-negative-self-talk/ 

The Nerdy Girl

https://www.etsy.com/market/nerdy_geekery

So, I finally Googled myself! It felt kinda weird, especially since when I first just typed in my name all that came up was some famous Indian or Pakistani actress or model. That’s definitely not me I thought. Google even though I spelled my name wrong it is was supposed to be Mehwish Fatima. I had to scroll through three pages till anything about me actually came up. My name on the Augustana’s Dean’s List. Well that’s depressing. It’s like I’m not even important enough to exist online.

Suddenly I thought came to me! What if I typed in Moline next to my name, surely there will be something about me connected to the city I’ve grown up in. I typed it in and hit search. And to my surprise, I was the top hit! My name came up under Moline High School’s Honors Roll, Moline’s National Honors Society, Moline’s Junior Rotarians, Augie’s Dean’s List (again), and even my middle school’s honors roll. Looking at the results that came up from my search I decided to look at it from a stranger’s point of view, like a future employer. Since I’m not all that into social media and stuff, there are no pictures of me (expect for one from an article about Junior Rotarians), no tweets, or Facebook posts, basically nothing that about who I am or who I want people to see me as. Everything about me online adds up to me being a pretty much boring nerdy girl. There’s nothing about the fun-loving girl who loves to go traveling, shopping, reading, watching TV shows and movies, and having a great time with family and friends. Because of the lack of social media on my part, I have no say in what people see me as.  

If I was a future employer looking me up, I would be somewhat pleased with the results of a hard working studious girl. But I might be a little weary since there’s nothing out there that shows I can connect to people and am social. If a was a fellow classmate or coworker I would definitely be quick to judge me as the shy nerdy girl. I find this really disturbing. I don’t want people to see me as just the shy nerdy girl (which I admit is a big part of who I am). There’s so much about me that people would just not know if they relied on my E-dentity. It scares me to think, what if in the end our E-dentities are all that people look at? Will I only be the nerdy girl in everyone’s eyes? Or, will someone take enough time to actually get to know me? I don’t know the answer to my questions but I’m going to choose to be optimistic and cling to the idea that my E-dentity doesn’t have to be my Identity.

Oppression: Forever and Always

Vampires, werewolves, witches, hybrids, and...New Orleans? For anyone addicted to CW’s show The Originals (a fan demanded spinoff of the hit show The Vampire Diaries), like me, hearing all those supernatural creatures in one sentence causes major stress. This new but exciting and hot show focuses on the original family of vampires and their struggle to take back what once was theirs and keep their family together. With a thousand years behind them, the originals have many problems, enemies, and friends to keep up with, not to mention their own family members that after so long can’t stand each other anymore, but still want to hold on to their family bond. How could a show about the supernatural be oppressive? Here’s some thoughts:

1. Exploitation: In the city of New Orleans, power means everything. If the vampires are in charge of the Quarter (the part of the city where all supernatural beings are able to live without bothering the unaware humans next door), then the witches and werewolves are under their control and do whatever the vampires ask. In the beginning of the show, Marcel (the vampire king of the Quarter) terrorizes the witches to not practice magic and live to serve the wants of the vampires. They are not allowed to do anything witchy unless Marcel allows it. And the consequences of breaking the rules are extremely harsh and most likely lead to death. While watching this show, tyranny becomes very apparent and somewhat promoted. Whoever holds the power calls the shots. In a sense, this show seems to be teaching viewers that if one has power or status it’s okay to use it to exploit the people below you.
2. Marginalization: Throughout the show, the role of women is tricky to pinpoint. While there are very strong female leads and a lot of girl power, there are some parts where women are looked down upon. For example take the role of the witches. In the show, the witches are the bad guys (or girls in this case). They are the enemy plotting against everyone. But, every time they come up with a plan, it doesn’t always work and the witches become dependent on another character or characters (usually a male) to help them out. Like the whole plan to use Klaus( the original hybrid, a werewolf plus vampire) as their protector against the ruling vampire Marcel and his whole vampire gang. The witches are dependent on Klaus’s protection, even though they have to blackmail him to help them. Though witches are the oldest and most powerful supernatural beings in history, they are not seen as a threat to the vampires in control and are living on the protection of an untrusted character. The witches are seen as no threat and not important. Even though witches and vampires aren’t real, if you take the message from the role of the witches and apply to today’s real world, there are many similarities. For example, is it really a coincidence that there are no warlocks in the show while the witches have no power? Maybe, or maybe not? But one could see how many people may take the witches having no power and being dependent as a way to marginalize women.  
3. Cultural Imperialism: While many people take one look at a T.V. show about supernatural beings and dismiss it as a waste of time, many others live off the creativity and imagination of such unreal beings. And as one can notice by looking at the popular movies and books of this time, supernatural themes are rising in popularity. So, it might be important to pay attention to what kind of ideas and standards these characters are promoting. Take the use of violence. In all supernatural media the use of supernatural strength it very prevalent and The Originals is no exception. The blood and gore in this show is unfathomable. But viewers find themselves getting used seeing snapping necks and ripping hearts out of chests and soon it doesn’t bother them as much. How is it socially acceptable to get people so used to such terrible violence that it soon provokes no negative reactions. Becoming so desensitized to violence may be why we as people today are able to detach ourselves from the horrible violence going around the world to a point where we don’t even talk about it anymore.

Overall, though The Originals, by far is one of my favorite shows to watch and does have a lot of thought provoking moments about the importance of family, the show also seems to contribute to a new kind of oppression. A kind of oppression that seems to show how oppression in never ending and is always here. Forever and always.
Picture: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/the-originals/images/36025099/title/originals-wallpaper

The Fire of the Feminist Movement

http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/get-angry-and-smash-patriarchy-1/

As a radical feminist, Shulamith Firestone, became the fire to the feminist movement. She had very extreme and strong beliefs that she stuck to, never budging for anyone. Though some of her ideas are aligned with the type of feminism I support, her idea about the elimination of sex distinction from our culture doesn’t sit well for me. I just don’t see how that would ever be possible when your type of sex runs through racial, social, and class differences.

Firestone didn’t just want to bring equality for women in the business area or in politics, she wanted to uproot how societies have been founded for centuries. She wanted to get rid of the patriarchal system once and for all. Though I do have to agree there are some faults with the patriarchal system that does at times lead to women oppression, I don’t see how it would ever be possible to get rid of it. Since, gender does not separate between class, religion, race, and so on, I believe it would be too big of a change that would have many unseen effects. For example, in third-world countries, women are taking a different stance on feminism. Because of their financial struggles and their social standings, women in third world countries are asking for social equality and representation in government. If they would try to uproot the bases of their society and culture, it would lead too many for issues that they might not be able to fix, because they do not have all the resources and stability to fix them.
So, I guess my main problem with Firestone is that she took what feminism meant to her and applied it to all other women, not realizing that for others her type of feminism just wouldn’t work. But now reflecting on my own thoughts and experiences, I realize that Firestone does have a point. She’s really just talking about how degrading our culture is to women, and she wanted to change that. I can see her point in many places in our culture today, like the role of women in advertisements. Also, Firestone grew up in a different time as me. Her life was spent in a time where no one was really having any conversation about feminism, while nowadays the conversation about feminism is everywhere. Plus, back then women weren’t allowed to to do half as much as they are allowed to do today. Today, even though there are still inequalities, women get college education and are apart of the workforce. We even have stay-at-home dads instead of stay-at-home moms. Back then, during Firestone’s time, these things were unheard of, just a dream many feminists tried to catch. 

Overall, though I do not agree with some of Firestone’s ideas, it is because of her fire, courage, strength, and determination that we are having open discussions about feminism. It is because of her that I am able to attend college without disapproval from the opposite gender. It is because of her that women across America, and the world, are able to get a job without too much worry. Without her the feminist movement would not have went as far as it did, and for that much I am wrong to judge Firestone based on experiences and a background unknown to me.

The Struggles of a Hijabi

 Have you ever wondered what types of struggles a Muslim girl faces? A Hijabi is a term for a Muslim girl who wears the Hijab, a covering (usually a scarf) around her head that hides her hair, neck, and chest. The Hijab is a known symbol for a Muslim girl and Muslims girls are required to wear it according to Islam. The Hijab of course doesn't stop at the head either, it spreads to one's character and the rest of one's body. Being a Hijabi brings about its own set of struggles and here seven of them. Being a Hijabi myself for eight years, I gave some of my opinions on how to face these struggles.

1. Bad Hijab Days

    I always get the comment “Omg, you’re so lucky, you never have bad hair days!”. Though i might not have bad hair days, there is such a thing as a bad hijab day. When you’re fifty pins don’t stay in, and your hair keeps sneaking rebelliously out the back, or the front, or the side, it’s a bad hijab day. The worst is when your hijab is made of a slippery material, so it just decides to fall off whenever it feels like it. A simple solution though is to wear under pieces that are of a cotton material so that the scarf sticks and doesn’t slip off. Also, wearing more than one pin can also help.

2. Shopping

    The hijab doesn’t stop at the scarf on one’s head, it extends to modesty in character and dress. So shopping can become a bit of a problem. Imagine yourself in this situation: You’re a hijabi, searching for a nice long shirt, that’s full sleeves, and not too tight, preferably in a style and color that you like. You’ve been at the mall all day searching for this dream shirt. Just when you’re about to give up hope, after having looked through short sleeves and crop tops, you found a really nice long shirt. You pick it up excited and turn it around to see that there's no back! This is only one examples of the many shopping struggles a Muslim girl can face. But there's a easy solution, just keep shopping. You'll find something you like eventually. And if that doesn't work, buying something you like and then sewing it to fit Islamic requirements is an easy fix.

3. The Muslim stereotype

    Like every Muslim, the “Muslim stereotype” follows a Hijabi around. From being called a terrorist to being called a towel-head, Hijabis have serious struggles to face. These taunts come from all people, including less religious Muslims, who don’t understand why a Muslim girl should wear a Hijab and show that she is a Muslim. But the simplest way to go around these taunts is to ignore them. Stick to your faith. Like any other person who is bullied is supposed to do, just ignore the insults and keep good character, even to the worst of people.

4. The Oppressed girl stereotype

    Another stereotype that comes with wearing a Hijab, is the oppressed girl. This stereotype is painted in the minds of people who are above insulting and bullying Muslims, but just don’t understand the religion and think that all Muslim girls are forced to wear Hijabs by their parents. These people, though they mean well, will give you a piety look to show you that though they might not understand what you are going through, they are there to support you. Though I will admit that there are some girls who are forced, the majority of Muslim girls are not forced to wear their Hijabs, just like Islam dictates. A Muslim girl should be allowed to choose to wear her Hijab, not forced to wear it. The easiest way to get people to stop thinking that you are oppressed by your religion and family, is to educate people about your choice to wear the Hijab. Also, show that you are proud to wear your Hijab, don’t shy away from it.

5. Where are you from?

    Seeing my Hijab, people just assume that I don’t speak English and many times they just stare at me waiting trying to figure out how to communicate with me. Though I do sometimes enjoy people’s confusion (don’t tell me you wouldn’t either), at times it can get a little irritating when people look at you like you’re a foreigner in your own country. Though I do understand why people would be hesitant to talking to me in English the first time they meet me, my advice is just go for it, it’s more likely that a Hijabi will talk back to you in English than another language. English is taught around the world and many people who move to the U.S. learn English before doing anything else. As for the Hijabis out there, try to speak first to clear the confusion before any awkwardness can occur.

6. Questions

    I love when people ask me questions about my Hijab and religion. Questions give me a chance to explain to people and help them understand Islam from a Muslim’s perspective and not the media’s. But sometimes the questions can get a little ridiculous. “Do you shower with it on?” “Are you bald?” “What color is your hair?” I have come across these questions and many more, many times. Though I don’t mind answering them, sometimes if people just thought before they spoke, they wouldn’t have to ask these simple questions in the first place. No, I don’t shower with my Hijab on, just like people don’t shower with their clothes on. I am not bald and my hair is still the same color as my eyebrows. Again, I really don’t mind answering any kind of question, but sometimes it would be nice if people would think before asking questions and making me feel like I’m a freak that needs to be asked these simple questions. At the same time, Hijabis do not be rude to people who asks questions, just answer them. People really do not have any idea about our religion and the way we live and it takes a lot of courage to ask a question. Answer any question that comes your way in the best of your character.

7. People acting awkward

    Have you ever been in the situation where you know that the person sitting next to you wants to say something, but every time he/she gets the courage and turns around to face you, his/her courage is squashed and he/she turns back around? Well I’ve been in those situations plenty of times. It comes to down to people being shy around me because they are afraid to offend me if they say something or ask a question. With my shyness and their fear of offending me, we create an awkward situation. The best way to avoid awkward situations is for me to more friendly and talk first, so other people become less afraid to say something. Also, for people who are afraid to say something, just start with a simple question, a smile, or just a “hey!” would be fine. I promise most Hijabis are friendly and won’t bite. Whether you're a Hijabi yourself, or someone who isn't a Muslim at all, these few suggestions I hope will help you in any way possible.

So, the next time you find yourself having a bad Hijab day or you find yourself next to a Hijabi having a bad Hijab day, you are now equipped with the information to know what to do next.
Photos:
http://citrastyle.com/muslimfashionblog/bad-hijab-days-and-how-to-tame-them/
http://notyourtypicalshakira1.wordpress.com/category/common-misconceptions-of-hijab/
http://www.enargywebzine.eu/spip.php?article254
https://audioboom.com/boos/936878-i-speak-for-myself-scottish-muslim-woman-challenge-stereotypes
http://zaraweir.wordpress.com/
http://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxMi0wZDUzN2FhNjMzMWU2Njky

What do you listen to you?

All around the world, music is an argument. From old classics to edm trance songs, music is used as a way to express one’s inner self and the music you listen to can say a lot about you and your interests. Music is used to express different emotions and thoughts. It is used to get in touch to people’s inner selves. And the best thing about music is that it can be used in so many different ways. It can be used to reflect on one’s self, actions, and life. Or it can be a way to shut out the world and get lost in the music. Personally, I like the second option better. After a long day, it’s nice to just lay down on my bed, music blaring, and forget about the world. At the same time, music is a way to connect to others. People connect over their favorite bands or types of music, and going to concerts with friends is great way to spend time together. There are many blogs and sites dedicated to fandoms celebrating and connecting over their shared interests.

The type of music you listen to is an argument. It is the way you chose to view the world. The music you listen to plays on your emotions in a way that’s different than to someone else. That is the beauty of music. Anyone can have whatever view they want, nothing is right or wrong. Whether you chose to shut the world off or reflect on the world, music has a way of shaping your views. That’s why music is used in advertisements, movies, etc. Music is a way to hook people in. An ad showing a cool new product with upbeat music is far more effective at getting you to buy the product, than an ad filled with statistics and reviews about the product with boring or no music. Whatever music you chose to listen to, music always has the effect of leaving you with a feeling or putting you in a mood. For example, after listening to a song about a terrible breakup, you tend to feel sad, while after listening to a song about letting go and having a good time with friends, you tend to feel happy and excited, ready to go out and have a good time. Everyone has their own playlists of songs that can put you in a certain mood. Athletes have their perfect playlist that they listen to before a game, while a playlist of Adele songs is sure to put you in a completely different mood. The songs you listen to is a way for you to express yourself about the way you feel. At the same time, music has a way of pulling you in and effecting you in a way that changes your mood.

So, the next time you grab your headphones, think about what argument you’re making. What are you listening to?