Sara's Blog

2012....Graduation Year

Hello my lovely followers!

I hope that all of you had a fantastic holiday season and that your New Year's resolutions are underway and steadfast. 

So, last you heard from me, I was in Indochina learning about the way history is ever-present and continues to shape cultures long after its event/change/etc. I'm hoping that in the upcoming weeks I will begin writing more about my abroad experiences, but for now, I find myself fixated on what's to come.

Being a senior is fantastic, yes! However, many of us have been faced with the question of, "so what are you doing next?" Generally, I have never faltered at such a question because I'm a planner. Now, I'm finding myself unsure of what lies ahead. I have applied to clinical psychology Ph.D. programs all over the nation, but this pursuit is one of the most difficult graduate paths and acceptance rates are exceedingly low. I've tried to remain a positive-realist through this process but am struggling to really begin pursuing back-up plans because I know what I want is the Ph.D.. 

Many DU seniors are facing similar conundrums in which we are THRILLED to be 5 months from graduation, yet anxious as can be. One of my dearest friends wanted to go into the Peace Corps, and is now finding herself questioning if that is indeed the right path for her. Other students are struggling financially and grad school is not an option. I also had  a close friend who graduated from college with a PoliSci degree and is now in the Army. There are the lucky handful of students who have a job waiting for them upon graduation and I could not be happier for them! 

Just know that when you're facing a crossroad or need to make a decision that determines your future, don't do so lightly. Make a choice that feels instinctually right with you because we as humans have developed in such a manner that our instincts have become more honed. Take advantage of this. 

On a different note, I did receive an incredible honor this month. By my mentor Danny McIntosh, I was recommended to be the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Student Spotlight. If you would like to read more, please click on the link below:
http://www.du.edu/ahss/resources-students/spotlight.html   

 

***As always, feel free to use me as a resource! 

Sobering Experiences in Vietnam

Hello Lovely Followers!

So I have been in Indochina for a little less than a week now! My first visit was to Cambodia (likely my next post) and now I'm in Vietnam and wanted to share a sobering day with you. As high schoolers, many of us learned about the US-Vietnam war; however, being here, and seeing the tunnels and memorial contextually is incomparable to how we learned (books, powerpoints, etc.). As many of you know, I'm a strong believer in figuratively trying on someone else's shoes for a greater comprehension. And that is what today was. An American girl, born into a military family, wanting to learn about the war and see the remnants from the Vietnamese standpoint. 

Events/Facts from today:
1. Went to Co Chi tunnels to see where the guerillas hid and functioned during the Vietnam War
     *This was the most amazing tunnel system and I found myself floored by the creativity of the Vietnamese people. Some of the traps they used were so deathening that I couldn't help but think of all the people who died in them or trying to be rescued from them. The entries to the tunnel system itself were quite intriguing because the holes were so small that one's body must be fully extended to get in or out. This was the Vietnamese people using their typical body-size to their advantage and since the tunnels were crafted so deep underground with a clay-like surface, even a bull-dozer couldn't collapse them. 

2. Went to see a lacquer art demonstration and somehow ended up buy too much of the store
       *Lacquer is a traditional Vietnamese art that consists of a lengthy process to embed an artistic varnish on a piece of wood, clay or bamboo. This work is completely stunning and watching parts of it be hand-done sent me over the moon because I deeply appreciate the value of hand made pieces of work. 
      *Examples: https://www.google.com/search?gcx=c&q=laquer&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=_fbhTtz_DamjiAfB2Ny2BQ&biw=1378&bih=699&sei=D_fhTrmLCeeSiQeppay2BQ

3. Went to the War Remnants Museum 
      *I can't really describe my feeling towards this. For a person who studies genocides and wants to go into the trauma field, I was confused as to why I had a weak stomach in this exhibit. Warfare is always something that's been challenging for me to grasp even though I come from a military family and my Grandpa Quay was a commander of a helicopter squadron in the Vietnam War and had three separate incidents he was lucky to survive. I think what really put my stomach in knots was seeing the after-effects of Agent Orange on children. The agent lead to more of biological warfare when considering the impacts it had for generations after the war. Many children of parents exposed to Agent Orange were born with severe birth defects, most of which left them bedridden or subject to a short life. I've known this about Agent Orange for as long as I can remember, but seeing photos of the deformed children broke my heart. For the first time since the Holocaust Museum, I felt my stomach churn, my eyes fill a quarter way with tears, and my heart ache. It was just so sobering. 

 

Photos from today:

Demonstration of how to enter & exit the tunnels 

The tunnel. For scale, my shoe size is 6.5 in women's 

One of the traps

Me going through the tunnels

Life after college

College affords us the opportunity to create our own path....and there are HUNDREDS we could take. Now that I'm in my senior year, I've been plagued with the question, "what are you doing when you graduate?" This is a question that every senior will inevitably experience and the frequency increases rapidly as graduation draws closer.

For me, I've been working towards a Ph.D. in clinical psychology; thus, I have been trying to breathe under a pile of applications. Those of you who are also applying to competitive programs (grad or undergrad), try not to look at the acceptance rates. Doing so will only lead you to feel as if Mt. Everest is a hill. Trust in what you have done thus far and if you still have time, know that work on the forefront always pays off in the long run. 

After college, many people apply to graduate programs because having that extra degree makes an individual more competitive in the job market. However, it is important to remember that grad school is NOT the ONLY "next step." There are majors or career paths that do not mandate a degree was a BA/BS and if that's the case, you will find yourself being thrown into the real world faster than expected. Through all of this, the only thing that has been keeping me sane is confidence in the work I do, knowing that a Ph.D. is worth fighting sleep for, and having people who believe in me to unwavering lengths. 

I do have A LOT of friends who plan on taking a year or two off and just traveling or going into the Peace Corps. This is a wonderful option if this is in line with your personality and I would suggest looking into these options in advance. Part of the reason for this is because there seems to be an application process with almost every "NEXT STEP" post-college and it is important to start considering who you will elect to have as letter writers, how you could add to a program, and what you will gain from this experience. 

If you ever feel overwhelmed, hit the gym to get some endorphins and make sure you vent to friends…these both help.

As a fellow “next-stepper,” I open my e-mail and blog to anyone who needs an extra ear or alliance through this process.

Good luck! Education is ABSOLUTELY worth it!

 

 

Intellect Set on Fire

My dearest followers, my apologies for the long delay in posting, I have been taking care of some personal issues and took a little leave. But now, I am back and ready to entertain you with the collegiate struggles and elations! 

The most recent and exciting of events was my attendance of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Convention in Baltimore the week of the 2nd. I attended the convention as a "student affiliate" meaning that I am a member of the society on a student level (yay for discount membership prices!).

This convention was particularly important to me because my goal is to obtain a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and do work with a trafficking or traumatized population. Attending this event gave me the opportunity not only to learn more about the field as a whole, but to meet potential Ph.D. mentors that I'm currently applying to work with. 

Symposia, panal, and keynotes took place in multiple rooms from 8:00am-6:00pm for three days. One of the challenges with conferences is selecting which presentation or panal to attend; and this is QUITE the task when you are immersed in a conference tailed to your speciality or interests. My selection process was based on potential mentors and then relatability to my interests. For those of you interested in conferencing, I would highly recommend attending lectures with content you're unfamiliar with because this is how you expand that wonderful mind of yours! 

To take advantage of conference opportunities, consider writing a grant for student travel!
http://www.du.edu/urc/StudentScholarTravelFund.html 

While at ISTSS, I did meet my #1 and #2 potential mentors! I did this find to be an empowering experience; there I was standing across from my "intellectual crushes" having conversations about treatment models, emotion flexibility, and types of betrayal. This was a moment when I realized that I have a solid foundation in my field and I do have something to add. This is intellect on fire!

We attend college to be faced with the best and worst times of our lives. While you're here, you will realize that pressure comes at you from every angle and it's how you sculpt it that makes you an academic artist!  

 

Here is the link to the 27th Annual Convention: http://www.istss.org/Home1.htm 
---you can download the program, see keynote speakers, and get a feel for what it is like!

Distorted Perceptions & Created Realities

Our lives are surrounded by facets of media that function as a "reality," but what is being created and how are we victims of our own entrapment?

Currently, I'm taking a sociology course titled "Crime and the Media," which takes a deeper look on the bi-directional relationship of the two. This class is an more scientific approach to how we construct our worlds and how media constructs our world-views. Think about it, do you read the news? What are your news sources? Do you watch TV? What do you watch? Do you play video games? What games do you play? What apps do you own? How do you use your e-mail?

Technology has become an intergral part of life functioning in the Western world, yet it continues to challenge our depth of thought. Some of us passively watch the news without thinking critically about our sources and how the media targets us. Media no longer is concerned with heterogeneity in its presentation and articles because the marginalized outcome or sources has led media to focus on a specific population and to target their interests. Think about all the different ways to stay informed. How does that differ across people? Does it differ along demographic lines? Does it shape relationships?

I've thought about this distribution of information quite a bit because it leads to a divison among people, but a unity among groups. So how does a paradox such as this effect something as large as globalization? Could it possibly disunite international realtions because of homogeneity of groups and their resources?

College is about thought. If action follows great. If not: "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle

Breaks are a mandate, but school gets us to where we want to be!

As summer is winding to an end, I've been discussing the value of breaks with my dearest friends. Our conclusion: For those immersed in chaotic schedules and back to back obligations, breaks are a mandate. Even for those who may not be in other activities outside of class, it is imperative to have some distance for introspection, relaxation, and doing nothing.

Because of a busy upcoming year (senior year, labs, internship, Ph.D. applications, & work), I was unable to travel internationally this summer or really take a long break; however, I did take one! As some of you may have previously read, I went to the APA (American Psychological Association) convention in DC and almost directly after that, I went to Maine to celebrate my great aunt’s 100^th birthday!

It was the event of a 100^th birthday that shook my reality in such a way I could only see the beauty in the fragility of life and the desire to live for more and never be satisfied with mediocrity. So what does this mean?

For me, it means doing everything I can in the present to provide my future with the best options and possibilities that I can possibly obtain. This means that going into my senior year, I need to keep focusing on classes, learn more in research labs, eat right, exercise, and enjoy time with those I care about!

As fall quarter rapidly approaches, I have some links that may be a good reference throughout the quarter. Work hard to play hard and follow your goals. Good luck!

 

Stress-Reducing Foods & Why:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/slideshow-diet-for-stress-management

Make stress productive:
http://www.apa.org/research/action/lemon.aspx

Know you can rock that exam:
http://www.apa.org/research/action/smarter.aspx

Fight fatigue...it always happens in college:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/slideshow-causes-of-fatigue-and-how-fight-it
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/slideshow-sleep-foods

 

 

2011 APA Convention in DC. Met Zimbardo!

For those of you who are looking to pursue the field of psychology, this is the post for you!

This past week, I've been in Washington DC with two of my close friends attending the American Psychological Association Annual Convention (http://www.apa.org/convention/). On the first day, I presented my research on the breakdown of a pride display and then spent the rest of the week learning from great minds, visiting the sites, meeting new people, and catching up with old friends. 

This is now the second psychological convention I have attended and presented research at, something I would highly recommend to everyone! Even if you're not presenting at a conference of interest, I still suggest going because the knowledge base you can obtain in just a few days is incredible! Conferences, at least for psychology, are where we as psychologists (or psychologists in training) learn the most current and hot research as well as have the opportunity to collaborate and expand network bases. 

Though I thoroughly enjoyed the conference, I find it imperative to list my top three moments:

1. Met Philip ZImbardo and opened communication to apply as a researcher for him upon graduation
This name is most notoriously associated with the Stanford Prison Experiment, a piece of psychological research that has taught us many lessons of human nature and been viewed as one of the most unethical experiments ever conducted (see link for info).
Prior to meeting Zimbardo, I did not have respect for him as a person because I viewed him as a man with spotty ethics because I could never see how a researcher could put people through such a traumatic study and just watch! However, after hearing Phil speak, I quickly became a fan. Not only did he acknowledge his wrongful actions, he had the experiment idea passed through several committees, and has pursued work to help others understand the evils of human nature and find (and makes known) the joys of heroism. 
(Zimmy: http://www.zimbardo.com/)
(Heroic Imagination project: http://heroicimagination.ning.com/)
(Stanford prison experiment: http://www.prisonexp.org/) 

 

2. Was offered an opportunity to come to Boston in the next year and be trained to work with sex trafficked victims through the organization My Life, My Choice.
For those of you that know my end goal, you will recall that I want to work with sex trafficked victims to help them fight their trauma and combat human trafficking on the whole. While at the convention, I met survival mentor Audrey Porter, the Assistant Director and the Coordinator of Survivor Services of The My Life My Choice Project.
I lingered around after her symposium to thank her for standing up for millions and directly helping hundreds of trafficked victims. She asked how I became involved with combatting trafficking and upon hearing how long I've been passionate, she hugged me and asked me to e-mail her and come to Boston to be trained with clinical psychologists on how to treat victims of sex trafficking. This is why I am pursuing a Ph.D., so this opportunity is one that I'm sure will be an integral part component to my psychology career path.  
(http://www.jri.org/mylife/)  

3. Learning more about psychology as a whole! 

Philip Zimbardo (Stanford Prison Experiment) and Claude Steele (Provost of Columbia U.)

 
Victoria and I with Zimbardo!

Talking with Zimbardo about being a research assistant with him after graduation from DU...WOW! The possibility of working with THE psychology celebrity of research, FANTASTIC!!!!!

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

So conferences are fantastic; however, when with great friends, it is a mandate to experience at least a small part of the town in which the convention is held!

For starters, I had two fabulous friends fly all the way to DC with me to be my support system and conference with me (talk about great friends)! Victoria, Jayne, and I would get in he routine of highlighting all posters, symposia, and film we wanted to see in our convention book the night prior, and then contemplate how to utilize our free time in DC. 
Half of the conference we spent in the convention center almost all day, but we stole away at night. We would visit the sites, watch people (surprise), and just enjoy a long relaxing dinner (something none of us do when at DU). Though not a typical vacation, the three of us networked, learned a great deal of information, and had a blast being together...I can't imagine a better week!  

The ladies and I out on the town 

 Yes, we are part of the Kennedy Family 

Making an imperative address to the people!

 

Laughing with Abe!

 

 

As always, my blog is open and I would love to be a resource for you. Feel free to comment or ask questions (about psych, DU, college in general, etc.) and I will get back to you within a week! 

 

Colorado: The Fittest State

In my completely bias opinion, Colorado is one of the best states to spend a summer; especially if you love the outdoors!

As many of you may have heard, Denver is the “Mile High City” because we stand at 5,280 feet in elevation. And this is just the capital; Mount Elbert, our tallest mountain, stands at 14,440 feet. Given the beauty and enticing nature of the Rocky Mountains, a lot of visitors and locals spend their weekends hiking 14ners (http://14ers.com/), camping (http://www.tripleblaze.com/best/?c=60), off-roading, ATVing, rafting, kayaking, and just enjoying the beautiful parks.

To find out more about CO getaways and activities, visit: http://www.coloradodirectory.com/Tents/TentSearch.html      

So do all these fabulous ranges equate to healthy living?

Well, Colorado has been rated the thinnest and most fit states in the United States (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/29/fittest-states-in-the-cou_n_630079.html#s108055&title=10_New_Jersey). We also have the lowest obesity percent making Coloradans as a whole, a healthy bunch (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/07/us-usa-obesity-idUSTRE7663JD20110707)! However, even with all of these statistics, Colorado does not even make the Top 10 for healthiest states, a statistic I still find shocking (http://www.gazette.com/articles/colorado-109186-healthiest-state.html). The United Health Foundation believes that the lower ranking of the overall state health can be attributed to lower immunization and health insurance rates of the people (http://www.americashealthrankings.org/yearcompare/2009/2010/CO.aspx).

At DU, we require students to have some form of health insurance as a means of protecting the students from possible health problems, and bills that may occur during they’re time here. There are of course many precautionary steps one can take to stay healthy when living in a high altitude:

1. Remember 8x8 (drink 8 glasses of 8 ounces a day). This will keep you hydrated. Be weary of soda, energy drinks, and coffee, these can all contribute to dehydration.
2. Wash your hands! This seems like such a simple thing; however, a good hygiene can help fight little bugs going around campus or a city
3. Work out! A healthy heart and healthy mind work in tandem. A cautionary note, if you do come from a lower elevation, don’t expect to be able to do your normal work-out right away. It is not a reflection of your fitness, your body just is not yet adapted to high altitude.
4. Eat a balanced diet! This still includes sweets! Having a healthy diet will help your body be better prepared for possible bugs. Also, try to avoid snacking; it can lead to unwanted weight gain
5. Get sleep! Yes, there is a bit of irony in this coming from myself, but adequate sleep can alter how you look, think, and feel in a positive way. What’s better than that?!  
   
   

Checkout other statistics on CO: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08000.html  

Check out DU’s Health Center: http://www.du.edu/duhealth/index.html

Interested in Peer Education: http://www.du.edu/duhealth/duped/

 

As always, feel free to use me as a resource!

 

 

Mental consumption and translation of an "attractive" body image

It should not come as a huge surprise that those exposed to Western media have a tendency to be self-critical of certain parts of their body or fixate on appearance when mind and personality is really what counts.

Lisa Quast, a Forbes blogger, recently made a blog post pertaining to a woman's body size and income. This post was centered on a 2010 Applied Psychology Journal article which found that women who are thinner tend to make more money. Reading both the article and the blog post made me cringe. How did we as a society let this happen?

There is absolutely no empirically supported studying indicating that an individual’s weight and mental competency are related. So why do the thin seem to win? It is my belief that much of this controversy is rooted in the power of the media and more specifically, those who control it. For women especially, we have had felt a societal pressure to succumb to what others view as the “ideal” body type. The most daunting component of this equation is that those determine and perpetuate the “ideal” type of those who struggle to fight it…women. So once again, I ask why.

Is this for men? Or is it for women? Are we pressuring ourselves to fit into smaller size jeans with the hopes that someone will compliment us on how thin/small we look? And whose compliments are held in a higher regard, men or women? Of course sexual orientation plays a moderating role, yet even still, women generally dress well for other women (this is all observational inference). So why don’t we start holding ourselves to a higher standard?

But let’s say women do try to stay thin for men. A 2003 study indicated that women view thinner women as an ideal body type and normal AND HEALTHY weighted women as a normal/chubby-unattractive body type. Men however, rated the same figures differently. They categorized the normal weight types as MORE attractive and the thinner as LESS attractive. So women, it is time to step up!

We should not be letting our worth be determined by our body size, type, or weight. We define our own worth and should live up to our own, reasonable & healthy, ideals. I fear if we do not, future generations will be stuck in this conundrum of choosing their appearance of their mind...and what will that do to society?

 

Quast’s blog: http://blogs.forbes.com/lisaquast/2011/06/06/can-being-thin-actually-translate-into-a-bigger-paycheck-for-women/

Applied Psychology article (thin win): http://www.timothy-judge.com/Judge%20and%20Cable%20%28JAP%202010%29.pdf

Journal of General Psychology (body type preference): http://www.csulb.edu/~djorgens/lokken.pdf

 

National Alcohol Screening Day

 

So what is this all about?

For over five years, the HCC and DU Peer Educators has been doing National Alcohol Screening Day.
As the name suggests, this is a national event in which individuals are screened to see if their drinking is in danger zones such as dependence or abuse. This is really more of an awareness program to help people understand how their drinking measures up to the standard and to help those that may be heading into an unsafe direction.

Why at DU?

Like almost every college campus, our students do drink alcohol. Some are of age and others are not, it is a personal choice and we just want to make sure that whatever students elect to do, they do so safely. We want our students and peers to remain healthy, remain safe, and remain alive. With all the freedom the college brings, some students get a little carried away and it is reflected in their alcohol consumption levels. 
So, the event at DU consists of free root beer floats as a means to entice students. In order for the students to get a free float, they need ot fill out a survey pertaining to their drinking habits and meet with a counselor to discuss if their patterns. If their number reaches a danger zone, the counselor may ask if they would like to meet again in a few weeks to see how their regulation is going. DU Peer Educators offers informative games that make students aware of the concentration of alcohol in certain drinks, the proper amount of each drink, and techniques to be safe and not drink. Moreover, we hand out Blood Alcohol Content cards and six signs of alcohol poisoning cards to help students have the resources to be safe.

In my opinion, this is one of our biggest events of the year for a reason...we help our students stay safe and knowledgable. 

If you have any further questions, just email me!