Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Working in Teams
One of the most profound experiences of this internship has been the ability to work in teams and groups. Going through school and college, I absolutely hated group work. Having to rely on others to do their fair share (which often didn't happen), arrange meeting times, and oftentimes create/present a presentation always created more headaches than it seemed to be worth. However, throughout my internship, I have had the chance to work with others on quite a few different projects and this has completely changed my outlook on this type of work. I have found that everyone is taking the projects seriously and actually feels some sort of investment in the project at hand. Suddenly, everyone is doing their share of work and it is actually hard for me to keep up at times. I am a person that very much relies on human interaction and talking with people, but group project environment were absolutely awful. But now, after working with others who are committed to a cause and truly get excited about what they are doing because it means something to them, and isn't just a grade, has given me a lot more appreciation and excitement for working in groups and teams in the future. I just hope moving forward with whatever path I choose that I continue to work with people who are doing the job because it means more to them than just a paycheck. Only time will tell.
Sex/Human Trafficking
One of the areas I have had some experience with in my research for the CEMHS is sex/human trafficking. In addition, I have had the opportunity to use this as a foundation for my PAF 400 capstone project. Going into this semester, I had very little experience with this topic, and to be quite frank, the knowledge of how "real" of a problem this is.
Through my research this semester, I have found that there is actually very little research on this subject, and many people fail to see this as a real problem in their communities. This is a problem. Initially, I wanted to look at more in-depth issues like "who" was involved, both victims and the traffickers. Unfortunately, there just is not much research because there is a problem with our perception and awareness of human trafficking as a society.
When it comes to awareness of human trafficking, we often equate this with the dramatic movie scenes depicting excessively slave-like conditions. However, this is not normally the case. In addition, we often consider sex trafficking to be a bigger and more egregious problem than human trafficking. While sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking, it often leads us to only think of that as a problem, and neglect the other, often more abundant, cases. For instance, forced labor is a very real problem; however, we will often overlook this as an issue because the labor itself may not be illegal, even though the people working in those legal conditions may be working against their own will.
Another aspect I looked into regarding this issue is the resources that are available for those that are victims or may see the signs of a victim in their communities. Comparatively, to other more well-known problems, there are not many. This is also a result of a lack of awareness. If there is not a greater awareness to the issue, then people will be slow to provide resources. As awareness increases, then resources increase, which will also continue to increase awareness. An increase in one leads to an increase in another, but a decrease in one idea can also lead to a decrease in another.
Most of us are unaware that sex/human trafficking can occur right here in the United States, in our own cities and our own communities. We often think of this is an issue that occurs in third-world countries, but that is definitely not the case. There needs to be an increase in the awareness of human trafficking and a willingness to admit that it could be happening right in front of our own eyes. Until this happens, there will continue to be a lack of resources and overall inability to address this issue on a greater scale.
Through my research this semester, I have found that there is actually very little research on this subject, and many people fail to see this as a real problem in their communities. This is a problem. Initially, I wanted to look at more in-depth issues like "who" was involved, both victims and the traffickers. Unfortunately, there just is not much research because there is a problem with our perception and awareness of human trafficking as a society.
When it comes to awareness of human trafficking, we often equate this with the dramatic movie scenes depicting excessively slave-like conditions. However, this is not normally the case. In addition, we often consider sex trafficking to be a bigger and more egregious problem than human trafficking. While sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking, it often leads us to only think of that as a problem, and neglect the other, often more abundant, cases. For instance, forced labor is a very real problem; however, we will often overlook this as an issue because the labor itself may not be illegal, even though the people working in those legal conditions may be working against their own will.
Another aspect I looked into regarding this issue is the resources that are available for those that are victims or may see the signs of a victim in their communities. Comparatively, to other more well-known problems, there are not many. This is also a result of a lack of awareness. If there is not a greater awareness to the issue, then people will be slow to provide resources. As awareness increases, then resources increase, which will also continue to increase awareness. An increase in one leads to an increase in another, but a decrease in one idea can also lead to a decrease in another.
Most of us are unaware that sex/human trafficking can occur right here in the United States, in our own cities and our own communities. We often think of this is an issue that occurs in third-world countries, but that is definitely not the case. There needs to be an increase in the awareness of human trafficking and a willingness to admit that it could be happening right in front of our own eyes. Until this happens, there will continue to be a lack of resources and overall inability to address this issue on a greater scale.
Strengths of CEMHS
Working with the CEMHS for the semester has really given me the opportunity to see how a successful organization, specifically a research center, is run. One of the things I have noticed to be very beneficial is how the responsibilities are delegated. For instance, we have many different projects going on at a time, and while everyone is informed of the overall happenings in each project, the specifics of each project are being handled somewhat independently. This allows everyone to focus on their projects, and keeping everything moving forward without being too overwhelmed.
Another strength is communication. There is a constant flow of emails going around that keep everyone informed of everything going on and where we are at in each process. This allows people to focus on the goals, and also allows people to be aware of a networking connection they may be able to make if there is an opportunity to bring multiple projects together.
If I was in charge of an organization like this, I am not sure that there is much I would do differently. Obviously those in charge have many more years experience managing people than I do, and I think that they have found the most effective way to do this. It can be tough for them to constantly push others to move on projects and be proactive when they can, and do it in a very motivating way, which is something that has been accomplished. Everyone involved is invested, and that goes a long way to ensuring that everything is getting done.
Another strength is communication. There is a constant flow of emails going around that keep everyone informed of everything going on and where we are at in each process. This allows people to focus on the goals, and also allows people to be aware of a networking connection they may be able to make if there is an opportunity to bring multiple projects together.
If I was in charge of an organization like this, I am not sure that there is much I would do differently. Obviously those in charge have many more years experience managing people than I do, and I think that they have found the most effective way to do this. It can be tough for them to constantly push others to move on projects and be proactive when they can, and do it in a very motivating way, which is something that has been accomplished. Everyone involved is invested, and that goes a long way to ensuring that everything is getting done.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Fork Ahead?
One of my biggest struggles through my college career has been finding a major that I enjoy, and also makes me feel like I am accomplishing something that is fulfilling for me. As I have mentioned in a pervious blog post, I have changed my major 6 times, but only once while at ASU. While working in my internship, I was hoping that this would provide me with an overwhelming sense of "THIS IS WHAT I WAS MEANT TO DO FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!!!" but that hasn't quite occurred as planned.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the work that I am doing, but I have found myself thinking a lot about the "next steps". For instance, do I want to pursue a career within EM or HS...or both...or neither? While there are lots of similarities between the two fields and a lot of overlap, there are some distinct differences. I was hoping that my final semester, internship included, would provide a lot more clarity for me than it has thus far. I think I can admit that I am just unsure what the future has for me and this feeling is just because I do not know where I will be or what I will be doing in ten, or even five, years from now. I can see myself working in this field and making a difference, but I am also worried about actually enjoying the career that I will have and what I will be doing. As a result, I have been contemplating more and more the idea of grad school.
Those who know me know that I am decently well involved at ASU, especially within housing and working with the freshman students. I had the opportunity to serve as a Community Assistant (synonymous with Resident Assistant) for two years on the Downtown Phoenix Campus and I also teach a freshman ASU 101 class for the College of Public Service. More and more, I continue to find myself considering the idea of working full-time with students and the idea of empowering and enabling them to succeed in life. Ultimately, I do not know where I will be or what I will be doing in the coming months, and I can see two very advantageous paths to take in life, but I also see a fork approaching in the road where I may have to make a decision that I hope is the right one for me.
Now, don't get me wrong, I am enjoying the work that I am doing, but I have found myself thinking a lot about the "next steps". For instance, do I want to pursue a career within EM or HS...or both...or neither? While there are lots of similarities between the two fields and a lot of overlap, there are some distinct differences. I was hoping that my final semester, internship included, would provide a lot more clarity for me than it has thus far. I think I can admit that I am just unsure what the future has for me and this feeling is just because I do not know where I will be or what I will be doing in ten, or even five, years from now. I can see myself working in this field and making a difference, but I am also worried about actually enjoying the career that I will have and what I will be doing. As a result, I have been contemplating more and more the idea of grad school.
Those who know me know that I am decently well involved at ASU, especially within housing and working with the freshman students. I had the opportunity to serve as a Community Assistant (synonymous with Resident Assistant) for two years on the Downtown Phoenix Campus and I also teach a freshman ASU 101 class for the College of Public Service. More and more, I continue to find myself considering the idea of working full-time with students and the idea of empowering and enabling them to succeed in life. Ultimately, I do not know where I will be or what I will be doing in the coming months, and I can see two very advantageous paths to take in life, but I also see a fork approaching in the road where I may have to make a decision that I hope is the right one for me.
Public Service within CEMHS
It’s really easy to say that the Center for Emergency
Management and Homeland Security demonstrates public service because it is
housed within the College of Public Service and Community Solutions. But, what
is it about the CEMHS that allows us to have this impact?
Ultimately, we are working to research solutions for
anything and everything Emergency Management and Homeland Security related, and
the most effective way to implement these solutions for the betterment of our
communities. For example, looking into way in which to reduce the time it takes
for testing and identifying someone who may have an infectious disease, such as
Ebola, to ensure that they are less likely to infect others and also allow for
quicker response to aid them. Another instance is looking into way in which we
can improve the training time and efficiency for first responders and incident
command to ensure that they are the most efficient possible to minimize the
amount of damage to people and property. Not only are we looking at ways in
which this stuff can be accomplished, but also how WE could accomplish it and
what it would take for us to take the research we have gather and package it so
that we can utilize our new information. In the world of EM/HS there are so
many “what-ifs” and, as a result, there are many agencies and organizations
that would be needed to assist and aid in the efforts. As part of our public
service and community driven approach we continue to look into the most
effective ways to utilize various groups/agencies and create a cooperative plan
for all kinds of disaster situations, no matter the scope.
The Final Countdown
As the end of the semester draws more near with each passing moment, I am beginning to reflect a lot of my life at ASU and how these past 2.5 years have changed me. I cannot believe that I will be graduating in 4.5 weeks, considering I started my undergraduate college career 6 years ago. The challenges I have faced and the obstacles that I have overcome really make me realize how much I have grown and matured, especially after coming to ASU.
Leading into the "real world" I know that I am going to be facing many new challenges and obstacles that I haven't even remotely considered. It is a bit scary to think about all of the unknowns that are ahead. I can feel myself becoming more and more anxious with each day, but excitedly anxious. While taking a moment to reflect and realize all that I have been apart of, it makes me understand how and why things happened they way that they did. Initially, I never thought I would attend college out of state, especially coming somewhere like ASU, but it was the greatest decision that I have made thus far.
The opportunity to be part of the College of Public Service and Community Solutions, in the capacity that I have, has opened my eyes and given more than I ever could have imagined. As someone who changed their major 6 times (yes, 6...) I never initially thought that I would end up in EM/HS and how that would affect that person I have become. The people I have met, the organizations I have been involved with, and the opportunities, including my internship, have shown me a lot about myself and what makes me feel that I am living a successful life. To me, I measure my success by my ability and willingness to help others, and the College of Public Service has really shown me what that means.
Leading into the "real world" I know that I am going to be facing many new challenges and obstacles that I haven't even remotely considered. It is a bit scary to think about all of the unknowns that are ahead. I can feel myself becoming more and more anxious with each day, but excitedly anxious. While taking a moment to reflect and realize all that I have been apart of, it makes me understand how and why things happened they way that they did. Initially, I never thought I would attend college out of state, especially coming somewhere like ASU, but it was the greatest decision that I have made thus far.
The opportunity to be part of the College of Public Service and Community Solutions, in the capacity that I have, has opened my eyes and given more than I ever could have imagined. As someone who changed their major 6 times (yes, 6...) I never initially thought that I would end up in EM/HS and how that would affect that person I have become. The people I have met, the organizations I have been involved with, and the opportunities, including my internship, have shown me a lot about myself and what makes me feel that I am living a successful life. To me, I measure my success by my ability and willingness to help others, and the College of Public Service has really shown me what that means.
My tank was drained
This semester has caused me to invest a lot of time into my classes as well as my internship and my job. As a result, I neglected a lot of personal time for myself in lieu of catching up on sleep or schoolwork and just trying to keep my head above water. There was a point a few weeks ago where a friend called me out on it, telling me that they could see that I wasn't being my normal self. This led them to introducing me to a YouTube video which discuss the importance of input-output as related to your life. When times get tough, and you become swamped in work related tasks, it becomes even more important that you take time to do fun events, even though it may not seem the most productive.
You see, all of these work related tasks, and school work, etc. all are considered "outputs". If you think of yourself as a holding tank, these are the things that drain your tank. Now, the fun things in your life that you do for yourself are "inputs", and these are the things you do that fill your tank. If there is a greater amount of output than input, it will cause your tank to become empty, which is where the stress and anxiety come in. This is where I was at. My tank was completely dry. Taking the time to find things that can replenish and fill your tank become even more important because it means that you have more to give...more output. After identifying what the "outputs" and "inputs" are in your life, it can lead to a much more balanced, and productive life. Taking the steps to identify these things for me was a great improvement, and in the two weeks since then, I have noticed a considerable increase in my "quality of life". I am putting more effort into everything and everything seems to have slowed down and allowed me to relax and breathe a bit more.
You see, all of these work related tasks, and school work, etc. all are considered "outputs". If you think of yourself as a holding tank, these are the things that drain your tank. Now, the fun things in your life that you do for yourself are "inputs", and these are the things you do that fill your tank. If there is a greater amount of output than input, it will cause your tank to become empty, which is where the stress and anxiety come in. This is where I was at. My tank was completely dry. Taking the time to find things that can replenish and fill your tank become even more important because it means that you have more to give...more output. After identifying what the "outputs" and "inputs" are in your life, it can lead to a much more balanced, and productive life. Taking the steps to identify these things for me was a great improvement, and in the two weeks since then, I have noticed a considerable increase in my "quality of life". I am putting more effort into everything and everything seems to have slowed down and allowed me to relax and breathe a bit more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)