The Breaking Point

Last night, November 20, I attended an event called “The Breaking Point”. It was put on by RHA and discussed stress, depression, and anxiety on college campuses. There was a panel of students, as well as representatives from MSU’s Counseling Center. A video was also played, where students on campus were interviewed about what stresses them out the most about being in college. There was a heavy focus on diversity and fitting in, and the struggles people can go through when they come to college. Some students on the panel talked about feeling alienated because they felt that there was not a place for their culture or lifestyle here at MSU. The representative from the counseling center also talked about how many LGBTQ students are often struggling. Even though the event was focused at students in college, I could definitely relate many of the concepts to the elementary classroom. Elementary students may have many of the same problems that college students have, but they may not be able to vocalize and articulate them as well. I feel like children can be just as stressed as adults, but people often do not recognize their mature feelings and can downplay their issues.

I thought this was a beneficial event for me for a few reasons. I learned that there are counseling services here at MSU, and that there are so many groups of people struggling to find their identity here on this huge campus. Many of the students on the panel talked about having someone to talk to about their difficulties fitting in. I think that part of my role as a teacher in the future is to be a listening ear to students who are having problems, no matter the nature. I got some useful ideas about how to make all diverse students feel welcome and comfort students who feel that there is not a place for them in their community. Again, attending this event reminded me that as a teacher I must challenge myself to include all students in my lessons and classroom community, and value differences and diversity.

LGBT Event: The Gwen Araujo Story

On November 14th, I attended a LGBT event about the murder of Gwen Araujo. Gwen’s story is heartbreaking and terrifying, and the event was very powerful for me. Gwen was a transgender girl in California who was brutally beaten and murdered by four boys at a party. They strangled her for being a transgender and buried her body. The four boys were indicted on hate crime charges and spent time in prison. Gwen’s story was made into a Lifetime movie and her mother spoke about the pain that she went through. Gwen’s mother spoke about the pain and suffering Gwen endured in her community, at school and at church. I was very moved by her story and I can’t even imagine the suffering Gwen and her family went through.

I was very glad that I attended this event, both as a future teacher, and a citizen of a community. Gwen’s mother, Sylvia, spoke about people fearing and shying away from transgender people because they did not know a lot about them. I personally did not know very much about the transgender community so the event was informational to me. In addition, my goals to promote diversity, education, and understanding were reinforced by listening to this woman speak and by watching the videos. As a future elementary educator, I want to promote appreciation of diversity and open mindedness among my students as much as possible. Sylvia told us that people were horrible to Gwen at school, even her teachers. I want to be a teacher who is caring and allows children to be who they are without fear of persecution or embarrassment. Every time I attend an event, no matter what the topic, I feel that I am becoming more educated and a better future teacher. I realize that teachers can make a huge difference in students’ lives. I think that by being as educated as possible about a variety of diverse issues or concepts, I can reach out to more students. Events such as these help build my teaching philosophy and attitude about creating an open minded, safe classroom community.

Diversity in the Media?

In the past, the show "Grey's Anatomy" on ABC has been praised for integrating diversity into its storylines. An Asian doctor had a serious relationship with an African American doctor, an openly gay actor was defended by the network against anti-homosexual sentiments, and a lesbian relationship between two doctors had been developing. However, last week's episode and the rumors surrounding it have created concern. The actor who played the lesbian doctor Erica Hahn left the show abruptly, leaving questions both for the characters of the show and for its fans. The storyline did not have a resolution; it simply ended. As an avid Grey’s watcher, I was confused at the message of the network. Perhaps I was reading too much into it and Erica Hahn was simply not a good character for the show. I hope this is the case, especially due to ABC’s past record of defending and promoting acceptance among cast and plotlines.

Last night’s episode continued my questioning of the intent and effects of the writing of Grey’s Anatomy. Callie, the other person in the lesbian relationship, made comments to fellow characters that she would continue to be gay in the future. I’m not sure if that is the correct way to make that statement, but those were essentially her words. I don’t really know how I feel about Callie suddenly “becoming” a lesbian on the show. She was married to another male doctor and had sexual relationships with other male doctors on the show, even during her relationship with Erica Hahn. I feel like perhaps Grey’s is portraying homosexuality as something that can be “discovered” in one’s adult life, that someone can “turn gay” as a result of failed heterosexual relationships. If this is the message people are taking from the show, I think that it reflects poorly on the writers of the show.

Perhaps I am reading too much into this; after all, it is just a weekly drama, not an educational program. However, I know that many people are avid Grey’s fans, and this might be the only experience with homosexuality that they encounter. I hope that ABC is careful in the future as to their portrayal of any diverse group of people, whether it is a doctor or a patient on Grey’s Anatomy. I have not heard any negativity about the Callie/Erica lesbian storyline, and I hope there is not any in the future.

Safe Schools Seminar

I attended the Safe Schools Seminar and watched the video "for the Bible tells me so". I learned so much from attending the seminar. I really enjoyed the discussion, because I was able to hear different people's views and think about the issue in different ways. The video was also very eye opening. It was shocking to me to see the lengths that people would go to make their beliefs heard, even though it might have hurt others. Also, I was surprised at some of the reactions from parents with gay children. As someone in my discussion group said, "My parents would give up the bible before they gave me up." This view is shared by my parents, and it was shocking to see that obviously, some parents did not agree with that view. I was surprised at the strength of the people in the film, especially the man who became the first gay bishop of his church.

I did a lot of thinking about the video and how it could affect my future, or how it affects me or my beliefs now. I wonder, where have we gotten our ideas about what is normal? How would it feel if you felt a certain way that was condemned by society and by your friends and family? I can't even imagine the pain the families in the movie went through, whether they were the gay person trying to come out or the family members trying to support their loved ones while maintaining their beliefs.

The segment of the video where the popular parenting book author was talking was shocking to me. It is so damaging, as the American Psychiatric Association stated, to try to force people to bury their feelings or conform to something or someone that they aren't. I was so upset to hear that a gay teenager commits suicide every five hours. With statistics like these, I don't understand how people can be so closeminded. Don't we want happy, healthy children in our communities? How can we stifle their true personalities and drive them to feelings of dispair and hopelessness so that they end their lives? I hope that society's perception of gay people and gay rights becomes increasingly tolerant so that we see statistics and suicide rates drop. We are all people who have the right to life, and I think everyone should do their part to preserve that right for everyone, even if it means supporting them in something that they don't necessarily believe is right.

Something I would have liked to see, or that I think would be beneficial for future teachers, would be to hear about students that came out in a community. I would like to hear about how schools, parents, and other students reacted, whether the reactions were positive or negative. I would also like to think about appropriate teacher roles in these situations. I want to create a safe community for all of my students without affecting the beliefs of any of them, no matter how conservative or liberal they are. I also want to make sure that my classroom atmosphere doesn't affect student learning in a negative way.