neversremedy8 | Mar. 1st, 2009

I am two weeks away from the end of my second quarter at the University of Washington. Already I have learned a great deal about Anthropology, culture, and am solidifying my understanding of how to shape a lifelong career out of serving a community. Some of the most important lessons thus far learned are not always ones taught within the class. I will keep this brief since I have a many heavy deadlines throughout the next two weeks and am woefully behind on my reading.

Among many things, some of the most imoprtant I've learned are:

Networking. I understood the concept intellectually, and knew full well after a privileged childhood that people do not make their money alone; the wealthiest people in the world got there almost invariably through knowing the right people. Although I grasped this concept, I never knew how to put it to use. Well, first you have to meet the right people (or their friends) before being able to network. This is one skill I am cultivating rapidly and almost without conscious thought. With every new contact, I add them to my email list and make certain to go to tea with them. I value their friendship, but I also see how knowing a variety of people in one's own field can greatly benefit one's future career.

Planning Carefully. I have learned a great deal about how not paying attention to certain details (like where one's classes are situated, and not just the time they take place; or whether or not there's a service learning component to the course) can make life a bit easier, and allow more room for other activities, like studying. While I often pick up the details in a reading, I have been known to skip over directions and just assume I know what's best.

Anthropological Work is for the Long-Term. Whatever I choose to do, whatever community with whom I intend to work, I am in it for the long haul. I have fallen in love with the black sheep of the anthropological family, that of the "applied" track. It's non-academic, and it leads people to do crazy things like be responsible to a community for years, even decades. People with a more data-oriented bent despise these anthropologists that give anthro a good name; they go in, they share their data with the community, they work with them rather than on them. It's madness! And I adore it.

Do your work in your own backyard. There's no reason for me to go flying off to some third world country (I hate the terms "Third" and "First" world. What the fuck do they mean? We're all on the same bloody planet!) to impose my views of what another culture needs to overcome a certain issue to help people, I can research, plan, and implement plans with communities right fucking here. Ana can even be involved! Our country is full of problems that need addressing, and since I didn't run away while Bush was in office, I think it's fair to say that I'm willing to stay here and work within local communities to make change.

Make yourself heard. By speaking up for and challenging the authority figures within the school, I am getting further assistance that I need to succeed in school and follow my own path. The cliched adage about a squeaky wheel is especially true if you can back up your deman for help with qualitative data.

Trust yourself. I wanted to take a class for which I didn't have a prerequisite. Everyone I spoke with about it was sure that it wasn't the right class for me, "too scientific," "too advanced," "requires previous experience with X," but I pleaded with the teacher for an add code and was accepted in. The teacher has grown to like me, and though the class is not over yet, on my midterm, I received a 26 out of 25. You read that right. So I guess I am capable afterall.

Although I didn't exactly get all of the classes I wanted next quarter (and neither of the teachers who asked to have me back are my teachers), the schedule I have registered for is actually looking pretty sweet. I annoyed an adviser for three days requesting the opportunity to take a different statistics course for my requirement because it best fit with my schedule, and I got it, and while I was hoping to take an art class this quarter, or the Comparative Healings course (the prick teaching it made some rather incorrect assumptions), I have two courses on Native North American studies classes, one about contemporary indigenous struggles within our culture, and the other focused on women, and I'm quite happy having both to look forward to taking together.

When I finally get to take electives again, I wish to take Ceramic Art Throwing (clay + potter's wheel, not as Craig suggested, people throwing clay at one another like monkeys flinging poo) and a class that will improve my ability/confidence to speak in front of crowds. I am also seeking to relearn some basic French to take the placement exam before Autumn quarter to see if I can reduce the number of quarters I need to allot for foreign language.