Social Media Mis-named

Is social media really social?

As a communications major, I recently studied how social media impacts journalism. I have to say that although I’m an avid Facebook visitor (if I’m on the computer, I’m logged in, but doing other things as well). I have a Twitter account but acknowledge I could be putting it to better use. I just created a HootSuit account and have begun to explore its possibilities. I have a personal blog (duh, you’re reading it!). But what does all this mean? 

Social media is now, it is the future but part of me, maybe my I-still-love-to hold- a-newspaper-and-talk-over-coffee side, questions the impacts of social media on society. Of course, there are plenty of benefits such as easy communication across distances, low price (usually free), ease of access (anywhere there’s Wifi or 4G) and it may decrease social anxiety. I wonder how all this new media, social technology and new technology affects the face-face abilities of our youth. There have been extensive studies on how texting while driving increases the likelihood of accidents, how violent video games are more likely to lead to violent children but where are the studies examining how Twitter, Facebook etc. keep people on the computer longer, outdoors less and face-face interaction to a minimum?  You can’t tell if someone’s joking or being sarcastic in a Twitter post, generally. Social media takes the emotion out of conversation. Is it all still too “new”? Is their any correlation? From my observations and personal experiences, I think there is.

I think it is the great challenge of today for people to evaluate their use of social media. Does it keep you from picking up a newspaper or checking out a novel from the local library (do you even know where you’re local library is, gems lie in wait to be rediscovered on the dusty shelves) Are you consumed by the computer screen, staying indoors rather than taking a walk or chatting with a next door neighbor over the fence?

My grandma still writes hand-written correspondence and only logs on to email to converse with her kids and grandkids (I don’t remember the last time I wrote a hand-written letter for the heck of it). I may be one of few who are hesitant about the continual and rapid development of social media but I feel it is a concern that needs to be addressed.

Some suggestions I'm putting to use to balance my social media life with my social life are:

1. Checking Facebook once in the morning and once in the evening. Not leaving it logged in for random chats and posts.

2. During daylight, limiting my time on social media sites, 10min every couple hours or some other reasonable ratio.
3. Calling friends to catch up rather than via Facebook chat

Where do you draw the line at being “connected” in social media.

What's in a word

What’s in a word? 

I’ve always thought myself a writer, full of inspiration, motivation and things to say but after the initial idea behind this blog, I’ve found myself struggling with adequate topics. I didn’t want this blog to simply be a recount of daily activities or a myriad of thoughts and emotions. I wanted it to be something more, something I could be proud of, something I could sign my name to and possibly something to show future employers. That spark of originality has since left me struggling to fill the empty void.

With so much free time on my hands, I’ve realized how valuable friends are. I have always had a handful of trustworthy friends but I’ve never considered myself the social butterfly. However, last Saturday I turned over a new (and hopefully long-lasting) leaf. I kicked the social nerves to the curb.

I ventured to the Moscow, ID Farmer’s Market with a couple friends, where I tried some delicious garbanzo beans and rice. Later I met different friends at a WSU baseball game on a lovely Saturday afternoon before enjoying some friendly sand volleyball with the summer residence life staff. Later we gathered to watch movies. I had a blast just being social and laughing, not caring what others might think of me, something I think has held me back in the past. I wonder how this re-discovered sociality would transfer to life after college, where multitudes of friends do not surround me.

Friends back home have spread out across the region. Some continue on to graduate school while others search for jobs, wherever they can find them. I have a few friends at church that I hope and plan to reconnect with but this also brings about some nervousness. I’ve known these people for a few years but we mostly just developed summer friendships as every Fall I returned to WSU, 5hrs on the other side of the state. Within the young adults group, friendships have grown tighter and relationships have developed in my absence. I feel I missed out on some of those friendship cultivations by leaving every Fall and returning late Spring. Three months is a short time to create deep friendship bonds.

This last time I drive away from Pullman is sure to bring a mixed bag of emotions: joy for now being a college graduate, excitement to start a new adventure, fear of the known. I have faith that everything will work out and I will be where I am supposed to be, no doubt with a little nervousness, confusion and excitement.

The woman in the mirror saw a shy, naïve girl but today, I see a young woman, full of passion and faith, confident in herself.

Summer School-too chill?

Hype of summer school falls short.

I always heard summer school was more relaxed, less people around and more fun than a typical semester. With five people in my class, an hour and a half of class five days a week and maybe 30min of homework a day, summer session is definitely more relaxed. This relaxed atmosphere is a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of an internship, being an RA and a full load of classes last semester but I’m struggling to fill all the extra time.

No Internet and no cable at the apartment make filling that time even more difficult. So I’ve decided it will be even more motivation to workout and read novels (for fun)!

This weekend I read 250 pages of Sally Morgan’s My Place. The novel is an aboriginal’s autobiography of growing up in a predominately white Australia and discovering herself within the white confines of society. My interest in Aboriginal Australia is left over from my studies abroad. I never knew how similar the histories of Australia and the U.S. were until I studied Australian history. Once I finish this novel (hopefully by the end of today), I have a couple others with me but I have also been thinking about trying to work my way through the 2011 BBC Book Challenge list. We’ll see how that goes.

As for working out, I managed to jog to the REC on Sunday and spent about an hour and a half working out, doing a little bit of everything. I realized I really need to work on my upper body strength, seeing as I have none. I’m also going to work on endurance but all of this takes motivation and self-discipline, something I’m going to have to work on this summer too. I failed to make it to the gym on Monday but hopefully I can get back in the next day or two. I heard it takes 30 days to develop a routine. I can cross off one day.

The weather has also been less than encouraging in terms of working out. As the rain drizzles on for the second day, I’m less motivated to make the jog from the apartment uphill to the REC center, even though its only 0.5 miles.

I have, however, been more social than I expected. I have spent the last three evenings hanging out with friends and it has been good. I’ve hung out with friends I should’ve kept in better contact with and I’ve met some new friends along the way. Hopefully this trend continues.

Looking Back

(Originally this was to be posted before graduation but with finals and the excitement of graduation, somehow it was forgotten)

Graduation. A word society has placed much meaning on. An event students and parents look forward to.

Parents treasure the kindergarten graduation as it signifies the beginning of a 13-year journey of basic education. Graduation from high school signifies a right of passage from childhood to adulthood.

But what does graduation from college signify? Is it that another four years of education somehow makes one smarter and more well equipped to tackle society’s issues?

Tomorrow brings a new day and a new journey of sorts.  Though not officially a graduate until August due to one elusive class (but that’s a story for another day), walking through commencement presents a mixed bag of emotions:

Excited to be done with school, at least for a while.

Joyful to be earning money instead of spending thousands of dollars every six months.

Nervous to find a job and career to be passionate about.

Unending gratitude for those who have helped and inspired throughout the ups and downs of 17 years of schooling.

The list could go on and on.

Tomorrow will be a day for the books for sure. Family and friends gather to congratulate those who have survived unfair professors and difficult assignments. Tears of happiness, laughter and cheers will fill the venue.

That tiny piece of paper (that you don’t actually receive at graduation) represents thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours worth of studying.

I only hope I don’t trip and fall when I shake the university president’s hand and take that diploma cover.

The first day of my last class as a WSU undergrad.

Woke up early to the garbage truck outside my window and gray clouds filling the sky. This pretty much sums up my attitude to another six weeks of class. 

Not wanting to figure out the bus schedule this morning, I put on my raincoat, grab my umbrella and hot tea, turn on my iPod and set out for what might be a long trek to class. But alas, I managed to time it perfectly and happened upon the bus at the right moment for a ride to campus.

While this foot-trek looks long, cold and wet, I told myself it would be good for me. It would be one step  to being in shape, something I let go a long time ago. The past couple weeks were stressful and thus I retreated to soda and junk food for energy and late night munchies.  Now that I have ample amounts of time, I am telling myself I need to use it for good.

Instead of wasting hours on end on the computer, I’m going to read novels. With unreliable Internet at the apartment, I hope this encourages my endeavor to regain my love of reading.

Instead of sitting around watching TV, I’m going to workout at the rec center.

Why is it so hard to do the things you love during school? Everyone encourages you to take time for yourself, do some of the things you enjoy instead of being bogged down with work and school responsibilities. When you do find that elusive free time during a normal academic year, the last thing you want to do is read more or leave the comfort of your room and bed.

This summer will be different, I promise. My accountability is this blog so I ask you to demand these expectations I’ve set for myself.