Ethnography Project

In my group our main idea was how people express themselves. My group wanted to come up with different ways people express themselves. Instead of the usual, clothing, or hairstyles we picked other ways people express themselves. Jordan decided to do tattoos, Anna decided to do music, and I decided to do organizations or clubs people join.

Students join clubs or organizations as a way of expressing themselves. They join because of many reasons. The club does something they enjoy, the organization stands for what they believe in, there are so many reason why these organizations help students express themselves. I interviewed a few students in organizations and asked why they joined them and how that organization or club helps them express themselves.

Lauren Bukowski's interview

Me: What is Alpha Delta Pi all about?

Lauren: Well, we do so much in ADPI. Every sorority has a philanthropy, and our's is the Ronald McDonald House. We go to the house every couple weeks and help the families make dinner, or hangout and watch movies with the kids. We do everything we can to help around the house, and do anything the families need.

Me: Why did you decide to join a sorority?

Lauren: I decided to join a sorority because they do amazing things for the community, and they are like one big team. I know if I needed anything I could easily call one of my “sisters” and they would be there for me.

Me: Does Alpha Delta Pi help you express yourself? And how?

Lauren: Yess! I picked Alpha Delta Pi because it was perfect for me. Wearing Alpha Delta Pi across my chest is one way I express myself, but being apart of something so big and amazing is another way I express myself. I am a very helpful and thoughtful person, and being a part of the Ronald McDonald house is another way I express myself.

I interviewed my roommate who is part of Eco Reps which is a club/organization, but you also get paid $200 a semester.

Me: Why did you join Eco Reps?

Emily: It's a good way to get involved on campus, and kinda have a job at the same time.

Me: What is the purpose of Eco-reps?

Emily: To educate people on campus on ways to go green, and easy things they can do to help the environment.

Me: How does Eco Reps help you express yourself?

Emily:I am interested in the environment, and helping educate people about how they can help. This club helps me show my interest in the community and environment at the same time.

I interviewed another girl, but I didn't get her name

Me: So what organization or club are you a part of?

Her: I'm actually not part of one, but I am trying to get one started here on campus.

Me: Oh, really? What is it for exactly.

Her: Well I've been looking all over campus to find an organization having to do with animals, and I haven't found one yet. We want to call it Animal Alliance. Basically it will be a club that will meet two or more times a month and we go and help out at animal shelters.

Me:That sounds like an amazing idea, I would be more than happy to join! How do you think this organization will help you express yourself?

Her: Well I love animals, and this is a great way for me to help. By being a part of this club I will get to express how much I love animals, and actually be doing something for them.

Literacy Underlife

I really paid attention to Sanford hall, because that is where I live. I decided to  pay even closer attention to the 6th floor, because I live on the sixth floor. The first thing I noticed was posters near or in the elevator. ITs a good idea to put things right next to the elevator because everyone will see them. When I walk into my hall I see names on doors. Some rooms have specific pictures, or drawings. For example, I am in Alpha Delta Pi, so I made a collage of ADPi stuff around my name. One door had pictures of both girls. I hear two girls singing away at the end of my hall. They sound happy, and I enjoy listening to them. I hear music from my RA's room. In the bathroom I see writing on the stalls. In one stall it said Phish. Which is a band my dad likes, or else I would have no idea what Phish was. When I go out into the common area I hear boys laughing and also hear the music they are playing. It's so cool to really pay attention to whats going on around you. Everyone is doing something different. Someone made the posters I look at, someone cleans the bathrooms everyday. I really like paying close attention to things, and this assignment got to let me do that!

Be The Change

-Mahatma Gandhi

This is one of my favorite quotes of all time. I feel like many people could relate to it. There are so many things people want to be done differently in this world. There are so many things people see and want them to change. Well be that change. Make a difference. Stop a bully, help a child, do something you want to be seen being done. Instead of saying, someone should do this, or that, well you can do it just as well as someone else. I think it really has to do with people being hypocrites. So many people look down on bullying, and some of those people saying bullying is bad.. well they are the bullies. Many people are hypocrites and they don't mean to be. Like the parents who say they will never be like their mom/dad, but end up doing the same things they did. Usually a family in poverty have an ongoing cycle. Once they are in poverty, its almost impossible to get out of, not because they can't, but because its hard for them to be different then their parents or their friends. Its those people like Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens, who came from nothing. His mom had him at 15 and lived in poverty. Now he is known around the world for his powerful and inspiration speaking, and being one of the best line backers of all time. He is just one example of being the change, or being something different. Be the better person, the one to pick someone up instead of push them down. Be the person people want to change for! Thats what this quote means. Be the change!

The Giving Tree

Our group got together and decided to look on the internet for mentor texts. We found so many options to choose from. We tried to come up with ideas that we thought would be fun to read AND look at. So many people love comic books because of those two reasons. We tried for a while to find them, and realized we were looking for the books wrong. We asked a librarian and she told us we needed a call number. We went back on the computer to get the call number when someone said why don't we just do a children's book? They have pictures, fun words, and usually teach a life lesson.  We looked through the children books and Nolan found "The Giving Tree", and Drew found "The Stinky Cheese Man, and Other Fairly Stupid Tales". The second book was funny, but wasn't as good as "The Giving Tree". It was the perfect mentor book. It has a good moral, and great pictures to go along with it.

Reflection Of Text
"The Giving Tree" teaches that you should give, and be happy to give. It reminded me of most parents. Parents give their children anything and everything they can, and don't expect anything in return. I think the underlying meaning for this book, is to teach kids to appreciate things people give them. In reality, if you give, you often get something back. People that give, and don't expect anything in return are hard to find. I can say from experience, if I'm giving to someone less fortunate than me then I am happy just by giving. If I give someone a ride, or pick someone up, it would be nice to get gas money, but I would never ask for it. I would just hope that person would do the same thing for me when I need it. I really think "The Giving Tree" teaches children to be more generous, and appreciate the things they are given.