This semester is full of classes that are harder than any set of classes I've taken to date, specifically Classical Sociological Theory. (I am well aware of how horrendous it sounds based solely on the name...trust me.)
Because the semester has just started, we have only gotten as far as covering the very basics of Classical Sociological Theory. With that being said, my professor gave us a quick activity to do in class that I found more beneficial than I thought.
She had previously assigned us a handful of chapters to read that gave insight to the belief that just about anyone can think up social theories. You don't have to be a professional to do it, although noticing these theories in real life can be difficult if you don't know what to look for.
She gave us an in-class assignment that asked us to take a few minutes to self-reflect about the realities we live in, the relationships we have with others, the things we love most about our realities, and the things we don't like about it.
As I sat there trying to figure out what I was supposed to be writing, it dawned on me that there was no right answer. I started writing and didn't put my pen down until after she told us that our time was up. She informed us that these self-reflections were not going to be collected, but they were for us to think about how we perceive our realities.
It made me realize a lot about myself.
First, I am beyond grateful for the life I have been given. I wrote about the support I receive from my family and friends. I also realized that I am nowhere near prepared for the future financially. (Actually, I'm far from anything that could be considered "ready" for that thing the kids these days call "adulting.")
Second, I am well aware of the position I am in as a young adult in the LGBTQ+ community. I have the rest of my life to help make the world more inclusive and to help break down stereotypes, prejudices, and inequalities that the LGBTQ+ community faces on a daily basis. I may be young, but I have a voice and I can make any changes in the world that I want to see.
Lastly, I became aware that although life has thrown its fair share of hard times, failures, and heartbreaks my way, I am a strong individual. I am capable of taking all of the bad things that come my way and step back to take the time to really understand where the negativity is coming from to better understand what is happening.
So, one class period later, I have had some pretty good self-reflection. Thank you to my professor for making us open our minds to recognize our realities. This has been my Ted Talk; thank you for tagging along.
