Girl Power

This post goes out to all the ladies in my life.

As the first semester of senior year is about to end, a lot of us are struggling to finish strong. With futures looming before us, we’ve had a lot of sleepless nights and caffeine-filled days dedicated to job interviews, grad school applications, group projects, part-time jobs, breakups, makeups, celebrations, and mental health days. We’ve laughed until our sides hurt and cried into our pillows. We’ve been angry and frustrated and fed up with it all. And through it all, we’ve been together.

It’s hard to figure out what you want to be. It’s taken me almost four years and I’m still not 100% sure it’ll stick. But it’s a lot harder to figure out who you want to be.

There are women in my life who are passionate activists, who fight tooth and nail for a better world. I am inspired (and occasionally a little scared) by them.

There are women in my life who wear their hearts on their sleeves, who feel deeply and express themselves in beautiful and terrible ways. I envy them.

There are women in my life who are fearlessly independent, who will go to new places and face challenges without batting an eye. I look up to them.

There are women in my life who are honest and loyal, who are always up for a chat and will tell you what you need to hear (even when you don’t want to hear it). I am thankful for them.

The best thing about being a woman is the camaraderie you have with all the other women in the world. We support each other, build one another up, laugh, cry, defend, protect. We do silly things and sometimes make mistakes. We are human. And together, we are fierce.

Knowing the women I know has helped shape the person I am and the person I want to be. They have helped me realize that I am an activist and an artist, an adventurer and a friend. And when I’m not those things, I know there are women out there who can be them for me.

Thanks to my girls for all you’ve taught me this semester. I cried while I wrote this. And I'm kind of proud of that.

The Perfectionist and the Sloth

This is my first time since starting this blog that I went longer than a month without posting. October was busy, with group projects, birthday celebrations, Halloween preparations, and networking events. I could have posted about the conference I went to early in the month, the PR+Social Media Summit. I listened to a ton of speakers and learned a lot about being a more effective communicator. I even ate lunch with one of the keynote speakers, Augie Ray, and talked about marketing, social media, careers, etc. But I didn't post about that.

I could have written about applying for a teaching job in China and getting turned down. I could have talked about how discouraging that was for me, but also how it opened up new possibilities for me. I've rearranged some things so that my eggs aren't all in one basket. I'm a lot less stressed in a weird way, even though I have a lot less certainty and a lot more work to do. But I didn't post about that, either.

Instead, I kept silent. I did my homework and marathoned a few (or more than a few) episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and turned 22 and spent time with my friends. I never consciously told myself I wouldn't post in October, but I'm kind of glad I didn't. It wasn't necessarily that I needed a break, but I did need a change in routine. I have a tendency to want rigid structure, but once I have it, I need to break free. This little disruption freaked me out at first, but now, even as I write, I realize how healthy it was.

The older I get, the more things I become involved in, the more I come to understand that life is not lived on a strict schedule. It's lived in those moments between the meetings and the classes. It's lived on the bus, in the coffee shop, walking down the street. I live in those seconds when I don't think about what I need to do or what someone else wants me to do. I live when I am just content in my own skin.

I recognize that responsibilities are important, and I've never been one to shirk them. I never will be. I love working toward a goal and meeting deadlines. I love the little adrenaline rush you get when you finish that project you've been working on so diligently. I love being there for people and having them count on me. But I also love breaking the rules sometimes. I love putting my necklace on backwards and sleeping in late.

I can be the rule follower and the rule breaker. I can be the perfectionist and the sloth. I can be stressed out and carefree. I can be all these things and more because life is too short not to be.

Maybe Advertising Isn't So Bad...

This is my senior year of college, and the anticipation of graduating has got me thinking about my future career and what I really want. I haven't been thrilled with public relations (my major) lately. In fact, I'm starting to lean toward advertising. When I came to college, I wanted to go into a field where I'd need to think creatively and really get to know people in order to communicate in the best way possible. I still want that. I just think that goal can be better achieved through advertising.

Don't worry. I'm not changing my major or anything. Luckily, PR and advertising degrees are pretty compatible. Plus, some of the best advertisers are those who come from different backgrounds. I really think the career for me is advertising research or account planning. It combines my passions for psychology and communication, and wraps it all in a dynamic environment with the opportunity to make a real difference. Advertising is powerful and if I don't like the way it's being done now, maybe it's time I stood up and did something to change it.

The classes I've been taking this semester have been really inspiring in this regard. For the rest of this post, I'd like to share something I wrote for my International Ad/PR class about advertising in Sweden. I'm always looking to expand my knowledge of the world and its various cultures (I mean, I'll be teaching English in China after I graduate!), so this class has already been valuable to me. I'm so excited to use my remaining time in school to prepare me for what I hope will be a worthwhile future.

Mirror Mirror: Sweden is the Fairest of All

Last week, I saw a presentation by Hedvig Hagwall Bruckner, a copywriter at King, a small independent advertising agency based in Sweden. Her insights into Swedish culture and advertising were fascinating. The country’s love of equality permeates almost every aspect of its advertising. Since advertising reflects (and even shapes) culture, the advertisements produced by King speak to the broader cultural climate of Sweden and may even be propelling it into the future at this very moment.

Because equality is such a high ideal in Sweden, many tactics that other countries use in advertising are not effective with Swedish consumers. For example, celebrity endorsement is widely used in America, but rarely used in Sweden because the people there do not hold authority in high regard. Celebrities can be used in a humorous way, as long as they are not perceived as having a higher status than other people.

Equality and a lack of fear of authority lend themselves to another important practice in Swedish advertising: breaking taboos. It seems that Swedish ads push each other to include more controversial characters or concepts (without going so far as to become offensive—sexism is a big no-no, for example). They keep a light-hearted tone while addressing issues like LGBTQ+ rights, feminism and the empowerment of people with disabilities, to name a few.

With innovative ads like ICA’s 300+ episode “soap opera” and Com Hem’s Judit and Judit series, Swedish advertisers have created a mirror to reflect some of the most prominent aspects and values of their culture. And as a small country, Sweden’s values are particularly solid. It is not as easy to segment demographic groups in Sweden as it is in, say, China or the U.S. Therefore, ads must speak to the concepts that everyone in Sweden holds dear, such as humor, feminine attitudes, togetherness, fairness and, of course, equality.

Learning from Hedvig really opened my eyes to how great advertising can be. Looking at it from an American perspective, I see a lot of disconnects between my culture’s values and my culture’s advertisements, where those holes do not seem to exist in Sweden. I have a lot of respect for a country that practices what it preaches, and Sweden seems to do just that. Perhaps I should start packing my bags!

Don’t get me wrong; I think American advertising has come a long way. Seeing ads like the Cheerios commercial featuring a biracial family or the Honey Maid “This Is Wholesome” campaign gives me a lot of hope for the future. However, it seems like Swedish ads are leagues ahead in the social responsibility department. It’s interesting because equality is a common value to both America and Sweden, but their ads (and the reactions to those ads) are very different. What is the explanation?

As I alluded to before, there is a disconnect between what America practices and what it preaches. Equality and freedom are concepts included in everything from the Constitution to the arguments of political pundits on major television networks, but American ads tend to lean toward concepts like sexism and racial stereotypes. Many times, they don’t include certain groups of people at all. Americans say they value equality, but there is an undercurrent in the culture that disrupts its flow into advertising.

In Sweden, that undercurrent doesn’t exist. The values they share are ingrained their culture and are reflected in their advertising. They break taboos because it is a part of who they are (and, it turns out, it’s a pretty good business strategy).

To create awesome ads is to take the awesome parts of a culture and make them even more awesome. It means reflecting the culture, but also pushing it forward to create something even better. Sweden is getting it right, but even Swedish advertisers can continue to push the envelope. American advertisers can produce great work, too. The key is for advertisers to realize the power that they wield, and to use it for the betterment of the larger society.

When looking at our own cultures, what do we see in the mirror? Who really is the fairest one of all?

Liz Meets World

I just got back from my trip to Italy and Ireland, and while I'm pretty jet-lagged, I want to share some highlights. I could write about exploring the Italian alps, eating authentic gelato, climbing the tallest cliffs in Europe, or helping my dad navigate the narrow and winding Irish roads; I could post hundreds of pictures of gorgeous landscapes, details of foreign plants, or selfies in front of various historical and natural settings; but instead, I'd like to describe my experiences through a more human lens. One of the best things about traveling to a different country is getting to know a different culture, and a country's culture is expressed by the people who live there. To describe my journey, I need to describe the people I met along the way, because they flavored the places and events with a sweet realness that lets me know it wasn't all just a dream.

The Japanese Tourists asked me to take their picture shortly after I arrived in Alleghe, Italy. After navigating the Madrid airport using half-remembered high school Spanish and trying to communicate with Italians using the only three Italian words I knew, it was nice to know I wasn't the only tourist in town. Interacting with the Japanese group made me realize that communication goes beyond words (although I was upset that I didn't know how to say "You're welcome" in Japanese).

My New Family welcomed me and my existing family with open arms. Even though we didn't speak the same language, my sister's new husband's relatives treated me like one of their own. From learning some Italian words to swapping stories via hand motions to shouting "Viva gli sposi!" as the guests rang a cowbell, my sister's wedding was a true melding of families. I'm so thankful for all the translating, planning, and patience it took to bring us together.

The Italian Fisherman barely spoke any English, but somehow managed to point my parents and me to the right path that went around the town lake. When he passed us on the road in his car a few minutes later, he offered us a ride (which we politely refused, since we wanted to stretch our legs). We were complete strangers, but he wanted to help us just the same. I was extremely moved by his act of kindness.

The Woman from Barcelona loved Ireland. We met her outside the caves of Maghera, where she told us how beautiful she thought everything was. "Why would anyone go anywhere else?" she would ask, marveling at the scenery before her. We happened to see her again a few days later in a different town, where she told us about a beautiful little place that we might enjoy because we like "crazy things". That place was Maghery, which boasted fascinating historical sites and spectacular views. Ireland was this woman's passion, and she never steered us wrong!

The Boat Captain was a classic Irishman, born and raised by the sea. Although a little rough around the edges, he was a happy-go-lucky sort of fellow, even when he had to take us fishing one evening in the rain. He knew everything: where the fish were, where the currents would take us, where my mom should be placed so she wouldn't fall overboard. He, along with his friend and the two young men who fished with us, turned that gloomy day into one of the most exciting fishing trips I've ever been on.

The Librarian spoke with a British accent and helped my mom and I start our search for our family history. We didn't know what to expect when we entered the library in Letterkenny to inquire about Edward and Annie Coyle, my great-great grandparents, but we came away with some good clues and leads to find out more, thanks to the librarian who saw the importance in uncovering one's past and helped us get closer to reaching our goals.

The Professor was a charming man we enlisted for help in learning more about the history of the Ardara area. After a few failed attempts at getting the answers to all my dad's questions, we went to the house next to the grocery store and knocked on the door. A grocery store employee told us the man would probably be in his garden and went back to get him for us. The professor came out, red-cheeked and white-haired, and actually bid us come into his home to sit and chat for a bit. He had never met us before, but he was as hospitable as if his own family were calling on him. Later that day, we paid him another visit and he showed us his garden. My dad still didn't get all the answers he wanted, but it was worth it to meet such a welcoming person.

The Tour Guides were a couple who had been living in Ardara for a little over two years, but were originally from Dublin. They led a walk around the town to talk about Irish history and some of the main attractions of the area. It had been raining that morning, however, and my parents and I were the only ones who joined their walk. It was an absolute blast! We all got to know each other and learned from each other. They pointed us to an ancient monolith just outside town, and we told them a bit about America. After that, it was as if we were old friends, waving to one another as we drove by.

And last, but certainly not least...

Our Hosts were some of the hardest working people I've ever met. In addition to running a bed and breakfast and working other jobs, they are raising four children under the age of nine. After spending ten days eating their home-cooked breakfasts, asking every question we could think of, and playing "Monkey in the Middle" with the kids, we felt like part of the family. It's one thing to have someone point you in the direction of a good scenic spot; it's another to have someone ask how your day went afterwards, to laugh with you, to really get to know you. I could not have asked for a better place to stay, or better people to stay with. I miss the kids already! Spunky, quiet, mischievous, and sweet: they were the cherry on top of the cake.

There are so many other people who made this trip amazing, but it's too hard to write about them all. A big thank you goes to my parents, for being great travel companions and making this trip possible for me. I feel so honored to have crossed paths with so many kind, warm people from across the globe. It makes the world seem a little less big and scary. You can find home anywhere, as long as you can exchange a smile with whomever you meet.

And don't worry, I'll be posting my photos to Facebook soon!

Pre-Europe Excitement

In less than 24 hours, I will be on my way to Italy for my sister's wedding! I can't believe it's happening: my first trip outside of the United States. I'll get to explore Italy and Ireland for a couple weeks. I'm incredibly lucky!

I haven't traveled on a plane since I flew to Washington, D.C. to see President Obama's inauguration in 2009. Five and a half years later, I feel as excited as I did back then! Airports are annoying, but there's something about being in the air that makes me feel alive and whole. I want to embrace every part of this trip, both journey and destination.

I have been suffering from severe wanderlust for about a year, probably because of all the stories I've heard from my friends who have studied abroad. I've taken classes about different cultures as well, adding fuel to the fire. To be able to see a new part of the world at this time in my life is an indescribable blessing. I'm actually having trouble putting into words how much this trip means to me.

The experience of traveling is exciting in itself, but I am also looking forward to the family aspect of the trip. A wedding brings people together in a way nothing else can. In Italy, I'll get to spend time with some of my own relatives that I haven't seen in quite awhile, and I'll also get to witness two families merging as my sister and her awesome fiance start their life together. In Ireland, I'll be going to the county where my great-great grandparents lived. I can't wait to walk where they walked. What's more, I get to do it all with my parents, which means it's sure to be an adventure!

These are the moments when life happens, and I intend to live it fully. I hope to come back with lots of pictures, some fun memories, and maybe a new perspective. With all the possibilities ahead of me, it'll be a wonder if I can sleep tonight!

Farmers' Markets, Food Trucks & Festivals

It's summer in Milwaukee, and you know what that means: farmers' markets, food trucks, and festivals! I love being here when the city comes to life. There are so many interesting people to meet and fun events to go to. This year, I'm trying to balance activities in the city and outside of it. Since it's possibly my last summer in Milwaukee (because who knows what I'll be doing after I graduate?), I want to soak up everything this area of Wisconsin has to offer.

I love being outside, so one of my favorite summer activities is hiking. Wisconsin has some beautiful state parks, many of which aren't too far from the city. It's nice to be able to spend a Saturday afternoon in a quiet and peaceful atmosphere after braving the hectic Summerfest grounds the night before. So far, I've been to Havenwoods and Kettle Moraine, but I'd like to check out new places as the summer goes on.

I've been enjoying buying produce from local farmers and making my own semi-healthy food. It's always fun to experiment with fresh ingredients to create new dishes, even if I decide not to make them again. I'm not the best cook, but I like the creative problem solving that has to occur when your green beans are almost at the point of over-ripeness.

A different kind of creativity manifests itself in the many concerts and festivals that Milwaukee hosts. Jazz in the Park and River Rhythms are some of my favorites, but nothing tops Summerfest. The crowds of people, the music blending together from the different stages, and the smells wafting off the food trucks make the experience both overwhelming and exhilarating.

This year, I saw my first Summerfest amphitheater show: Lady Gaga. It was one of the best concerts I've been to, and I'm not even a hardcore Little Monster. I was far from the stage, but I could see just about everything because I was above it all. It was almost a surreal experience gazing down at the tiny figure dancing in a bright green wig among set pieces and backup dancers that looked like they belonged on another planet. The music was great, I had room to dance and sing along, and the giant screens showed the details that I otherwise would have missed. I left the amphitheater completely energized (and fell asleep almost the moment I got home).

It's fun finding the balance between the city life I've spent three years getting used to and the outdoorsy life I've always loved. There are so many interesting and beautiful places in the world with all kinds of things to do. We often feel that we have to travel far away to find those places, but some of them can be found right in our own back yard!

Passing the Torch

Junior year is over. It's summer, and I'll be starting my senior year of college in the fall. Although it seems like freshman year was just last week, I'm slowly coming to the realization that I'm an upperclassman and I'll have to leave some of my projects to other people.

I've already started the process of passing the torch. At the end of the semester, I decided not to run again for the executive board of the environmental club on campus. I was the public relations coordinator, so I ran the club's social media, designed the website, and planned events. It was a good experience and I became a lot closer with the other members, but I realized I was too busy to do the position justice. Someone with more time and energy to dedicate will be able to do a better job. I struggled with that realization this past semester and have finally been able to accept it. I'll be more than happy to help from the sidelines if and when I'm needed.

Since classes ended, I've taken on more hours at work, so I've been taking on more responsibilities. One of the most recent challenges has been working with interns. Since I have about nine months of experience with the agency, I get to train interns to do some of the more basic tasks involved with the job. It's fun, but difficult to be responsible for keeping interns busy in addition to my own work.

Growing older is an interesting experience. I have to think more creatively to manage more responsibilities, but I also have to learn to let go. Working in the professional world isn't just about the using skills you accumulate as an individual; it's about using those skills in conjunction with other people. It's about knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and knowing when to ask for help or when to ask for more to do. I'm really enjoying flexing my muscles and testing the boundaries of my professional life. I hope I can do the same in other areas of my life as well.

Initiation

With the semester coming to a close, everyone is pretty busy with projects, papers and tests, and I am certainly no exception! Between my clubs, friends, work and school, I'm amazed I still find the time to sleep and eat. Even with my busy schedule, I recently joined an honor society on campus, Kappa Tau Alpha.

I had never considered joining an honor society in college and had never heard of KTA when I received an email from my college telling me that, because I ranked in the top 10 percent of students in my class in the College of Communication, I was eligible to join. I'll admit, I decided to pay the $30 to join mainly because there were no meetings and I could put it on a resume. When I went to the initiation, however, I saw the real value in joining KTA. 

After having a nice chat with the chapter adviser about China (I always seem to find someone who's been there), a few classmates and I were given our certificates and keys. It was a very simple ceremony, but the chapter adviser emphasized intellectual pursuits as he told us what the honor society was about. He told us to never stop seeking knowledge and to keep an open mind. He asserted that Kappa Tau Alpha was about more than just professional success; it was also about succeeding intellectually. 

That advice could not have come at a better time for me. I've been stressed lately about not having the "right" goals or dreams, that I'm not ambitious enough or that the talents I've been blessed with will end up as wasted potential because I'm not looking for the most prestigious job that will offer me the most money or fame. I needed to hear that simply wanting to know more, to keep learning, is a valid goal. Obviously, I want to have a successful professional life, but that's not the only thing I'm going to work toward. I'd like to take a balanced, holistic approach to living my life. 

Yes, I'm busy. We all are. But I'm happy to spread out my time among many pursuits instead of focusing on just one passion. I'm glad that I like the environment and music and foreign languages and Jesus and fashion and photography. So I'm going to spend my life soaking up as much as I can about everything that interests me, because the world has so much more to offer than just a nice paycheck. 

Going Green with a Little Help from My Friends

I'd like to start off by thanking everyone for responding so well to my last post. I received nothing but positivity and support, and it made me feel incredibly loved. Some people could personally relate to my experiences or had friends who did. I know now that I am certainly not alone. None of us are.

Sharing experiences and working with other people is a major part of life. It gives us confidence and helps us to move forward together. Recently, I was privileged enough to work with other students at my university to take the first step toward making a big change on campus.

As one of the leaders of Students for an Environmentally Active Campus (SEAC), the environmental club at Marquette, I've been working on an initiative to get the university to stop selling disposable plastic water bottles (since they're bad for our health, our wallets, and our planet--more on that here). SEAC has been working hard to raise awareness and collect signatures to show support for the Take Back the Tap campaign.

As part of the campaign, we've been working on getting water bottle refilling stations installed around campus to encourage the use of reusable personal water bottles. At first, progress was slow and I began to feel discouraged, but the other SEAC members energized me with their fresh ideas and passion.

We came into contact with some of the senators in student government and started a partnership to get legislation for refilling stations to pass. It was an intense few weeks and both SEAC members and the senators worked extremely hard. After countless hours of researching, sending emails, writing, and practicing, I was one of four SEAC representatives to present to the entire student senate. After watching the debate the followed, I got to witness the voting process as well as the result: the bill passed at a vote of 26-4.

I was never prouder to be a member of SEAC (which I've been involved in for three years) than at that moment. The collaboration, mutual support, and reaching out beyond our own members resulted in something that will hopefully outlast the current students at Marquette. It was exciting to work together toward a common goal, because our collective voice was much stronger than any of us would have been alone.

Recognizing the talents in yourself is extremely important, but it's also beneficial to recognize the talents in others. Building relationships to accomplish things elevates each individual and creates something new. Why not go out and make a few friends?

Warning: This Will Be a Long Read

I've been going back and forth for weeks on whether or not to post this and, after making probably hundreds of edits, finally got the courage to just go for it. It’s not too often that I feel the tendril-like fingers of prejudice wrapping around me, but it does happen. And it hurts. Whether for reasons of race, sex, religion, sexual orientation, or other characteristics of a person, treating someone as an outsider only hurts everyone involved. This post is meant to be a lighthearted example to get people to consider what prejudice really is and how it can creep into our lives without our awareness. We are not immune from feeling prejudice against us, and we are not immune from dishing it out. But we can change that if we train ourselves to see and hear the little things that bring people down, and instead build one another up, brick by brick.

Solving Sobriety

I’m a 21-year-old college student living in Wisconsin. I go to bars almost every weekend. I party with my friends. I’ve danced on tables and sang karaoke at the top of my lungs. Oh yeah, and I don’t drink any alcohol.

There’s a certain stereotype that goes with a chronic non-drinker. We all know what it is: dull, party-pooper, judgmental, fearful, great at holding your hair back when you’re about to puke, etc. I’m here to shed some light on the subject by offering a few tips on how to navigate some simple interactions with us pesky sober folks.

“Wait, you haven’t been drinking?”

The first moment you realize a friend doesn’t drink is a special one. This is the crucial moment when you will either come off as awesome or annoying. If you laugh about the fact that your friend can be that crazy without being drunk and then go back to your activities, you’re in the clear. If you get all weird and start treating your friend like a completely different person, however, you’re entering dangerous waters.

“No judgment, but…”

Stop. Just leave this phrase out of your vernacular when you’re talking to a sober person. If you have to clarify that you’re not judging, whatever you say next is going to sound even more judgmental. Just speak your mind and deal with the judgment issues later.

“…Why don’t you drink?”

This usually follows the “No judgment, but” clause. It’s a perfectly acceptable question if you’re genuinely curious, but please don’t expect an elaborate story about a drinking binge gone wrong that turned me off the stuff. My reasons aren’t that interesting. Let’s turn the tables. If a sober person came up to you and asked, “Why do you drink?” you would probably think it’s an odd question at best and an offensive one at worst. You might answer, in the simplest terms, “Because I like to and I want to.” A sober person’s answer is similar: “I don’t drink because I don’t like to and I don’t want to.” That person owes you no more explanation than that.

“Is it cool if I drink?”

Nope. We all must do the exact same thing in the exact same way if we are to hang out together. Seriously? No one actually thinks like that! I’ll do me, you do you. We’re cool.

“Am I making you uncomfortable?”

You weren’t until you asked that question.

 “Are you sure you don’t want anything?”

I’m so glad you asked! All these years of not drinking could have been prevented if only someone had offered me a jager bomb a second time! Honestly, I’m a big girl. If I magically decide that I want to start drinking, I will go up to the bar and get myself a drink. No need to hold my hand.

If these examples seem rather negative, don’t worry. There is one sure-fire way to have an awesome time with Sober Sally: treat her like a person. If she weren’t having a blast, she would leave. Have fun together. Include her in your shenanigans. Convince her to do that ridiculous impression she’s so good at. She wants to fit in and let loose. Let her do that. Don’t reduce her to a stuffy wallflower and don’t turn her into a circus freak. She is your friend and will be whether either of you is drunk or sober.

I should point out that not all non-drinkers are the same. Some are more confident in their choices than others, and some aren’t as touchy about the subject as others. Many comments like the ones above are not made with bad intentions and sober people can usually see that, but it’s best to err on the side of caution. My suggestion is just to respect their choices and enjoy their company.

Here’s the thing: if you think wine is the nectar of the gods, drink it (provided you’re of legal age of course!); if you are taking sips of beer and wincing when your friends look away because it tastes so bad, stop drinking it. If your friends are cool people, they will accept your choices, whatever they are (that goes beyond the realm of drinking and not drinking, by the way).

So I’ll raise my glass of Sprite and you raise your glass of cranberry and vodka, and we’ll toast to doing whatever makes us happy. Cheers!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Last weekend, I co-hosted an early Chinese New Year celebration at my university (technically the new year doesn't start until this Friday). I helped kick off the year of the horse by giving a couple short speeches in Chinese, introducing the performers and running a raffle in English, and even singing a traditional Chinese New Year song. With only one semester of Chinese classes under my belt, the event was both terrifying and invigorating. 

It's still hard for me to believe I got through that two hour long show, which was attended by about 200 people, without any major blunders. I would never have been able to do it without the encouragement of my professor, the pronunciation help from my friend, and the lighthearted attitudes of my co-hosts. It was a group effort, and I pulled off my part as best I could. 

One of my favorite things about learning a new language is that it humbles me. I can't pretend to know everything (or much of anything) because there's no way to fake it, especially among native speakers. I have to ask for help, I have to correct my many mistakes, and I have to be open to learning completely new things. It's hard to cling to a sense of pride when I know a second grader in China is infinitely better at Chinese than I am. 

When that pride is stripped away, it can be scary, but I'm not alone. I have classmates in the exact same boat as me. I think I'm closer with the students in my Chinese class than in any other classes I've taken because we're not really competing; we're collaborating. We practice speaking Chinese with each other, correct each other's work, study together, and even laugh about the silly things our professor does in class on any given day. We have all been reduced to a humbled state and we have no choice but to support and enjoy one another.

Sometimes, people ask me why I'm taking Chinese and I don't always know what to say. Because it will help me get a job? Because I want to go to China someday? Because I like the language? All of those answers are true, but I think the real reason is that I like making connections with people through language. Native speakers appreciate that I'm taking an interest in their culture and language (and get a good laugh in when I try to speak it!), and I become closer with my fellow non-native speakers. Nothing bad comes from learning a new language. 

I think everyone should experience the unique feelings that come with learning something completely new. Chinese may not be for everyone, but learning any language helps people think in new ways and socialize a little differently. It opens the mind to new experiences and usually makes people more accepting of differences. I wish I had started this process earlier in life, but I'm so glad I'm doing it now. Here's to learning new things and making deeper connections in 2014! 新年快乐!