Thursday Take-Off: What is your cause?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

College campuses are a forum for invention, innovation, and intrigue. They breed big questions and light the path towards various avenues of what we like to deem “self discovery”. In the midst of this dynamic environment we are invited to dust off our courage and take a stance, to make a choice, to cultivate our own label. I’d like to think that this label is not “woman”, or “Asian-American”, or “Jewish”. Labels should not be blanket statements, but rather precursors to a cause. In this zealous time in our lives it is opportune to seek out a cause to champion to become an “empowered woman”, an “Asian-American advocate”, or an “out of the box Jew”.

This campus in particular is dripping with opportunities for involvement, for causes to champion, and for pathways of knowledge to be discovered. We can refine our passions and our ultimate places in the world by honing in on a cause, by immersing ourselves in a campaign for self or world betterment. In the process of engaging with the bigger picture, we are afforded the opportunity to refine our own characters.

The beauty of this period of our lives is that our decisions are never necessarily permanent. We have the power to consistently change our path, to alter our cause, or delve into a new cause to champion. This cause merely delivers you with another lens by which to understand the world. That’s all we can ever really want. Ask yourself, what is your cause?

 

Post Submitted By: Ashton 

Thursday Take-Off: Where do you find safety?

This image did not contain yellow signs.

Safe: what does that word mean to you? I present this question this week in order for us to  better understand ourselves. Perhaps we should consider where, and when we can find protection from whatever harm.

Where do you find safety? What do you find safety in? What does being “safe” mean to you?

Post submitted by: Courtney Lee

Thursday Take-Off: Do you take your own advice?

Hello Blog Readers! This Thursday’s question is: Do you follow your own advice? I ask this because I am guilty of not following my own advice although I would like to think I do and am sure that I am not the only one. When my friends are in need of advice I try to be as honest with them as I can even if it is not what they may want to hear. Most of the time my friends take my advice and thank me for it despite it being a little harsh. I like to think that I am harshly honest because of course I want the best for my friends and only do it because I care for them. With that being said, there are times when I’m in a pickle and although I know what I should be doing I ignore the advice that I would tell myself if I were someone else. Now that I have put some thought into it, I realize that it is partly due to the reason that yes I am a little stubborn, but also because sometimes I don’t trust in my own advice for myself and need that second opinion. However, I am beginning to realize that I don’t need a second opinion all the time because most of the time I hear what I’m trying not to tell myself from my friends any way. This of course is not surprising because your friends want what’s best for you and so do you even though you try to deny it. So, I challenge you to believe in your own advice, but also take it! 

Thursday Take-Off: Where do you find your deepest inspiration?

Good morning blog readers!

As a staff member at WSP, I am one of many counselors who promotes the idea of embracing creativity and one’s inner voice.  We like to teach students how to speak what’s on their mind so they can transfer their ideas onto paper and make a solid academic piece. However, we also like to work with students who have their own creative projects so they can gain confidence in their artwork and in themselves.

With this all in mind, I want to ask you all where you find your deepest inspiration.  Where do you go or what do you do to get those creative juices flowing? Who/what motivates you? How do you express your creativity?

I hope that as you answer these questions you feel empowered to start working the creative side of your brain more. We should always try to find a balance between exercising our analytical and creative skills. Plus, it is fun to create things, in whatever way you do that.  Whether it’s writing a poem or an essay, solving a math problem in a way you never have before, or thinking of innovative ways to improve your job, you are using creativity.  BE CREATIVE!

Post submitted by Casey O’Neill

 

 

 

Thursday Take-Off: Where is your voice?

 

Empowerment. It’s a word that is thrown around a lot (and for good reason). But I sometimes ponder whether we truly know the definition, scope, and ultimately the power of empowerment. Empowerment is not just a platform for opportunity or a state of being. It is a continuously cultivated and active process. What drives me to embrace and comprehend my own sense of empowerment is this journey towards discovering this voice that is awakened by empowerment.

What is empowerment if it is not manifested in a voice? In speech? In art? In opinions?

So as I struggle with my own voice, who I am, what impact I want to leave on the world, I challenge you to search for your own. This question is less about what your own voice is, but rather where your voice is revealed. Today, I am less concerned with solidifying what I stand for in an effort to understand in what space I can share these most personal thoughts.

So I ask, is your voice, your sense of empowerment, reflected in:

 

a bout of spoken word

an unfathomable confrontation with a close friend

a jotted down note on a napkin

a loud burst of political jargon

or just

a single quiet voice trying to make a difference in a day to day conversation

 

Let’s keep searching…

 

Post Submitted By: Ashton

Thursday Take-Off: What can I reuse?

Today, let’s get creative! I was inspired to make this post when a friend of mine, Courtney (another blogger on this site!) decided to make a neat origami crane out of this aluminum foil that was leftover from sharing a chocolate bar. The material used was simple and ordinary, the remains after our indulgence in sweets. From this considerate and caring act of reusing material, I was inspired to look at the ordinary, everyday “waste” and try to figure out how I could reuse something. The first things that come to mind are those millions of leftover toilet rolls that I always want to use instead of just throwing away. Maybe I could make a telescope? If you’re feeling inspired to hop on the band-wagon, come join us in our adventure in finding alternative uses for everyday items and waste products. What can you reuse? Visit this link for more cool ideas to reuse things!

Post submitted by: Christina Trieu.

Thursday Take-Off: Pi Day!

Tasty, tasty pie! With pi on top, of course.

Happy pi day! Pi day is designed to honor the existence of the transcendental number pi, approximated best through the following numbers: 3.141592653589… The number goes on forever without repeating any sequence of numbers. March 14, or 3/14, best represents the number pi in terms of a month and a day. Mathematically inclined people tend to celebrate the day by eating pies and discussing the significance of the number pi.

Usually holidays entail having the day off from school, work, or finding that the bank is closed; but pi day differs from a typical bank or federal holiday. The question now becomes: what kinds of observances do you celebrate? Why do you celebrate these observances? Are these family traditions, something cultural, or something totally invented?

Post submitted by: Courtney Lee

Thursday Take-Off: What would you do differently, if you knew nobody would judge you?

I ask this question because sometimes I know I hold back from doing certain things, or even joining certain groups because I’m afraid I won’t be good enough. Besides feeling like I won’t be good enough, I’m afraid that others will judge me if I don’t meet their expectations. Although that tendency to hold back because of what others might think is still very present in my life, I now try to acknowledge it and  try not to let it affect me as much. You learn from trial and error and you shouldn’t hold back just because of what someone, who doesn’t even really know you, may think. In the end of it a all, you end up regretting not giving yourself that chance. If you fail? So what. You just learn that something is not for you and you move closer in the direction of something that is. I’ve learned that challenging yourself to grow by putting yourself out of your comfort zone can be beneficial; we have a whole weeks worth of blogs to show for it if you don’t believe me. It’s important to follow your dreams even if that means putting yourself in a situation where you will be judged. Everyone judges, that isn’t going to magically change, all you can change is what you do about it. If you’re anything like me ,you give up before allowing yourself to get better at something new, so my advice would be to Do You because that’s the only way you’ll know if something is for you or not, and who knows, maybe you’ll be judged positively for just trying. So really, think about what you would do differently if nobody was judging you. Maybe you’ll find that you should give something a try and you shouldn’t live in fear of what others think because they don’t matter; you do, your goals and dreams do.

Post by: Alexandra 

Thursday Take-Off: What do you think about sustainability?

I’m currently taking a Geography class at UCLA, and we are learning about how to be sustainable.  Sustainability involves a lifestyle in which people are dedicated to using as few resources as possible in order to protect the environment from issues such as pollution.

In this class we are challenged not only to observe our own habits for sustainability but also the lifestyles of UCLA students.  So my question for you is this:  What do you think about sustainability?  Do you feel that UCLA is a sustainable campus?  What should we do to ensure that the Earth does not deteriorate at as fast a rate as it currently is deteriorating?

Post submitted by Casey

Thursday Take-Off: How do you demonstrate appreciation?

We are truly lucky. Despite the uneven and often unpredictable circumstances of the roller coaster we like to call life, there is some defining characteristic, person, experience, or relationship that makes us blessed. Too often I find that this goes unnoticed. There is something to appreciate in every day. Although sometimes we might have to shift the rubble and open our eyes a little wider, we have a lot to be grateful for. Some don’t make real time to actively appreciate unless encouraged by the platform of appreciation that we have constructed into Thanksgiving. I personally don’t want a holiday to be the only reason I express appreciation.

It is so easy to get caught up in life’s twists and turns and our busy day to day schedules, that appreciation is gently bumped to the bottom of our priority list. It’s a natural occurrence and sometimes no fault of our own, but we all are guilty of failing to appreciate the ingenuities of our existence.

How then do we demonstrate true appreciation? It can be something as simple as a genuine thank you to a best friend, the giving of a long over overdue hug, or a silent inner peaceful moment of reflection and thanks. I encourage you to take today to appreciate the small and big things, the people who impact your world, and ultimately your marvelous existence.

Post Submitted By: Ashton 

Thursday Take-Off: Break time, Wake time!

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Beep beep beep! My alarm goes off, and it’s that time again – trying to survive the week, deprived of sleep, through the back-to-back schedule of work, school, volunteer, clubs, and other commitments. Between the list of things – the art of living – how can we stay physically active every day? Health is essential to life, yet we often place it on the back-burner because we feel we have little or no time left in the day. We try to substitute our lack of sleep with a cup of coffee, eat our way to brain power, sit all day waiting for a performance – for our brains to perform for us – while our bodies stay still, inactive, and unused. Many of my friends, peers, and co-workers seem to rely on a caffeinated drink to get them through the day, but  perhaps there is a better way to make our minds alert, without the jitteriness from that coffee bitterness. What are some ways that we can stay alert throughout our busy schedule days?

Instead of going on that five minute coffee break, we could potentially close the door to our cubicle, pop in our headphones, and dance to music for a good five minutes. This fun activity would allow for body movement, something that our bodies crave throughout the day and need in order to get our blood flowing, our brains going, and maybe even a smile showing! Or if dancing isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of other options: push-ups, jumping jacks, planking, sit-ups, jogging in place, or even walking around campus – taking the stairs. All of these physical activities can be done in the comfort of your cubicle, except for the latter – which allows you to enjoy the scenery outside and grab some fresh air. These little physically active breaks can do wonders for your body and especially the mind, increasing your energy throughout the day and keeping you mentally engaged in your work or study. So, the next time you feel overwhelmed or unable to concentrate, get up and breathe deeply. Do a quick physical activity that will increase your heart rate and force you to breathe, letting out all the bad air and taking in fresh new energy. Now that we’ve discussed some options of how to re-energize our bodies and minds without caffeine, what physical activity will you do on your next break?

Also, though physical activity is important, we can also use breaks for a mental detoxification. What are some other ways we can maximize the use of our breaks so that we’re not dragging our feet to the end, but instead, enjoying the rest of our day?

Post submitted by Christina

Thursday Take-off: How do you Identify?

How do you identify yourself?

These identities can come from anywhere. Some categories include: ethnicity, nationality, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identity, (dis)ability status, age, preferences, and so on. Sometimes we do not wish to place ourselves in checkboxes, but having these identities in mind allows us to better able complete those forms requesting our demographic data. Even when some forms consist of checkboxes and may not contain the label you prefer, you begin with an idea of how to expand the notions of identity within the category in question.

Post submitted by Courtney

Thursday Take-Off: Where is your home away from home here at UCLA?

My parents live almost 3 hours away from me and although it may not seem too far, it is hard for me to visit and I’ve felt rather homesick lately. Yet even though I may not be near my loved ones I’m very fortunate to say that I’ve made really great friendships here at UCLA  and have places where I feel at home. I think it’s important to find a home away from home (whether that be on campus, in a student group, at your job, in your apartment with your roommates, or maybe even in your dorm) because we all need a space where we can be ourselves, somewhere we can be listened to and understood.

While many of us are learning and maybe even striving to be independent, I believe that it’s important to create a home wherever you are because college can be a very stressful experience and we shouldn’t do it alone. We should make the most of our college experience and find those people who will push us and make sure we accomplish our goals, together. So, where is your home away from home? Would you like to have a home away from home here on campus? And if so, what will you do to create or find that space for YOU?

Posted by: Alexandra Barba

Thursday Take-off: Do Children Usually “Follow Suit”?

I was sitting on the bus on the first day of school this quarter when a man got on the bus and plopped down next to me.  He instantaneously began talking to me, noting how quiet the bus was and asking if the people were always unfriendly.  It felt so refreshing to find an individual who likes to engage in friendly conversation (that is not something I find frequently in the big city of Los Angeles).

As we discussed life and its challenges, joys, and triumphs, we both discovered that we are parents.  We spent most of the bus ride talking about parenthood and how “boys will be boys.”  At the very end of our conversation, the man slipped in the fact that his mother was a single mom of nine children.  When I applauded his mother for her dedication, he noted that he, too, is a single parent.  This made me wonder: do children usually “follow suit?”  I know that children often attempt to do the complete opposite of their parents and oftentimes choose completely different career paths from them.  However, I wonder if  there is some psychological reason why people have the tendency of following in the footsteps of their parents.  Why is it the case that this man is also a single parent? It can’t be mere coincidence…or is it? So, for those of you interested in psychology (or even those of you who are just curious like me): what do you think?

Post submitted by Casey O’Neill

Thursday Take-Off: What is your Intention? Welcome to 2013

As the ball drops we tear the wrapping off our new calendars and are constantly reminded that it’s 2013 and not 2012. Every time we write the date on the top of our papers, we automatically proceed to erase the two in order to replace it with a three. The stark reminders of the birth of a new year are blatant and extensive. January 1^st is just another day, but the symbolic undertones of these new year reminders influence us to do something different, make a resolution, be more bold, and reflect on the past.

As UCLA students breaking into winter quarter, we open up the first page of a fresh notebook and make ourselves promises to do yoga before class everyday or maybe just go to class everyday…No matter the intricacies or uniqueness of your own new year traditions, as a collective we find ourselves taking a quiet moment to self reflect and make self promises, or maybe even go so far as to set goals.

The pressure of goal setting may prove to be too daunting to some, as the fear of failing to achieve that goal is sometimes overwhelming. But with whatever you dare yourself to do this year, I would challenge you to be intentional. It is with this sense of purpose that I believe you can achieve any of these goals. It is this intentionality that will set apart those goals that seem unattainable and the goals that are achievable.

So I must ask. What is your intention this year?

Post Submitted By: Ashton 

Thursday Take-Off: What makes you smile?

What makes you smile on a day-to-day basis?  With school and work, life can get busy and packed, making us forget to breathe a little and think about the things we enjoy in life. It can be anything from the extraordinary to the mundane – a thought, a memory of a hilarious moment, or even a person. So, as you proceed to go about your day, take a moment to think of what makes you smile. And hey, when you smile at the thought of what makes you happy, you might just make another person smile.

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Post submitted by: Christina Trieu

Thursday Take-Off: Where do you seek the great perhaps?

Where do you seek the great perhaps? Or, how do you seek the great perhaps?

The great perhaps: define it as you see fit. What lays ahead in the future? Where is it? How are you going to get there?

Post submitted by: Courtney Lee

Thursday Take off Question!: What will you do to finish this quarter off strong?

The end of the quarter is right around the corner and at this time I feel like many of us begin to check out. We’re all ready for Christmas break and can’t wait for the school year to be over, BUT we need to try to finish off strong! I feel like we start the school year with great aspirations, but slowly we lose track of our goals because of all of the demands we have as college students. This is my second year at UCLA and I’ve noticed a negative pattern in my academic tendencies. By finals week I am not as committed to studying and am more focused on finishing the quarter.  I am not as dedicated to my work and I don’t have the same kind of motivation that I had in September. Now that I have been able to recognize how this mentality has affected me academically, I want to start making a plan of action to reach my goals. I hope that this will help me to remember that my goals are just as important 10th week as they were the 1st week of the quarter. Everyone’s plan of action will look different. For some of us a list will work, for others it may be notes on our planner with specific details– whatever plan of action works for you, do it!  I highly encourage us to take some time to make a plan of action so we can all finish off strong! So, what will you do to finish this quarter off strong?

Post By: Alexandra Barba

Thursday Take-Off: What are the achievements you are most proud of?

As a college student, I feel that not enough of us take the time to pause and look back at our journey in achieving higher education. We get so caught up in the fast paced environment that college tends to facilitate, that we hardly ever self-reflect and consider the factors in our lives that hinder or motivate us to move forward. Thus, I want to encourage all of our readers to think about the past and celebrate the journey you all have taken to get to where you are today. I believe that we must all learn to love and appreciate ourselves in order to move forward in life with confidence and determination. Although we may struggle in the present, it is important to acknowledge the fact that all of us have taken a unique path in order to become the person we are today.

Personally, I am most proud of the development of my ability to take risks. It was so easy in my comfort zone where I was not challenging myself to expand my boundaries. I was so scared of losing the stability that I’ve gained by not pushing myself that I was hindering my own development into a young adult. Once I started to cultivate this skill, many opportunities started to present themselves to me. The fact that I am so happy today stems from the fact that I took the risks that challenged me to take upon roles and jobs that have allowed me to learn and grow. So, what are the achievements you are most proud of?

 

Post submitted by Lauren Park

Thursday Take-Off: Why are you Interesting?

In the ever moving, fast-paced, hustle and bustle that has affectionately come to be known as UCLA, it is easy to take for granted the abundance of intellect, diversity, and uniqueness that surrounds us on this campus. It is important to take a step back and appreciate the multifaceted citizens that constitute this campus. In an effort to appreciate those around us, I think it is equally important to highlight our own uniqueness so today I’m posing the question, “Why are you interesting?” Cultivating a strong sense of self worth is often the first necessary step to gaining an appreciation for the world around us. You too are a bright, vibrant, and dynamic citizen of UCLA. I urge each individual to take a moment of self-reflection to reveal the exceptional sense of self that is evident in your distinctive perspective, your fascinating narrative, and your beautiful soul. By asking ourselves this surprisingly difficult question and by formulating a genuine answer, we are equipping ourselves with an unparalleled sense of self worth that reminds each and every one of us that we all stick out amongst a crowd as dynamic as the one we find at UCLA.

Post Submitted by: Ashton Rosin