All posts in: Guest Post

20 Apr 2012

{Guest Post} By Andrea Augustinas

Embrace Your Inner Nerd

If you know me you know I’m not someone who pretends to have a lot of advice or wisdom to dispense, but in my travels I’ve cultivated one nugget of pseudo-wisdom:  one surefire way to help yourself “make it” in the “real world” is something I like to call embracing your inner nerd.  And no, I don’t mean buying yourself a pair of coke bottle glasses or quoting obscure books at your friends (trust me, it’s not charming).   I’m talking about immersing yourself in something(s) you love that most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about, making yourself knowledgeable, and letting your enjoyment of those things impact your life.

Nerds care about what matters and value people for who they are.  It’s a major misconception that you have to be intelligent to be a nerd.  Not so.  I would probably fail an 8th grade science test, yet I’m as sincere a nerd as they come.  Because that’s what counts with nerds—sincerity.  It doesn’t matter if we’re interested in the same things; if I can see you’re genuine in what you care about and it’s close to your heart, I respect that.  I have a friend who’s obsessed with all things Disney, another who unabashedly loves Sailor Moon, and even a friend who loses her mind over shows like Pretty Little Liars (hint: she runs this blog), and even though those things aren’t my particular cup of tea, those people are important to me because I value people who really, truly care about things.  If any of these people, hearing me mock something they love (and despite my nerd-solidarity I tend to do this), said “No, you’re right, it’s dumb,” I would instantly lose some respect for them.  I find that generally, people who can’t be sincere about something as simple as their interests will rarely be sincere in their relationships.

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08 Apr 2012

{Guest Post} By Kristina Nicchi

I’ve always been known for my larger-than-life laugh. It’s to the point that it’s even been officially titled. Twice, actually. While most people find “The Kristina Cackle” ridiculous and (if visibly with me) slightly embarrassing, I find it to be rather telling of my life… Or maybe, more correctly, my outlook on life.

When people ask how my experience in Guatemala has been, there are two predominant conversation paths I can travel down. I could begin by listing off the absurd amount of health cases that I’ve been dealt (thigh-encompassing allergic reactions to ant bites, sun-blistered lips, parasites, bed bugs, lice, and yes, even fleas). But where’s the fun in that? I laugh most of those off anyway. Rather, I choose to begin by listing off the reasons I love this place. Why, you ask? The latter is a much longer list AND puts a bigger smile on my face.

Take munchkin Tony for instance. He is a five-year-old who doesn’t have a terribly large vocabulary due to a developmental delay. Regardless, not only has he won over my heart, he’s won over the heart of all my family that has come to visit. Tony has the two most adorably crooked front teeth I have EVER seen. He can’t help but flash them as he runs up to me shouting his version of my name: “Tee-naa! Tee-naa!” Because of his endless energy, I’m never bored when with him. We do anything from make paper airplanes, to rummage through the sandbox for hidden trucks, to play the “Tony Scares Kristina” game, to receive endless kisses from him while together. Tony is the FIRST kid I would stow in my luggage.

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06 Feb 2012

Congratulations John!

I am so so proud of my friend John! Not even a week ago, John reached out to his friends and family to ask for donations for an extracurricular baseball program that he wanted to bring to his students and today he has finally reached his goal. With the help of his friends, he was able to raise $1,085 for students and now they will have all the equipment they will need to play baseball.

I am very lucky to have someone like John in my life. His dedication to his students and kind heart are just two of the many qualities that I am impressed by. Readers, I am very glad that I have had the opportunity to introduce him all to you.

Congratulations John! I hope you know how much everyone here in the community cares for you and how often we are thinking of you!

To continue following John’s adventures in Detroit, check out his blog here.

04 Feb 2012

{Guest Post} By Megan Newell

Hello Yow-Yow enthusiasts!

I hail all the way from Baltimore, MD where I am currently a full-time volunteer through Jesuit Volunteer Corps. I am a caseworker at a homeless day shelter where I meet daily with an average of 10 clients. The services I aid with through casework include financial assistance in obtaining identification, shelter referrals, mental health and substance abuse referrals, handing out needed clothing, and helping clients find housing along with many other things that situations call forth. I’ve done something as simple as stick a band-aid on a cut of a man’s forehead to as complicated as finding assistance for a woman and her two children who were living in an “abondominuim”.

This work is tough and emotionally demanding, especially since there is a huge need from the homeless population and Baltimore City doesn’t offer enough resources. It’s especially tough as stories of homelessness are personalized for me; I see it in the faces, emotions, mannerisms, personalities, and hearts of each one of my clients.

I’ve come to dislike the term “homeless.” It lacks human dignity for a population that most needs it. With that term comes impressions of what that person is like- alcoholic, drug-ridden, mentally ill, dirty, lazy or even simply just out of luck. Yes, there are clients I see who are “chronically homeless” and may encompass one or more of these features, but the majority of my clients have potential for obtaining housing and simply need a leg up. They need someone who will advocate for them, assist with their needs when they don’t have the finances or spirit, or simply listen to them. Instead of “homeless”, and although it might not be the best solution for defining this population, I’ve thought of “without a house/apartment/a place to stay.” For me, this phrase indicates more of a transitional period in a person’s life when times are tough. It signifies that there is hope for that individual in moving forward in reclaiming stable housing, even if it might take a while. Moreover, “without a house/apartment/a place to stay” also signifies a lack of owning something tangible that society sees as almost necessary to being a “quality” citizen; something also defined by having a valid ID, a clean record, and able-bodied enough to work, all of which many of my clients do not possess.

I want to share this picture with you:

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31 Jan 2012

Supporting My Friend John

Hello readers! Another reason why I am so glad to have guests posts on Yow Yow! from my dearest friends is so that I can keep all of you informed when they are doing awesome things in their lives! My dear friend John is currently in the Teach For America program teaching   physics to 11th graders and has decided to create a baseball team for his students as part of their extracurricular program. The school that he teaches at in Detroit is lacking sufficient funds to make this possible so he is asking for help from all of his friends and family. Donations will go towards all of the basic equipment needed for his kids to be able to play baseball. Check out his donation page here.

Good luck John! We’re so proud of you!

28 Jan 2012

{Guest Post} By Meghan Addison

When Katie sent me the email asking me to write a guest post on Yow Yow, I was incredibly hesitant. Unlike everyone who has written before me, I don’t actually like most people or things, and the highlights of my day include pooping and eating abnormal amounts of Mexican food. I loved absolutely everything I’ve read so far with the guest posts, but when Katie asked me to share something witty and insightful I blanked. Me? Wise? I thought that word was only for old dudes with beards like Dumbledore or Socrates. So I picked my brain and tried to think of something, absolutely anything, that would make me sound like a funny and intelligent 22-year old who’s getting her act together. Sadly, I’m not in a Scott Pilgrim novel, and all I could think about was my existential crisis: why is my love of Zooey Deschanel disintegrating? WHY?

The real fact of the matter is, I suck under pressure. I am an incredibly opinionated person who actually never keeps her mouth shut, yet if you ask me what my favorite book is, or what music I like, the only answers that pop into my brain are the Insane Clown Posse and Eat Pray Love.

But then it hit me: I’m going to write about a person who inspires me. So simple, right? When I re-read the email Katie sent me, she talked about how she’s lucky to have me in her life, and that I have helped shaped her experience at SU, and that she wanted to marry me because I’m so attractive and amazingly good-looking and sexy (I know, she won’t keep her hands off me). However, I kept thinking, “Does Katie realize she does the same thing for so many others?”

Unfortunately, I think the answer is no, therefore today I’m going to confess why I’m in lesbians with Katie.

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21 Jan 2012

{Guest Post} By Maddie Cary

Becoming a Dreamer

Picture me at 18 years old. Actually put some valiant effort into that, because I was much skinnier then, so this will be a more flattering place to start.

At 18, I live my entire life in practicality and reason. I approach things as a realist, sometimes to an alarming degree. I don’t like breaking rules. I don’t like the idea of getting into trouble. I don’t drink or try any drugs through my entire childhood and rambunctious teenage dome. You get the picture—I wasn’t the kind of kid to paint graffiti on the sides of buildings or get caught making out in the closet at somebody’s house party. I was never good at being indulgent or a risk taker. Don’t expect me to be the first to jump into the deep end of the pool. Hell, don’t expect me to be the first one to suggest going into the pool. Me in a bathing suit? In public? Do you want an entire collection of people to be simultaneously horrified and blinded at the same time? I didn’t think so.

Now, let’s move on from those chilling thoughts and settle into the now. The present Maddie, who is 22 and thought she knew exactly what she was doing. Thought she had created a practical college plan to follow and is instead staring into the future like it’s a San Francisco fog. I declared my business major at Seattle University because I thought it was a responsible step. I knew one day I wanted to own my own business and become an entrepreneur.

Now I’m two quarters from graduating, and on paper, I’m satisfactory for the business world. I’ve had work experience, two internships, and a handful of leadership experiences. I even have a leadership and mentoring position at the business school. In fact, to my current employer, who may be fully willing to hire me after graduation, I look fancy and clean-cut and like I’m ready to take on new responsibility.

So whoop-de-doo, put a cherry on top. The pie is baked, decorated, and ready to go, right? Wrong. Here’s where I hit the road-block.

What if instead, I took all that practical planning I’ve been assembling, molding, perfecting into the damn Mona Lisa, and, well…threw it out the window? What if I based my future goals on the one part of my life where I’m impulsive and indulgent: singing publicly.

Why would I do that? Well, here’s some context: Ever since I was about 4, I’ve been singing. Now, I’m fully aware that EVERY performer you come across will say something like that. Something along the lines of “I’ve basically been performing since the day I was born.” Oh sure, you came tap dancing out of your mother’s womb. I get it. What I mean by starting like that is to say that ever since I was young, it’s been one of the only things I felt good at. My first solo was in the 5th grade musical, where I tested out my a-bit-mature-for-my-age big voice. Later, I performed in middle school talent shows and watched tiny pubescent heads turn from the audience to try to figure out where that loud (not yet very controlled) singing voice was coming from. As I got older, I tried so hard to sound like famous pop stars and divas of soul and rnb. I sang at talent shows and sporting events in high school. I joined the choirs. I pretended like I knew how to write good songs and recorded demos when I was 15. That was and remains my identity to most people. I’m Maddie Cary: the girl with the big voice.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iafMhtDQD3g&feature=youtu.be]

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14 Jan 2012

{Guest Post} By John Conway

The Matthew Escapade, or “College Never Prepared Me to Get Demoralized”

At 5:30 this morning, I woke up. My phone alarm played its typical tune, and I already felt anxious.

At once, I felt the warmth of the room, and realized this is not just another morning. I am not in my own bed. As I awake, there are quotes that my dad likes on the walls, and Christmas decorations in the front lawn.

I woke up in Boise, ID, my parents’ home that I have never known, and I am thrilled. I am thrilled to be in the loving support network of my family, but more thrilled that it is not that kind of Monday. It is a Monday, but I am far from the children of Detroit, MI. For just these two weeks, I am able to escape their blight, their shortcomings, and return to my idyllic world of upper-middle-class-white-male-dom.

Immediately upon making the realization that I am up far before I should, I fell back to sleep.

Later, as I rise, I begin to feel guilty. This is not a rare occurrence – I have begun to make routine out of feeling guilty (I get it from my mother, she says. I guess it runs in the family). I feel guilty for sleeping too much. I feel guilty for how exorbitantly wealthy I feel to fly home to loving parents with two cars and a garage and pictures of success adorning the walls. But topping all the guilt is the one of recognition from my students. How would the kids feel if they knew?

What if my 11th graders that I teach knew their physics teacher was struggling this much to come to work every morning? What if they knew that, at times, I have wished for anything to keep me from work: car theft, car accident, fire, snow day, rain day, bear attack? What if my 4.0 student knew I was not working as hard as I could to make sure he can get in to Northwestern and succeed? What if all the things that I tell the students, about following their dreams, and finding something you love and exploring it, I was incapable of following for two more years? What if they already do know these things? How does that change how they respond in class?

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14 Dec 2011

{Guest Post} by Veronica Lim


College: How I learned more about life than about English Literature

Welcome to the Leadership/Hipster/Jesu-What Tradition Culture of SU

Snippets of “Coeur D’Alene” by the Head and the Heart had been playing for a few moments every five minutes for over an hour that morning. My body involuntarily pressed snooze every time the chorus chimed in on my sleep. Every time the alarm would set, I told myself just a few more seconds before I would start the day. But instead, I fell back asleep over 12 times before convincing myself starting the day would be wise.

Weeks prior to this, I woke up at 9:30am on Saturday thinking I was late for class before realizing it wasn’t Friday. But in the few seconds where panic usually arises, I stayed calm. There’s a good chance these incidences happen to nearly every college student—especially all of my friends. These moments are rather indicative of my years in college. What I’ve learned while going to SU is how to be a person and waking up late contributes to that more than I have ever expected. As I write this to share with Katie and her readers, it’s getting late and the dark circles underneath my eyes grow darker by the second. But nonetheless, these are the moments I want to share with YOU. Why? Because these are the thoughts that I think best explain how college ought to be defined.

Here’s my top 10 list of lessons learned in college (not in any specific order):

  • Do what you want. Follow your heart. Live the dream. Insert whichever cliché fits this.
  • Broken hearts teach you what type of person you want to be not who to become for someone else.
  • Patience is a much more significant trait than you may realize.
  • Having an idealistic pre college graduate outlook on life is what most people strive for, be thankful if you have it.
  • Life is short, don’t spend it reading a book you hate, hanging out with people who don’t love life, taking classes that hurt your body and soul, going to work at places that make you want to punch a dolphin
  • It’s all about the adventure. So take a chance.
  • Success is relative. Failing is relative. No one can define these terms for you but yourself.
  • Building community is possible anywhere as long as you truly want it.
  • Coffee and tea are a godsend. Not for its caffeine content but for its capacity to persuade people to sit down with one another to share a conversation early in the morning, in the middle of the afternoon, or late at night.
  • Real life is NOT a stellar GPA, it is NOT about being the best, it is NOT having a career that makes bank, it’s about finding people to make this statement true: Home is wherever I’m with you.

Read more “{Guest Post} by Veronica Lim”