Getting started on my new project, Motivation is the Key. I will be writing the curriculum that I will use to go over crucial life lessons in establishing a framework to build upon.

My goal is to organize a curriculum-based training program using motivational techniques that will encourage adults to lead more productive lifestyles so that they become more positive role models for their children.

I believe that poverty is a state of mind often coupled with economic depravity. Studies have shown that people given a feeling of control over their situation perform better than others in the same situation. Unmotivated parents given tools to help overcome their situations and free themselves from hopelessness will set wonderful examples for their children. Children in turn will circulate a prosperous cycle instead of revolving in a world void of aspirations, goals and successes.

I plan to see a tangible product of success through improved grades attained by the children of the participants, their increased self-efficacy demonstrated through non-verbal communication skills and more positive affect displayed. I will use reading attitude assessments to determine their attitude and proficiency in reading.

I plan to provide my service to low-income adults in Collin County. I will host an outreach program in McKinney, TX through the community center at RedBud Trail Apartments, sponsored by Atlantic Housing.

I will journal the experiences through the classes held. I will also provide the participants with journals to catalog their thoughts and feelings weekly so that we can note any significant attitude changes at the conclusion of the project. I will also measure the children’s grades on center-generated homework assignments and tests of knowledge at the initiation and completion of the project. I will compile the analyses into a detailed research paper describing the events. I will use many self-reports and analysis of reflections to asses attitudes, intent to change behavior and actual change.

I hope to gain the experience of working to help people and significantly improve the lives of children. I hope to discover that this motivational view on the effects of the down-trodden in Collin County will generalize as a program that can help many become more effective parents and happier people. I hope that this pilot-study will lead to the eventual development of an intervention that will help state-aid recipients break their cycle of poverty. I will gain the exposure and first-hand knowledge of working with adults from a complex web of difficulties. I will have to navigate their issues in order to positively impact the child. This practice will prove useful in my future anticipated career as a child psychologist.

Principally, I will do some activities (i.e. reading together, playing games) with the children during the weeks prior to the start of classes. I will journal the children’s behavior patterns, listen to any overtly expressed needs and develop a bond with them in order to assess what their general needs are. Also, I will monitor the adults’ behavior and talk with the program heads in order to determine the most prevalent needs at that time. Wherever there is an overlap between the children’s needs and the adult’s needs we will construct a curriculum to focus on those issues first. If we do not have enough identified key material for eight sessions we will cover general topics like morals and values, the importance of education, keeping your brain healthy and active, how to effectively resolve disputes, key factors in intrinsic motivation, and the importance of utilizing effective communication skills.

A large component of my project will be to develop a curriculum that will significantly impact my target community. I will use techniques from the school of thought surrounding motivational interviewing which will permit a deeper understanding of the adults. It will also allow for each adults facilitated change without prodding, boasting or coercion. Despite my careful calculations, I may encounter some adults who do not want to participate because they are complacent or severely unmotivated. I will combat this by having small refreshments at the meetings and providing a comfortable, amiable environment. I will also assure each potential participant that the meetings are confidential and informal, an opportunity to express their concerns or fears relating to parenting or any other issues.

As of now, I have scheduled an observational meeting with the mothers of the children at the center on May 31st. At the conclusion of their meeting I will introduce myself and my project and schedule our first group session for Saturday, June 8th. I plan to s hold approximately 7 additional sessions on consecutive Saturday mid-mornings until July 27th, not including a holiday off for July 4th observed July 6th. The classes will be about one hour in duration and will follow a curriculum loosely outlined in the methodology above and solidified with the help of my mentor as we continue to ascertain and analyze the information necessary in order to formulate a custom-fit model.

SMU students at CGI U

The conference included several sessions that focused on the primary issues of conversation. One of the first sessions, called “Getting off the Ground: Stories of Starting Up”, featured a panel of innovators who shared their insights and experiences of launching their own businesses. Speakers at this panel included Chelsea Clinton, Mark S. Wrighton, President Bill Clinton, Kenneth Cole, Jack Dorsey, William Kamkwamba, and Zainab Salbi. The panel of entrepreneurs spoke on how young innovators should accept preliminary failures as part of the process of getting started and shared lessons they learnt from their own experiences. President Clinton made an interesting point when he stated, “your commitments say a lot about what you care about and what kind of world you want to live in”. Zainab Salbi, founder of Women for Women International, explained that “the way to implement our imagination is to believe in ourselves and believe that we can do it”.

Opening Plenary Session

The second session, titled “A Better Future for Girls and Women: Empowering the Next Generation”, featured public figures who discussed ways that today’s youth can support women and girls in having a brighter future. The panelists spoke on how students can work to empower girls and women. Speakers included Chelsea Clinton, Shabana Basij-Rasikh, Hawa Abdi Diblawe, Stephen J. Felice, and Muhammad Yunus. Shabana Basij-Rasikh explained that “it really takes persistence, patience and the belief that you can do something”. Dr. Yunus pointed out that “the power of technology can go far beyond what it was intended for. Technology can transform everything”.

A Better Future for Girls & Women

I also attended a working session, titled “The Human Rights Information Revolution”, which was part of the Peace and Human Rights section. The speakers included Sarah Kendzior, Sabrina Hersi Issa, Emily Jacobi, and Alec Ross. The panelists spoke on digital human rights activism and increasing Internet access all over the world. The panel examined how the Internet can be a tool for human rights, as well as a human right. Alec Ross stated, “any of you can leverage your social and mobile networks to raise a lot of capital for your campaigns”. The last plenary session, which was called “Solutions without Borders: Working with Unlikely Allies”, examined the necessity for collaboration. Speakers for this panel included Bill Bishop, Will Allen, Claire McCaskill, Sara Minkara, and Brendan Tuohey. The panelists spoke on how to form effective partnerships, and the significance of cooperation over conflict. Senator McCaskill said, “I know you’re all going to be the shining stars leading this country”. I attended another working session called “Modern Day Slavery: How do we end human trafficking?”. The panel featured Alex Wagner, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Jeannette Richardson-Baars, and Dan Viederman. The panelists spoke on the major issues related to trafficking and how CGI U representatives can support the fight against trafficking. Jada Pinkett-Smith spoke about the new Be Safe application that she is involved with, and stated, “we’re hoping the Be Safe app will become the new 911”.

Human Trafficking lecture

The closing conversation was certainly the highlight of the night- with speakers President Bill Clinton and Stephen Colbert. Colbert’s talk doubled as a taping for his show, and the excitement in the room was beyond palpable. The closing conversation added a light-hearted touch to the conference, reminding students that commitments should be exciting. President Clinton explained, “we’re all tied together. We live in an interdependent world”. When asked about CGI U, President Clinton said, “the great thing about Clinton Global is that it has created a global network for giving”. After the closing conversation, I headed to office hours with Gary White, co-founder of water.org. White spoke on the initial struggles of his now famed non-profit venture, and gave us advice on how we can utilize resources around us to bring our commitments to fruition. After office hours, I made my way to a working session with Chelsea Clinton for Women and Girls related commitments. The working session not only served as an avenue to network with like-minded students, but also gave us insight on how we can continue working to support women and girls. The weekend concluded with a service project with Gateway STEM High School. The morning kicked off with a talk from President Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, and the principal, Dr. Beth Bender, who all spoke on the importance of giving back. CGI U students worked on various restorative projects around the school. President Clinton closed out the weekend saying, “If you want a future of shared prosperity, everyone has got to be a part of it”.

Closing Conversation

CGI U was certainly an unparalleled experience. From the valuable connections I made to hearing the inspiring words of today’s leaders, I came back from CGI U more inspired than ever. CGI U isn’t just a place to discuss ideas, it’s a place where today’s youth takes concrete steps towards creating a better future.

Last summer, I embarked on one of the most inspirational experiences of my life. When I first boarded the plane in a confused daze, I had no idea that what started as a simple idea would quickly become a way to change lives.

 I was accepted into the Engaged Learning program during my freshman year. I created the concept of the Nari Kit, a transitional kit that would aid a domestic abuse victim while transitioning from a critical situation to a place of safety. My mentor, Dr. Rick Halperin, told me one afternoon that I was “sitting on a gold mine of assistance”. I wrote up a proposal, and was the only freshman to receive the grant. I traveled to Bangladesh the summer after my freshman year to start the Nari Project. The kit contained a copy of the Declaration of Human Rights in Bengali, a sari, toothpaste, a toothbrush, hair oil, a towel, a package of food, and 500 takas. As women suffering from domestic abuse came through the forum, I distributed the Nari Kits. The sweltering weather and culture shock may have been challenging, but the experience was beyond rewarding. I remember one woman in particular. She had suffered extensive abuse from both her husband and her in-laws, and was estranged from her child. As soon as I handed her my kit, she looked inside and immediately had tears in her eyes. She gave me one of the most sincere hugs I have ever received, gave me her blessings, and told me how the kit made things so much better for her. It was one of the most heart-warming and inspiring moments I have ever experienced.

 My research didn’t stop there. I followed up after I returned, and found that my kits were very well received. During the initial stages of my project, an advisor told me that my project had the potential to help women all over the world. Since I had worked in a developing country, I thought it would be interesting to carry out similar efforts in a developed country. This is where CGI U comes in.

 The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) connects the next generation of leaders with a similar model of the Clinton Global Initiative. CGI U is not only an excellent way to learn from some of the most inspirational leaders in the world, but also meet and network with like-minded students. I have the amazing opportunity to travel with some of the brightest students from SMU to St. Louis this weekend to attend the sixth annual CGI U meeting. Each student must develop a commitment to action, which is essentially a plan of action concerning a pressing issue in the world. My commitment is to extend the Nari Project to Dallas. I am partnering with Genesis Women’s Shelter, and researching the effectiveness of the kit in the outreach program and the shelter.

 The name of my project, The Nari Project, comes from the word ‘Nari’ in Sanskrit, which means woman. While violence is a widespread issue, the amount of abuse women face is staggering. My mission is quite simply to help as many women as I can.

As a Business Management and Psychology double major this project is right up my allie. Additionally, student involvement has also been a large part of my college experience and therefore, combining all three aspects has resulted in my current Unbridled Project. In fact, from my experience as a student leader, I have noticed three main adverse effects of annual leadership change that I would like to primarily address in this study. First, I believe that student organizations do not do a good job of clarifying expectations and position descriptions to their new members. When students accept a leadership position in a student organization, they are expected to become accustomed to the group culture and understand their responsibilities with little direction. Even when team members are very supportive, it can take a student leader anywhere from two to four months to reach his or her full potential. Second, annual leadership turnover also requires essential information turnover. Moving forward from year to year, many student organizations lack continuity in vision and annual feedback, leaving the new management to learn from their own mistakes and create a new vision rather than refining and developing the previous one. Lastly, organizations sometimes carry over unhealthy habits that create unsuccessful organizational cultures. In most cases, much of the new leadership in student organizations is comprised of existing members who have chosen to pursue a new role in that group. Therefore, students tend to carry over unhealthy habits such as picking up slack for other members in an organization where students are told to take accountability for their actions, or interfering too much in another member’s work in an organizational culture that tries to encourage autonomy. These habits then transfer down from year to year as part of the organizational culture, rather than being addressed as they occur.

Currently, I have been working on finishing up my literature review, completing my survey, and starting work on my final report by doing sections such as the introduction, literature review, conceptual framework, and methods.

I am really excited to know that my research may have a great impact on SMU student organizations, and possibly be a starting ground for other annual leadership change institutions as well!

Moreover, as I continue to work through this project, I hope to keep this blog updated with my exciting, new experiences.

Throughout my time interviewing, I have been amazed at the beauty of the Mayan culture. The individuals I have met have welcomed me and treated me with such respect that I cannot help but feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to conduct my research here.

I met Fernando*, the Mayan Spiritual Guide through a contact that I established in the country. After speaking to him over the phone we established a day and time where we could meet. Thus, I arrived early one Friday morning in the city of Chimaltenango. After taking the bus for 3 hours, I jumped off the and arrived our designated meeting place. I was sitting at the table alone with my thoughts when all of the sudden, he walked into the restaurant, wearing a traditional textile jacket and carrying a backpack.

Upon beginning to interview him, I was enthralled by his life story and all he had to share with me. Early in his life he was not a Mayan Priest but after going through many trials and tribulations he realized that he was unhappy because he was not following his true path. Thus, he realized he was destined to be a Spiritual Guide and in choosing this path he comments his life was forever changed. When he graduated and finished his Shaman education, he was handed a bag filled with his tools and he began to work and fulfill his life’s work.

Fernando, continued by explaining to me the intricacy that is the Mayan culture. With this I learned more about the Mayan calendar and the various traditions and ceremonies that occur when individuals are born. It was interesting to note that while I was learning about the beliefs and traditions of the indigenous Mayans, I was also learning more about myself.

Additionally, since I was researching medicinal plants and their remedies, he explained to me various plants and herbs that are used to treat a variety of diseases and illness. What I found so fascinating, was that each herb had a specific property and usage and it depends on the origin of the illness whether it is a physical manifestation, or a mental manifestation, for the plant to be used.

Towards the end of my interview he invited me to attend a Mayan convention that trains Mayan spiritual guides and priests, with an emphasis of medicinine. Unfortunately, I would be traveling back to the United States but Fernando assured me that there are indeed female Mayan Spiritual Guides and should I be interested in returning to visit and experience the Mayan training school for Guides and Priests I was always welcome.

Overall, I found this interview to be one of the best that I had conducted and there was one moment that I felt I would carry this advice with me for the rest of my life. Fernando told me that the greatest thing I can do, if I choose to continue to pursue a medical career, is to always remember to listen to the patients. For it is with listening that I learn more about the patient and thus am better equipped to help him/her. With listening I can understand differences, in perhaps, cultural perspectives that otherwise without would allow for conflicts to build.

Lastly, I was told to never forget my past, or my culture. I should always honor, be proud and respect my ancestors and the land of my forefathers. For without a past I cannot move forward to complete my life’s dreams and goals.

 ”The future is no place for a person with an incomplete past”

  *Name changed to respect privacy of interviewed individual

In my previous post I spoke over the creatures of myth that I have heard stories.  While I personally, have not encountered any supernatural creature, as of now, the individuals who I have met and interviewed account tales where such creatures have come to the village where they lived. Each story that is recounted to me is unique in its own way because each experience is different. While some individuals have encountered creatures as children others have been susceptible to seeing the paranormal as adults. Some accounts are terrifying while others are funny. What I have learned is that these entities are to be feared and respected.

Throughout my research in Guatemala I have traveled through rivers and walked through the rainforest sometimes as night falls upon me. It is my hope that after hearing these stories of things that go bump in the night, that I never encounter such mystic entities!

Now when I say darkness sets in, I mean around 7:00 pm it is already pitch black.  Looking up to the sky you can see stars, as small specks of light to help orient you.  What one would think resembles 2 am in the morning is only 9pm at night.  Thus, the trees and forest life can look very ominous and every sound whether it be a scratch or howl sounds terrifying, especially when you cannot pinpoint where the noise originates.  The wind whispers through the night and the things that go bump in the night are told in stories to keep children safe inside. Since the stories are effective in keeping children away from wandering the town at night, the stories are passed down and told to each generation.  Almost every individual I have interviewed recounts a story of where they or they personally know an individual that has encountered the supernatural creatures of myth.  Thus, each encounter strengthens the story and it is continuously told. After hearing a few ghost stories myself I want to remain inside as well!

Just today I saw a hummingbird that was sipping nectar from a bouquet of flowers near the stream. It flitted past me rapidly and returned to the flower again.  The bird was so small it could have fit in the palm of my hand! Its feathers were a vibrant red and orange.  Additionally, the trees and plants are a lush green and there are fruit plants all around. I have seen banana trees, mango trees, lemons, limes and orange trees.  One merely has to pick the fruit off the tree and voila a snack! The only downside is that there are so many mosquitoes! These pesky little insects will be my downfall.

At night one can hear the sounds of the rainforest and the nocturnal mammals.  Last night, I was studying and all of the sudden a little black animal flitted in through the open window.  At first I thought it was a bird, but the animal was flying in an awkward manner that after close inspection I realized it was not a bird but a bat! Luckily, after I opened the window wider, it managed to fly out into the dark.  And so, as I sit here reflecting on my day, I am anxious for morning to come and a new day to begin!

Just today when I was conducting interviews storm clouds began to move in, turning the sky various shades of dark grey. Luckily for me, I planned accordingly and wore my rain boots as a precaution.  Once my interviews finished I needed to travel back to the main road. Navigating through the rainforest on my way back, to me, seemed like trekking through a small hurricane. The rain and wind whipped my hair around my face and lightning streaked through the sky.  As thunder pounded, the river nearby began to flood the small street I was walking on. What once began as a puddle of rain to walk through soon turned into a river with water up to my knees. I was glad that the trees with their large leaves gave some shelter from the rain. I felt as if I should have brought a small canoe to make it back to the main road.

I look back now and think that it was a difficult trek through the rain but had I not done it I would not have met some amazing people to interview deep within the forest.  Once the rain calmed down I was able to do some splashing, singing and dancing in the rain.

“Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain” – Author Unknown