Attending the Ethical Dilemmas seminar was a fun, interactive experience. As we spent time discussing what we would do in certain situations, I was able to reflect on some of my own morals and values and how they differ from others. It even allowed me to realize the bias that I hold against those who don’t agree with answers. Specifically, I found that often I assume the reasoning for why someone might answer a certain way but being able to hear why someone thinks that certain way broadened my perspective. It was also interesting to see what people rationalized as acceptable and within what parameters do they set limits for themselves. I often do that as well and it was fun to hear others’ rationale.  

Watching The Pruitt-Igoe Myth film was another interesting look into our country’s history, specifically, the housing system in the 1960s and 70s. What struck me most about the film was the inclusion of people who had actually lived in the housing complex and watched as the project eventually fell apart. Often looking back into history seems like these events are so far from the present time, but these residents are living evidence of the Pruitt-Igoe project and the impact it had. Despite the downfall of the complex, listening to the stories of the residents was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. Specifically, since most of them were children when they moved into their housing unit much of their youth and prime years of growth were spent at Pruitt-Igoe. Many residents shared that even today they look back at their time there as precious. They recalled moments when the residents of the complex felt like a close family. It’s sad to think how their experiences ended when they still remember their time there so dearly.  

In this episode of the Queen’s Gambit, it was interesting to see the change in Beth’s character following Alma’s death. From the previous episodes, we have been exposed to the strange but still somewhat warm relationship between the two women. For Beth, being alone/not having a supportive person by her side was the norm, but with Alma there, she grew to feel the mother-daughter bond. Despite Beth’s independence shown throughout the show, it becomes more evident following Alma’s death how dependent Beth really is. From her moment with Harry to her growing reliance on alcohol and cigarettes, Beth is always looking for someone or something to lean on. Additionally, it is clear to the audience that Beth is obsessed with chess in an unhealthy way that makes her unable to control her emotions when she is consumed with the game. Therefore, after that wake-up call from Harry, I am curious to see if her training with Benny will change Beth for the better.  

Watching Kiki’s Delivery Service was a great way to end off my week! The film, which tells Kiki’s journey through self-discovery and learning her place in the world, reminded me a lot of this past year. For me, coming to Cornell last semester was the first time I’ve been away from my family and living on my own. As someone who grew up in a big family, I was scared about being alone and having to be truly independent. Like Kiki, there were ups and downs, and learning curves to adapt to, but my experience here so far has been great. Overall, the film was enjoyable, and I definitely look forward to checking out more works from Studio Ghibli!

Being able to attend the personal mission statement workshop gave me a great opportunity to self-reflect on my goals and overall purpose. I’m glad the session was small because it allowed for more interaction and made the workshop very engaging. As classes get heavier with the workload it sometimes gets hard to take a step back and reflect on why we’re studying in the first place. So, for me, this session allowed me to take that step back and understand what I value, what I aspire for, and the people that I want to be included in my journey. 

Despite not being able to make it to the previous Friday Film for episode 2, I still was able to enjoy this episode without too much confusion. One thing I really enjoyed about the episode was seeing Beth more grown and independent.  Specifically, the way she carried herself through the chess tournaments demonstrated the confidence she felt in those settings. Comparing this back to her presentation while she stayed in the orphanage, her growth was very clear. Additionally, I thought it was interesting watching the relationship between Beth and Alma. While at some moments it seems very sweet and like a mother-daughter bond, it’s difficult to determine how genuine the relationship is considering that Alma serves primarily as a “manager” for Beth. Regardless, however, it’s nice to see Beth trust and lean on Alma for support, which is something she didn’t have back at the orphanage.  

Attending last week’s writing workshop was very helpful. As someone who dreads writing school papers, I was glad that the session took time to break down the writing process and make it seem more approachable. Usually, I struggle the most with academic reports and knowing how to cut down on length to meet word limits, but the fellows, Zach and Seema, gave out great advice on how to tackle common struggles in the writing process.  

Another thing that I found interesting from what was mentioned was the idea that everyone works and writes differently. So, it important that we learn what works for us and play to our strengths. Personally, I’m a morning person, so I like getting all my work done early. However, I find that tackling a new paper during the early day makes me feel tired and unmotivated. So, I’m definitely going to take their advice and try working different hours to see if my writing flow is better suited during a different time. Overall, I’m glad I was able to attend the workshop and learn such practical information that can help me improve my writing!

Last week’s Friday Film was another eye-opening learning experience about our country’s history. I especially was surprised about the culture of New Orleans and the very early ideas of civil rights pushed by black writers at the time. It’s a shame that the American history most of us are familiar with excludes so many impactful moments and figures that represented the African American experience. Unfortunately, the documentary reminded me of the Friday Film session about the decline of roller-skating and the roots of the activity in black culture. Much like what is happening with rinks around the country, the culture and history of Treme and Black New Orleans are being forgotten. However, this time it’s through disruptive construction for infrastructure and due to the detrimental effects of Hurricane Katrina. While the documentary ended on a more somber note, I still hope there can be a revival of the city’s rich culture in the future.  

Like with the previous Friday Film, I entered knowing nothing about the showing content. While I had previously heard of the Queen’s Gambit, I had no idea what the show was about, so I was watching the episode with a bit of confusion at first. Then, as the episode progressed and Beth’s journey with chess began it made me really wish I had known the basics of the game in order to truly appreciate her skills. However, I still enjoyed other aspects of the show such as the exploration of themes and topics such as early addiction, sexism, and coming of age all through a young girl’s perspective within a historical context.  

In terms of the technical aspects of the show, I really enjoyed the overall cinematography. When Beth initially arrived at the orphanage, I was set on the idea that the show was a horror one. Specifically, because of the controlling character of the orphanage’s director paired with the overall gray cast lighting, the show gave me an eerie vibe. Eventually, I realized I was wrong in my initial assumptions, but still, the settings, lighting, and overall technical composition shown in the first episode worked well with the themes touched upon. I admit I was frustrated that the episode ended with that cliffhanger, but it definitely has me drawn to watch the next episode! 

The United Skates had me feeling a roller coaster of emotions. Prior to watching the film, the word roller skating meant nothing to me; unfortunately, I don’t know how to roller skate and the only thing that the activity made me think of was a friend’s birthday party that was at a roller rink back when I was in elementary school. Needless to say, I knew nothing of the history behind roller skating or the rich culture in skating. Initially while watching the film I couldn’t help but smile. The environment of the rinks was so lively and welcoming that it really reminded me of home. I come from a large family who loves to dance. So, for me, summer weekends growing up were filled with barbeque nights at my cousins and family friends’ houses where all my aunts, uncles, and older cousins gathered to drink and dance all night to various genres of Latin American music. Therefore, watching the joy and fun that the black community had when they gathered to roller skate gave me such a nostalgic feeling of my childhood. 

However, as the movie progressed and the blatant discrimination against the African American community tore through the lives of the rinks across the country, I grew both angry and sad. While the film ended on an optimistic note about the revival of some of these rinks, I couldn’t help but feel especially emotional for the communities and everything they’ve lost. However, I’m glad to have been able to watch the film and now spread awareness to those around me about this rich culture and history that unfortunately only continues to live on for many as past memories.