Author Archives: krl46

Moving Towards Wellness

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I really, really enjoyed the table talked about Biohacks. Hearing what everyone else did to develop a routine that works for them made me realize how little I do to promote my own mental health and maximize my own productivity. I feel like every semester I start out saying I am really going to try to prioritize my wellness—both mental and physical—but, as soon as I start getting busy, my priorities shift. I start to focus more on surviving the day than thinking about how I can get the most out of that day. What really sank in after hearing other participants talk about how they experiment with different tactics—from intermittent fasting to meditation to weighted blankets—to discover what works best for them was that by failing to prioritize my own wellness I was essentially shooting myself in the foot. The time I gained by skipping the gym, not taking the time to get a good, healthy meal, or thinking I was too busy to even make tea to help me get to sleep fast was certainty eventually lost in terms of my ultimate productivity. What I am really starting to realize is that when you feel better, you perform better.

Moreover, beyond maximizing efficiency, this table talk really made me realize that I owe it to myself to do things just for my own well-being, not for my GPA or my resume. If going to the gym makes me feel better, I should just do it, regardless of whether that risks getting a bit behind on reading or studying for two hours less on an exam. Unfortunately, thinking back on my past experiences, while thinking about my prioritizing approaching my wellness from the perspective of giving myself something I deserve, I still might be tempted through throw my wellness to the wayside when prelims roll around. However, if I can get myself to trust that prioritizing wellness will help me feel better and do better than I will if I am not eating right, not sleeping, not taking the time to go to the gym or meditate, then I think I could really build a habit of prioritizing my wellness, no matter what is going on around me. I think the hardest part for me is getting myself to trust that if I put down my books to go to gym or get enough sleep, I really will be productive or perform better. In this way, I really appreciated learning about biohacks that can help make that happen.

Moving Forward With (or Without) Social Media

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I really enjoyed the table talk that tapped into the debate over whether social media is worth it that has ensued following the Facebook data-leakage scandal. What participants’ insights and comments really captured is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to weigh social media’s costs against its benefits. This weighing is becoming increasingly difficult because it seems that for every benefit to which one can point, there is another cost that can be emphasized. As our discussion touched on, for example, humorous accounts can offer a much needed laugh when someone needs to step away from his or her mountain of books, but as social media is increasingly becoming a forum of entertaining, funny content, users may cross the line between funny and hurtful or problematic in their quest for views and affirmation. When someone’s worst moment, for example, is captured without their consent or knowledge and uploaded to an Instagram account like 5th and receives millions of views, that moment may become a catalyst of unkind comments and a source of intense emotional suffering for the people captured, or the people close to those captured, in the video or picture. Pointing to another set of concerns that were breached in our discussion, situations like these highlight the potentially problematic consequences of the permanency of content uploaded to social media as well as the erosion of privacy that may result from this permanency. On social media, once a mistake is made—whether that mistake affects you or another—it is nearly impossible to undo it. Indeed, as a couple students alluded to this point, I started to think about how much cognitive energy individuals need to spend just to dissect what is appropriate to post, how much posting is too much, or too little, posting, and how others will interpret whatever content is eventually posted. It is this cognitive effort and concern that I think the potentially damaging effects that social media can have on mental health become readily apparent. Social media is certainly a reflection of the social world, and in the same way that individuals are pressured to create a socially desirable identity in real life, they are pressured to create one online.

A major take away from this table talk, in my opinion, having an open discussion about how the ways individuals are using social media, and the way platforms collect data from this usage, have real social and even political consequences is extremely important. The fact that it is increasingly difficult to extricate the benefits of social media from the costs of social media or to determine whether costs outweigh benefits, or vice versa, seems to only make that discussion more important. In discussing what is beneficial about how social media is used and what is problematic about how social media is used, people can not only come to an informed consensus about what they expect from platforms but also share strategies for maximizing the benefits of social media while minimizing the costs.

The Politics of Pedaling

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I found this week’s Table Talk about bike-sharing fascinating because I never considered the extensive planning that is involved and how the development of a bike-sharing network across cities intersects with political and economic concerns. Particularly, I found the fact that, when a bike-sharing system is supported by advertisers, the advertisers often focus on placing stations where they want the bikes to be seen rather than where is most effective for motivating people to use the bikes and convenient for those who do to be rather concerning as it reflects yet another area where the interests of advertisers start to undermine the utility of a system or product. There is currently a considerable deal of concern, for example, about advertising undermining the quality of the internet, as users’ attention is constantly being directed away from what they are doing and towards advertisementsm, and as users are constantly subject to surveillance so that the information gleaned from it can be sold to advertisers. Given that advertising can be an effective way of funding the program if the government cannot or is unwilling to, perhaps the systems can still be subject to some sort of government regulation through which the government approves the locations that advertisers select. However, I suppose such an arrangement would at least require the government to dedicate resources to hiring a few individuals qualified to determine whether the location of bike-sharing stations would promote the overall efficiency of the system.

Also, I found it really interesting that the evolution of bike-sharing systems arose out of concern for public safety. While I know that cars are not always the safest option for transportation, living in the U.S., I would considerate choosing to travel by bike far less safe than choosing to travel by car. At least of those I have seen, bike lanes are often incredibly thin and wedged between passing cars on one side and parked cars on the other. This arrangement often seems to create a challenge not only for the bikers but also for the drivers who also have to ensure that they remain strictly within the bounds of their lane and remain aware of the position of any and all bikers within the vicinity of their car. In light of these challenges, I definitely agree with the point raised by a few people that in order for bikes to gain widespread acceptance and usage in the U.S., there needs to be significant investment in infrastructure that will enable people to both be and feel safe while riding them.

Towards a More Positive Discourse

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I really enjoyed this week’s Table Talk about the stigma of mental health because I think that it really created an environment where people could come together and talk about subjects that are often avoided in a way in which individuals never try to talk about them. When we went around the table and each shared a word about how mental illness can be thought about positively or create something positive, for example, I realized that there are so very many reasons that mental illness should not be stigmatized and hidden and turned into a burden that can make people feel ashamed. When people shared words like “persistence,” “strength,” and “empathy,” it really underscored how mental illness can be something empowering and constructive. Mental illness does not have to be this negative stain that attaches to a person and becomes the first thing others who know that he or she is coping with mental illness see when they look at him or her. After these words were shared, I started to wonder if thinking of mental illness as an experience, rather than disease or deviation from the norm, could alter the often negative, stigmatizing discourse that surrounds mental illness and replace it with a more optimistic, encouraging one. Experiences are things that are constantly changing and uniquely interpreted, and importantly, they do not define the person experiencing them. Moreover, experience often has a positive connotation; the word experience connotes development, discovery, and growth. I think that changing the discourse that surrounds mental illness could really positively impact how society perceives and responds to mental illness as well as how people experience it.

Also, I found it really concerning that improving the inadequate resources and support for students who are coping with mental illness is not a high priority of Cornell’s. I have often heard students say that they found these services inaccessible or overworked but assumed that it was a temporary issue. As everyone was talking about how many people go for help but cannot access it when they need it, I started to think about how there are many things Cornell can do to help students’ mental wellbeing that will not cost anything. I think, for example, that it could be a good idea for the university to reconsider their policy regarding ratio of hours of work per week per credit hour and/or look into whether the amount of work that professors assign comports with these guidelines. I also love the idea of mental health days.

 

Sacrificing Sleep: An Unwelcome but Seemingly Necessary Trade

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Attending the Table Talk about sleep and exchanging stories about sleep habits, tricks on how to wind down before bed, experiences of the effects of sleep deprivation, and reactions to reports detailing how much sleep college students should be getting and what happens when they do not get it was a refreshing, informative experience to have as we are all entering into that part of the semester where things seem to get busy and then never slow down. Something that I found interesting was that while everyone had different sleep cycles and sleep habits, there was a general consensus among just about everyone in the group that the goal was to get at least 6 hours, though that goal is not always reached, and that realistically getting the recommended 9 hours and 15 minutes for college students—or even regularly getting 7 to 8 hours—seemed nearly impossible. This sort of general consensus among a group of students who have diverse habits and tactics for getting in those 6 hours really underscores how difficult it can be to balance self-care and the workload of a Cornell student. Also, a good number of students discussed how when workloads are so overwhelming and nearly impossible to physically accomplish, there is always the feeling that we could, and should, be doing something more; in this sense, there is the pressure to choose between getting enough sleep and fulfilling, or at least attempting to fulfill, academic duties. I know that hard work is undoubtedly a good thing, but discussions like this one really raise the larger question of whether the workload that many students are taking on crosses the line from helpful to harmful, especially considering the data from Dr. Maas’ studies about the hazards of not getting enough sleep.

What certainly did seem to lighten the burden of this workload, however, was hearing how other students experiences the same concerns that I do—worrying about sacrificing school work for sleep and feeling like I am never getting enough done. It is definitely encouraging to know that it is difficult for everyone to manage the workload because at times it can definitely seem like you are doing something that is making it so difficult to manage everything. Also, I will definitely be trying some of the tips that students shared for getting in the right mindset for sleep—like making a to do list for tomorrow to mentally signal to yourself that today’s work is done, and you have a plan in place to accomplish what you need tomorrow.

An Inside Perspective

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I thought this Rose Café teaching us about the history of Cornell and the history of West Campus—why it was built and the events surrounding its building—was really awesome. Hearing about Cornell’s commitment to social justice and to seeing the inherent dignity in all people and its mission to ensure that any person can pursue any student really makes me proud to be a Cornellian and reminds me of why I wanted to come to Cornell in the first place. With midterms just around the corner, getting that reminder about why I came here in the first place is certainty a morale booster. Additionally, while I am sure every student here is aware of Cornell’s mantra— “any person, any study”—I really appreciated how Professor Blalock contextualized that commitment, showing how truly progressive and insightful it was. I had never heard that the first African American who graduated from Cornell was born a slave, and after learning about this powerful example of what Cornell’s commitment to allow any person to pursue any study made possible, that mantra will certainty resonate more profoundly with me than it did before.

I also thought it was really cool that Professor Blalock gave us a behind the scenes look at all that is going on in Rose House and shared some stories about his time as House Professor at Rose. Some of the Rose Cafes I have loved the most have delved into the history that is alive on West Campus. Last year, for example, an archivist visited and taught us all about Flora Rose, her impact on the College of Human Ecology, and her legacy. I think learning about West Campus—its history and what is going on behind the scenes—really enriches the experience of living here.

Also, I really love the idea of having Rose Scholars events that offer an inside look at some of the “hidden” treasures at Cornell. There are so many diverse events, interesting projects, and fascinating spaces at Cornell that are under-the-radar, so to speak, or not readily apparent to us as we go about our daily travels on campus. I would definitely enjoy more events like these that would highlight the amazing things that are part of or occurring at Cornell.

The Care Behind the Scenes on West Campus

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I am really glad that I went to the Rose Café with Tony, manager of the Cornell Facilities Management Department. What really resonated with me at this talk was how much Tony cares about making Cornell a home for its students. He emphasized that his number one priority and the number one priority of his staff and all the workers here on West Campus is to make sure that students are safe, healthy, and happy, and hearing about the great lengths that he and the staff go to making sure this goal is achieved really changed my perspective. I, of course, at times get frustrated with the state of the bathrooms or the too small shower curtains, but everyday I also chat with the staff and am reminded of how kind and caring they are. However, for some reason, I rarely seemed to connect that the kind and caring people that I see everyday are working to make sure that the dorms are as comfortable as possible and would appreciate feedback about the things that concern me about the dorm or bathroom. They would undoubtedly then do everything they could to address those concerns. Essentially, Tony reminded me that Facilities Management wants to hear what we are concerned about, and I definitely feel more at home on West Campus knowing how dedicated Facilities Management is to making sure that we are thriving, safe, and happy with our experience living at Cornell. The amount of people that care about our concerns and look out for our well-being, from GRFs to Facilities Management, to Professor Blalock, to Dr. Anthony, really illuminates the extent of Rose’s commitment to fostering community.

After a good deal of discussion about bathroom issues, one student brought up how, at her old school, there was a column in the newspaper about bathroom stories and complaints and explained that it was a really effective, humorous, and non-threatening way of getting everyone on the same page about bathroom etiquette. I was thinking that perhaps if every floor had some type of large dry-erase board or chalkboard, people could anonymously write some of their concerns or qualms about the way their floormates seem to be using the bathroom in a lighthearted way. Also, this board could also be used to communicate some preferences to facilities—like how one student pointed out that putting the trashcan underneath the hand dryer caused the trash to blow all over the bathroom floor.

Concerns about Cryptocurrency

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After understanding almost nothing about Bitcoin and admittedly scrolling past the many articles that I kept stumbling across after reading the headlines to avoid having to try to figure out what function cryptocurrency serves and why half the world seems incredibly excited about it while the other half seems sufficiently afraid of it, I found the discussion about Bitcoin, Blockchain, and all things cryptocurrency really fascinating. What really struck me as profoundly interesting and actually peculiar was the extent of the technological and business innovation that this digital currency advance has spurred. Specifically, I find this cryptocurrency bandwagon that a considerable portion of the public and far more companies than I realized seem to be joining peculiar because I never before thought that society would add a revolution in the way that people exchange goods, invest their money, or perhaps even understand what money is to the list of technological changes and advancements with which society is currently learning to grapple. Honestly, while I know society has successfully adjusted to many, many advances that seemed revolutionary in its time, I do question whether the world, at a time when we are adjusting to and preparing for the rapidly occurring advances in automation and artificial intelligence that will likely transform our current economy, is ready to deal with concerns about the reliability and stability of digital currency.

Also, one student pointed out that cryptocurrency mining uses concerning amounts of energy, and I found this immensely problematic. At the United Nations Conference of Parties in Paris in 2015, nearly every leader of every nation signed an agreement recognizing that the world needs to be carbon neutral by 2050 to stabilize human civilization. Meeting this very daunting but necessary goal requires cutting back energy use wherever possible. Expanding mining efforts that currently require using an amount energy equivalent to that used by a small country could pose a serious challenge to the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. In this way, monetary yields for some might jeopardize the quality of life of future generations.