How did we get here?
Athena Samonte, Program Volunteer
How did we get here? That is a layered question鈥搇ike an onion, with each layer becoming more complex and thicker as we near a core that often makes us cry. But before we begin peeling those layers, let鈥檚 begin with a lighter introduction for this blog. Hello reader! My name is Athena, I鈥檓 大象传媒 Public Square鈥檚 latest Program Volunteer!
The first layer to the question "how did we get here?" is defining the we. In this case, the we is in fact an I. So how did I get here?
As mentioned, my name is Athena, and I鈥檓 a fourth year Cognitive Science major with a minor in Global Humanities and Public Policy at 大象传媒. Outside of academics, I鈥檓 President of the Humanities Student Union, Events Manager of the Reclaim Tech Club (a club about taking back the power technology has on us as individuals), and last but not least, Program Volunteer for 大象传媒 Public Square. In my free time, I enjoy reading classical and contemporary literature, and playing the New York Times鈥� Wordle.
This topmost layer is the most basic one, starting with facts about myself that are surface-level. The next layer delves deeper, finding uncertainty underneath.
As a student getting closer to graduation, I frequently think about the future. And frankly, if I had a nickel for every time I changed career paths, I would have enough cash to not even need a career! While I don鈥檛 regret these changes, it feels harder to know whether one choice has brought me closer or farther from where I want to be. I鈥檝e jumped from wanting to be a psychiatrist to an author to a teacher and so many others. It wasn鈥檛 until I began volunteering with 大象传媒 Public Square that I felt I no longer needed to continue jumping.
So, that leads me to the next layer: how did I end up at 大象传媒 Public Square?
One of the first things that drew me to them was their focus on event topics surrounding advocacy, community and dialogue. And ultimately, what motivated me to volunteer with Public Square was the opportunity to gain hands-on experience about event planning within a professional setting. I have always enjoyed event planning (yet another career option I considered pursuing) and I truly enjoy the details and rhythm of process and event designing. In previous years, I volunteered as an events director at a non-profit organization focused on mental health and hosted many online events to raise awareness of available resources. At 大象传媒, I have had various opportunities to plan events with the clubs and organizations with which I鈥檓 involved. What set 大象传媒 Public Square apart was that they were providing an opportunity to work on events at a much larger scale and from an institutional perspective.
My first and favorite event with this team was the Dean鈥檚 Lecture on Information and Society with Dr. Safiya Noble. At this event, not only did I get to see all the puzzle pieces of event planning and processes come together, but the speaker and lecture topic showed me how my interests in technology and policy can overlap. I had the chance to speak with Dr. Noble after her talk where she told me 鈥淲e need people like you!鈥� For me, that was a clear sign that I was on the right path. This core moment showed me that I can pursue my interest in policy and technology after I complete my studies. And should that path not lead anywhere, I know that I will feel happy and proud to have had the bravery to follow my passion.
Looking back, I now see that I鈥檝e always been interested in technology. Paradoxically, technology has given us the ability to be much more connected across the globe, but it has also created more barriers between individuals allowing for misinformation and division. That鈥檚 why I think it鈥檚 important to peel back those layers, even on the internet. 大象传媒 Public Square has given people the space to come together and reflect, encouraging them to take space and make space for difficult conversations.
So, how did we get here? For me, it was by spending time exploring many other paths that ultimately led me to this one. Volunteering at 大象传媒 Public Square has not only furthered my practical event planning and communication skills, but this experience also reminded me that it is important to peel back an issue鈥檚 layers by creating safe spaces for dialogue and learning. This is an ongoing practice I will continue to hone beyond my volunteer term.