Be specific with your goal

Creating broad resolutions result in creating resolutions that are not focused and cannot be measured. This lack of specificity makes it easier to dismiss your goal. Instead, use specific details with your resolution in order to ensure that its progress can be easily measured and achieved. Specificity in your resolutions will help hold yourself accountable and make it easier to maintain your new habits. For example, rather than simply saying you want to exercise 

Unfocused: I want to exercise more.

Less unfocused: I want to do more core strengthening workouts. 

Focused: I want to complete at least two core strengthening workouts a week.

Be realistic

While it can get easy to get carried away with our goals, it is important to make sure these goals are feasible for you to accomplish. Creating resolutions that are too extreme or too unconventional with regards to our daily lives can cause frustration and disappointment. As a result of this frustration, it is easier for you to abandon their resolution quickly. It is important to create more practical and sustainable goals so as to ensure you can abide by them for a longer period of time. 

For example, if you have not been reading regularly, it would be more practical for you to set a goal of reading 30 minutes a day as opposed to finishing one book every two days. You can always adjust your goals throughout the year to make them more relevant to your current situation.   

Gradually incorporate your goals into your routine

Many people assume that by 12:01 on January 1 they should be on track to achieve and abide by their resolution. Expecting to immediately accomplish your newly created goals can lead to you quickly abandoning your resolution. The purpose of creating resolutions is to gradually make beneficial adjustments to your routine in order to improve your lifestyle. Rushing to meet your goals defeats this process and limits the effectiveness of your resolutions. Instead, take progressive steps to meet your goals. For instance, if your goal is to get back into running, it would be more beneficial to start with aiming to run once a week rather than trying to run every day. 

Have alternatives to habits you are giving up

Many resolutions include giving up unhealthy habits. However, implementing new habits in place of the one you are trying to give up can make it easier to achieve your goal. For example, if one of your resolutions is to lower your screen time, think of other activities you could do that would replace the time you would normally be on your phone, such as exercising or reading. Having new activities to replace previous ones can help ensure that you will follow your resolution. 

Give yourself time to adjust

Change does not happen overnight! It is important to allow yourself time to adapt and incorporate your new habits into your routine. It is equally important to allow yourself to make mistakes and break your resolution at the beginning. Creating and following new habits is a process, meaning that it will not happen overnight. If you stray from your resolution, go easy on yourself and keep persevering. 

Resolutions can be a helpful way to keep you motivated and begin the year on the right foot. However, do not feel pressured to make many resolutions or completely change your lifestyle. Do what feels best for you and what will maximize your happiness and well being. I hope you all have an amazing year!

Check out more articles from our tips hashtag!

The post Maintaining Our New Year’s Resolutions in 2025 appeared first on GirlSpring.

What is Selectivity in History

When we talk about selectivity in history, we refer to how various people select which details they choose to record and which they do not, and how they consequently influence the information we receive and connections we make as learners.

As Davidson says within the first few lines of this chapter, “selection irrevocably separates ‘history’ from ‘the past,” conveying that there are discrepancies between what actually happened and what is chosen to be written down for us to learn.

Captain John Smith and Selectivity

Through the experiences of Captain John Smith, Davidson illustrates how selectivity can affect our perception of other people and places. Smith directed the affairs of the Jamestown colony in the early 1600s and even recorded his observations and encounters with the native tribes in his book A Generall Historie of Virginia in 1624. When we learn about this time period and the founding of Jamestown, we often accept Smith’s perspective with little to no doubt; after all, his book is a firsthand account, why wouldn’t we accept it?

Well, Davidson tells the readers his reasons for why Smith’s account may not be completely factual.

Davidson explains that since Smith described the events from his perspective, all of his observations are composed and influenced by the attitudes of a 17th century Englishman. Thus, his findings are limited by experience and his own biases and could not accurately paint the picture of the Virginia colony. 

One example of how Captain Smith’s biases and perspectives distorted the actual history of the Jamestown colony was when he was describing the Chesapeake tribe’s baseball game. Essentially, Smith detailed what the tribe was wearing and their traditions in a relatively judgmental and uninformed manner, giving many details but no explanation or background knowledge. Davidson juxtaposes Smith’s description of the baseball game with a Native’s description, who clearly gives more cultural significance to the game’s traditions. However, when we read about this information in a textbook or on a website, we don’t question Smith’s descriptions of the Chesapeake Indians, we just accept his point of view, deeming it as the most reliable.

Why Does it Matter?

This was merely one example of how Captain John Smith was unable to accurately convey the reality of Jamestown. While he may have unintentionally misrepresented the tribes who lived in this country before European settlers arrived, his findings were nonetheless plagued and distorted by his own biases, which later had the effect of distorting our own beliefs. 

I am sure most of us do not walk around thinking about Captain Smith and his endeavors on a daily basis. However, that does not mean that we should ignore the significance of the ideas Davidson presented in this excerpt. Ultimately, personal perspective affects the way people record history and influence the retelling of the events. This brings into question: how reliable and accurate are the things that we say are true?

How do we know that we have the whole truth about the Chesapeake tribe? Will we ever know anything about them other than what Smith told us?

While we have to acknowledge and be comfortable with not being 100% certain about certain events in history, it is always important to take into consideration how bias, however unintentional it may be, can influence our perceptions. 

View this article about often-excluded female historical figures.

The post How Perspective Creates Bias in the Study of History appeared first on GirlSpring.

Tell us about how you got interested in becoming the 2023 Miss Birmingham Teen USA.

“Miss Birmingham Teen USA was very unexpected. I got accepted last year, but I couldn’t do it because of the schedule. This past year, I wanted to try over the summer and apply again. I really wanted it to work out because everyone I’ve talked to who does pageants and similar activities says it’s such a fulfilling and rewarding experience. I got an acceptance email back this summer, and I zoomed with some state directors and other girls. Later, I got a call telling me this title was available, and that I should submit for it. It was so unexpected but exciting. 

For me, becoming Miss Birmingham Teen USA was primarily about the connection to others, and the friendships and bonds I would make, in addition to the amazing scholarship opportunities. That’s what was really important to me: meeting new people and having new experiences.” 

What have you been focusing and working on in this role? How has it helped you become more active in the community?

“For me, it’s all about transparent education – giving every child the opportunity to learn effectively without any barriers, whether that’s age, race, etc. Whatever information and knowledge is available, kids should be able to have. It shouldn’t be hidden or held back because of these barriers. None of that should affect someone’s education. 

This is something I’ve been working towards and actually trying to put action behind since last November. I wrote an article on this topic for the Learning for Justice magazine (link below). I am currently doing a public administration and affairs internship, and it has a lot of this educational research involved.

Right now, my role is gathering the necessary information and meeting with community leaders. I’ve been gathering information on the educational system in Birmingham because I feel like I can’t go in and change anything unless I understand the history behind it. I need to know who and what got the educational system to where it is in order to see what it can be in the future. So right now, it’s more of a research type position. 

Anyone that knows me personally knows that I am a straightforward person. Honesty and being yourself is something that is super important to me. So when it comes to my education, I want those who are responsible for teaching me and others to be transparent with the facts.

Obviously having a title like Miss Birmingham Teen USA gets you in a position to meet more people and have more of a public appearance. But I think in terms of being able to advocate what you stand for and what you want to see, it’s more about your internal drive – it’s the person behind the title. Now, getting in the room and getting in front of the right people is what my title will really help me with, but again, in order to have your ideas be received well, the person behind the title is what really matters.” 

What would you like for Birmingham to look like in the future?

“My biggest hope for Birmingham is to see more diversity and inclusion- in education, publications, media, stores, etc. A lot of what we learn lacks representation. The only black history I learned in school was about Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks. There was no information on what other black people have been able to do for this country, and what they have been able to achieve as a culture. Honestly, I was never really taught much more about other cultures either. This is something that we’ve been working on, but I want there to be more representation in every aspect of Birmingham life, from the people who work in our local grocery stores to the people who make public decisions about our lives.”

Why do you think it is important that younger people should be engaged with their community?

“Being involved in your community is valuable for a myriad of reasons. For one, your community and its leaders are making decisions that will impact you; so I think being involved and knowing what’s happening is extremely important. Being involved also gives you an opportunity to learn and grow. I don’t think you can know where you’re going unless you know where you came from. 

You don’t just want to live – you want to thrive. You want to live your life on purpose, where you can be fulfilled and feel of value. Learning about the things that shape you and your community can give you that internal drive and ambition that you need to help others. If anything, you should get involved to learn about yourself.” 

Click to read Ka’Lise’s article on Transparent Education

The post Interview with Ka’Lise Benson | Wonder Women Teen appeared first on GirlSpring.

In a 6-3 vote, the United States Supreme Court overturned the historic ruling of Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022. 

Under the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade, a woman is guaranteed the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. This right to choose has been threatened for several years, but the leak containing information about the Supreme Court’s plan to overturn Roe has significantly increased the credibility of this threat.

The Leak and Its Implications

On May 2, 2022, Politico obtained a document in which the Supreme Court expressed its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Within the document, Justice Samuel Alito explains that this case was “egregiously wrong from the start,” and that “Roe and Casey must be overruled.” The leaked draft opinion containing these beliefs was confirmed to be true by Chief Justice Roberts Jr. With five conservative justices out of nine on the Supreme Court bench, it is likely that Roe v. Wade will be overturned. If this ruling were to be overturned, the responsibility of protecting a woman’s right to choose would fall to the state.

One of the implications of this is that states which are notorious for their restrictions against abortion would be able to enforce these laws. Several leaders from both political parties have come forward to express their opinions, while protesters on both sides of the issue have also done the same. However, a final decision regarding the validity of Roe v. Wade will not be made most likely until June or July. 

My Thoughts

Around eight months ago, I wrote an article focusing on Texas’s new restrictive laws on abortion. I am enraged and devastated to be writing an article about how this restrictiveness will now spread throughout the country. Furthermore, I feel betrayed by the government who is planning to reclaim possession of my body. 

I have always attempted to keep an open mind and be respectful of others’ opinions. However, I have found this rather difficult in regards to the debate about a woman and her right to choose. While I can empathize with and respect a woman’s reasoning to not get an abortion, I simply cannot understand why their reasoning can be used as a means to justify why someone else should not get one. When we refer to the diversity of America, we cannot solely refer to race and ethnicity. We must take into consideration the diversity of thought and circumstances present in our country, meaning that the logic that can be applied to one woman’s situation is not always applicable to another’s. 

I have heard all the arguments in depth, both for and against abortion. My opinion on this issue stems from one fundamental argument: we are unable to fully understand her situation, nor do we have the right to. I believe that a woman should have autonomy over her body and life without the interference of others. Yes, some people knowingly do not take preventative measures, and some people are careless. Some people were unexpectedly and unwillingly put in this position. Some people are simply financially or emotionally incapable of having a child. Regardless of how a woman is placed into this situation, the government shouldn’t be able to dictate how they proceed. 

I have never envisioned myself being in a situation where I would need to exercise my right to choose. However, taking into account the possible future of Roe v. Wade, I will no longer have a right to exercise. I would no longer be provided with the comfort of options in an instance when the comfort of options is needed most. A choice will have already been made for me by people who do not and cannot fully understand my circumstances. 

Without delving into the logistics and hypocrisy, I wonder if those who support the Supreme Court in overturning Roe v. Wade fully understand the harsh realities of restricting abortion access. Women will not stop having abortions; they will stop having safe abortions. Instead of dedicating energy to controlling the bodies of women, why is energy not being spent on safe sex education? Why is there a lack of accessible and sufficient medical and emotional support for pregnant women? How is banning abortion a viable and effective method of solving the problem?

I have always believed that being open-minded and receptive to others’ beliefs allows productive conversations to take place. While I stand firm in this belief, I hope that you can understand some of my frustration with continuously having to justify why I believe women should have the ability to make our own decisions about our own bodies. 

For more articles on women’s issues, visit Alabama Girls State: Religion, Youth, and the Future of Alabama

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/03/1096094942/roe-wade-overturned-what-happens-next

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/03/supreme-court-leak-investigation-abortion-roe-wade/

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/03/1096108319/roe-v-wade-alito-conservative-justices-confirmation-hearings

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/03/us/roe-wade-abortion-supreme-court

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/02/supreme-court-abortion-draft-opinion-00029473

Publisher’s note: GirlSpring is a platform for girls to express themselves and have their work published. The opinions shared do not necessarily reflect the opinions of GirlSpring.

The post The Future of Roe v. Wade appeared first on GirlSpring.

Lack of Importance

Our inability to recognize when we need self care time can hinder us from making it a priority. We have to understand the significance of taking the time to care for ourselves as it allows us to improve our overall well being. Many of us think that self care is just full of superficial activities: doing face masks, taking baths with bath salts, and watching movies. However, these activities and many others allow us to refresh our minds and give them a break. Relaxing our minds is particularly important in our current fast changing and conflict heavy world. Overall, dedicating moments to yourself can serve as the perfect opportunity to relax, reflect, and refresh. 

Our Guilt

One of the main reasons we struggle to make time for our self care is our overarching guilt. If we have not been productive or have not accomplished the goals we set, it can be easy to feel undeserving of having time for self care. Guilt for being too lazy or unproductive can hinder our ability to make time to truly take care of ourselves. It is important not to equate how productive we have been to how much we deserve self care time.

Instead, we need to listen to what our mind and body need from us, which usually involves us taking a break. More often than not, we become less motivated and more tired when we continuously work without taking time to de-stress and care for ourselves. You should not let your guilt force you to ignore your needs and feed into the idea of you not deserving a break. If anything, having a refreshing self care day can increase your productivity and motivation for the future. 

Time

Another barrier to self care is making time for it. When we get busy with school and personal events, it is hard to find and put aside time for ourselves. Our to do lists seem never ending, so we often feel like there is not enough time in the day to just relax. Recognizing that self care is something that deserves and needs is crucial for our well being. It is important to understand that this is a top priority; it is not something that should be dismissed. However, it can be difficult to fit in time to take care of yourself with all the school work or personal events going on. This is why we need to set aside time for ourselves and stick with that schedule. Your mental health and well being deserve the time to be taken care of.

Facing Our Feelings

Often, self care involves us being alone with our thoughts and having time to reflect. This means that we are without our usual distractions from the problems we tend to avoid. Rather than being busy completing assignments or scrolling on our phones, our minds are completely available to reflect upon the feelings we previously ignored. While it can be hard to face our problems of how we feel, we truly embrace the idea of taking care of ourselves by doing this. It can be daunting to face the feelings we would prefer to avoid, but reflecting upon these feelings can help us have some peace of mind. Do not let the fear of facing your feelings prevent you from having self care time. In fact, an ideal self care day might result in having a clearer and more intimate understanding of your once pushed down problems. 

To explore more ways to practice self care, visit https://www.girlspring.com/?s=self+care 

The post Why is Self Care So Hard? appeared first on GirlSpring.

Take the ACT and/or SAT

It is completely doable to take the ACT or SAT during your junior or senior year; in fact, most people do. The disadvantage of this is that you add stress onto an already stressful and challenging school year. In addition, you have less time to effectively prepare for the ACT/SAT during your junior year since you will be busy with schoolwork and extracurriculars. By taking these tests the summer before junior year, you have more time to prepare without as much stress.

Another benefit of taking these tests early is that you have more opportunities to retake them and raise your score. Taking either of these tests more than once to gain test taking experience will help improve your score. Since the ACT/SAT only have around 7 testing dates each year, taking it earlier gives you more flexibility with regards to how many times you want to retake it. 

Get Work Experience

Whether it is an entry level job or unpaid internship, gaining work experience in any form is invaluable. By having this experience, you are able to develop your work ethic and acquire useful skills. You also gain practical skills and experience working collaboratively with others in a professional environment. Additionally, you become exposed to the work lifestyle and can get a vague idea of potential future career paths.

Regardless of what career path you are interested in and decide to pursue, work experience is always useful. Having work experience the summer before junior year is a perfect time since you will not be as busy with school or college related matters like you will likely be in the future. 

Find a Good Volunteer Organization

Finding an organization that supports a cause you are passionate about is beneficial in several ways. Volunteering with an organized group is an excellent way to form connections with those around you while serving your community. If you start with a good volunteer organization the summer before your junior year, you are able to demonstrate your commitment and investment in your community rather than waiting until the last minute to gain any type of volunteer experience. Additionally, the sooner you start, the more intimate relationships you can build among people within your organization.

It is important to volunteer and find causes that you care about rather than solely focusing on strengthening your resume. While that is important, it is not as significant if it is your only motivation and purpose for volunteering. 

Put Together a Resume

You will need to have a resume for the rest of your professional life. Starting to form a resume the summer before junior year will make your life significantly easier in the upcoming years, especially since you will need it for college applications and other programs. Having one also makes it easier to answer personal questions because you have something to refer back to. For instance, anytime I fill out an application that asks for my extracurricular activities, community engagement, or achievements, I quickly refer back to my resume rather than having to remember everything I have done over the past few years.

Starting on a resume now will give you something to build off of as you go through high school. It is also good practice to make one before junior year since you will need resumes in college and beyond. 

Develop a Vague Idea about College

If you are approaching junior year, it will help you to develop a vague idea about your ideal college experience. This does not mean you have to know where you want to go or what exactly you want to do. However, thinking about certain aspects that are involved in applying to colleges can help narrow your focus a little.

Some important categories to begin considering include where you want to live, ideal campus size, cost, etc. Thinking about the opposite of the previously mentioned categories (where you would not like to study, etc.) can be just as helpful in focusing your search. Regardless, do not let yourself get too stressed out about this now! You have plenty of time to think about college, and you can always ask friends, family, or teachers for support. 

If you’re a rising junior still feeling a little nervous and unsure, read these extra amazing tips for junior year.

The post What to Do the Summer Before Junior Year appeared first on GirlSpring.

1. Reflect

Reflecting on the disappointment you have recently encountered might seem like the last thing you want to do. Why would you want to study the failure that is making you feel terrible? Why wouldn’t you ignore it until the feelings go away? Reflecting on your frustration can actually serve as a catalyst towards you moving on from the unwanted feelings you are experiencing. For one, it can allow you to find the root cause of your disappointment. It would be easier to overcome your frustration if you knew what it truly centered on.

Additionally, analyzing your disappointment can compel you to take accountability. It might sting, but realizing that your problem is the result of something you did can be very helpful. It can help you focus your anger away from those who you might have blamed initially and work on what you could have done better instead. 

2. Give it time

Rushing the feelings of disappointment is something we all do, but it is not always effective. We all just want to quickly “get over” what makes us feel terrible, and so we try to rush the healing process. While the consequential feelings of disappointment may not make us feel good, it is important to recognize that you might need time to let this go. If you try to rush how you feel, you’ll waste time pretending you are okay instead of actually taking the time to feel better. 

3. Don’t wallow

While you should allow yourself time to deal with your disappointment, don’t let it be the only thing you think about. Don’t ignore your feelings, but also don’t read too much into them: acknowledge how your setback has made you feel, but you don’t need to keep replaying about every misstep you took to get there. If you let yourself drown in a river of pity and disappointment, it will only be harder to recover and move on. It’s all about finding a good balance between ignoring your feelings and wallowing. This is one of the hardest things for me because I feel like if I don’t wallow, then I am not actually processing how my disappointment made me feel. I have had to learn how to find a healthy combination that allows me to reflect and understand my emotions without constantly beating myself up. 

4. Find a healthy outlet

When you are experiencing the overwhelming feelings associated with disappointment, finding a healthy and productive way to cope can be an effective method for relieving stress. For some, a way to handle these emotions might be to go on a run, go on a relaxing drive, or read a book. Whether it is one of the previously mentioned activities or something else, doing an activity that makes you feel happy and at ease can help lower the stress and frustration felt as a result of being disappointed. 

5. Put it in perspective

It might be hard to do while you are in the moment, but it can help to consider how important the disappointment you are going through will be in the grand scheme of things. Consider how you will feel and how this will impact you tomorrow, next week, or even a year from now. If you are like me, looking on the bright side in the moment seems like a hard and unhelpful strategy. However, sometimes it works in reassuring me that one disappointment will not be that big of a deal to me later on, even if it’s not making me feel great now.   

The post Dealing with Disappointment appeared first on GirlSpring.

Why we Choose Sides

One reason people want to or feel obligated to choose sides is so they can have a sense of community. By choosing a side in an issue, you create a community with others that share similar perspectives or ideals. Since we are surrounded with people that support our ideas and viewpoints, we gain a sense of belonging. This allows us to establish a community and develop relationships within it.  

Similar to the first reason, picking a definite side rather than floating around in the gray area in between gives us a sense of certainty and comfort. Rather than wonder about the different sides to a complex issue and unravel in uncertainty, choosing one stance allows us to have something worthy to put our trust in and to defend. This sense of certainty, guaranteed by taking one side, allows us to feel some comfort and relief, and it causes us to feel less doubt and more hope. To some extent, we know the stress of dealing with the unknown, so, perhaps for some, choosing a side of an issue is more about eliminating uncertainty from their lives rather than the actual content of the issue. 

Probably, the primary reason we tend to take a position on any issue is societal pressure. People often choose sides because they feel obligated to do so by the rest of society. If you do not take a stance, people of society might assume a stance for you, creating more problems. In some cases, remaining in the gray area of an issue has severe consequences, such as social inequality or injustice. Nevertheless, pressure from society often compels people to choose a side; whether it is necessary or not. 

Advantages

There are potential advantages to the societal norm of choosing sides. For one, identifying and associating oneself with a particular group can help you build a community. Having a strong and reliable community is an essential need for humans. When we deliberately choose a side of an issue, we form a connection between others who share the same beliefs. Various communities and support systems can be established as a result of the shared similarities between people.

Furthermore, establishing a stance on an issue can provide us with clarity about our values and ideals. When we establish what is of value to us, we are able to make more informed decisions and understand the consequences it will have on us. This clarity also allows us to better understand and communicate what we value in our personal relationships. Specifically, if we are able to understand what is important to us, we will be able to communicate that easier with others and build more honest and less superficial relationships. 

Disadvantages

There are also disadvantages to this human tendency. One of the disadvantages of establishing a stance on an issue is that we tend to become more and more closed off to hearing the other side making us more firm in our position. We are so focused on creating our own community of people who share similar beliefs that we isolate ourselves and ignore other perspectives. It’s important to understand that in order to develop as a society, it’s imperative that we encourage the diversity of thought. The continuous act of always picking sides can elevate the level of stubbornness in society and hinder society’s ability to advance. 

Elaborating on the previous disadvantage, the act of constantly choosing sides can cause people to become hostile with each other. If people always feel like they are at odds and are more divided than united, chaos and hostility will ensue. Sometimes, though, chaos and hostility are needed in order to call for much needed change.

It is important to consider the implications of choosing sides. While it is sometimes necessary, it can have significant consequences. However, since we are on the subject of picking sides, roll tide!

Sources:

https://dunmorepa.gov/news/importance-strong-communities/

For more intriguing pieces like this one, read one of Annikah’s recent works “Maintaining Our Resolutions in 2022.”

The post The Lack of Gray Area in our Lives: Why we Choose Sides appeared first on GirlSpring.

Why Journal?

Journaling can be a cathartic experience in which our stress and frustrations are relieved. Additionally, journaling serves as a healthy way to individually process your emotions and organize your thoughts. By keeping track of your emotions, you have the opportunity to reflect upon your experiences and grow as an individual. 

Although we might be aware of the benefits, people are still hesitant to journal. Journaling can be an emotionally draining activity and sometimes make you feel uncomfortable, but it can also be a rewarding activity. There are many ways to make journaling an effective and enduring tool.

Ways to Make Journaling More Effective

1. Do not make this another item to cross off on your checklist.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make, at least in my experience, is to make journaling a task you feel obligated to complete. Whether your goal is to journal once a day or month, it is important that you do not place too much pressure on achieving this goal, for it can have the opposite effect of reducing stress. Journaling for the sole reason of sticking to a schedule can lower the effectiveness of the actual process. By all means, if following a schedule works or is the only way to hold yourself accountable for journaling at all, keep doing what you are doing!

Personally, I have found that not setting any type of goal to journal is the most beneficial method. Sometimes, this means I do not journal for over a month; it also means that sometimes I journal three times within the span of a week. Each time I have tried to journal and failed, it was the result of me putting too many “deadlines” on when I should write. There are some days when you feel like writing everything and others where you feel like writing nothing; allow yourself to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of journaling. 

2. Write however little or much you feel like writing.

Similar to the previous tip, aiming to write a certain amount may not be as beneficial as you think it might be. When I first began to journal, I would make it a goal to write at least one full page for that entry. I quickly realized that some days my thoughts only filled three or four sentences, or that I just was not in the mood to write in depth. However, I felt forced to fill the page, which only led to me dreading journaling. This was one of the reasons why I initially stopped journaling: I resented it because it was too time consuming and felt mandatory with too many expectations. As a result, I currently do not set any quantitative expectations on how much I write. Instead, I just go with however I am feeling at that moment. 

3. Journal in any form that works for you.

There is a common assumption that journaling strictly means writing sentence after sentence after sentence after sentence, but this might not be the most effective way for you to process your thoughts. Utilizing diagrams or flowcharts might be the easiest way for you to reflect upon something that just happened. For instance, sketching out the progression of your day using arrows might help you identify and analyze the events that contributed to your bad mood. This might be a more efficient way to reflect upon your day opposed to writing pages about it. Other methods that might be more beneficial than writing full sentences include bullet points, visual representations, doodling, etc. 

4. Write for yourself and yourself only.

In my opinion, this is the most important thing to remember. Earlier when I used to journal, there were things I would not write down out of fear that someone else might read it, or that what I was expressing was too harsh. I was writing as if my journal’s purpose was to be read by someone else. This caused me to hold back the thoughts that I actually needed to process and instead fill the pages with things that were not of value to me. 

It took a while for me to fully understand that journaling my thoughts is intended to help only me; it was not for others to benefit from. Once I embraced this idea that I should write what I actually wanted to write, journaling became a useful way for me to reflect upon and process the things that needed my focus.

While the journaling process varies and looks different from person to person, these methods can help journaling become a long lasting and rewarding activity for you!

The post How to Make Journaling More Effective appeared first on GirlSpring.

The Problem

The history we are currently taught in school, specifically middle school, typically glorifies and credits America’s successes to white people while simultaneously overlooking their prejudiced backgrounds and ignoring the efforts and achievements of people of color. For example, throughout my middle school education, I learned that people such as Christopher Columbus and George Washington were our country’s heroes. I was taught that these were the people I should idolize and honor. 

“Columbus discovered our country.”

“Washington led our country to independence as he fought for the colonists’ rights.”

These are just two of the statements I heard in the classroom and copied into my notes as a young student, and I am sure many of you heard similar remarks. However, in school, I was not educated on the role Columbus played in the genocide of Native Americans, or that Washington himself owned slaves while preaching the importance of man being free until much later. These were facts that were somehow “glossed over,” or not “significant enough” to be included in the curriculum. 

Think about when you were first taught of the significant achievements of Claudette Colvin or Larry Itliong in school. Do you know who they are? These are just two examples of people of color with major influence in America. However, they are shadowed due to their ethnicity.

While I am not suggesting that we ignore the important roles people like George Washington played in our country’s history, I do believe it is vital to learn about others whose efforts went unrecognized simply because of their race and ethnicity. I believe that this is an important issue that needs to be addressed in my community and schools, especially because this education can influence the way people behave and act in our communities.

Why It Matters

By not dedicating an appropriate amount of focus to important leaders who are people of color, students are not exposed to models of inclusivity. This issue cultivates an environment in which students who are people of color are not taught about enough people who look like them. This overall lack of exposure shapes the perspectives of people and has long lasting impacts on how we function as human beings and interact with others. 

What You Can Do

While we have a lesser ability to dictate what we learn in our schools, there are multiple resources available in which we can better educate ourselves on important people of color who tend to be overlooked in our country’s history. Whether reading a book or article, listening to a podcast, or having conversations with those who are able to share overlooked information, any effort you make to expand your knowledge on the perspectives and achievements of others benefits you, those around you, and your community. One highly recommended book that addresses this topic is “Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James W. Loewen.

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