The Academic year is almost coming to an end and so is my junior year. However, my senior year will be filled with memorable moments followed by big decisions to take and more changes in my life. My time at Loyola Marymount University is progressing at a very fast pace but I’m truly enjoying every single moment inside and outside the classroom. Classes are very intimate and students never feel that they are just a number to the professor because they want and hope to get to know every single student by the end of the semester either on a professional or personal level. However, it always depends on the student and how much they want to invest in the class but also in creating relationships with professors who are always open to students. Further my double major, Spanish and Women’s Studies, has given me a lot of flexibility to take a diverse number of classes but still be able to meet the requirements for the department without having to sacrifice creativity and my own interests.
Reflecting upon my experience in Latina Feminist Traditions, the course I am currently enrolled in and consistently contributing to the blog, has been a very unique and invigorating experience. I’ve never had a class incorporate social media or use it as a teaching tool. In my opinion, it is a very innovative method and probably predicts what future classes will look like. Today about the majority of college students own a personal laptop and engage with social media, e.g., Facebook, Twitter, blogs, on a regular basis. I am always on the computer either surfing newspaper columns, on Facebook or reading magazines but prior to the class I had no experience with Twitter or blogs, which were a requirement for the course. When I was informed about it, I was very nervous because it sounded very new and unorthodox. I could not wrap my mind around the idea that school and using the Web could somehow interconnect but in addition be conducive to the learning process. Thinking about it, I was already familiar with technology and possessed the basic skills therefore, doing it would not be an obstacle. Although I did notice the Internet has a language of it’s own and a culture, it’s very learnable especially for college students who were raised around it.
The benefits of using the Internet are that it makes our work more visible, accessible and open to the public. Also it can be disseminated a lot quicker unlike print media that also requires funding and circulation is limited. The word free resonates among college students who are constantly saving or living on a budget. Reading things online are in fact free and don’t require a subscription which most people appreciate. Readers are also free to visit pages on their own without the obligation therefore, making it more enticing for people because they get to choose what they want to read. Plus the Internet makes it possible to build an online community between students and professors, to create more global connections, and to make students feel a sense of ownership about what they are writing or creating. Since students comprehend that their work is out in the open, they become more aware of the audience they are writing to and conscious about their writing. Subsequently, it improves overall reading, writing, and analytical skills, which are crucial for any field of study or profession. On the other hand, like anything else there are some drawbacks to using social media such as being vulnerable to unwanted or offensive comments, privacy issues, etc., because when you put yourself on the Web you create a persona that is subjected to criticism. Also information can be misconstrued by readers, which can cause stress and other related problems. Sometimes it can be very challenging but negative feedback can help the blogger improve their argument and work on their weaknesses because it’s a reality about life that not everyone will share the same views, values, and ideology. However, being part of the online community and our freedom of speech is protected by the 1st amendment therefore, we should utilize the Web responsibly, for a good cause and with good intent.
I have overcome many fears about publishing materials online but I realized I love the autonomy and being part of a movement that’s occurring worldwide. Also it gives me the opportunity to use my voice and to share my story. I get to be the narrator of my own experiences which can possibly help someone who needs it and to build solidarity with others especially with other women. Furthermore my generation depends a lot on the Web thus, using it can only further enhance skills. If used correctly and wisely, social media can be revolutionary in anything that one is trying to achieve. Also it can be useful in creating a space or platform for anyone’s personal causes because as a Women’s Studies major I always want to know what is happening to women in the world and what I can do to reach them. It is a very powerful tool and rather than fearing it I am embracing it as a resource. Maintaining a healthy relationship with the Web is very important because it can be addicting at times. Without a doubt Chicana Feminists could have greatly benefited from using social media, but each generation has its own style and tools of empowerment.