By Lily C., Marketing & Design Student
I’d have never thought I’d be peer pressured into going to a conference at 8am; and never would I ever think I’d actually give into the peer pressure. A conference, boring right? Actually I managed to stay awake, and without coffee. That’s how engaged I was with this Power and Diversity conference.
So much thought and effort was put into the planning, events, speakers, and (free) food. I know I’ve caught your attention now. But in all seriousness, I think this is an amazing opportunity for any student to learn more about diversity, inclusivity, and acceptance.
The event was held Thursday January 30th through Saturday February 1st and while I only attended that Friday, I experienced and learned so much. The event started with some Native American songs and dances to shed light on their culture and honor the land St. Cloud State University (SCSU) was built on. Afterwards we enjoyed some breakfast which included eggs, French toast, fruit, and other breakfast items.
As noon approached we listened to a speaker share about his experience as an urban native and his journey towards becoming a geographer. He talked about his family, his culture, his dreams, hardships, volunteer work, and more. What really stuck out to me was his take on maps.
As a Native American geographer, he knew the conventional way to read maps, (the way he studied them for school). Yet, he knew another way too, stemming from his roots. Natives viewed maps in a more personal way, home was the center of that map. All of your experiences were destinations or marks on your map. They weren’t physical but rather mental maps.
After the speaker ended we split up into different discussions of our choice. Of the four choices I chose to go to one about mixed race individuals. The discussion included topics like census forms and how they erase mixed race individuals’ identity, colorism within African American and Singaporean communities, and color blindness.
After we returned from our choice of discussion we enjoyed lunch: tofu tikka masala, rice, naan, dessert, and more. We were able to catch up with one another over lunch and discuss what we had learned from our discussions. Soon after we had another speaker take the stage and teach us about conflict resolution and clear communication in the workplace. It was really interesting because I was able to reflect a bit on how I’ve spoke with classmates and coworkers in the past. I was able to see where I may have some weaknesses.
She also shared much of her own experience attending SCSU as a single mother. She shared her hardships but also shared that SCSU was a place she made into her home. I felt I connected with her a bit because St. Cloud Technical & Community (SCTCC) feels like home to me in a way. My classmates are close to me and it felt good to listen to someone who views college experience in a way I do. I really took a lot from what she spoke about, connecting with others in a meaningful way, making college your home, and communicating in a way that is effective.
We split off once again and I found myself attending another one of her discussions. It was sharing experiences we’ve had in our workplaces and schooling. We had to create a news story to hook in a viewer while leaving them wanting more. My story was “The student whose google slides project deleted the last slides and didn’t realize until after they had turned it in”. Others shared funny stories of dealing with their own mistakes and experiences. It made me reflect on how others were able to deal with their mistakes and fix them effectively and reflect on how I had fixed my own.
As if there isn’t already enough to gain from this experience, this conference is a great way to network. I was able to visit the job fair happening alongside the event. While I didn’t find exactly what I was looking for that doesn’t mean that you won’t. Just like me, you might find yourself being peer pressured into a conference that seems boring. Most people will tell you that you shouldn’t give into peer pressure, but this time you definitely should.