Unit 2 Reflection

I will not lie; this semester has been a struggle for me. I feel like I am always sick or overwhelmed with exams and other project work. That is why I am incredibly proud of this assignment, specifically because of how much I had on my plate.  As we reach the midpoint of the semester, we must remember to take a breather and manage our time well so that we can do so. I believe I did that successfully with this project.

Compared to the Unit 1 Source Collection, I took a different, more creative approach. I turned a scholarly source into something much easier to read and even listen to. I took inspiration from a friend to do a podcast-style source and ask a peer some hard-hitting questions, which really paid off.  I chose the audience of this piece based on those I interact with in my daily life. I believe that we dwell too much on what others think or believe and that it actually limits us in what we are able to create or produce. With this piece, I really tried to forget about who I was writing to and hone in on the argument I was trying to make. I believe it is important to forget who might be listening to let go and express your opinion fully. I used one source from the unit one source collection, and I believe it helped me develop my ending argument of how we, as a society, need to reduce our time on screens and social media in hopes of improving our mental health and overall well-being. The false reality that we look at every day is not beneficial. Using Dr. Cross’s article about how screen time in children affects brain development helped me choose my first scholarly article. 

Something that was out of my comfort zone was the 10-minute podcast I put together with my peer Sofia. Writing down questions that we're not pushing the envelope of our relationship was something that I struggled with. While she is a friend, I did not want to be overstepping when asking about her mental health. I could not have picked a better person to interview because she was so vulnerable with me when sharing her thoughts on social media. It also surprised me that she felt as if she fit into the study done in my source on an increase in depression, anxiety, and thoughts of hopelessness due to social media. I believe that Sofia's words and my questions helped immerse readers/listeners in “the conversation,” and I believe that people can relate to what we both had to say. 

My friends found my pitch captivating. I didn't get it out to as many people as I wanted, but the few responses I received felt they wanted to read more and hear more about it. I wish I formatted my pitch with a more creative slogan. Next time, I will send my pitch to more people. Perhaps I will post it on a social media platform to ensure more people give feedback and see my message. While my idea and message was very creative, I could have made it more concise so that it would instantly grab more attention.

The skills that my classmates and I are learning throughout this course apply to almost every class. I have developed my critical thinking skills and ability to analyze different types of sources. I am in the Whitman School of Management, and they really focus on collaboration. In every class this semester, we have a large group presentation or project; conquering a big project like this one helps develop skills we can use in group projects. Working well and successfully individually is essential and crucial. We have learned to perfect our craft in writing, and it has set up a great foundation. However, in the workforce beyond college, collaboration is vital. It is important to keep our teammates or coworkers' ideas distinct. That is also why our peer reviews are so critical for our learning. Accepting feedback and constructive criticism is a concept we will use throughout life, whether that is at a large company or even raising a family. Being susceptible and adaptable to feedback can improve many things throughout our lives. 

In conclusion, this project is something I am very proud of. Mental health matters more than ever and we need to remember to take digital detoxes. And if that is too much for you- take a social media detox! Using our voices, we can create a space where social media is a tool for fun, and not a source of anxiety!