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My name is Hope and I am currently a senior studying history and economics with a focus on the American West and Native American studies. My academic career so far has allowed me to engage with sources in a significant manner that encourages critical thinking, applying how events in the past are responsible for our current world today. I have worked on projects revolving around issues of Native American tribal sovereignty, the intersection of the environment and economics, as well as works addressing race, class, and politics. In my non-academic work, I have experience in working with people in customer-facing jobs, requiring me to be of assistance and create a welcoming environment. In the future, I would like to apply my historical knowledge and love of historical research to make history more accessible to the common person in a way that is easy to understand, making it not just something to be learned and stored away, but to apply in day to day life. 

On overcoming obstacles...

As students explored their definitions of success, some of the main facets of “success” that came up for this group were: (1) finding balance, (2) being a changemaker, (3) embracing life pivots, and (4) overcoming obstacles. In preparing for their final showcase, students reflected on one of these aspects and how they related to this aspect of success.

What is your story around this topic?
I've always been a pretty fluid person and have tackled obstacles throughout my life, but this semester especially in this project is a very prominent example. Having to come up with ideas, have them not go my way in no fault of my own, then trying to adapt over and over again without 'success', but still showing up with a good attitude I think is a great teaching moment.

What have you struggled with in regards to this aspect of success?
The feeling of failure in having to face an unsuccessful project is definitely the biggest thing I have struggled with. 

Where have you shined on this aspect of success?
I think I keep showing up in my work and want to somehow contribute to this team. Even though my side of things has not exactly gone smoothly, I tried not to get too bogged down in it and I try to find a way to support others and myself. 

What tools have you found to be helpful in navigating this aspect of success?
Support systems like coworkers, friends, etc. Not being too tied to an idea and allowing for changes, perseverance.

CHANGE Collective program reflections

Embarking on this program

I really enjoyed the first meeting of the Change Collective. This has really been the first time since the beginning of the pandemic where I’ve gotten the opportunity to not only meet new people but also begin to develop new relationships. For the most part, the people I have become friends within my college career are all majoring in similar things, so it was super cool to meet people in different areas of study. One thing that I am very excited about from this program is learning about everyone’s interests. Personally, once I begin to talk about my major and what I’m studying I could go on for hours because its something I’m enthusiastic about; and I really enjoy speaking to other people about what they’re studying, why they’re studying it and hopefully why their passionate about it. I am a little intimidated about adding more work onto my already busy academic schedule. Even though there is a lot of flexibility and cooperation within getting the work done, it’s still a little stressful trying to juggle everything. However, the work we’re doing within the museum seems very worthwhile and I can see how it could potentially intertwine with my own studies. I’m hoping this program allows me to make connections to other topics beyond my own area of study. By working with this diverse group of students with different backgrounds, I’m hoping to create deeper connections within my community and in the various fields of academia.

Mid-year reflection 

The overall experience in the Change Collective feels relatively mixed. There have been a lot of good experiences and opportunities that I’m excited about, however, I feel like there are a lot of added stressors that have inhibited my motivation. I’ve really enjoyed meeting everyone and making connections across campus, I feel like we have a super interesting group that are very passionate about the work they are pursuing, not only within the Collective but in possible future careers.

What’s been working well for me is collaborating and talking with other people in doing research. I feel like I’ve discovered over this past semester that if I am doing work with someone else in the room, whether or not they are also doing work, it helps me get more work done. In the few opportunities I’ve had to actually work with other people, I feel like that bouncing ideas off of them and getting their input helps me to evaluate my own arguments. I also have been enjoying reaching out to students outside the Change Collective and getting their input. Through doing this, it helps me better understand our campus and the culture on our campus. Although it is frustrating to see how many people would not care to think more about their place on the planet, meeting those who are interested in super inspiring and makes me excited in collaborating and hearing their ideas.

A lot of what is not working well for me is at no fault of the Change Collective and are more at the fault of my own. Given that much of the work I am doing is independent and research centric, it has become hard for me to separate this as work and not just more homework for a class. I’m already aware of how bad of a procrastinator I am, but this semester has been more stressful than those in the past. I feel like much of this has to do with returning back to normal following COVID, before I felt that I was not being held to any certain standard. So being immediately reintroduced normalcy has been pretty brutal. I am hoping to get better with managing everything as the year continues. One other thing that is not working well for me is the meeting times. Although every meeting generates very valuable conversations and have helped me to think through much of my work, so many of our meetings go over on time and I feel like it creates a more brutal time crunch. I would appreciate it if we could keep our meetings within the designated time frames.

This experience has pushed me to be more inwardly reflective into my motivations and my presence. If I’m being perfectly honest, this is tough for me. The way I’ve lived most of life I would not say that I don’t value this type of thinking, but this type of thinking is pretty foreign to me. I do what I do because I like doing it, I want to do it, or I have to do it. Participating in these reflections have been hard for me to try to come up with a genuine answer, but I feel like that I’m slowly getting better at it.

The only thing I wish I could change about this experience is just having more time. I feel like if we had a more concrete plan and hit the ground running, the time would be there. Overall, this is a very unique experience and I’m very thankful to be participating in it.

Final program reflection

What are you most proud of?
From this past year, I am most proud of the amount of trust and friendship that was built throughout the change collective. I feel that I have learned and grown from meeting everyone and getting to know them, so I am very proud of that. 

What was the best thing you gained from this program?
I think the best thing I have gained was learning about my abilities as a leader and public speaker. Before I knew that I was capable of doing these things, however, I feel more confident in calling myself these things now.

If you were to recommend changes to the program, what would you recommend? What didn't work so well for you? Feel free to consider the structure of your museum job, the bi-weekly sessions, the microcredential requirements, how you were hired.
The most important thing I would change is the structure. I think that having a more set plan from the get-go, like before hiring, so it could be more accurately advertised would have been helpful. Personally, I was expecting the co-creation work would have been more student-led. I appreciate everything Rebecca has done but at times it felt like this was not our project but hers. If there's a way to make it that way I believe that would help to benefit us. I also feel like the inspiring resource critique has not really been helpful for me so I think it could be removed from the micro-credential assignments. 

What about this program would you recommend keeping the same? What worked really well for you?
I enjoyed our bi-weekly meetings, I think they were instrumental in helping our group become closer. Although I had stated above that I think we should have had a better indication of the work we were to expect, I really like how much input we had in our decisions and planning events. I think a lot of the professional development was helpful and should be repeated. 

How do you hope to build upon what you've gained from this program (including any insights around the types of work or experiences that did not work for you)?
I hope that I can build upon this by gaining more museum work. Specifically, as a tour guide or some other type of position to work with audiences. 

How was your experience with the Sustainable Futures Fest? What felt successful? What would you have changed?
I enjoyed Sustainable Futures Fest! I had fun running around and helping all the stations and interacting with the public. I think it went as smoothly as possible and I have very few things to change about it. 

How was your experience with the Showcase/Open House? What felt successful? What would you have changed?
I was also very proud of the showcase! Although we did not have the audience we wanted, I think we all did a good job presenting. I think there were times during the panel style Q&A where there were other inputs shared by people, not in the change collective. Although we did want to host a conversation as originally planned, there were times when it felt like it was not our showcase but just another community brainstorm. Despite it sounding selfish, I felt like that day was supposed to be a day to celebrate us and not have to consider the input from non-students.