Extra Credit - Chapter 1: What is Critical Thinking

 1. Write down all the alternatives you had

  1. Study abroad for a semester in a country like Madrid, Italy or Australia and have an amazing experience traveling the world with little responsibilities, an experience that I’ll never have again.  

  2. Stay at USC and not add extra credits to my schedule, enjoy LA and exploring California, enjoy my last semester with my boyfriend who was graduating, and get a great internship to ultimately focus on my career. 

2. Write down why you chose one over the other

  1. I ultimately chose to stay home, the main reason being that my major (Music Industry) does not offer abroad options, so I would’ve had to go through another school and add around 20 extra electives to my schedule. I also got an internship, and was excited to have that time to really focus on my career, academics, enjoy my remaining time in LA. However, I also realized that there were a multitude of factors deterring me, such as my intense routine-oriented nature and my reluctance to live out of a suitcase. While I’ve never been to Europe, so going abroad enticed me greatly, I was anxious about the preconceived notions that I had about the abroad lifestyle there–  constant clubbing, shopping, dining, and basically all activities that involve a significant amount of spending. That lifestyle didn’t seem like it was for me, and I wasn’t ready to uproot my already vacation-like life in LA. 

3. Were these reasons based on facts you researched, or assumptions?

  1. These reasons were somewhat due to "facts," such as talking to multiple people who have gone abroad and hearing about their objective experiences and standard routines there. However, they were mostly due to assumptions about what my life would be like studying abroad for five months and how I would truly feel there, as well as assumptions about disrupting my academic progress and relationships at home. Overall, there was not many facts for me to have drawn from to make my decision as there was truly no way for me to factually predict how I would feel abroad compared to home. 

4. What assumptions informed your decision?

  1. I assumed that I would feel awfully anxious in a foreign place, living on other peoples’ times and schedules, and feeling compelled to participate in activities that I didn’t necessarily want to do myself. Booking flights from country to country, to big group dinners, to keeping up with my friends in certain areas all stressed me out, and I assumed I would be missing home – as if I don’t get homesick enough being across the country at college, I couldn't imagine the time difference and overall distance from my family overseas! Assuming how these factors and endeavors would make me feel overall helped me make my decision to stay at home.  

5. How do you know the assumptions were true? Have you examined their validity?

  1. I knew these assumptions were true based on the way I have felt when traveling or going to places that are far from home and centered on group decisions and activities. Having traveled with friends before, I know the anxiety I experience at certain times and events that may have manifested itself on a larger scale in another country, which I did not want to happen. 

6. Do you make many of your decisions based on unfounded assumptions? Give example

  1. It’s hard to say, as I like to believe that most of my decisions come from strong, confident beliefs in knowing myself and what I want. While it is likely that I have subconsciously made decisions based on personal biases or incomplete assumptions that I have learned elsewhere, I am confident that every choice I make is because I feel strongly about it, not because I have insufficiently made a judgment about something. For example, when I rushed Freshman year and had to choose between two sororities– Kappa and DG – I was extremely torn. I remember being told by someone beforehand that Kappa was more “stuck up” and DG was more “chill,” which definitely influenced my perspective as I went throughout the process. However, after meeting with several girls from each, I remember particularly loving and connecting with the girls at Kappa, all of them being super sweet and warm, which lead to me eventually choosing Kappa as my sorority, despite the initial stereotypes and judgements that tried to get in my way. I was proud of my decision, as it was made purely from the way that I felt, as opposed to unfounded assumptions and misconceptions from others.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book 2, Post 1

  I chose to read Feel-Good Productivity: How to Do More of What Matters to You by Ali Abdaal, because the concept of productivity and discovering true career goals is very pertinent to my current phase in life. I’ve always considered myself a productive, ambitious girl, so I am eager to dive deeper into the nuances of productivity and growth through the perspective of an intellectual author and professional. I was drawn to Abdaal’s work as he explores a balanced approach to immersing oneself in goals and opportunities that are actually fulfilling, as opposed to just routine and obligatory. As someone who is currently juggling various responsibilities and pursuing potential career opportunities across industries, I align with the message of this book as I only seek creative and enjoyable work. Abdaal’s priorities towards authentic and meaningful professions resonate with my current perspective towards finding jobs and committing myself to roles that connect with my interests. He ...
Read more

WORLD WE IMAGINE Part 1 - Annie Wineer

This quote expresses the power of thinking and acting like a global citizen, and embracing our shared responsibility for humanity. After considering the nuances of this, I think my first step in making the world a better place would be to dedicate my work to creating a initiative focused on equitable access to education, particularly in communities that face obstacles due to their socioeconomic circumstances. Having an education is integral to empowerment– being informed about the world around you, understanding your potential and knowing what you're capable of– and is a vital tool to bridging differences, fostering meaningful dialogue, and providing individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary to transform their futures. To achieve the power of ubiquitous education, I would thoroughly address the systemic barriers that hinder the ability for certain communities to receive an equitable education, ultimately creating tangible change by actively building the world we imagine. ...
Read more