Jazlyn Gonzalez - Reflection #2

 Group Reflections

Mental Health and "Fun" Social Life - Group 2

Study Guide

Before I dive into discussing my group’s very informationally dense presentation I wanted to acknowledge how enriching doing the study guide was, especially the chapter that I focused on. Chapter 11 (Topic Selection and Development) essentially provided really good pointers for formulating and articulating a speech.

As self-explanatory as it sounded, it repeated the emphasis of keeping the rhetorical situation in mind and to tailor the speech to suit the audience demographic to avoid marginalizing and stereotyping. I learned that in the preparation of any type of public speech, I should gauge what the audience’s initial level of knowledge is on the subject matter, either by doing polls or surveys (worst case scenario make an educated guess) to ensure that all bases are covered. Moving forward, my first step will not just be selecting a topic, but actively thinking about who I am speaking to and why they should care. 

Brochure 

So beyond the conceptual material from Chapter 11, I was also tasked with completing a portion of the brochure, and that provided a lot of insightful information. I felt it was incredibly important to begin the brochure with a clear, defining statement of what mental health is by quoting SAMHSA. Similarly, highlighting key warning signs like isolation, lethargy, and susceptibility to vices (like substance abuse) felt like essential/practical information for the audience to observe and basically inform everyone of a few indicators to prompt potential intervention for individuals exhibiting those behaviors/characteristics. 

Bloodletting using leaches.

However, the section I was most impassioned about, and which truly captured my attention, was the part on historical methods of treating mental illness. I only chose a select few, but researching about trephination, bloodletting, and mental asylums were simultaneously unsettling and fascinating. It was a shocking 180 from our current understanding in addressing mental health challenges.

 

I was going to include lobotomies, but I felt as if that method was too mainstream. But now that I mention it, in retrospect, lobotomies are as equivalently horrifying. The fact that an ice pick-shaped instrument is inserted through the eye socket then used to slash the frontal lobe (transorbital lobotomy) is pretty barbaric and gruesome. What’s more, subjective “before and after” portraits were treated as sufficient medical evidence to justify/legitimize the procedure which says a lot about the ethical standards of the time. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to present the brochure itself so I could not elaborate or discuss these topics openly with the class.

Things That Struck a Chord 

The presentation had certain topics that resonated with me particularly the concept of digital burnout. During COVID being tethered to a device was a significant factor in social interaction and education. It genuinely felt as though the day revolved around the screen as means of communication, entertainment, and work. I felt fatigued, I was always emailing, texting, facetiming, etc. This reliance did lead to a mental exhaustion that I can now recognize as digital burnout. This concept is also interwoven with FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) which was exacerbated by social media posts. I mean, I was chronically online so seeing perfectly curated fun, outside of my confinement, which was my home, felt kind of dystopian. Even now when I miss out on something, like going out to the beach with friends, I wonder “What if I had gone?” or did I just deprive myself of some core memories.   

While doing research for my assigned question, I learned about the mechanisms of mental health support, which helped clear up some confusion I had. Specifically, I came to understand how federally funded agencies distribute billions of dollars and how that funding trickles down to local organizations like Thriving Mind South Florida. After reading about how essential federally funded services are to the general well-being of the nation, I was honestly shocked to hear my teammates mention the lack of consistent investment.

Family and Potential Career - Group 3

Intro

I think Aitiana’s speech was a very solid opener and very thought provoking. One quote that stood out to me was “legacy does not have to mean repetition… it can be evolution.” It’s a good point to make especially when authority figures who are most of the time our role models expect us to follow in their footsteps. Her point challenged the notion that honoring our roots does not necessarily require imitation and instead suggests that we can use that foundation to develop our own interests and ensure that we (as in the audience) base our career goals on authentic aspirations.

Additionally, I appreciate that Aitiana prompts the audience to do some introspection and reflect on what impact do we individually want to leave behind in this world. This group project took a subject matter that I was initially uninterested in and transformed it into a piece of work really meaningful and inspirational. 

Inherited Vs Authentic Aspirations

This section piqued my interest because it is undeniably true that our parents' philosophy on what defines success seeps into our malleable adolescent minds, molding our values and perceptions of what a “successful” career path should look like. When I was a child, I used to want to be a bartender. I was drawn to the vivacious atmosphere and the creativity in crafting something delectable.

However, my parents are very pragmatic (both entrepreneurs) and the idea of becoming a bartender didn’t align with their vision of success. That desire of mine quickly fizzled out, as it was deemed impractical and unrealistic. Looking back at it, I can tell that they were just probably reasonably concerned about the logistics and the financial stability of that job. So while I now recognize the value of following one’s passions, I also believe it’s important for parents to offer guidance. In a perfect world, I might have been able to live comfortably as a bartender but realistically, that path may not have offered the long-term security they hoped for me.

Economics of Education - Group 1

This presentation really illuminated how education and economic strength go hand in hand. I had never considered education in the grand scheme of things especially in terms of its influence on the economy. I’ve been so focused on my own career goals that I hadn’t realized how pivotal accessible and equally funded education is for national growth. When more people have access to quality education, they acquire the skills needed for higher-paying jobs, which in turn means more individuals contributing to the economy. It’s a cycle that mutually benefits everyone, and this presentation helped me see education not just as a personal journey, but as a public investment. I also like one of the messages of the presentation being that the school curriculum should not be so infatuated with incessant testing but ideally revolve around establishing real-world skills.