About Me

STEPPING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

Comfort is easy. We fear uncertainty, loss, pain, and so we seek to cushion ourselves against the rawness of life by spending our lives in artificial, climate-controlled boxes safe from unwanted intrusion.

Powerful forces conspire to keep you in your comfort zone, penned by fear. The system wants you to be compliant, following the rules of the group, being an acceptor rather than a creator. Fear of social judgment discourages you from trying anything with a risk of rejection or failure. Capitalism and consumerism encourage you to build a career by mastering a single money-making skill and devoting your life to it.

This is unfortunate. Personal discovery and personal development happen only outside your comfort zone. Comfort zones foster an attitude of learned helplessness, making progress harder. Learning, creating, growing happen only when you step outside your fortress and venture into the wilderness.

There is something about challenging yourself, and doing something a bit different that gives you confidence, an edge, and a sense of accomplishment that does wonders for your personal growth. There is something about overcoming some nerves that builds confidence. Something about trying something new and being really clumsy in the beginning, but soon figuring it out, that makes you proud of yourself. I can’t describe this feeling, but it’s a comfort (more like a strength!) in knowing that you stepped outside of your comfort zone. But when I did take up the challenge of something new, I was almost always pleasantly surprised. It might be uncomfortable at first; it might be hard. Or embarrassing. But if I could push through the awkwardness and fear, I found that I had learned something. When all is said and done, I’ve

• grown stronger
• gained confidence
• acquired new skills
• achieved a fresh perspective
• redefined my ambitions
• picked up new ideas

 Traits and Skills of Inter-disciplinarians

You may be wondering, "What exactly is an inter-disciplinarian?”  It's a pretty big word and one that is unfamiliar to many people.  A brief definition that I might give someone is that inter-disciplinarians are people who hold specific traits and skills that allow them to be extremely well-rounded and versed in many subjects.  Inter-disciplinarians may not be complete experts or the authority on all possible subjects, but they most definitely have the experience and the willingness to devote time and energy to learning as much as possible about the various disciplines that exist.


Am I an inter-disciplinarian?  I'd like to think so.  Throughout my educational career I've found myself very interested in the world around me.  I've always loved to learn about new things, often times with a passion that many people find themselves dedicating only to their "most favorite" subject.  I've come up with two traits and two skills of inter-disciplinarians that I feel I embody.

Trait 1: Love of Learning;
As mentioned previously, I've always loved learning.  As quoted by Trow, "Students drawn to interdisciplinary studies have an unusual love of learning, are curious beyond the average about the world they live in, and welcome opportunities to view the world from as many perspectives as possible.  This definition sums up the love of learning that I believe ALL inter-disciplinarians  hold.

I truly believe I have a love of learning that is not often found in your typical person. I've heard from many friends that I "seem to know something about everything" or have been asked "How in the world do you know these things?"  I take pride in loving to learn about new things, regardless of the reason.  Whether I'm looking up a fact for research for a college class, or just reading for the fun of it, I'm constantly trying to learn new things.

Trait 2: Appreciation of Diversity;
As an  inter-disciplinarian I have respect for people holding different views, devoted to different faith traditions, and coming from different racial backgrounds.  Simply put, inter-disciplinarians are willing to see beyond the surface and open their minds and hearts to learn about all the differences in opinion, no matter the reason or person.


I believe I personify the open-minded personality that is needed to appreciate diversity.  I grew up poor in a poor neighborhood, and have spent almost my entire adult life working. I've experienced differences in cultural beliefs, customs, traditions, ethnicities, hospitality, and dialects.  I know this has allowed me to grow and appreciate the diversity that exists in my community and ultimately the world.


Skill 1: Ability to Communicative Competently;
Each discipline has not only its own set of skills and knowledge but also its own language that it uses to describe its concepts, assumptions, and theories.  Each discipline, or subject, truly has its own set of vocabulary and knowledge that requires people to understand a certain amount of information to be able to actively engage in conversation and communicate effectively with others regarding a specific topic.

Majoring in Interdisciplinary Studies has allowed me to see the wide range of skills, knowledge, and language that each subject holds.  I've learned how to critique visual art using words such as perspective, focal point, and avant-garde; I've learned how to make videos and movies, that’s right I have become computer literate. I have also become better connected to my community while doing research projects within my areas of study. Because of my well-rounded education, I'm able to communicate competently with others in many subject areas.

Skill 2: Ability to Think Abstractly:

To think abstractly means one must be able to think about topics they may not have experienced personally, but have knowledge of.  One must be able to understand topics that seem foreign and unfamiliar by using their prior knowledge and skills.

I think I have the ability to think abstractly because I often find myself in new situations that require on-the-spot decision making.  Instead of going with what is most familiar to me, I often try to see the situation from every aspect.  In doing so, I try to break down situations into something familiar and easier to understand.  For example, when writing a paper about a topic that I have limited knowledge of, I try to think "outside the box" and consider other opinions and outside information.  I then come up with more considerations to research and possibly include in my paper.

It's easy to say that I believe I'm an inter-disciplinarian.  I can provide traits and skills, define them, and give some examples as to why I represent each one of them.  But to truly believe and know that I'm an inter-disciplinarian can only be found in my heart.  When I look at myself as a whole - my life experiences, my college experiences, my personality, and my personal goals - I see someone who has always been an inter-disciplinarian...even before I knew how to spell it.