STEMS2 Goals REVISITED:)

After my first blog post on my goals for this semester and in STEMS2 Iʻve realized that in setting out what I intend to do, I often tend to carry a heavier load on myself. What I mean by that is I tend to do the groundwork on my own initially and then start to wrangle in others to the dream. I also shy away from pinpointing out my struggles in the process and just keep trekking on optimistically despite it being difficult, definitely both a good and bad thing.  Therefore, tasks can be somewhat overwhelming at periods of time in the process and thatʻs never fun.

I realize that I tend to do the groundwork on my own initially because I am still figuring out what I want things to look like or follow a certain way.  I also tend to not want to bother someone with my goals and thoughts when everyone has things going on too.  More often than not, once I am pretty clear on my direction and I got components of the project set properly then i feel more comfortable bringing people in to the wild ideas I have.

However, in the past two weeks Iʻve been networking with various people about upcoming projects within the non-profit but also for a bunch of my extracurricular activities and even something as simple as getting my yard landscaped.  In these moments of exchange, Ive come to believe that even if I get everything figured out on what I want it to look like and how I want something to flow, as my old boss used to always mention, "everything falls to shit." He is definitely not a pessimistic person at all, but it was more his way of reminding us to always have a plan B because plan A can and possibly will fall to shit and we best be prepared.  Therefore, I like to think that if things can and possibly will fall to shit at some point, then maybe having a bunch of ideas from all facets of life and various minds early on isnʻt such a disadvantage.  In fact I think as Ive always believed two minds are better than one, so having input early on before I even know the exact route and destination to my goals may be more of an advantage than a disadvantage.  Furthermore, it could even mean more ideas I didn't even think to incorporate or challenge myself to believe was possible.  Outside thoughts definitely can give fuel to the partial ideas we have, making them complete and capable of even greater things than we initially fathomed.

In conclusion, my goals mentioned in my first blog post still stand, but it now most certainly includes me being mindful to not be caught up on figuring it all out beforehand by myself.  But allowing for input at the early stages of accomplishing the goal so I have the opportunity to be inspired by others and incorporate their ideas together with mine to truly crush goals in the future. I also personally feel that working with others and sharing my ideas early on when trying to tackle a big goal makes for light work emotionally, physically and mentally.  I definitely get to experience that in this program as Ive never been a part of a cohort before and experience this level of peer support. I have always been in programs within UH (minus Hawaiian Studies) where Im the minority or Im somewhat alone.  Therefore, Iʻve come somewhat accustomed in academia to only work in groups if assigned or just work with one person to study but not necessarily develop programs and complete projects that I hope to better people and places with.  I look forward to implementing this mindfulness more often and truly open myself up to all kinds of things both old, new, out of my normal and maybe even at times uncomfortable and vulnerable feeling.