Lauren Ashley Winklebleck

Self Reflection EvaluationLauren Ashley Winklebleck

Hello,( West Valley College) colleagues and a hello to our Instructor, Professor Farrell . Welcome to the presentation of my Self Reflection Evaluation. Lets begin!1

My goal in this presentation is to discuss aspects about my culture and upbringing, and explain how they shape the way I communicate with other cultural groups.

Overview

My goal in this presentation is to discuss aspects of my culture and upbringing and how they impact how I communicate with people of other cultures. 2

Reminded me of my English 1 class at West Valley College where we read a book called Meanderings on a Diasporic Hybrid Ethnic Identity by: Dr. Dulce Gray

In it, I learned about how multiple identities are shaped and how they can influence ones outlook on other cultures and on ones self.

This class is helping me continue on my personal journey into self-discovery.

It is hard to look at ones self under a microscope and I found it challenging and it filled me with some fear and apprehension

How much of what I was taught as a child or exposed to as a teenager has shaped the way I communicate with others?

How have I broken some of the barriers created for me?

Initial Perceptions

My initial perceptions of this project brought on feelings familiarity but also apprehension. I had read a book on diasporic hybrid identity in my English class at West Valley College and was still familiar with some of the topics like disporia, and hyphenated identities. I was nervous too. It is hard to analyze ones self. I tried to see this project of self discovery as a challenge. 3

This is Naomi Loe Walters Detrick. She is my paternal Great-Grandmother.She graduated from college. She was a teacher. Like her, my Grandmother also went to college and received many degrees and also taught. Because of these women, other women in my family, including myself have learned to value education. Contrarily, my father, Naomis grandson, did not value a formal education and did not attend college but instead learned a trade. First Aspect of History:Culture is learned

The first Aspect of History I want to discuss is that Culture is Learned. This is my paternal Great Grandmother. She graduated from college and was a teacher, she actually taught home-ec. My grandmother, Naomis Daughter, also is a college graduate and was a teacher as well. My aunt and my female cousins on my paternal side of the family have all been college graduates. These women taught me the value of education. Contrarily, on my mothers side none of the women graduated from college until my generation.4

This is my mother, Sue WinklebleckGrowing up, she was always reading books about other cultures, listening to music in other languages, and teaching us to value other cultures for their differences.Because of this wonderful woman, and her behaviors of accepting people of many l ethnicities, nationalities and backgrounds, I too have adopted a similar behavior. My behavior displays that I have little problems associating and engaging with others who may seem dissimilar to me.

Second Aspect of History:Culture is expressed in Behavior

The Second aspect of history I want to discuss is Culture is expressed in behavior. Growing up, my mom was always reading books about other cultures, listening to music from other countries and in different languages and really taught all five of her children to value the differences in other cultures. Her behavior directly affected how we, her children, engage others. The reason this is important is because she broke a barrier within her own cultural upbringing. My mother, growing up, experience that interracial dating in her household was frowned upon. My grandfather also forbid my grandmother to ever make rice. Im proud my mothers expressed behavior had such an influence on her children. 5

My paternal Grandmother is the person I chose to interview about my family history. I learned that my family history ethnically and racial speaking is Norwegian, Danish and Heinz 57 North-Eastern European. I found I am related to some famous or infamous people such as:William McKinley who was the 25th President of the United States and was assassinated six months into his second presidential term. Brian Boru, who was an Irish King who ended High Kingship in IrelandRebecca Boone an American pioneer woman and (the wife of Daniel Boone)

Family Interview and History

For this project I chose to interview my Paternal Grandmother Barbara Detrick Swedlow. I learned a lot of information. She and my grandfather are huge geneology buffs. I found out that ethnically and racial speaking is Norwegian, Danish and Heinz 57 North-Eastern European. I found I am related to some famous or infamous people such as:William McKinley (25ht president)Brian Boru (an irish king)Rebecca Boone (american pioneer women and the wife of daniel boone)6

Here are a few ways I openly describe myself:Gender Identity: FemaleAge: Twenty-eightRacial Identity: Norwegian, Danish and a mlange of North-Eastern European races. Ethnic Identity: Norwegian, Danish, North-Eastern EuropeanRegional Identity: I am a proud Californian!

Open-self identity

Lauren

My open self-idenitiy can be described as Female, Twenty-eight years of age, Norwegian, Danish and a mlange of North-Eastern European races, I identify ethnically with those same cultures. And I am a proud Californian!

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WelcomingQuiet ConfidenceYoure the goalie, Youre the pitcher, Youre in charge.you have this ability to be in total control of chaos, despite chaos. perfect middle child, you can get anything done in any condition. and you have an ever-growing mind.lively, warm, and humorous.you heard me out

Arena: ExtrovertedIntelligentSelf-ConsciousBlind Spot:ConfidentLovingTrustworthyIndependentMatureLogicalBold

Things friends said that surprised me (a,k.a I think Im going to cry):

Feedback via Johari Window Panes system:Blind self identity andJohari Window Panes

This was the most difficult part of the self-reflection. Discovering my blind-self-identity. I was apprehensive about what people might say. So, they did not tell me I was a monster though the word Bossy was thrown around by my siblings. But the comments my friends made in the left column took me off guard. I felt flattered. Specifically the comments of the you heard me out and Youre the The goalie, the pitcher, youre in charge were touching. The Johari Window Panes system was fun to use and interesting to watch develop. What did not surprise me: extrovert I was most intrigued by being called bold

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Power Distance: LowExperience in High Power (Corporations)Prefer (going forward) Low Power (People achieving together)

Femininity/Masculinity: FemininityI prefer less gender specific roles, value quality of life and support for all

Uncertainty Avoidance: Un-developedI am somewhere in the middle! I appreciate structure, but prefer less formality

Long-Term/Short-Term Orientation: Long term oriented

Hofstedes Value Dimension

Using hofdtedes value dimensions I prefer a low power distanceI have a lot of experience in a high power distance enviornment and going forward would prefer a low power distance enviornment.Between femininity or masculinity I prefer femininity. I like less gender specfic roles. My uncertainty avoidance is undeveloped. I apprecaite structire but prefer informality. I am long-term oriented. 9

Human Nature: I feel humans are basically good

Relationship between Humans and Nature: Harmony between the two

Relationships between Humans: Collateral Even though working groups can be challenging, I value others ideas and think others can contribute ideas I many not have considered

Preferred Personality: DoingI strive to be a being and growing type of person, but often find myself just doing like other Americans.

Time-Oriented: Future OrientedKlukhohns and Strodtbecks value Orientations:

In Klukhons and Strodbecks value orientation I found myself to believe humans are basically. 10

My upbringing shaped the way I communicate with others.

The neighborhood, city, state, and country I grew up in all influenced how I communicate with others today.

The more self-aware we are , the more we can change those things that we do not like about ourselves.

Understanding

My environmental upbringing, having been influenced by my ethnic and cultural backgrounds, have shaped how I communicate with others.This project has helped me gain awareness of aspects of myself I had never seen before. This type of self-assessment can change how one views Others and allows us the opportunity to change ourselves.

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All photos used with permission or taken by Lauren A. Winklebleck~FIN~

Conclusively, I found that I can easily approach others of different cultures. Although there sometimes is a verbal communication barrier something like a smiling can go a long way. Hope you all enjoyed getting to know me better!12