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I-phone and Sleep: Not a good match

Last night, I finished writing an essay at 11:30 p.m. and promised myself that I would sleep at 12:00 a.m. As I settled into bed, I grabbed my computer to watch the latest episode of Suits. An hour later, I was scrolling through my Instagram feed on my phone. I finally went to sleep at 2:00 a.m.   

I’ve noticed that looking at my phone prior to sleeping has actually extended my bedtime by at least one hour. There are days where I’ve fallen asleep at 3:00 a.m. after binge-watching TV shows and shopping hauls on YouTube.

Research reveals that using a light-emitting electronic device, such as a laptop or phone, prior to sleeping has a negative impact on one’s health and sleep schedule. A study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences revealed that individuals who read books on an i-pad took longer to fall asleep, were less sleepy before bedtime, and less alert in the morning even after 8 hours of sleep as compared to individuals who read printed books.

Much to my dismay, I have been experiencing the same symptoms. I am unable to fall asleep at 12:00 a.m. and even when I wake up for a 10:00 a.m. class. I have trouble staying awake despite getting over 8 hours of sleep. Moreover, I’ve also found that this is beginning to interfere with my daily schedule. Last semester, I used to make an effort to work out in the morning, but this semester I’ve witnessed a decline in exercise as I am incapable of waking up before 9:00 a.m.

I’ve noticed that many of my friends and peers face the same problem. Even those who are aware of the negative effects of excessive screen time have not made an effort to alter their habits. While using technology in college is unavoidable, perhaps more awareness needs to be directed to this issue.

 

Women & Leadership Workshop: From Then to Now

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Evelyn Mittler ’18 and Sharon Chiang ’17 at the 8th Annual Women and Leadership Workshop photo booth

This week, I attended CMC’s 8th Annual Women & Leadership Workshop, co-sponsored by Berger Institute, Kravis Leadership Institute, and Robert Day School. As a senior, I fondly remember the first time I attended the conference two years ago. The Women & Leadership Conference holds dear memories for me as it was not only the start of one of my strong mentor relationships, but also a crucial turning point in my career trajectory. Finding an internship as a sophomore in college is challenging enough as it is, but the added stress of switching from applying to biotech research opportunities to a professional internship made it a bigger obstacle for me. However, the conference makes socializing with industry professionals and alumni a fun experience and gives a great first introduction to networking.

So, what did I learn this time around? As the keynote speaker, Victoria Halsey, points out, much of leadership comes from language. For women, it may be difficult to voice what they need, especially when they think they can do the task by themselves. However, everyone can use support and help from time to time; you just need to know how to ask for it. In the Blanchard situational leadership model,  Halsey describes four main stages of leadership:
  1. Directing: Where the person is inexperienced but excited to learn
  2. Coaching: Where the person is inexperienced but loses excitement to learn
  3. Supporting: Where the person is competent but not fully confident in their abilities yet
  4. Delegating: Where the person is competent and confident
Knowing which stage you are at can allow you to better vocalize what needs you have. On the other hand, as a leader, knowing where your employees or co-workers are at can facilitate better communication.
As I move forward with my career path and seeing how much I have grown since the last conference, I look forward in utilizing the leadership model to ask more specifically for what I want. Additionally, I look forward to assisting other CMCers who have been in my position sophomore year and encouraging them to continue pursuing their goals.

By: Sharon Chiang ’17

Women’s Leadership Workshop at CMC

Last week, The Berger Institute along with The Kravis Leadership Institute and the Robert Day School of Economics hosted the 8th annual Women’s Leadership Workshop at the Athenaeum. Designed to connect 5C students with successful female leaders, the workshop featured alumnae from fields such as law, non-profit, consulting, and education.

The event started with an inspiring talk by Victoria Halsey, author and VP of Applied Learning at The Ken Blanchard Companies. Mrs. Halsey stressed the importance of communication in leadership. She pointed out that what sets a leader apart from others is their ability to overcome the assumed constraint of asking questions without fear. As women, we often believe that we need to do everything on our own when, in truth, leadership emerges from collaboration and extending a helping hand.

Following Mrs. Halsey’s talk, students were given the opportunity to briefly chat with alumnae about their experiences in the workforce. The alumnae I spoke with highlighted the value of combining one’s professional and social goals in order to excel. For instance, after hitting a plateau in her career, one of the alumna quit her job and sought a volunteer position as president of a non-profit organization. Non-profits pursue professionals with extensive leadership experience, but often cannot afford their desired wages. Temporarily moving to a volunteer-based position can enrich your experience and allow you to go back to the corporate world prepared to move up the ladder – all while giving back.

Emotional Labor: The Managed Heart

Most of the time, when viewing job descriptions, many of the same qualities appear: “Demonstrated leadership,” “Team player,” “High-quality analytical and problem-solving skills,” “Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.” However, these frequent buzzwords for the traits that come with job qualifications almost assume that emotional labor should be a part of the workforce.

In my Sociology of Emotions class, sociologist Arlie R. Hochschild talks about how emotional labor is not acknowledged or compensated in the workplace. For instance, in the American culture where “the customer is always right,” people must mitigate their own emotional reactions to the demands of the customers in order to perform their job well. However, is this a demand that should be more explicitly stated in the workplace? In Hochschild’s book The Managed Heart, she states that the “method acting” during a job can undermine the authenticity of one’s emotion. For instance, when great customer service is expected, a person in the workplace may forget to put his or her emotions as a priority. In a society where emotions are commoditized, there is less value on expressing one’s true emotions as opposed to the emotions that are expected from either customers or society.

Does this mean that the compensation for emotional labor should be explicitly stated? This proves some complications as people handle emotional labor in different ways. Since it is a subjective topic, it is hard to outline in a contract. However, that should not diminish the importance of its acknowledgement in society. Hochschild brings to light the gendered expectations of emotional labor in the workforce. While women are expected to be more tolerant and compromising, this emotional labor is seen as “expected” and therefore taken for granted. However, there is hope in bringing these issues to light. By having the conversation of the different expectations in emotional labor, there is an easier path to bring up these discussions in the future.

By: Sharon Chiang

 

A Self-Reflection

In 2006, Time magazine’s Person of the Year award went out to “you.” When I visited the LACMA this semester, Mungo Thomson’s art piece displays a mirror designed as the cover of Time and allows participants to view and be in the art. This homage to the magazine caused me to reflect on myself and my time at CMC. Featured in the image is me and one of my closest CMC friends, Tanvi. As we take a picture in the artwork, I can’t help but wonder what the implications of being Person of the Year would be.

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Tanvi Bhargava ’17 and Sharon Chiang ’17 at LACMA exhibit

What would I want to be known for as Time magazine’s Person of the Year? I reflect on the legacy I’ve left at school and what I still have yet to accomplish on the bucket list. While I’ve been in CMC, I have founded Music Mania, a music educational program that helps underprivileged students from Uncommon Good build the fundamentals of music theory. In addition, I’ve served as a student coordinator for the Center for Civic Engagement, with my roles ranging from a community service coordinator to leading the SF Alternative Spring Break trip. However, what I think I have learned the most from is balancing schoolwork with life. As I stand in the mirror with Tanvi, I realize how far I’ve come from being at CMC. Slowly but surely, I’ve learned to prioritize relationships above schoolwork without sacrificing studying. In addition, I’ve learned to live in the moment and take each day a step at a time. I couldn’t have imagined high school me taking a whole day off to explore LA’s museums and sights during a busy week. The picture of me in the mirror makes me truly value what is the culmination of my four years at CMC. I am proud of what I’ve accomplished for both society and my personal goals.

So, can we all be Person of the Year? With Thomson’s art piece, he truly puts the viewer of the art in a position of self-reflection, both figuratively and literally. I look forward to what the new art displays at the LACMA will bring me in the future.

By: Sharon Chiang

Abundance without Attachment

This week, I attended Arthur Brooks’ Ath talk on “Abundance without Attachment.” The talk was initially titled, “How to Live Life like a Start-up,” but was later changed. Prior to the talk, I wondered why Brooks would change the talk from something attention-grabbing to the entrepreneurial spirits of CMC to one that was vague; however, by the end of the talk, it was clear why he had done so. The main crux of Brooks’ talk was on the formula to happiness. While there are many economists and businessmen explaining their steps to living a entrepreneurial lifestyle, there are few that elaborate on the importance of happiness.

As a business and government professor with a Ph.D. and an M.Phil. in policy analysis from the Pardee RAND Graduate School, Brooks engaged the audience through his charismatic take on finding happiness in a capitalist society, making tradeoffs between relationships and career, and other relevant insight. Currently, he is the president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), contributing opinion writer for The New York Times, and a bestselling author.

Before his present accomplishments, Brooks spent 12 years as a classical musician. His transition to economics came after his desire to find a solution to poverty. During his trips to India, capitalism became hard evidence of a powerful tool that lifted poor nations from deep poverty. Brooks then decided that he wanted to be a part of the solution and started his career switch.

The question remains: what does the title even mean? The best way to describe “Abundance without Attachment” in western words is “If you love something, set it free.” Brooks argues that capitalism is not evil. Capitalism is a machine run by people, who can be good or not. The abundance of money that rises through capitalism is not bad; however, the distinction is that the attachment to the abundance of money is what causes dissatisfaction.

What should we value instead? Brooks talks about the four aspects to the formula for happiness, which includes pouring ourselves into:

  1. Faith
  2. Family
  3. Community
  4. Meaningful Work

Brooks’ formula for happiness was not groundbreaking to me since it wasn’t the first time I’ve learned about it. I’ve heard about it from my parents, read about it from psychology experiments, and witnessed it firsthand through the fulfillment of my decade-long friendships and sharing life stories with strangers while traveling abroad. However, coming from Brooks, whose background is intertwined in both music and economics (such as mine), the advice hit close to home. Brooks’ talk was a great reminder to continue prioritizing what is most important in life.

Didn’t make it to the talk? Check out the link featuring Arthur Brooks’ commentary on TED.

By: Sharon Chiang

Emotional Intelligence and its Importance in Career Success

This semester, I decided to take Sociology of Emotions at Pomona College, another one of the 5Cs. Having always wanting to take a sociology class and a genuine interest in the emotions of others and myself, I eagerly signed up. For one of our readings, Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence: Why it can Matter More than IQ, Goleman argues that EQ is a better predictor of success than IQ. After nearly four years of attending CMC, whose unofficial motto is “work hard, play hard,” I can see how my school’s culture of valuing both social events and academics have led to career success for many CMC grads.

For instance, Goleman talks about the five components of EQ:

  1. Self-awareness
  2. Managing emotions
  3. Self-motivation
  4. Empathy
  5. Handling relationships

When evaluating the components of EQ, the five factors boil down to understanding oneself and others as well. Though IQ is important, especially in higher education, the competition of “who attends a more prestigious school” or “who has the highest grade” often causes people to forget that success in academia does not automatically translate to success in career. While intelligence is important in grasping the challenging material within academia, in many career fields, the chances of using that information in daily situations is very rare. However, the constant that appears within any field is knowing how to deal with yourself and other people. CMC offers a variety of social events, including Ath talks, CPB events, and even weekend parties, to get CMCers comfortable in developing bonds with other people and how to handle conflict when it occurs. By encountering these situations early on, before entering the workplace, we are prepared for life beyond pure academia. Knowing how to take care of others and yourself are translatable skills beyond college and the workplace.

By: Sharon Chiang ’17

 

Theatre is Truth, Journalism is Not

This week, I had the pleasure of attending the discussion on politics, art, and the role of the theater in shaping public policy with internationally recognized playwright J.T. Rogers and CMC professor Eric Helland. A 2012 Guggenheim fellow in playwriting and under commission from Lincoln Center Theater and the Royal National Theatre, Rogers hails from an impressive background.

CMC is known as a prestigious liberal arts college with strengths in pre-professional preparation. Though theatre is not a major offered at the college, there were many practical lessons taken away from the talk that deal with developing meaningful connections and experiences that we can apply to our daily lives.

When asked about the role of both journalism and theater, Rogers responded that “While journalism sharpens our minds, the theater can expand our sense of what it means to be human. It is where we can come together in a communal space to hear ideas that grip us, surprise us — even infuriate us — as we learn of things we didn’t know. For me, that is a deeply, thrillingly, political act.” Non-fiction can tell you facts but exclude the emotions that accompany these events.

So how does one write a play? The short answer is by understanding the human experience. Like any great career advice, J.T. Rogers simply says to use what you know. The characters need to be believable, coming from real backgrounds and having authentic human emotions and behaviors. When talking to people about their experiences, Rogers states that what is important is a personal level of understanding, such as how they wake up in the morning, and not just listening to their list of achievements. He seeks to create a conversation, not an interview.

To conclude the talk, Helland asked about how living in a rent-controlled apartment in New York affected the trajectory of Rogers’ career. To Rogers, his experience in New York was pivotal to the beginning of his career. Genius is not alone; genius comes from being in an environment with a lot of creative and ambitious people. This brought me to think about how lucky I am to be attending CMC, a college that not only promotes discussion and exploration of new ideas, but also adds value by being around the impressive people that go here. Rogers’ discussion at the Ath raises more awareness about the role of theatre in politics and even the privilege to attend CMC.

Didn’t make it to the talk? Check out the link featuring J.T. Rogers’ commentary on his latest play Oslo.

By: Sharon Chiang ’17

The Black Mirror and Instagram Likes

 

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I spent my second week of winter break trying to convince my father to like my recently uploaded picture on Instagram.

An hour later, I received a notification acknowledging that my father had double-tapped on my picture- taking it from 59 to 60 likes- a small milestone. In exchange for the favor, I was told to watch “Nosedive,” an episode from the T.V. series Black Mirror.

The episode appears to be set in the future, a world where status and living is defined by an individual’s online rating. Interacting and gaining approval from individuals with higher ratings allows one to boost his/her own rating. A higher rating enables access to a better apartment, modes of transportation, and an elevated standard of living. A low rating can result in discrimination and social isolation, so characters go to considerable lengths to please their colleagues, thereby resulting in interactions characterized by superficiality.

While Black Mirror is dystopian, it is not unimaginable that society may evolve to a similar state. Technology has begun to penetrate all aspects of our lives. Our social media images have become vehicles through which we seek validation for physical beauty and popularity.

I admit that I went on a tech detox for two days after watching Black Mirror. On the third day, I was back scrolling on my Instagram and Facebook feed. This time, however, I tried to appreciate the picture itself rather than examining the number of likes it garnered.  It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve found this to be both pleasant and less toxic.

 

Publishing and Diversity: A Panel Discussion

This week at the Athenaeum, I had the pleasure of attending a panel discussion regarding the current state of the book publishing industry and the representation of diversity in the field. The panel consisted of author and CMC alumni Yi Shun Lai ’96, executive editor Rachel Kahan of William Morrow and Company, and book publicist Kima Jones of Jack Jones Literary Arts.

The highlights of the panel discussion touched upon the economic and social challenges in the publishing industry. For instance, entering the industry can be difficult for those who are financially unable to take on an unpaid internship, since this opportunity serves as a launching pad into the industry. Financial stability can be an issue, too. Yi Shun Lai, also a literary editor at the Tahoma Literary Review and the Los Angeles Review, said her first post-grad publishing job only paid $18,000/year. To get by in New York, she survived off of “bar food and ramen.”

The panelists also highlighted the social challenges that marginalized groups face to become published: female writers struggle to achieve the same respect as their male counterparts, and the publishing industry is concerned that the POC viewpoint may not be relatable or marketable enough for a mass audience.

Despite shedding light on the challenges of the industry, the panelists remained optimistic about the future of the publishing industry becoming more diverse. Kahan believes that the industry underestimates their readers’ ability to empathize and learn from the narratives of diverse voices. They’re calling for publishers and readers alike to demand more diversity in the field and encourage all literary enthusiasts to continue pursuing their passions.

Didn’t make it to the talk? Check out the link featuring panelist Kima Jones’ commentary on diversity in the publishing industry.

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Pema Donyo ’17 and Sharon Chiang ’17 posing with Yi Shun Lai’s Not a Self-Help Book: The Misadventures of Marty Wu

By: Sharon Chiang ’17