the Unknown

The past couple of blogs have been really easy to respond to, and though they were thought provoking they didn't take me too long to think of what it is that I wanted to say.  However, I struggle on this particular occasion to articulate exactly how I feel after this video, largely in part, possibly, to my own ignorance of the idea of a single story.  I think that to me it means a stereotype, a single story of someone that creates an image of a group of people as a whole.  I think that I see the idea of a single story carried out everywhere, and not usually in a positive way.  The looks I get when I say I am in a fraternity, or the thoughts people have when I say I'm a Dance major.  Even watching people react to other individuals on the streets, or in class.  The single story plays out in every aspect, however unfortunate it is.

I think one of the most interesting examples of a single story I have is the relationship I have formed with one of my best friends.  When we first met he was introduced to me as a member of the executive board for my fraternity, a all-boys high school graduate, and a bio-medical engineer.  I was new to being in a fraternity but when I first met this guy I thought he was going to be the biggest douche (for lack of a better word).  And our initial interactions were via email, and my early suspicions were seemingly coming true, mind you that electronic communication is a realm all its own.  However, when we actually met he was one of the most genuine individuals I had ever met, even if I was still really insecure and thought he hated me.  And now, almost two years later he is one of the best friends I will ever have and I thank god that my single-story was wrong.

Wearing The White Hat

Scripted television makes it easy to play a great character, be it a murderer, or a detective, or a professional fixer.  But those characters aren't necessarily always leaders.  For those of you who have never watched Scandal before, I am sorry for your loss (just kidding).  Olivia Pope, played by Kerry Washington, is Washington D.C.'s professional fixer, meaning when big time politicians have big time problems she makes them go away no matter what.  Olivia, by shear title, is a leader of Olivia Pope & Associates but she does so much more that takes her to another level.  She is fiercely loyal to her followers, whether it's a client or one of her "fixed" associates, she would die before she let anything bad happen to any of them.  Passion is a natural part of her being.  She worked as the campaign manager for the President and is never ending in her drive to solve her particular problem at hand.  She is charismatic to the point of convincing the sky it may not actually be blue.  These qualities being said, she also has parts where she lacks, just like every leader does.  She doesn't always listen to those around her, and she isn't always very great with communication.  But what makes her, to me, more of a real leader than an ideal one is the fact that she is a real person.  She solves crises on a daily basis, but her personal life is in constant turmoil.  She walks around with a strong face and acts like nothing is wrong, which is maybe why I identify so closely with her.  Even her character can be a leader to the real world.  She is a symbol of powerful woman, and even more, powerful black woman.  Her character is empowering people outside the screen. Regardless of television or not, Olivia Pope is a real, not necessarily ideal, leader.

The Man Behind The Hair

Who am I?  The most basic of all questions to ask someone, yet the hardest one to answer.   I can tell you the bare minimum and perhaps allow you to create your own conclusion.  My name is Ryan Timothy Shaw; I was born on the 15^th of October 1993.  I am a Dance major at the Ohio State University, where I am a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  I could stop there and let you make the assumptions everyone makes based on that information.  I don’t really know a good way to say who I am.  I am an only child, but I try not to “act like one.”  I sat at the “big kids” table before I reached double digits, and because of it my mom will tell you I didn’t really have a childhood.  I spent summers going to camps and, oddly, became really good at knife throwing, archery, and “making friends.”  I haven’t had a babysitter since the third grade.  I started playing soccer as soon as my dad could find cleats small enough to fit my feet.  Even though people don’t believe me, I have played all the major sports you can think of.  I spent grades 5 through 8 trying to prove myself to a group of friends that would eventually turn their backs on me.  I spent freshman year playing soccer, getting drunk, being bullied, learning to dance, and still trying to prove myself to this same group of people.  I spent sophomore year playing soccer, getting drunk, and being lonely because that group of friends decided over night they didn’t want to be associated with “someone like me” and left me for dead.  I told my parents that I no longer wanted to play soccer and spent junior year dancing, rebuilding, accepting, and mentoring.  I spent senior year dreaming of no longer being in senior year, missing 30 days of school, dancing, and doing whatever I wanted for the first time in my life.  And now?  Well, now I wear whatever clothes I want to prove to people that you can.  I like fashion and I’m straight, just to break the stereotype.  I joined more student organizations than you’re supposed to and took a maximum course load just to prove that it can be done.  I would drop everything in the entire world for My People because I don’t what I would do without them in my life.  I over share my emotions because I would rather tell My People how much I care about them everyday than never tell them at all.  If anyone is reading this you probably think I am over dramatic and possibly depressed.  But the truth is I try to be as happy as possible everyday.  I am one of the most emotional people in the world.  I dance because my body physically can’t stop itself when the music comes on.  I love doing any kind of physical activity, playing sports, working out, dancing or really anything physical.  I love seeing my friends smile because I like knowing they’re happy.  I am a super nerd for anything Harry Potter, Teen Wolf, or Lord of the Rings.  I cried for multiple hours straight after reading/watching the Fault in Our Stars because it is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read.  I dance like nobodies watching.  I dream of kissing a girl in the rain.  I am a mix of scars and emotions and crazy and love and clichés and people all rolled into one crazy, loud, emotional, tall, lanky package.