Blog # 9

In our last class each student shared the experiences that they had in the Tunnel of Oppression assignment. It was interesting that most student were disturbed when someone was whispering in their ears, and they said it was one the most uncomfortable feelings that they had. I had the same feeling, and I was very uncomfortable about the situation. Although some students have never been oppressed or discriminated, but that experience allowed them to understand other people who have been oppressed or discriminated. We experienced that how could be harmful and painful when we are rejected by our relatives and society. How would be different if we were discriminated because of our gender, race, or sexual orientation. One of the student had a photo of Jessica Alba, and she was shocked when she read Jessica Alba’s story. Jessica Alba was bullied and had to have lunch alone. Sometimes it is good to know how these celebrities live and what they have gone through in their life because many people around the world wish they were one of the celebrities, but if they know their stories, they would probably change their minds. At the end, all of us experienced sad feelings, but understood what was it look like to be oppressed or discriminated. Therefore, as we learned through this assignment when we see something, we should say something. After sharing our experience about Tunnel of Oppression, we divided into four groups to discuss about the homeless article that we read. It was interesting that the article was inspiring for most of us, and knowing homeless situations made us to appreciate where we were sitting. Sometimes social comparison boosts our self-esteem and open our eyes what we really have. Instead of focusing what we do not have, it is good to focus what we do have. That was a good lessen for me to appreciate where I am standing in my life now.

The Cycle of Liberation was one of the best article that I have read during the semester because it was kind of look like what happened to me during past few years. Once someone is oppressed, it is not an easy task to be liberated. This intrapersonal change could be challenging, and it needs a lot of effort and self-awareness. I do agree with the writer that the core of liberation is self-love and self-esteem. Someone might think or say that self-love people are selfish, but they are completely different. A self-love person is a person who loves himself, does not have self-destructive behavior, does not self-handicap his performance, and do all the good things in the world for himself. And most importantly, a self-love person wants all the good things in the world for all people around him and people in the world. On the other hand, a selfish person or self-hatred person not only does not like himself, he or she also does not like anybody in the world. How come if I don’t like myself, I would be able to like someone else! I liberated myself from my oppressive society and any oppressive relationships  when I started to study psychology, and during this educational journey, I learned to boost my self-esteem and be a self-love person. As a result, the core of liberation is self-love and self-esteem.