The Academy

  • Exercise, The Academy

    Foam Roller Life Hack!

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    1-Poster Tube
    The future of foam rolling

    Origin Story

    Karen Kelsky of The Professor is In says that you should strive to attend annually the two or three most important conferences related to your research field and to not really spend your time on graduate student conferences unless you have the time and resources.  For me, that means going to the American Anthropological Association and the American Education Research Association.  This year, I was accepted to present at an emerging scholars poster session through the Council for the Anthropology of Education, but I never made it.

    My flight was scheduled to leave JFK at 6 pm.  This was also the second day of snow in NYC, so after being delayed until midnight and then cancelled because there were no available pilots, I was pretty much convinced that I was going to miss my presentation.  Since I was only planning to be at the entire conference for less than 48 hours anyways, I didn’t see the point in rescheduling.  I got a a full refund and a $250 credit, but I was still stuck with this 64″x 48″ poster that I’d spent a significant amount of time working on and nearly $60 to print because, of course, the printer at my school was broken.

    Somewhat defeated but glad that I got my weekend back, I put the poster in it’s tube and went on about my life.  Then, inspiration hit.  I realized that I could use the cardboard poster tube as a foam roller.  It’s sturdy, round and durable.  No, it’s not perfect, but it’s far better than just putting it underneath my bed, never to see the light of day again.

    Foam Rolling 101

    I’m still fairly new to foam rolling also known as self-myofascial release.  It’s often been used by professional athletes, therapists and recently these techniques have become more readily available to the general public.  According to breakingmuscle.com:

    Self-myofascial release is a fancy term for self-massage to release muscle tightness or trigger points. This method can be performed with a foam roller, lacrosse ball, Theracane, or your own hands. By applying pressure to specific points on your body you are able to aid in the recovery of muscles and assist in returning them to normal function. Normal function means your muscles are elastic, healthy, and ready to perform at a moment’s notice.

    I first used a foam roller a few weeks ago when my fitness class instructor suggested it to help with my hamstring issues.  It helped! It hurt a little bit just because I was putting pressure on a sensitive area, but it wasn’t unbearable in any way.  It was more like getting a mini-massage.  Afterwards, my leg didn’t feel as tight as it usually does after I exercise.  The bad part was that I couldn’t take it with me–I mean, I could, but it’d be kinda obvious, anyways…..  For now, using my make shift foam roller will have to do in between the times that I can use one actually made of foam.

    Rolling into the Future

    I’m not sure if I’ll  invest in a really nice poster tube or a real foam roller.  After all,  I was just presenting a poster to avoid the stress of an actual paper presentation, but I’m glad that something good came out of my failed 2018 AAA experience.  A quick internet search showed that foam rollers retail for as little as $9.99 and upwards of and as much as $160 based on varying quality, density, size and shape. If you’re not ready to make the investment and/or don’t have much extra space, some foam roller alternatives that I’ve seen are pvc pipes, tennis balls, soft balls and plastic water bottles (people suggested Nalgene brand). So, no fear, you too can join the foam rolling trend.

    Below, find a few resources I compiled if you’d like to learn more about foam rolling irrespective of what you decide to use.  Have you used a foam roller before?  What are your thoughts? Are there any other school-related or household items that you might use as a substitute?  

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Food & Nutrition, The Academy

    I tried it: Açaí Bowls

    I’m leaving for fieldwork in approximately 5 months.  I’m EXTREMELY grateful (and still genuinely surprised, blessed, mystified, etc) to have received the very first dissertation grant that I applied for typos and all.  No matter how many people try to tell me that my nervousness is just excitement in disguise, I beg to differ.  I’m going to miss NYC, the people, the ease of transportation, the non-stop entertainment, and I’m not only talking about the kind that you have to buy a ticket for.  I finally feel like I’ve made a home for myself here, and now I have to leave.

    I’m sure this will make me sound extremely privileged, ethnocentric, [insert any pejorative term anthropology strives to work against] but I’m really concerned about what I’m going to eat.  My field-site is not a food paradise, paradise in many ways, but definitely not when it comes to food.  I know that people live there just fine, but I’d being lying if I said I wasn’t already planning how I could set up a system for my friends to drop off protein powder and almonds when they come to visit me.

    With that said, in an attempt to make the most of my time in the city, I’ve created a food bucket list to avail myself of all the abundant food options that the city has to offer.  Studying for comps is lonely, boring and a side of boring, so finding ways to turn the mundane into something exciting is my current strategy.

    Up first was an açaí bowl.  I know I’m late to the game, but it’s always been on my list of things to try.

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    The good: It tasted really good.  I ordered the ‘Tropical Blunder’, which consisted of granola, mango, kiwi coconut and of course açaí .  It was thicker than I thought it’d be.

    The bad: This is essentially a smoothy in a bowl, served with a spoon instead of a straw. I knew this going in, but somehow I thought it’d be different. I felt some kind of way about paying nearly $10.  I know that açaí is supposed to be healthy for you but–this purchase hurt my heart a little.

    The verdict: I’m glad I tried it and that I can check it off the list, but I won’t be missing this.

    Have you all had açaí bowls before?  Did you have a better experience? Were my expectations too high? Let me know.

  • Mental Health, The Academy

    Back to School Pt. 4: Who you wit?

    bernie macThere are levels to relationships.  Sometimes, we place people in the wrong position because we act from a place of loneliness rather than self confidence. Sometimes, people think they are entitled to a position that they haven’t earned.  Sometimes, people need to ride the bench for the season and others just need to get kicked off the roster.  In all of this, we as individuals are responsible for putting people in their respective places the more we come to recognize who actually deserves our precious time and energy.

    So, in this school journey no matter the level (and in life more generally), it’s of the upmost importance to consider who’s coming with you. In the words of the late Bernie Mac, who you wit?

    People to intentionally bring with you

    You. It seems obvious, but it’s really easy to check out of this whole process because of the constant pressure to essentially be something other than who you are.  I was told my second year that I needed to adopt an in-class persona–I couldn’t make this up.  Honestly, it wasn’t until my fourth year that I started to feel like I was “all there”, and it’s hard because I sometimes would walk into the building, sit in class and would just prefer to disappear.  Bring yourself, your experiences, your language because you are an asset and you deserve to be there.

    Mentors Near and Far. It was actually a mentor who I met at a conference a few years ago who mentioned to me the idea of establishing a squad.  I have mentors in different departments, different schools in my city, across the country and at my fieldsite.  Of course, this takes time to cultivate, but it’s extremely worth it.  No single person can do everything for you–your advisor can’t be your therapist, life coach and academic wizard–so it would behoove you to diversify.  I’ve had a lot of luck meeting mentors through conferences and applying directly to a sub-committe’s mentoring workshop.  I highly, highly suggest this.  I’ve had experiences where it’s just a one time thing, but other times there’s a real connection, and end up with a long-term mentor who you otherwise would not have met.

    Sister Friends. I love my sister-friends. Most of these women are people I met in high school or undergrad, and we’ve stayed in touch since then.  There’s something  special about having people who’ve seen you in so many different situations who can remind you of how far you’ve come and can therefore call you out on your bs.  The majority of these women are either pursuing higher education or are building their careers, so we can share the woes of adulting and get in a good kiki session all at the same time.  An added bonus is that you have somewhere to go when you just need to get away.  Most people are either in the city or on the East Coast, so it’s no biggie to hop on a bus and get away on a random weekend when need be.  With that said, they are all super busy, so keeping in touch with the occasional text or phone call is important.

    A Good Therapist. Therapy has been a really great exercise in helping me think about the things I unintentionally carry–like an invisible knapsack with all of the weight and none of the privilege.  Finding a good person is kind of like dating.  It takes time and patience, but it’s certainly worth it.  This also stands true for working through your issues.  It’s not a quick fix, but it is again, certainly worth it.

    People Who Will Likely Show Up

    The Haters. I truly believe that at some point your enemies will become your footstools, but when that happens, it’s important to handle the situation with grace and humility.  These people may become your colleagues and the world is small.  At some point, the people who did you wrong (for no apparent reason), might realize that you are not their enemy.  Instead of naming what they did wrong and apologizing for their actions, they will find it easier to act as if nothing happened and smile at you when they see you in the computer lab. Smile back. Keep it moving. Repeat.

    The Biters. Academia is not unlike any other profession or experience in every day life;  people will beg borrow and/or steal to get what they want.  Be mindful that there are those who need to be kept at a distance for the sake of protecting your project and your original thinking.  I’ve personally experienced this issue with a peer, and I’ve also heard of this with professors taking the ideas of their students.  Protect yourself and protect your work.

    People to Leave Behind

    The Refuse The most obvious here are people who don’t support you as a student or as a person.  Sometimes, it’s worth a conversation to give them the opportunity to learn how their actions are effecting you.  This works for some people, and with time and firm boundaries, they will adjust.  Others will throw you under the bus and reiterate that since you’ve been in school for the majority of your life, you actually don’t know anything about the real world.  The irony is not lost that this is often coming from people who have no experience with higher education, but I digress……They don’t deserve you and all the greatness that is to become of you.

    So, take an assessment.  Who’s coming with you this year? Do you need to work on expanding your circle or making it a bit smaller? If you are content with who you have close to you, how can you work to strengthen those relationships?

  • The Academy, Uncategorized

    Back to School Pt 3: 10 things I’m grateful for

    Gratitude is a daily practice that shouldn’t be reserved for the holiday season–and I failed at keeping a gratitude journal.  Here are 10 things I’m grateful for at the start of this school year…..

    affection appreciation decoration design
    Photo by Carl Attard on Pexels.com
    1. I have my own office with mood lighting that I can use to do work. In NYC, space is a premium, so as a perk of being a co-chair for a student organization, I get access to this very special space that serves as a closet, pantry, mini-yoga studio and of course a work space.
    2. I’ve never had to pay for school.  The fact that I’ve never had to pay for school is a very clear sign to me that there is a calling on my life and that there is some higher power guiding my steps.  I feel like there’s something that I’m being asked to do.  So many of my colleagues and friends have the burden of student loans, and I can’t imagine having to go through school making so little and owing so much more.
    3. My friends and close colleagues. In all honestly, I feel a bit socially estranged from the people in my cohort; however, over the years I’ve been able to cultivate relationships with people not in my department.  Thanks to my scholarship society, my student organization and a spirit of bravery to take classes in different disciplines, I’ve met people I actually really like. We’re not besties, but it helps to not feel so alone.
    4. I live in NYC! Never in my life would I have thought that I would live in New York nonetheless with little financial burden (reference #2).  The fact that there are so many resources here like the Arturo Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the King Juan Carlos Center at NYU means that I get to interact with a plethora of different people and to attend lots of different events.  The city is my campus, and it’s pretty dope.
    5. I’ve learned just as much academically as I have personally in the last 5 years. When I tell people that my program is on average 7 years, they usually balk, and I respond that had I better guidance, I wouldn’t be in this situation.  At the same time; however, I’m really glad that this time has allowed me to, in short, figure shit out.  I really feel like I have a far better understanding of who I am as a person, and this wouldn’t be possible without the stability that I’ve gotten from having to be in the same place for so long.
    6. I have an amazing roommate. In undergrad, there was a verifiable uptick in my grades when I decided to live in a single room and stop trying to ‘make friends’ with the random strangers who I got paired with in the housing lottery.  All of my housing situations since then have involved roommates.  This is the first time, that I really feel like I got it right.  She is friendly, clean and pays her rent on time.  It really is a game changer to come home to a house that can be a refuge from the stress of everyday life.
    7. I have professors and mentors who will really go to bat for me.  My squad. I would never tell them this, but there is one professor who I consider my academic mom, and my mentors are my play aunties. They are already at the top of the “people to thank in my dissertation introduction” document I keep on my computer. #fictivekin
    8. Teaching is a choice.    It is no secret that most institutions of higher education run on part time labor thereby leaving a huge pool of people without any real job security.  Because of my fellowship, I actually don’t have to teach at all.  Now that teaching is a choice, I feel like I can enjoy it rather than it being something that is forced upon me. It’s honestly a huge privilege (and responsibility) to be a black female anthropology lecturer–that’s rare.   I had one Black anthropology professor during undergrad in my senior year.  I remember the first time I came across Black Feminist Anthropology, and how my love for Johnetta B. Cole started.   Now, I get to be the face of what anthropology can be for people, and that’s powerful.
    9. Insurance. I absolutely love my dentist and getting my teeth cleaned.  My therapist is the goat.  My dermatologist looks like me.  My insurance isn’t great, but I’ve found some really great people.
    10. I’m breaking generational curses. As hard as this journey has been and continues to be, I know that I’m setting my future family up to have a fulfilling and thriving life–you’re welcome.

    Your turn. What are you grateful for these days?  How are you keeping these things in the forefront of your mind–morning routine, gratitude journal, some fancy app?