Peer profile

version 1:

In my interview with Stella, one thing that stood out to me was the fact that she does not shy away from talking about her religious beliefs, and she acknowledges her religion as a part of who she is: “One cool fact to know about me is that I am a Christian. You know, I am a very very devoted Christian”. This stood out to me as many tend to be insecure about talking about their religious beliefs openly, and this is something that I considered unique about her. Stella is writing about a Christian organization called “Signatry” which has a mission that aligns with her values as a Christian, which is: God wants unity. Signatry is an organization that aims to mend broken homes, because a broken home is contrary to what God wants. Stella also mentioned that besides religious reasons, a lot of the problems in society can be traced back to a broken home – this is an important point because it shows the aim of her organization is a noble one and the good they do isn’t transient – and by mending broken homes we can help society in the long run. Now, before our interview, I really didn’t know what to talk about and she was the one that asked a lot of the questions, which indicates she is good at starting and maintaining a conversation, which is a useful quality. I also learned that Stella’s favorite subject is math. This was unexpected as many people tend to agree that math is not a subject that they are good at or that they like – it also explained why she was surprised by my dislike of the subject – and this is why it was quite unexpected. During our interview, Stella asked a variety of questions – questions I myself couldn’t think of – which shows that she is capable of thinking outside of the box. One of the questions she asked was something along the lines of: “are you competitive like other guys when playing video games?” – the question was unexpected, but it showed her commitment to the class prompt. Whenever I asked questions or answered one of hers, I picked up on the fact that she pays attention and gives me time to speak, and she also looked at the speaker (me) which showed that she was actively listening and was not distracted. Another thing I picked up on is that Stella sits at the front of the class, which shows how she is not anxious about being up close with the professor, this also shows her commitment as a college student. Overall, I think Stella is a unique individual and interviewing her has helped me to reflect on how human beings are a lot like a book; while often dismissed as just another face at class or on the street, beneath the surface lies unique perspectives and unique tales which make up an individual and give them an identity exclusive to them. The interview was a learning experience and I look forward to working more with and learning about the people around me.

CUNY observation (Marshmallow observation)