6 Months In

What I’ve learned from being a small-time blogger in the past six months:

I have had a few “marketing” events for my blog- lol!

To graduate, Northeastern requires us to take a “Capstone” course. During this class, we are supposed to establish a final project as a representation of our final thoughts or culmination of our studies. I personally did not want to write another policy report or long-winded research paper. Thankfully, my professor allowed me to be a bit creative, giving me some free rein on any kind of project. So, I decided to present my blog as my capstone! I eventually presented my research findings to my classmates. I shared my theoretical framework, scholarly works, and pieces that inspired the autoethnography, and an explanation of the overall intention of my blog.

*Autoethnography: a qualitative research method where researchers use self-reflection and personal narratives to explore and understand a particular cultural or social phenomenon, often focusing on the intersection of personal experiences and broader social contexts

I also entered my blog into a research convention at Northeastern called RISE. It stands for “Research, Innovation, Scholarship, and Entrepreneurial Expo”. Any student from any college at Northeastern is allowed to submit a proposal. Then, Northeastern reviews the research and can accept students to present their work at the Expo. So, there were all kinds of different research! Mine was a bit more personal as it was presented as an autoethnography. We created posters to show our “findings, research methods, and goals/outcomes”. Obviously, my poster was a little different because the research was mostly qualitative and from my own experiences. I collected four blog entries from my site that cut into a digestible amount of writing and placed them on my poster. I decided to annotate and mark up the entries to show how these concepts are open to constructive criticism. I wanted to personalize and create the idea that all of these thoughts are evolving and not resistant to change, advice, and opinions.

I also created little business cards so that people can connect and subscribe to my site!

This was so fun! I heard great feedback about my presentation from peers, fellow students, professors, and donors! It was seriously relieving to see how people reacted with awe. I felt so inspired!

Outside of academic settings, my friends and peers seem to really engage with the content. Most of my friends are outside of the humanities and social sciences, so this type of content is either brand new or something they have been wanting to take classes on, or just current events they want to see from a different perspective. I find that my friends and I typically have conversations about a lot of these topics. Often, our conversations naturally gravitate toward current events, international affairs, or politics. I’ve come to realize these topics aren’t always part of casual dialogue or social settings at other universities. When my friend visited from Tennessee, he was almost taken aback by how frequently my friends and I dove into these discussions. He told me how refreshing it felt to be in an environment where people were not only aware of what’s happening in the world but also eager to unpack and talk about it. That conversation really stuck with me. It reminded me how fortunate I am to be surrounded by people who challenge me intellectually and support open, thoughtful dialogue. I firmly believe everyone deserves access to spaces where they feel empowered to engage in difficult, possibly messy, and important conversations. That’s part of why I write! I want to create that kind of space for others.

I have loved hearing from different generations. From my friends, to my parents and their friends, and even my grandparents and their friends! It is difficult to appeal to all audiences, but I have tried to make the content as readable and adaptable as I can to everyone.

Personally, I have LOVED these past six months of blogging. My engagement with current events, emerging topics, and examining my own life through new perspectives has deepened in ways I hadn’t expected. I’m always refreshing my news app and staying attuned to politics and policy changes, both nationally and globally. I’ve found myself applying what I read to almost every topic of interest. I also constantly find myself bookmarking podcasts, social media posts, documentaries, and articles. I have always been a listener, more so than an avid speaker. I am always keeping my ears open during my day and in conversations to hear what everyone is talking about, what is most important, and what is on people’s minds. More than anything, I’m trying to be present. That’s what keeps the blog alive, and what keeps me learning.

The research presentation and my capstone really got me to think about the longevity of my blog and my deeper purpose as a writer. My core goal is to cultivate a community where people can learn, resonate, heal, and grow. While I’ve loved sharing my thoughts in this space, I’m now wondering how I can make this feel less like a monologue and more like a conversation. One step I hope to take is encouraging more interaction directly on the blog, whether that is comments, questions, or recommendations of topics for future entries. So, my readers, please feel free to share with me!

With gratitude,

Olivia