Month: November 2024

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America
and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation,
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

As a child, I would stand for the flag and repeat those words alongside my classmates. And that was one of the few times I consistently felt united with my peers. As we have become adults, it feels like we have forgotten the importance of uniting as “one Nation,” especially after this past election.

I respect the opinions of both the Republican and Democratic sides of the political viewpoints; however, I disagree with the negative treatment toward each other after the election. This includes shunning the other party for who they voted for, unfollowing people or being flat-out rude.

All of this negativity led to me taking a social media cleanse just to escape the cloud of toxicity and hatred floating around the internet. I understand being upset when a certain party is elected that you were not aiming for, but this should not be a driving factor to further divide our nation.

The day following the election, my social media feed consisted of people from both parties posting political statements. Usually, this does not faze me. Yet, this time, the political posts were not just statements of support but harsh and rude towards the other party. I was shocked. I do not remember such an extreme reaction to the previous elections. I understand a lot was on the line depending on who won the votes, but emotions spiked to new levels.

Additionally, let’s not allow social media to control our emotions. Don’t believe everything that you see online, research it first. When you are researching, also take into consideration that there are extremists in both political parties, and the mainstream media loves to highlight these extreme points. When this is done, form your own opinions and emotions. Then, it is OK to have those intense emotions and reactions.

Most importantly, it’s OK to have differing viewpoints. To provide an example, let’s not talk about politics for a second. I, personally, absolutely hate seafood. The smell itself sends me into a fight-or-flight response. Regardless, I do not hate people or shame them when they tell me they love seafood. Now, I know this is a minimal consequence scenario, but why can’t the same aspect apply to other things in life?

Very rarely in life will you 100% have the exact same opinion or view on a topic as someone else. And once again, that’s OK. Personally, I love hearing a diverse set of opinions from my own because it helps me expand my knowledge and empathize with others. Every single person has gone through a different set of challenges in life that help shape their opinions, meaning we should not belittle other’s opinions.

If you don’t agree with someone, nod your head or swipe past the post and continue on. It does not have to lead to a negative result. And, hot take, it should DEFINITELY not be the deciding factor of whether you are friends with a person or not. At the end of the day, this negativity will not solve anything.

Kamala Harris, during her concession speech, said: “A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy and tyranny, and anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it.”

With all of this in mind, let’s not allow whom you voted for to stand in the way of taking action toward some of the world’s issues. Instead of spreading hate, let’s promote change.

Make a difference in the local ways that you can like attend city council meetings, join a commission or union, and volunteer. Part of this includes voting on a local level, which can impact a person just as much and is how most change is introduced into politics. Elections happen more frequently than the heavily advertised presidential elections. When you participate in these political activities, it ultimately will begin to bring our communities together.

Saying the other party is terrible for this reason or that does not solve the issue but further divides the two political parties. No change from either party is going to happen if we do not listen to the opinions of both sides. Be a voice that promotes change instead of hatred.

I know this is a time of confusion and fear with a new president and cabinet coming into office. However, hatred should not be added to this list of emotions. So, during this very divisive time, let’s not allow who you voted for to stand in the way of fixing the issues at hand. Let’s, instead, come together as one Nation and make a change.

While there are some possible drawbacks, a combination of on-location work combined with remote work allows employees to be more productive while also promoting a more balanced lifestyle. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced everyone to stay inside and out of the office, remote work has become a more available option to workers. A study by LinkedIn’s Global State of Remote and Hybrid Work study found that in April of 2022, the share of job postings that offered remote work reached 20.3%. This is a stark contrast to the 3% to 5% estimate before the pandemic. 

As employees have been moved out of the office and into their homes, moving workers to full-time remote work would be a mistake. A study by Stanford University in January found that fully remote workers are around 10% less productive than their other coworkers. Remote work can serve a purpose, but it should not be the standard for the future. 

Working completely remote has several drawbacks that cause it to be less productive than other methods. Communication is essential in nearly all jobs, and it takes a severe hit when everyone is remote.

Despite things such as video chats, they simply do not replace the benefits of meeting face to face. Online communication causes more distractions and confusion due to the inability to read things like body language and social cues. We also all learned during the pandemic when we were forced to do school or work completely online, technology isn’t always reliable and it was never quite the same as meeting in-person.

While I was in my senior year of high school during the pandemic, we were forced to go fully remote for the first portion of the year. While we were able to get some things done, it didn’t come close to the learning experience in the classroom. The same disconnect that many felt during the pandemic continues to exist for those who work fully remote, as it hinders communication and productivity.  

While working completely remote has been shown to lower productivity, there are benefits to a mix of both on-location and remote work for both employers and employees. The previously mentioned Stanford study also found that hybrid working had no significant impact on productivity and also helped employee recruitment and retention.

This gives workers greater flexibility, which many people became accustomed to during the pandemic, while also allowing them to remain as productive as if they were in an office every day. 

Hybrid work allows workers to live a healthier lifestyle as it creates a better balance between work and home life. Workers save time commuting from work on days they aren’t in the office, which allows them to spend more time with their families. It also helps build a stronger community between employees and their employers as they feel more connected and retain flexibility, while also building relationships with their colleagues.

This also promotes a healthier work environment as a hybrid work method makes workers happier to be a part of their respective companies and reduces negative work relationships. When negative relationships do come up, the hybrid method also allows workers to work through it during their time at home. 

The hybrid approach simply allows workers and employers to find the middle ground between productivity, a healthy lifestyle and flexibility. It also reduces the drawbacks that come from both fully remote and on-location work, such as productivity and a balance between work and the rest of life. 

I never thought I would reach this point, but here I am. In the 2016 election, I had the naive hope the people who voted for Donald Trump were merely misled, desperate or too numb to the chaos that the 2016 election was.

I believed that there was some rational thought around why folks would vote for a man who called fallen soldiers “suckers” and “losers,”  to which Trump said, “For somebody to say the things that they say I said is a total lie. It’s fake news. It’s a disgrace.”

Or how he constantly attacked the news for “fake news” despite how thin that rationale was.

But this time, there are no excuses; we all know what he is capable of. Hello, Jan. 6th… and y’all just chose him to be president. A man who bragged about grabbing women without consent and dismisses and degrades the American people at every turn, especially if you are NOT a white, straight, Christian man.

Trump: a walking embodiment of misogyny

If you voted for Trump, disrespectfully, I do not want to hear any excuses from you. YOU CHOSE HIM. When you voted for Trump, it felt like you looked me right in the eyes and said, “You don’t matter.“

You voted for a man who gloated about his treatment of women and how he uses them as props to boost his ego; he degrades us and belittles us.

He said, “Birdbrain doesn’t have the talent or temperament to do the job,” about Nikki Haley, a member of his party, because she dared to run against him in the primaries.

Yet, you still supported him.

He outlined how he and his goons are going to take away our autonomy, our safety and our right to exist without fear of harassment and assault. I mean, he already gloats about how he got Roe V. Wade overturned, and just a week after the election, I had a guy come up to me, slap my butt, and say, “Your body my choice,” which is a phrase coined by white supremacist and Trump supporter Nick Fuentes.

I’m done with the idea that I should be tolerant of people who support someone so openly hostile to women’s safety and dignity. You chose a man who sees women as objects, and by casting your vote for him, you chose to uphold that worldview.

Kamala Harris fights for women

We could have had Kamala Harris. A leader who fights for everyone right in front of you, and you STILL spit in the face of progress.

Instead your vote was for someone who said “I moved on her like a bitch” and has made it clear that he hates women. While we almost could have had someone who has spent her whole career fighting for women, she defended survivors of domestic violence, fought for reproductive freedom and worked for gender equality. You could have had a leader who believes in women’s right to choose, a LEADER who is representative of what women have been fighting for since 1848 with the start of Women’s Suffrage.

Instead, you rejected her. You rejected a candidate who deserves a seat at the table. When you chose Trump, you told women like me that I should stay in my lane, I should accept being silenced, I should just smile and endure. I refuse to respect anyone who thinks that not choosing Harris is an acceptable choice.

Your vote is an endorsement of racism

I feel horrified knowing that people in my life decided that racism was acceptable. You may claim you’re “not racist,” but when you voted for Trump, you chose to support a man who stokes hate, who emboldens white supremacy and who consistently targets Black, Brown and immigrant communities.

I feel the weight that your vote did. I look at my friends who aren’t white, who come from families that are immigrants, friends who had to fight for the basic respect in this country. Your vote told me their lives don’t matter. And if their lives don’t matter to you, I have to ask: why should I believe mine does?

I can’t believe we are here. Those people who I thought had some decency looked at Trump’s hate-fueled platform and went, “Yes, this is the president for me.” You voted for a false promise of a better economy and an outdated policy on immigration, which shows me that you have ZERO concepts of what goes into the economy and are racist.

I have nothing but contempt for you choosing “cheaper gas” over the most vulnerable people in our society. I don’t care how you frame it. I say this with complete disrespect: you are vile human beings for voting for Trump.

Kamala could have been the first Black and South Asian woman president

Harris is everything that Trump is not. Firstly, she is a Black and Asian woman—everything Trump’s America fears and despises. Harris represents a future in which not just white men can be in power.

Instead, the presidency could have represented the diversity that makes America great. We could have had a future where not only white voices are heard, but Black and Brown voices are heard, valued and celebrated.

Instead, you voted for hate and racism against every person who has fought to have a voice, be seen as a human and be respected in this country. You put some of my friends and godmothers at risk of backlash based on the color of their skin, and for that, I will never look at any of you the same.

You are complacent in bigotry

When you voted for Trump, you didn’t just vote for “different policies,” like ending birthright citizenship and reinstating his “Remain in Mexico,” rolling back Biden’s policy of expanding Title IX protections to transgender students, and ending gay marriages. You voted to uphold a worldview that says only certain people deserve respect, rights and opportunities. I’m furious knowing that people I care about chose bigotry over equality.

You may think that’s harsh, but I’m not mincing words—your vote told me everything I needed to know about what you truly value, and it’s clear that it doesn’t include the rights and safety of people who are different from you.

I’m exhausted from pretending that we can find common ground when you’ve made it clear that you don’t care about equality. You may not think you’re “against” women, people of color or the LGBTQ+ community, but when you chose to support Trump, you DID take a side. And it’s not a side that I can ever respect.

Harris could have protected rights for LGBTQ+ individuals

Harris has been a fierce advocate for people who are LGBTQ+ and maintaining their equality. She has fought for marriage equality, protections for transgender individuals and rights that everyone, regardless of your skin tone, nationality or how you identify.

She doesn’t say she supports these marginalized groups; she shows it through her actions, like attending a Washington D.C. Pride Parade.

You don’t get a pass anymore

If you’re reading this and feeling angry, good. Because I’m angry too. I’m angry that people I once respected—friends, family members, co-workers—chose to throw their weight behind a man who is the very embodiment of misogyny, racism and bigotry.

I’m angry that people are STILL making excuses for his vile behavior, for the harm he causes, for the future he’s going to take from us. We can expect war on women, immigrants, African Americans, Latinos and LGBTQ+ people, and that is a bleak future that I wish I could have avoided. Still, you decided these culture wars are more important than progress.

I’m done explaining to people why this feels personal—it is personal. This isn’t about “moving on” or “finding common ground”—it’s about justice and survival. If you don’t understand that, you’re part of the problem.

If you voted for Trump, you told me that my rights, my voice and my very humanity were not worth protecting. You don’t get to brush that off, and you don’t get to ask for my understanding. I’m not obligated to forgive people who see me as a lesser person, and I won’t pretend this was just another election. You made your choice, and now I’ve made mine.

Question: How do you feel about motherhood?

Dear readers,

I’m a digital media major. What am I going to do with my degree? Be a mother. 

Here I am in college with three weeks left in my final semester and 30 days until my wedding. Truthfully, I entered college 2 ½ years ago without knowing exactly why. I knew that my biggest goal in life was to be a wife and a mother. In the meantime, college was my next best option, so here I am trucking along. 

But at the end of the day, when I’ve graduated and have my degree up my sleeve, I don’t want to be a news anchor. I don’t want to be a social media manager. I don’t want to be a journalist. I want to be a mom.

Was college all for nothing then? Of course not. I wouldn’t have traded my college experience for anything because I know I was meant to go for a reason. In some way, shape or form, I will use my degree one day whether it’s to educate others about what’s going on in the world, create a blog to share my own experiences or do social media and writing on the side, but that’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Anyone who knows me knows this. 

What hurts about wanting to be a mom is not that it won’t happen for a while. What hurts is the people that tell me it shouldn’t happen. 

“Wait until a couple of years.” 

“Wait until you’ve settled down with your husband.” 

“Wait until you get your master’s degree.”

“Wait until you’ve traveled the world.”

“Wait until you have more money.”

“Wait until you’re actually ready.” 

“Wait. Wait. Wait.” 

I smile and nod as you tell me the things I’ve heard countless times already. As you walk away, I say thank you for your advice, but what I really want to say is this. 

If I waited for all these things, I’d never be ready. I’ll never be prepared enough. I’ll never be wealthy enough. I’ll never be knowledgeable enough. But there comes a point when you know in your heart that you are ready.

Every mother’s story is different, and just because some moms have regrets about getting pregnant too soon or doing this and that “wrong” doesn’t mean you have the right to tell me to wait. You don’t get to make me fear that I’ll have the same regrets as you. 

Your story is not my story.

You telling me to wait doesn’t make me doubt my ability to be a mom. It doesn’t make me think, “Oh, well, maybe I should wait.” It honestly just boils my blood. 

The main reason people tell me to wait is this.

“Angel, being a mom is so hard.”

Yes, I am aware of that. I have a mom. I’ve watched her for 20 years struggle, cry, mourn, sacrifice and push through every hardship with strength I can only hope to emulate. 

But I’ve also watched how happy she is fulfilling the one job she always wanted. When I ask her if there is anything she would have done differently, she always tells me she has no regrets. She says every challenge and sacrifice was worth it, and that the joy she feels now wouldn’t be the same without her kids. Her journey hasn’t been easy, but she’s shown me what it means to follow your heart and find fulfillment in what truly matters. 

It’s because of her that I want to be a mom, and when I tell her I want to be a mom, she doesn’t tell me to wait. She doesn’t make me doubt my dreams. She doesn’t make me feel like I can’t have what I want. She encourages me wholeheartedly, reminding me there’s no perfect time to pursue motherhood and that following my dreams is worth every challenge. 

To my mom, thank you for being the mom I hope to be like one day. 

To my future kids, I can’t wait to meet you.

To myself, when you are ready to be a mom, you will know it in your heart, and you will be the best mom you can be. 

To everyone else telling me to wait, thank you for your concern, but this is my dream, my heart and my journey. 

I’m not going to tell you to wait to be a doctor or a teacher or an entrepreneur. You’ll have plenty of waiting to do yourself. So don’t tell me not to follow my path just because it’s different from yours or doesn’t make sense to you.

I may not have it all figured out, but I have a vision for my life, one that includes raising a family and nurturing a future I have waited a lifetime for. So when the time comes, I’ll embrace it, ready or not, because I believe that some dreams are worth stepping into even before we feel completely prepared.

Sincerely, 

Angel Wood

If you are seeking advice on something, message me on Instagram at @angelwoodknow.