Off the Chain A Glimpse into the Tradition of Passing on Family Heirlooms

OFF THE CHAIN

A Glimpse into the Tradition of Passing on Family Heirlooms

Tears well up in her eyes as she carefully latches her greatgrandmother’s bracelet to her wrist. The weight of the bracelet is little to none, but the warmth and flood of memories are heavy. Heirlooms make people feel connected to those they have lost in their life.

“There can be a story behind every piece of jewelry. A love story, a fond memory of a family member or a memento that gives you strength,” explains Joan Cawley Crane, senior lecturer of Art and Design.

“I remember as if it were yesterday, my mother standing before me wearing her pearls. Heirlooms are reminders of our loved ones, not just adornments that we wear,” explains Ellen Avitts, associate professor of Art History.

“I saw my mother’s gold and pearl earrings as they dangled from her ears,” says Craig. She had asked her mother to borrow her earrings but instead was greeted with a new possession to pass on throughout her family.

“My grandmother collected high-end costume jewelry, mostly brooches and earrings. She handed these earrings and a matching brooch down to my mother, who then passed them down to me,” explains Avitts. “Having these pieces makes me think of them fondly. I wear them, but not both at the same time, it’s a little much wearing both.”

Awareness & Acceptance:

Living with Austism Spectrum Disorder Story by Angela Kyle Design & Illustration by Shoshanah Davis

Imagine waking up everyday and knowing that most of the world doesn’t understand you. They don’t understand your struggles, your successes or your life. Everyday is a battle but you continue to work hard despite any obstacles you may face. This is what it feels like to live with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors and nonverbal communication are all common attributes of ASD, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Special Program Paraeducator with Vancouver, Washington Public Schools, Tiffany Turnquist describes autism as, “a developmental delay in social interactions and communications with others.”

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that autism affects 1 in 59 children in the U.S. today. This is approximately 1.3 million children across the nation that present signs of ASD.

Understanding the Spectrum “‘Spectrum’ was a term coined … to reflect [that] you can have an autism diagnosis and be at different levels of functioning,” explains Julianna Hedberg, a licensed mental health counselor and child mental health specialist in the state of Washington.

One individual’s experience with autism can be different in many aspects from others, yet they can be placed on similar levels on the spectrum. “Autism differs from person to person in severity and combinations of symptoms and there is a great range of abilities and characteristics,” states the American Psychiatric Association (APA). For some individuals, being placed on the spectrum can be a helpful guide no matter where they land on it. For others, it can be a label that doesn’t quite fit their skills and abilities.

“[The spectrum] puts expectations on people that may not mesh with their abilities,” says Hedberg. For parents, this can be a challenge to help their children get the necessary resources they need if the expectations are too high or too low.

Amanda Dollar, parent of a five-year-old son diagnosed with ASD, says, “It’s really hard to deal with, as Zaidyn is high functioning, and non-verbal.”

Each individual with autism faces varying struggles based on where they are on the spectrum.

Stereotypes Many times, individuals on the spectrum will deal with discrimination based on the stigma associated with their place on it.

“Stigma is [a] negative stereotype … Individuals are faced with multiple, intersecting layers of discrimination as a result of [those stereotypes],” explains The Canadian Mental Health Association of Ontario website.

If autism looks different for everyone living with the condition, how can there be just one stereotypical autistic individual that can be seen plastered across the media?

“Some of the stereotypes associated with ASD are being extremely smart, socially

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Source: CWU Disability Services awkward, nonverbal, rocking back and forth and headbanging,” Hedberg explains. These stigmas have been said to be the result of many influences from education and media. Hedberg wants people to keep in mind that “Autism looks different for everyone … More visibility of individuals with autism would help with ending these stereotypes.”

The Impact of Living With ASD Stigmas, discrimination, expectations and wanting acceptance are all components said to be assocaited with ASD. All of these factors can influence the day-to-day lives of these individuals.

Cameron Mings, an indivdiual with autism and senior at Skagit Valley College majoring in Applied Sciences of Applied Management knows all too well the effects of these pressures. “It may sound cliché, but it affects every single interaction I have at class, work and with friends and family,” Mings says. “I don’t see social queues the way other people do, and that can be challenging in a field where human interaction is everything.” One of the resources provided to many college students across the nation is accommodations through their local disability office. At CWU, the Disabilities Services website lists Central Access Readers, SmartPens, accommodations for exams, notetaking and lecture recordings as resources for students.

However, for some, using accommodations isn’t always the best route.

“I don’t use accommodations at my school … I generally prefer to work with teachers myself and address the things they can do to help [me],” Mings explains. “I am still trying to understand myself … There are others with ASD who struggle more than I do, and I am just glad I have friends who help me get through it.”

Discussing the Disorder Talking about a disorder you don’t know much about can be stressful, but can impact the lives of many of your peers.

“The more awareness … erases those stigmas and brings more understanding to people with autism during stressful situations or ‘meltdowns’,” says Turnquist.

Talking about ASD spreads awareness, but how can you find acceptance? “Challenge ableism [and] create a more accessible world,” exclaims Hedberg.

Knowledge is power, and can lead to a more inclusive world. “We should talk about autism … because people need to be more educated about it,” Dollar reiterates. Communicating about ASD has the potential to not only offer support and answers, but also opportunities. “I wish I had answers, if only for myself. Until then, and probably after, I deal with a world that isn’t made for me,” says Mings.

“There are [a] few nonprofits, some local, some national. The best one for [a] newly diagnosed family is TACA — Talk Autism Community in Action,” explains Chief of Pediatrics at Paradise Valley Hospital and Doctor at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for women and infants, Zahra Ghorishi. “TACA has a blueprint with ideas, therapies, biomedical treatment, testing and physicians … They have support for families, how to get [your] school district to help, and where to find funding.”

After discussing this disorder, you might be able to find it easier to accept autism for what it is.

“I think we are all aware. The concept of acceptance is problematic. There is a section of high-functioning adults with autism who are outspoken and feel they are fine, and [therefore] should be accepted,” explains Ghorishi. “There are, on the other hand, thousands of parents of children with autism who are … fighting for awareness that their children … need medical help.”

Sometimes you have to look through life in a different lens in order to gain a better understanding and help eliminate the stigmas.

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The Untold Realities, Struggles and Successes of the Pageant World The Untold Realities, Struggles and Successes of the Pageant World

Story by Holly Hunter & Taylor Johnson Photos by Angela Kyle | Design by Sara Roach

Picture this: It’s 2009 and you just got home from school. Mom is in the kitchen preparing an after school snack and you flip on the TV. It’s a Thursday afternoon so not much is on and you have already watched every rerun of your favorite cartoon in the DVR.

You decide to do some channel surfing when you stumble across “Toddlers and Tiaras.” This once highly raved about show gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look into the glamorous world of child beauty pageants. However, the glitz and glamour pictured on TV screens across the nation has been said to only be a small portion of what it takes to actually succeed in the pageant world.

When you think of pageants the first thing that may come to mind is that it’s focused mainly on looks and answering every question with “world peace.” But, according to Miss City of New York 2020 Taryn Smith, “The Miss America Organization … taught me that being pretty is by far the single most insignificant thing a woman contributes to this world.”

If pageants aren’t all about beauty or fame, then why do some girls choose to compete in them? Abby Faulk, sophomore Apparel, Textiles and Merchandising major and Miss Sunfair 2018, says, “Scholarship pageants are helping me become debt-free by the time I graduate. I am truly blessed.” She also mentions that she has earned over $11 thousand in scholarships so far.

WINTER 2020 | ISSUE ONE According to the Miss America Organization, the scholarship program was created in order to provide an outlet that believed in women’s success during a time when many women weren’t able to go to college. Their website also notes, “Sponsoring scholarships changed the pageant dramatically, which, with time, helped the organization become the country’s leading provider of educational scholarships for women.”

For some people like Faulk, pageants provide them with scholarships for future opportunities to go to college. While Smith explains that she, “just really came to have fun and wanted to serve [her] city,” which was her purpose for joining the pageant world.

Understanding the Stressors Despite the differing motivations, pageants have been said to be challenging for a number of reasons. Smith says that one of the hardest parts of competing is the perception that people have of these events. “So much of your time is spent defending something that is entirely good,” she explains as her least favorite part of competing.

As someone who has only watched a few competitions, Mikkalah Irish, senior Education major, adds, “I don’t know much about them but that it can take a toll on the people that are involved. They are always getting their hair or makeup done, being taught what to do.”

For Faulk, her “least favorite component about pageants is onstage question, because you never know what you’ll be asked, and you have to compose an answer in a very short amount of time.”

Although there are some less desirable traits, pageants bring a lot of good to the lives of the competitors. “When you become a titleholder with the Miss America Organization, many people don’t realize you’re taking on a very serious job,” says Smith. “You choose community work that you want to spearhead… Work that you are passionate about because you have this incredible opportunity to make a difference and use your spotlight, no matter how big or small it may be, to talk about something that matters.”

Pageants can also entail a lot of onstage speaking which according to Faulk, is an added benefit. “Doing pageants has taught me to have confidence in myself, [and my] public speaking skills,” she says. “It has brought me new friendships and connections to jobs.”

Irish adds, “I feel like pageants teach contestants how to be very formal and proper. It also [gives] them the opportunity to gain other skills like talking in front of others [and] showing their talents.”

Pageants aren’t all about being the prettiest, the most talented or the most concerned with world peace. They can also be a place where “women [are] being fiercely celebrated for their intellect, for their accomplishments, and for their lofty goals,” says Smith. “Suddenly, being pretty was the most ridiculous goal I realized I could ever want for myself.”

The Impact of Competition Being around other girls with the same passions and goals has been said to be a motivating and inspiring part of the competition. “I was surrounded by women that — to be frank — were far smarter than me,” Smith explains. “They made me go out and push myself harder. Learn more. Aspire for more … It has shaped so much of my life in the best way.”

Competing in any pageant is bound to go beyond one alluring night under the lights. These competitors take the lessons learned, friendships made and titles won into their futures.

“The competition is just one night and the world really focuses on that night. But the real job begins the next day,” says Smith. “The winner has a year to go out and work as an ambassador of her city or state. It’s incredibly hard at times, but always a rewarding experience. The young women that do it really love what they do. And most of us, we just want to make the world better.”

Pageants not only provide rewarding opportunities but also create visibility for women across the nation. Whether you are a competitor or a viewer, many have said that these competitions give women their voice. Smith explains, “We want to be seen and heard and we want you to be seen and heard too.”

Miss America by the Numbers Source: Miss America Organization 98 years since the organization was founded 91 winners to date 50 years on TV

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