https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe Connecting course themes and personal culture en-us 2017-10-26 06:34:49 UTC 2023-06-08 10:53:30 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Hotsun.png awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200692944 I was born in Morehead City, North Carolina.  My childhood was filled with long beach days and a severe lack of the four traditional seasons.  ]]> 2017-10-26 06:44:43 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200692944 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200693556 Though my family started as a nuclear type family (mom, dad, siblings) the family structure shifted greatly when it became just my mother, my brother, and myself.  We were always looked at as a trio with each of us protecting the other.  Later in life it came to light that unlike my friends' parents, she was raising two kids on her own. This only brought the three of us closer.]]> 2017-10-26 06:48:06 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200693556 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200693600 Unfortunately, being so sure about my orientation made the intersectionality of my being fade into the background. I was lucky to attend a high school (Westminster High School) that enforced acceptance. 
(Note: my brother is in this video sporting the Misfits shirt).]]> 2017-10-26 06:48:20 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200693600 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200693627 I never had a religious background due to elders in our family that practiced Catholicism making my mom uncomfortable. Though I do not identify with any religion I am spiritually driven. This openness allowed me to create my own identity without the possible (not definite) restraints of organized religion.  Happiness and faith in the humans ability to achieve that happiness through intangible concepts is more important than dedicating your life to a higher power.]]> 2017-10-26 06:48:31 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200693627 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200697748 The culture that I drew heavy influences from in my youth was surf and skate culture (Bert's Surf Shop was a hot spot for locals to shop for gear, stickers and clothing). Culture is often gathered from the surroundings and being two blocks from the beach made it almost impossible not to be enthralled by the complexity of the beach town culture itself. ]]> 2017-10-26 07:12:23 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200697748 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200700082 Living in the South meant that Bojangles' was the best fast food place with food that five star restaurants could not even compare to. Sweet tea was only sweet and I experienced an intense culture shock with the introduction of unsweetened tea (I still hate it today). ]]> 2017-10-26 07:23:06 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200700082 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200702138 Growing up I lived in a lower SES household.  My mom watched us while my father provided for the household (I do not have pictures of him due to a lack of his presence in my current life).  Though we were considered "poor" I never had to get a job to help provide for the family.  Luckily, we were introduced to my Auntie M (great aunt).  She took us on trips around the country.  She was good to us and provided us with clothes every year.]]> 2017-10-26 07:32:57 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200702138 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200704442 My brother and I were close since he was born 18 months after me.  We bond over our cultural upbringing which includes listening to classic rock, playing video games, and watching movies.  Halloween is our favorite holiday (our costumes were hand made for years). Respect, responsibility, manners were all family-learned values. Family ALWAYS comes first.]]> 2017-10-26 07:43:29 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200704442 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200706254 Atlantic Beach was the first place I actually lived even though I was born in Morehead City, but honestly they were interchangeable and separated only by a HUGE bridge. This picture is my brother and I circa 2001 in Atlantic Beach's local newspaper.  Atlantic Beach is clearly seen in the background.]]> 2017-10-26 07:53:39 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200706254 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200719524 The Seafood Festival was a place for families, regardless of age, to come together with common interests which included fried food, art, rides, and the Morehead City Waterfront view. It was a community-based event where everyone knew each others and most of the participants/patrons were locals (more broadly North Carolinians).]]> 2017-10-26 08:51:54 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200719524 awittm1 https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200923626 Ultimately, the lack of religious faith allowed me to explore my sexual orientation from the age of 12.  There was a lack of representation of the LGBTQIA community in Morehead City.  Not only was it liberating, but became one of the most important facets in my life of speaking out against wrongful treatment of this vibrant community.  I became a single voice for a community and did not care about the consequences.  This prompted others to find their voice as well.  I was the only junior that attended prom with my significant other of the same sex.]]> 2017-10-26 16:58:52 UTC https://padlet.com/awittm1/educ203coe/wish/200923626