TechNews | Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

 

TechNews

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Opinion Editor Austin Gonzalez
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Shireen Gul
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Faculty Advisor

 

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Shireen Gul
COPY EDITOR

Have you ever had a moment in your life
when you felt like giving up but just couldn’t
because you thought it’s not worth it? Or
maybe one of those Kodak moments where
something just clicks for you? Or something
you’ve been struggling with for a long time and
it was finally coming to an end but suddenly
everything changed? Whatever the source of
our insight, it’s these moments that bring us
to a deeper understanding of our world. The
better understanding we have of life, the more
we live in the truth.

This Ramadan, I started a 30 day lesson
Facebook update challenge, where every day
I shared something positive about my life and
any positive lesson I had learned in my life.
Most of my friends loved it, so I thought to put
them all together in shape of article and share
it with rest of you.

I remember once there was a time in my life
where I thought nothing good will ever happen;
that is when my mom told me, “Nothing is
impossible in this world. Faith is the only
thing that matters and will make a difference,”
and, trust me, it did make a difference. There
will come a time in your life when making an
important decision in your life will be difficult,
but you’ve got to do what’s right for you, even
if it hurts. When you are going through such
times, stop focusing on how stressed you are
and remember how blessed you are. It could
be so much worse. No matter how long it takes,
it will get better. Tough situations build strong
people in the end. Look for something positive
about this moment. Even if you have to look a
little harder than usual, it still exists.

There is a very famous saying by Victor
Hugo, saying, “The supreme happiness of life
is the conviction that we are loved,” and you
will never understand this thing until you
learn to love yourself. Learn to love yourself

lessons in

first, instead of loving the idea of other people
loving you. My favorite poet Rumi said in one
of his verses that, “Your task is not to seek for
love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers
within yourself that you have built against it,”
and in his support he said, “Do not be satisfied
with the stories that come before you. Unfold
your own myth.” If you will just read between
the lines of his both verses you will live a very
peaceful life because life is all about love and the
best thing one can do is to love himself. There
is another good verse by Rumi which resonates
with these verses: “Ignore those that make you
fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards
disease and death.”

Everyone has been made for some
particular work, and the desire for that work
has been put in every heart. All you have to
do is look for that desire and fight for it. When
you will start your journey, there will be many
people who will try to put you down. Just
remember: “When setting out on a journey do
not seek advice from someone who never left
home” — Rumi

There will come a time in your life when
everything will go against you and you might
stop believing in yourself, but just remember
what Alice Walker said: “The most common way
people give up their power is by thinking they
don’t have any.” Everyone is born with powers;
you only have to polish them with time. There
is no greater agony than bearing an untold story
inside you. Speak up before it’s too late. Let the
world know about your power and show them

that you are the one who will make his story-

a better one, in fact an inspirational one. As
Aristotle said, “Excellence is never an accident.
It is always the result of high intention, sincere
effort, and intelligent execution; it represents
the wise choice of many alternatives - choice,
not chance, and determines your destiny.” So
make your choices, put in your sincere efforts
and keep your good intention; nothing can
then stop you from being successful. The most

positivity

reliable way to predict the future is to create
it. Participate in life instead of just watching it
pass you by.

Everyone likes to complain—I do as well—
but next time when you complain, remember
this saying by our prophet Muhammad, “When
you see a person who has been given more
than you in money and beauty, look to those,
who have been given less.” Remember, social
comparison is the thief of happiness. You could
spend a lifetime worrying about what others
have, but it wouldn’t get you anything. But also
remember that this doesn’t mean that you have
the complete right to make fun of other people.
Saying someone is ugly doesn’t make you any
prettier. So why hurt someone’s feelings? Plus
nothing is ugly in this world, it’s just the way
we see it. Someone who appears to be ugly for
you could be someone’s reason for living. When
you choose to see the good in others, you end
up finding the good in yourself. So think before
you speak and if you commit any mistakes just
accept them and move ahead. You can learn
great things from your mistakes when you
aren’t busy denying them. There isn’t anything
noble about being superior to another person.
True nobility is in being superior to the person
you once were. It’s absolutely okay to be wrong
at times and someone else doesn’t have to be
wrong for you to be right either.

One of the most important lessons you will
ever learn in your life is to not listen to what
people say, watch what they do. And I would like
to end my article with another powerful verse by
my most favorite Sufi mystic Rumi, “This being
human is a guest house. Every morning is a new
arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some
momentary awareness comes as an unexpected
visitor...Welcome and entertain them all.
Treat each guest honorably. The dark thought,
the shame, the malice, meet them at the door
laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for
whoever comes, because each has been sent as
a guide from beyond.”

Don’t miss the memo

Anndriene Bell
TECHNEWS WRITER

We are IIT! It is at this wonderful
institution that we promote diversity, unity,
and solidarity; yet, it is at this very institution
that microaggressions, racist comments, racial
profiling, sexist comments, unfair treatment,
and segregation are commonplace. No, this is
not a statement of hate toward the institution,
as this is an environment that has a foundation
deeply rooted in giving, education, and life-
changing experiences. However, this is a call
to action and attention for those who have, by
circumstance or choice, missed the memo.

The goodness of so many college
experiences is tainted with the unpleasant,
derogatory filth that is spread with hate and
ignorance on mediums such as Facebook,
IIT Confessions, and in various social circles
on campus. It is time to pause small-minded
points of views. Instead, use technology to
educate yourself. Better yet, have a decent

conversation to form an understanding of
what is not understood. We are a direct wealth
of knowledge to one another, so it is a pain to
know that there are fellow Hawks who walk
around as victims of such hurtful acts. If you
have participated in such acts, then you, my
friend, have missed the memo.

Stereotypes and generalizations in regard
to race, sexual orientation, religion, culture,
and so much more are also commonplace here
on campus. It does not matter how many Taste
of HTS, ISO events, and cultural organizations
we form when there are hate crimes taking
place and less support for some cultural groups
than there are for others. Honestly, how many
other cultural organizations are you a member
of outside of your own? How often does your
cultural organization initiate collaboration with
that of others? Are you truly welcoming to those
outside of your culture that wish to take part?

The only way that this institution is at
fault, is if hate crimes and those who commit
them are swept under the rug and left to fester

MAI)

with

our

and resurface as vicious cycles that again,
taint this very campus. This goes to state that
not one minority group, race, religion, sexual
orientation is at the forefront of this message,
but it’s fair to say that those who have been
victimized stand in solidarity for what is right
and just, and will take proper action against
any opposition.

The university can make as many efforts
to solve these issues as it likes, but the students
are what make this place. Whether you are
domestic, international, undocumented, male,
female, Christian, Muslim, African American,
Chinese, white, purple, green, student, faculty,
or staff, don’t miss this memo. It is time to
stop ignoring such blatant ignorance and
miseducation that builds the unspoken cultural
divides that exist at IIT. Why even attend
such a rich place of diversity if only to make a
mockery of it instead of embracing it? Try taking
advantage. Try becoming a well-rounded Hawk
and consider changing your ways.

All IIA

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