there's a method to my madness...

in doing my field research i attempted to utilize a wide variety of mediums. i watched from the outside looking in whenever it was feasible, i "stalked" their myspace pages, i conversed in person, i surveyed them online, i used polls to see where they stood on certain issues (i.e. what do they see as important issues in the world), i participated in certain "rituals" and activities, i talked to their friends and family members, and last, but certainly not least, i peeked into where they spent their time...their significant spaces. i made mistakes...like when i had a conversation with ashley about her boyfriend and told her how i felt instead of hanging back and getting at what she felt at that moment...and when i gave jessica a lecture on respecting her mom...lol. i think though that all in all i learned a lot from these girls about how to really see someone...not just who they want the world to see...but that secret person inside that they hide to avoid being hurt sometimes.

i hope that i can operationalize all of the things i learned from all of my classmates as well...you guys are just about brilliant in how you can incorporate yourselves into the role of anthropologist with some of these kids...it was amazing to read about how effortless some of your interactions were with these kids.

i hope that i can put down in words what i feel i have learned...and let others see these young women as i have begun to really see them. i think that must be what the true lesson to be learned has become for me...the art of not only being there myself...but being able to evoke that same feeling in someone else who reads my research...