Filed under: Society + Media
Turns out that no matter how you slice it, or in on which language, my personality is measurably ambiguous. Concretely abstract.
I recently completed a personality test for my Spanish class and, like all personality tests before it– Myers Briggs to University Career Center-administered– it showed me to be smack in the middle of nearly all of the opposing characteristics.
I shared my results with my sister and she confided that she had a similarly defunct personality. Our middleness may suggest a rounded, balanced personality. However, after going through some of the catagories (categorías, en realidad), we concluded that it’s more the case that we’ve mastered the worst of both worlds.
We’re optimists, too.
One example–impulsiveness. I’m a bad decision-maker. I spend fifteen minutes picking out laundry detergent at Wal-Mart. And face-wash. And salsa. Yet conversely, every major trip I’ve taken has been an impulsive decision, made in less than thirty seconds.
My bogus personality might also account for my pan-situational sense of belongingness and alienation.
It’s really easy for me to get overwhelmed. When I “multitask” it’s more that I’m trying to do one thing and get distracted. Like when I sign on to make an “About Me” post and get an e-mail reminder about my Spanish homework and end up telling about myself from the inside out. Have I even mentioned where I live yet?
I’m from Overland Park, Kansas, and I think KU was the best mistake I ever made. I had big plans to move away for college, force myself out of my comfort zone and become independent (because it’s that easy). I chickened out– no, I visited my “dream school” in California, was really disappointed in the lack of creative energy on campus, and came to my safe choice, KU. How lucky I am to live so close to such a wonderful university. KU is my little land of opportunity, I’ve been really inspired by the people I’ve met (truly, each of you included), and I feel like this is a good step toward my independence. As far as my plan to get out of Kansas, I’m planning to live in Mexico for six weeks this summer then move away after undergrad. Maybe I’ll move back eventually. Kansas is fantastic, but the world’s far too big to plant your roots at birth. Or ever, I suppose.
Thanks for reading my meandering About Me. Maybe it lacks focus, but so do I. I’ll leave it as is and call it appropriate.
-Sonya English
Filed under: Local Events + Action | Tags: advisory, board, city, Climate, cool city, emissions, energy, environment, Force, government, green, greenhouse gas, Jeff, Kansas, KS, Lawrence, mayor, plan, Protection, resolution, Sethi, Severin, Simran, sustainability, Task
Our very own Simran Sethi and Jeff Severin were recently appointed to the Climate Protection Task Force for the city of Lawrence. The 13 (or so?) member group will be responsible for drafting a Climate Protection Plan for the city by February 2009. The task force was established by city Resolution No. 6752.
The task force was proposed by the Sustainability Advisory Board out of the Lawrence Waste Reduction & Recycling department, of which Simran is also a board member.
This follows former Mayor Highberger’s initiative to make Lawrence a “Cool City” when he signed the Mayoral Agreement to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions by at least 7% by 2012 back in March 2006. According to the Cool Cities website, our city is 4/5 of the way to becoming officially “cool.” Steps left to complete include adopting energy efficiency policies, green vehicle policies and renewable energy policies.
While we may be well on our way, the first step for the task force will be to compile data for the city’s green house gas emissions (GHG). Once a baseline has been established, we’ll be able to establish and measure the efficacy of a comprehensive GHG reduction program.
Our city is also one of 700 members of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) – Local Governments for Sustainability. The ICLEI helps Lawrence develop local sustainability campaigns and programs to raise awareness as well as other technical services and consultancy.
LJ World story here, note somewhat negative backlash in the comments under this story.
Wanna get involved in our city of Lawrence?
Check out the vacancies on City of Lawrence Boards and Commissions here. Cruise around www.lawrenceks.org to read agendas, minutes, find meeting times and more about the government where we live. Click on “Calendar” to see a comprehensive schedule of meeting times and locations; most are open to the public!
Congratulations to Simran and Jeff!
~Sarah H
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