李雨蕙 (Hidy Li)
Education, Culture, and Society
University of Pennsylvania
Annotated Transcript
Here is a collection of reflections from the 10 courses I have completed during my studies at Penn GSE. Each course has provided valuable insights into my areas of interest and contributed to my ongoing professional development.
Fall 2023
EDUC 5151: Outside the School Box: History, Policy and Alternatives
Dr. Michael Johanek
In this course, I have learned more of the meaning of education and education beyond formal schooling. Through modules including community schools, social capital and homeschooling, I have learned that education does not necessarily equate to the knowledge we learn in school and in a classroom, but also involves the larger societal and cultural context, and there are numerous different approaches to learning. The insights I gained from this course broadened my perspective on how nontraditional methods can contribute towards learning and well-being, and further inspired my interests in how play can promote mental health in professional spaces.
EDUC 5466: Ethnographic Filmmaking
Amitanshu Das
Through this course, I have learned key basic filmmaking skills including filming, interviewing, and editing. The course provided us with a variety of multimedia resources in understanding the craft of filmmaking and storytelling, and the importance of multimodal research in the modern academic field. This course inspired me in the methods we can use to conduct academic research, and how to present our work in a more public-facing way that has been crucial in my portfolio building process.
With my team 🎬
EDUC 5495: Anthropology and Education
Dr. Leigh Llewellyn Graham
Through this course, I have learned important anthropological and educational theories and concepts, how we view education through an anthropological lens, and how factors such as family dynamics, cultural background and gender roles influence our educational experience. The knowledge gained in this class has helped me understand that even though culture is usually broadly defined as something that is shared and acquired after birth by people who have the same socioeconomic, geographical, and ethnic backgrounds, a difference of culture is not necessarily two people living in different countries, but could also be two people living in the same city but of different social class, family dynamic, and more. Thus, more individualized approaches should be applied to problems.
Spring 2024
EDUC 5467: Community Youth Film
Amitanshu Das
As the second part of the year-long Ethnographic Filmmaking course, this class has provided a significant hands-on field experience that I did not get to experience in my other classes at Penn. After studying the theories and skills of filmmaking last semester, I learned the entire process of documentary-making this semester through going into a local high school with my film team to find a story, and creating and making the film based on students’ perspectives. Through this class, I not only gained more technical skills, but also creative skills in fostering a playful and relaxed environment where students can feel comfortable sharing their stories with us. By incorporating playfulness into this filmmaking process, I experienced first-hand how play can allow our creativity and inspiration to thrive.
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EDUC 5490: School and Society in America
Dr. Kathleen Hall
Through the active discussions and interactive environment of this class, I have learned about various aspects of education not only through our reading assignments, but also through the personal experiences shared generously by my classmates from different cultural backgrounds. In this class, I have learned more of the inseparable connection between education and society, and how factors such as economics, gender and race affect education. The educational dilemmas I have examined in this class have contributed to my portfolio's focus.
EDUC 5584: Basic Counseling Skills
Dr. Kyle Schultz
In this course, I have learned extremely helpful and practical skills that not only applies to counseling, but as a helper in general. Through writing assignments, in-class practicing sessions and analyzing real-life counseling sessions, I gained valuable knowledge in the helping process between a helper and a client, such as effective communication, active listening, and leading our clients toward action in improving their lives and overcoming challenges. These skills are crucial tools that could be utilized to design ways in which play can promote mental health in professional spaces.
With My Cohort!
EDUC 6490: Education, Culture, and Society Master's Seminar
Dr. Leigh Llewellyn Graham and Dr. Alex Posecznick
For this year-long capstone seminar, I have chosen the Community Action and Social Change track out of my passion for creating a multimodal and public-facing project. In the process of creating this capstone, I felt an excitement that I have not encountered before in my undergraduate studies, as this was the first time I get such freedom of space and time to dedicate to a project that feels wholly mine, and the opportunity to work and exchange feedback with my peers and mentors at ECS. This is a class where I was given the confidence to act as an expert in my project instead of following the structures and guidelines provided by others, and learned that analytical and critical thinking can also be meaningful when grounded in personal insights.
Fall 2024
EDUC6563: Sociocultural Foundations in Counseling
Dr. Yacob Tekie
In this course, I learned how sociocultural factors shape identity, privilege, and professional interactions. Through self-reflective writing examining my own cultural identity and privilege, class discussions, individual presentation and immersing myself in a community I’m not familiar with as a class project, this course helped me recognize the biases and assumptions I might bring into my professional interactions and the importance of understanding different perspectives and experiences. With the knowledge and skills gained in this course, I aim to create spaces where people feel safe to share their stories without fear of being judged or dismissed, and build an environment where different backgrounds and perspectives are valued.
Encouraged by newfound confidence, I attended my first professional conference NAFSA in November 2024!
EDUC5892: Professional Development in Higher Education
Dr. Sam Jones
Starting in the Fall 2024 semester, I have begun to consider seriously about working in Higher Ed after graduation. Feeling unprepared about navigating the job market in the US, this course provided me with practical tools to approach my job search and professional development with more confidence and strategy. Throughout the semester, I worked on refining my resume, crafting targeted cover letters, and strengthening my networking skills. One of the most helpful exercises was the Job Description Analysis, which helped me see how my qualifications align with different roles and where I need to improve. The Networking Assignment encouraged me to have more conversations with professionals in my areas of interests, easing my concern of bothering others and helping me realize that most people are eager to offer guidance. Each week’s guest speaker in this class also inspired me with their journeys, and helped me see that a fulfilling job is one where I can grow, feel passionate about my work, and contribute meaningfully to those around me.
MED5890: Mindfulness Meditation and Mind-Body Medicine
Dr. Michael Baime and Dr. Karen Bowles
Having practiced mindfulness before but struggling to establish a consistent routine, this course gave me the opportunity to delve deep into mindfulness as both a concept and a practice. Our daily assignments to practice mindfulness for 20-30 minutes created a consistent rhythm that helped me stay on track, making it easier to integrate mindfulness into my daily life. Through practices such as 20 Breaths, which involve letting go of each previous breath and starting fresh with each new one, I found it easier to stay in the present instead of being overwhelmed by the pressure to constantly “do” and plan ahead. Instead of repressing overwhelming thoughts and emotions, I learned in this class how to better accept them, and let them be.
Noticing the beautiful leaves during a mindful walk