Gottuso, Saskia. The Ideal Female Body in America vs. Fiji. Cultural Psychology, Summer, 2021.

Gottuso elucidates how differently the female body is celebrated and/or rejected, by examining two countries. Fiji, and the United States. The objective of the paper revolved around comparing and contrasting aspects of social habits around the world, between any two societies. Gottuso found that in Fiji, large, round, dark skin and curly hair are admired. While in the US, light skin, straight hair, and thin bodies are desired. Both standards in each domain stem from an origin, and the author illuminates that in roughly 2,000 words.

Although the range of options given was nice, it was hard to narrow down ideas. I wanted to look into what is considered attractive for women in a place very different from where I live. Our role in the world as ladies is not easy. I took this class with Dr. Stewart, and his personality was very empathetic. Which seeped into his teaching style, which imprinted upon me. I began to understand how appearance, facial features, body structure, and skin color in correspondence with discrimination affect one’s role in the world more than ever. I do wish I defined the United States in the title of my paper, as America and the US are not the same.

Gottuso, Saskia. Perseverance Displayed by Women in DWU, UFW and Soldiers in the Niger Delta. Histories and Movements of Gender and Sexuality, Winter, 2022.

The Domestic Workers United, United Farm Workers and soldiers in the Niger Delta are three complex groups to break down, as their history runs deep. Gottuso highlights the importance gender played in all of these historical revolutions. Including who the key female leaders were, and where they were from. The latter subject in itself could be an entirely different essay. However, in this particular paper, Beverly Alleyne and Dolores Huertas are the two powerful women the focus is on. Gottuso’s word choice exemplifies her passion for what she’s writing about, as well portray evolution through her writing.

I took this class last quarter with Dr. Shayne, who’s curriculum gave me so much to process. I’m grateful for it, because it made me increasingly zealous about social justice. Especially considering it was centered around women. I enjoyed class time due to the privilege of being able to have earnest talks about injustice; as well as strategies for activism. Dr. Shayne’s book recommendations were impeccable too. (Rad American Women: A through Z by Kate Schatz is wonderful.) I particularly enjoyed how she embedded stories of BIPOC women. Their narratives have so often gotten overshadowed by white women.

Gottuso, Saskia. Chancellor’s Medalist Nomination Paper, Spring, 2022.

The author expressed a synopsis of her achievements while attending UWB. Which was followed by a transition from EvCC to university. The anecdotes begin with a feeling of utter uncertainty and ends with a ray of forward-thinking confidence. The initial confusion she describes is both academic and social. Gottuso reveals an unexpected transformation and offers reflection on her own life based on personal intersectionality. All accomplishments aside, this application for the Chancellor’s Medalist award was an opportunity for Gottuso to be introspective, which requires looking at both the positive and negative.

I wrote this application for the Chancellor’s Medalist Award, not realizing how rewarding it would be. I didn’t realize how much I had done in such a short time. I try not to boast about my wins too much. I want to keep calling myself out on any apathy or bad habits in order to keep improving. However, this was validating to write, to remind myself of all I’ve been through to get here. I didn’t include; a maintained GPA of above 3.0 for my entire time at UWB, a survived suicide attempt, or all of the jobs I held down during college. I had a minimum of two pages for this application.

Gottuso, Saskia. Week 3 Reflection. Death Rituals, Summer, 2020.

Gottuso reflects on grief and devastation by pulling quotes from a Megan Devine book. Devine is an author who frequently writes about death. The book was assigned by one of her favorite (and most worked with) professors, Kari Lerum. Writing and discussing death in the US is strange and difficult. Impermanence and our own mortality is the type of discussion to make any tough person squirm inside. It’s inescapable. However, Gottuso’s highlighted points from Devine offer a sense of connection, community, understanding, collectivism and comfort.

I typically aim to refrain from producing quote-heavy work. However, I use these few paragraphs to represent the myriad of unique information I gained at UWB. I never imagined I would go through such content when I began my time at university. If I hadn’t chosen to go through with this course, I wouldn’t have learned about how various people around the world handle death. Partaking in this class over Zoom with the loom of Covid hanging over our heads was not fun. Nonetheless, a distinctive bonding experience with my teacher and classmates was born.

Gottuso, Saskia. Community Plans. Climate Change Adaptation Policy, Autumn, 2021.

After living in West Seattle for a few months, Gottuso creates a potential plan for executing the mitigation of water. All neighborhoods in West Seattle are at high risk for flooding. She also touches on how marginalized people are more at-risk for injuries and economical hardships after a natural disaster. Gottuso observes the juxtaposing streets she lives on. The essay is a hypothetical plan for water-damage prevention, and food security.

Writing an outline to tackle a dire city dilemma was surprisingly less painful than I had assumed. I gained knowledge on how to prevent damage to a residential area from a natural environmental tragedy. On top of that, I took thorough notes on multiple aspects of my living area. That of which required multiple walks around my neighborhood. As a result, I noticed things I never would have prior, if it weren’t for this academic task. I found it especially intriguing to come across a free produce stand outside of someone’s house. They were mostly carrots. Nonetheless that family (or one person), was contributing to their neighborhood in a unique way that no one else was. I found that very admirable.

Gottuso, Saskia. Orca Decline Part Two. Marine Diversity and Conservation, Winter, 2020.

A response to course readings/movies that were a part of the curriculum for marine conservation and diversity. Gottuso lists concrete facts about orcas, including evidence that they’re not actually “killer whales'' at all, but the largest dolphin. Which makes sense when illuminated. Their body's features are more similar to those of a porpoise. Another crucial topic is the many aspects of orca endangerment. One of these aspects is the spiritual ties the animals have to indigenous tribes in the Pacific Northwest. The subspecies of orcas here are the southern residents.

My love for orcas began when I was required to read this article. They’ve always made me smile, but this sparked it on an entirely new level. After reading this and watching another assigned movie, I was hooked. I wanted to find as much information on them as possible. I put this assignment in my portfolio because I will never forget what Professor Sara Maxwell did for me. I truly believe I will be dedicated to orca research for the rest of my life, and I’m hoping we can keep the southern resident population alive.

Gottuso, Saskia. OA7. Interdisciplinary Inquiry, Spring, 2019.

In these short few paragraphs, Gottuso examines a photo she came across on social media. The snapshot is of a group of people on the subway. The location is unknown. A white woman holding her (also white) baby, across from a brown family. The mother is wearing a hijab and reading. The father is looking across at the woman with her baby. He is smiling with his child. Gottuso expounds on the beauty behind this photo, where people of different backgrounds enjoy a simple moment in life together.

Throughout my time at UWB, I’ve realized I’m curious about pursuing a career as a social scientist. I took interdisciplinary inquiry during my first quarter at university. However, it wasn't necessarily the start of the attentiveness I have towards social science. The writing assignments and group projects I completed in this course felt fairly dull. However, reflecting back on this online activity I did in week seven; I see now that I was already compelled by human behavior. At the time, I was a CLA major (culture, literature and arts). I switched around a bit before finally settling on SEB (society, ethics, and human behavior), as one of my majors.

Gottuso, Saskia. CCE 4; Boundaries. Public Arts and Ecological Restoration, Winter, 2022.

Gottuso showcases her digital art skills in her public arts and ecological restoration course. The work was to reflect Gottuso’s own endeavors in nature, where boundaries presented themselves. She drew her outdoor class steering away from wasps. Gottuso also illustrated the indigenous practice of controlled burning. The drawings may seem ambiguous at first glance, when initially out of context. However, Gottuso’s descriptions guide interpretation well.

CCE stands for “critical catalog entry”, and Professor Lambert often described these as “meta-moments”. I really struggled through this course, hence why I included it specifically. I ended up with a grade in the class that I’m really unhappy with. Nevertheless, I still passed and exited winter with a great lesson learned. More than anything, this is a reminder to consistently work on my mental health. That way, my grades don’t slip and I’m overall more relaxed. I’m typically antsy and stressed. Nervous, just like we were around those wasps.