Bias and Jolly Ranchers

So, internet, this week begins my volunteer work for the University, as a Humanities Rep. and McMaster Ambasador. What does this mean? Well, I'm welcoming first years to the university, getting them settled, moving their stuff, and living on cheap hot dogs. I'm doing all of this for free, or rather, at a cost to myself: 60$ for a rep suit, 10$ for blue hair dye, 10$ for fabric paints to decorate my rep suit. (Welcoming first years to the rest of their life? Priceless.)This all starts Saturday. Today, I have training, which I'm not terribly worried about, I'm more concerned with looking forward, to the impression first years will have of me.

I'm a guy, 20, and I have the longest hair of all my friends (not as long as it once was, mind you, but still respectably past shoulder length). Now, I have gone shorter more recently, but I still make a 'sketchy' first impression when meeting people, and I'm working very hard to fight against this bias when welcoming students to a new environment. No, I don't smoke pot, but I'm for its legalization. No, I don't listen to metal, but I have a solid appreciation for the instrumentals. No, I am not a hippy, a hobo or crazily extroverted.

In short, I'm 'mostly harmless' and I want to be approachable for first years, so they can ask questions, find food, and be comfortable entering a new era of their lives. I don't like the bias attached to me, but I understand it, and I'm working against it so that I can help all the first years who I know will be as nervous as I was starting university.

For starters, I'm wearing a giant name-tag, with a smiling goofy, poorly drawn frog on it. If people are scared by this frog-smiley, then I don't know what to do. Secondly, I'm dying my hair blue, and making it as crazy as possible so that others understand that I understand that they understand that we understand that everyone understands that people understand that I know my hair is sketchy.

Beyond that, I have to hope and pray that my first impression isn't a sour one, and that I can offer a little guidance and experience to these kids. And, speaking of biases, that's another one I need to avoid: its fair for me to say I have some experience on the first years, but I need to stop thinking of them as kids! Most of them are only a year or two younger than me, in rare cases, three years younger. So, just as I am judged by my appearance, I have to make sure I don't judge others by their age, or by their years in University.

In short, all this lack of communication could be lessened by a clear lack of bias, and, because it relates so nicely, I'll mention that the Swedes are helping to create just that situation in pre-schools: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/banning-him-and-her-in-preschool-is-good-for-kids-2537090

So, next time you meet someone, and I know this is cliche: don't judge a book by its cover, might be you'll miss out making new connections, gaining experience, and leveling up. That guy in the van? If you're an adult, you better damn well check to see if there is candy before assuming he's a serial killer! Maybe you just missed out on a bucket of jolly ranchers. (Kids, ask your parents if its safe to consume a stranger's joly rancher.)