It’s no secret. We all have said things that we regret and we know were not okay in one way or another. As language changes, we tend to find new words and phrases, society makes them “trendy” and it becomes integrated into our vocabulary. Some antiquated terms that have been around for years though have problematic undertones. Most of this language does not contribute specifically to a better understanding, therefore it can be changed pretty easily. While this list is not exhaustive, here are five terms that you might use everyday and should think about changing.

1. Alright so I’m gonna start off with an easy one. The word “Retarded”, or abbreviated as “The R Word” is an antiquated term for Mental Retardation which is now called intellectual disabilities. When using the term to say that something is stupid, you are demeaning an entire group of people or making them seem less than. It is the same for saying that things are “gay”, find a new word. There are plenty of other ways to describe something that is annoying or frustrating. If you didn’t know before, you know now.

1. Let’s talking about a word commonly thrown out to mean “meeting” or “get together”. I’m talking about a “Pow Wow”. You might not think it’s offensive, but it is and it appropriates a part of indigenous culture that is sacred. You end up looking like this gif below:   

Start using the word meeting, get together, or check-in. You and your coworker, Jim, meeting up for five minutes to talk about a deadline, is not a Pow Wow. Pow Wow's is an Indigenous ceremony that involves food, and traditions such as singing and dancing. Unless you are being invited to a native Pow Wow, then it's not. We should all stop using it, and encourage each other to change the language as well.

1. Using Mental Illnesses as a way to express your character or lifestyle is not okay, and should only be used to describe actual challenges that are faced by people affected. Organizing your desk to be productive is not you being OCD. You being upset does not necessarily mean that you are having a panic attack, again, unless you are and you know what a panic attack feels like. Do you catch my drift? They aren’t meant to be words that are dramatized ways to describe what you are feeling and it makes people that actually have challenges facing mental health, seem less legitimate. So let us reframe how we express ourselves and...

Break: Hopefully you are learning something but you also might feel overwhelmed about all these terms and feel guilt. This note is here to tell you that it is okay, and all you need to do is be better in the future and help encourage others to change their language too. You’re here to learn, and that means something. So with that, Let’s Continue!!!

1. Attention boys and girls, now let’s talk about Gendered Language! (Do you see what I did there?). Using gendered language can exclude a lot of people that do not identify within the binary, meaning man or woman. Using phrases such as “Hey all” can make people feel more at ease. If you have more questions about gender and identity, google the “Genderbread Person” and learn about that cookie. By using this type of language, you are reinforcing a binary culture and people may feel excluded.

1. This is one that is being spoken about more lately, but please use person of color (P.O.C), not “colored people” when talking about non-white folks. The term colored goes back to racist rhetoric that was used to demean and enforce segregation. Think back to old photos from the 60’s that showed segregated bathrooms, water fountains, waiting rooms and more. So by continuing to use this language, you are perpetuating the harm and othering that people of color have faced throughout their lives. History doesn't erase itself therefore...

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and learn more. If you feel as though any of this information is incorrect or phrased wrong please email mosaic@umbc.edu. This article was created by Lilly Keplinger, Mosaic Intern for Cultural Humility and Allyship Development. If you are interested in speaking further with her about topics relating to diversity and inclusion, whiteness and more, her email is np42375@umbc.edu.

Name:Kaya Knake

Internship, Co-op or Research Site:Robert Bosch LLC.

Position Title:Intern Software Developer

Major(s)/Minor(s):Computer Science

Work Term:Summer 2018

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities.

This summer, I was fortunate to intern for a second time with Robert Bosch LLC. I worked within the Information Coordination Organization department to create shared service software. I assisted in database maintenance and created a dashboard in Power BI for Bosch Latin America. On a day-to-day basis, I programmed with SQL, attended customer meetings, and worked independently on assigned projects.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I became aware of the internship position for a software developer from a Bosch employee in January 2018. I applied online and had an in-person interview in March. The application process was more streamlined as this was my second internship with Bosch. Therefore, eliminating many of the requirements for new interns, such as watching the online introduction videos, orientation, and some paperwork.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position or organization?

As a software development intern at Bosch, I enjoyed employing data visualization tactics to create the dashboards.  Data visualization was enjoyable as it allowed me to creatively analyze and display customer data. This experience was enhanced by reading “Storytelling with Data” which explains how people process charts and visuals.

One of my most enjoyable experiences with Bosch was becoming involved with Women in STEM. I assisted in leading a Women in STEM event for Detroit middle schools girls visiting Bosch to learn about working at STEM companies. I lead four sets of girls through a Sphero programming challenge that I wrote. This activity was fulfilling and I was fortunate that Bosch provided me the opportunity to help out our community.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I made an impact as a software developer at Bosch through my work on the Power BI dashboard. I created multiple dashboards tailored to customer specifications. I also was given the opportunity to create macros to better organize data, instructed my team on the use of these macros, and apply them to other company dashboards.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

I would recommend to any other student seeking an internship to avoid limiting yourself during the application process. Internships are an opportunity to gain experience but also can open new doors. Remember to network with your coworkers and have fun!

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Most of us here grew up in a time where emails and phone calls were pretty constant. I got my first email address when I was still in elementary school, and I’d been making phone calls since I learned how to talk. But there is a big difference between calling a relative or emailing a friend and communicating with an employer or customer through phone or email. Learning to communicate professionally can sometimes be a little tricky, so keep reading and check out my tips on how to effectively communicate in a professional setting.

In general, there are a few key things to look for whenever you are calling or emailing in a professional capacity. The first is fairly obvious: remember your manners. Have proper greetings and goodbyes on emails and phone calls. Do your best to speak professionally as well, both in written and oral communication.  When making these calls or emails, keep on track. It’s pretty easy to go off on a tangent, telling stories that aren’t relevant or helpful. Be polite and courteous, but try and stick to the original intention of the message when possible. Finally, keep a lookout for your personal life slipping through. Most importantly, check your email signature and your voicemail message. They should include your contact information while being short and professional.

When emailing, always include a brief but informative subject line and send the email from a professional email address (your UMBC address is great while you’re in school). If you have a longer message, make sure to break up the text into readable paragraphs. Whenever I’m hit with a wall of text in an email, chances are I’ll at most skim the information. One characteristic of emails that should work in your favor is the paper trail. This means if you’re appropriate and professional, you have a clear record of your conversations with colleagues and clients. It is easy to refer back to when trying to recall what was discussed and can be used to clarify miscommunications.

I don’t know about you, but phone calls intimidate me. It's easy to misunderstand tone and body languages like in emails, but requires an instant response to keep the conversation moving. Kind of stressful. So it's very important that you take professional phone calls seriously. Always answer an unknown number politely (I know, I know spam calls are the worst, but you don’t want to accidentally hang up on a potential employer). Try not to talk too quickly, and if possible, have an outline of questions you need to ask. Consider taking notes during the phone call, then emailing a summary of your conversation afterward to make sure everyone is on the same page. Finally, don’t do anything else while on the phone! It's tempting to get mindless chores done, but it's important to give these phone calls your full attention.