Q&A: Jasara (J) Scates, social work major

Jasara (J) Scates, social work major, is one of ten featured on The Signal’s 10 Most Fascinating People of UHCL of 2019 list.

Read The Signal’s Q&A with Scates below and see the complete list here.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, on both a personal and professional/educational level?

A: I am not so great at talking about myself so, please, bear with me. I love nature.  In fact, over the summer, I spent almost every evening at a local park enjoying nature, reading, and just being in the moment breathing as the sunset over the water. I spend my free time reading, although most of my reading is done via audiobooks due to the struggles I have with words moving on a page.

While working toward a bachelor of science in psychology, I ended up going through a personal issue that left me struggling in school, and as a first-generation student I did not know how to seek help or who to even ask. Although I did get a bachelor of science in psychology at UHCL, my GPA suffered. Due to my previous experience, I am a degree-seeking post-baccalaureate student working to improve my GPA and earn a bachelor of social work because I want to continue my education and eventually continue into a master’s and Ph.D. program.

Q: Why did you decide to pursue a degree in social work? What do you plan to do with your degree?

A: My former students are the reason I decided to return to school. I spent 12 years at a non-profit organization inside of a school district working with “at-risk” youth, with 10 of those years on a junior high campus. As I attempted to help my students navigate the system, I saw many roadblocks that were needlessly in place and people who wanted to help but were causing “innocent harm.” 

Also, I spent many years as a Master Trainer for my agency. I loved the opportunity I was given to learn [the] material and find multiple methods to help others understand and apply the concepts.

Q: You recently have been recognized for your research presented at the National Association of Social Workers Texas State Conference. What was the research and what made you decide to look into that subject?

A: In October of 2018, I placed third on a research study entitled “Femmed up, still not woman enough: The sociolinguistics of transgender identity acceptance.” This research stemmed from a course project in which we were to analyze a naturally occurring conversation based on gender.  Through analyzing the impact context and language has between those with/out power within society and the consequences – positive and negative – it has on relationships taught me a lot on a personal and professional level.

I became comfortable with others questioning my identities – both of privilege and marginalization – and reading me as they saw me. This has led to many conversations both on a personal and theoretical level regarding the importance of pronouns and respecting people as they are not as we think they are or should be.

This past October 2019, I placed second on a research study entitled “I have privilege?: Resilience and perceptions based on identity intersections.” This research began as a small group project from a non-experimental statistics course in which I was the lead author. During my time in the public school system, I saw the impact that not recognizing one’s privilege had when attempting to understand the contexts in which my students were living their lives; often the resilience of my students was not recognized by those with power over them. 

My goal with this follow-up study was to begin to look at what privileges are recognized – even if only in name at this time – and who recognizes them.  What I found was that cisgender individuals tend not to recognize their own privilege and that cisgender males did not recognize male privilege.

My research into privilege and oppression has further motivated me to become a member of the SGA Senate to begin researching and writing resolutions to find a way to create a more inclusive campus at UHCL for current and future students. The more I listen to and believe in the experiences of others, the more I can use my privilege to amplify their voice, and to help build networks to ensure representation exists at all tables. 

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given or would give?

A: The best set of advice I have been given is just to talk to people, as well as, understand the importance of the concept “both, and.” I am shy and introverted. When I was in school before, I sat in the back of the room and did not talk in class or to people outside of the classroom. I have been working through this challenge and learning how to talk with people to become a better person, student, and future professional, as well as, find ways to create systemic change in and outside of UHCL.

This year has been both amazing and difficult.  Being able to put adversity into a different perspective has helped me push through many of my personal, educational, and professional challenges this year. One way has been dealing with a physical health issue that has landed me in the hospital multiple times.

My best advice is to pass on what I have received: say hello – be it to me or others around – even when it is difficult as you never know how you are going to impact someone or how they will impact you. Please know that if you are struggling there are people on campus who care and are willing to help you – I know because I would not have made it through the last few semesters without the help of multiple faculty, staff, and campus administrators.

Q: What are some of your favorite hobbies/things to do in your free time?

A: Hiking and camping, reading (audiobooks), the theatre, and playing with my puppies – Tucker and Sheelah – who I found when they were about 8-10 weeks old in the woods in Kentucky while hiking in July of 2018.   

Q: Is there anything you would like our readers to know?

A: If there is anything you would like to know you can usually find me at the table in the atrium in front of University Advancement or in the Office of Student Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (SDEI) where I was hired in October. I have been through a lot of struggles that I am more likely to share on a smaller scale conversation. I look forward to speaking with and learning more about your readers.