Decol Futures: Self-Reflection is Data Work

Author

Dana Reijerkerk
November 20, 2024

A newsletter to learn about practical ways to decolonize your research and data work-lives with byte-sized drabbles about the daily life of a data professional.

Reflection is a part of data work…

I collect experiences like I’m filling out a BINGO card or collecting girl scout badges. When I started freelancing six-ish years ago, I did it with that in mind. I wanted to explore and play and from that mindset I’ve: created museum exhibits; processed archives; made video game; worked with climate scientists; and somehow lost some really good shoes to muck while wading in a river to learn about fish spawning.

Fall is a season of reflection. Not everyone cares to win awards, publish, talk at conferences, or frankly desires to be seen/perceived by others. Can you afford (time, money, bandwidth) to be active in your field? You might have children or elders to care for, you live in food scarcity, you have chronic health issues, and so on.

I spend a lot of my time reflecting on what I did and what I want to do next. In part this is necessary as a freelancer, but I also don’t like living in a culture of immediacy where people are always accessible to others. By that I mean I want to make intentional decisions in what projects or gigs I take and sometimes that takes planning.

The truth of the matter is self-reflection is about considering how outsiders perceive us and we perceive ourselves. It’s inevitable to be perceived by others. You can’t escape it. You want a new job? You have to talk about your accomplishments and work experience and someone judges your qualifications. You need to order food online? The chef judges.

I challenge you to ask yourself:

  • Where have you been this year?

  • What are you most proud of? 

  • How do I perceive myself?

Consider that the only perception that matters at the end of the day is yours. We will all meet an immeasurable number of people in our lives with different perceptions of us that may conflict with reality or how we think of ourselves. If you’re proud of your work/life/year, then it is enough.

My Top 5 Things I’m Proud Of…

I like making little lists as a self-reflection technique. This could look like a collage, bullet points, pictures, or a short video. I personally see examples of proud moments as a change in mindset/intention, being changed by information I consumed, or an accomplishment like a published paper or award.

I Learned Crow Pose in Yoga

You may not know that I’m a seasoned yogi. I joined a new yoga studio last summer and found a class I really liked. I always compare my yoga teacher to the video character Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. We’ve been practicing this pose forever and I finally got it consistently.

I Published Several Video Games

Among all my games, I’m most proud of Late Night Surfing. I wrote the entire story, programmed it, and had a hand in all aspects of this game. The game tells an anti-capitalist story of what happens when the real monsters are the people around you.

I Started The Creative CoLab with Dr. kYmberly Keeton

kYmberly and I met during our LEADING fellowship program and really clicked. She runs ART | library deco, a virtual African American research art library, gallery, and repository. Since 2023, we’ve collaborated on several projects including: publications, public talks, grant applications, award nominations, and growing her business.

Promo I used for announcing my Society of American Archivists’ Fellows’ Ernst Posner Award win.

I Won a Society of American Archivists Award

Professionally, I feel so proud of this because I do a lot of work in, with, and for archives. The article I won the award for is one of my favorite research pieces. I’m also glad that I was able to lift up my co-writer, Caterina Reed, in her career by co-publishing and winning this award for our research.

This Long-Time Coming Toxic Work Culture Piece Finally Published

The book publishing process can take a few years. I started this chapter back in 2021/2022 and it just published earlier this year. I’m proud of the ideas I presented in my chapter on emotional labor and emotional intelligence. I wonder if any of the others authors in this book on toxic workplace cultures in academic libraries are still employed at their own toxic workplace.

Let’s Create!

I’m open to collaborations, freelance gigs, and conversations about the ideas I shared. Feel free to get in touch and comment on the newsletter.

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