The memorable moment I think of when considering when I felt a sense of self-efficacy and empowerment was when I completed a DIY project refinishing a coffee table to furnish my new apartment. After getting accepted to York, I made the decision to move out of my parents house and into my own apartment. As I am a student, my budget was tight. I have studied many DIY projects the hosts on HGTV would tackle after browsing antique shops which were cost also effective. I brought this up to my family and received many doubtful and discouraging remarks about not having the motivation and drive it takes to finish a project of this standard.
Despite this, I downloaded the app Varagesale which is essentially a virtual garage sale which uses the location on your device and allows users in your area to showcase their inventory of items including furniture, homeware, clothing, antiques etc. Users are able to negotiate prices and arrange pickup times and location. I stumbled across the perfect table to refinish and arranged with the seller a time and place to meet and complete the transaction. After purchasing my table I researched similar projects on the app Pinterest to find out the necessary tools and supplies I needed to get started. Luckily for me, there is an excellent online community for DIY projects that includes people sharing their tips and tricks for beginners like me. I watched Youtube videos of how to operate a palm sander which I had previously never used and also how to change the sheet of sandpaper with the necessary grit to achieve my desired look. After sanding, I proceeded to stain the table in thin coats in order for it to completely dry. I finished it off with multiple layers of top coat sealant in order to preserve my hard work for the years to come.
I completed this project in 2 weeks and was proud of myself for proving everyone who doubted I had the ability, patience and determination to not only simply finish, but have a beautiful end result. I believe that because this hobby of restoring furniture is typically reserved for males, it was automatically assumed that I would give up because it was too much of a challenge or I would lose interest. This experience taught me to challenge the doubt people might have in you when trying something new or “unlike you” because the personal satisfaction of completion despite the odds is something unexplainable. I also believe this experience illustrates the importance of trying, making and doing something out of your comfort zone and getting creative.
New Media Literacies and Culture 