H.E. 35 - Chance, Agency, and Social Structure

In this fourth dissertation-related post, I talk how chance, agency, and social structures shape musical development. Look for the text version of this post at www.happilyeduc.... Please visit and let me know what you think.

[@valdufour9072]

Doing a presentation on agency and your vids really helped. And on a separate note, we truly do the ability to be do or have anything we want. I've seen it over and over again. Stay positive.

[@emergentexpression94]

I was saddened to see this video after your earlier one on the power of agency. Social structures are only as powerful as you allow them to be - and a lot of those articles are written by people who want to explain the status quo or why they feel they were limited in their own lives. The power to achieve your dreams still lies within you, no matter how many people or research articles try to convince you otherwise. It has been demonstrated by any immigrant who has accomplished the American Dream, anyone who has gone from the lower class to the middle, or the middle to the upper class.
In your first video, you were on to the secret - you have to understand your own agency and make yourself do things you previously thought you didn't want to do to accomplish your greatest goals. People who are extremely successful all say they wake up between 3-4 am, write journals, exercise, meditate, and eat a healthy diet. They prioritize their businesses rather than their pleasure and reinvest in their businesses first before consumption because they understand that discipline is the way to freedom. Please don't lose your faith in agency. It is exactly the idea that you originally spoke of, and we have more agency today in our little fingers than at many other times in history.

[@tedsykora1858]

In support of your word "agency" and what it means you could easily compare to children of relatively equal ability one will flourish and one will flounder. Other than the chance of inheriting a good attitude most is determined by effort.

[@jimjonesbr]

Dear Abigail, thanks for the video. It was really interesting!
Good luck on your defense on Tuesday :-)

[@somnathsarkar1632]

sociological explanation should be needed