My New Knowledge

     When I began my journey here at Iowa State this past August, I thought I knew a lot. In reality, I was just as lost as every other freshman. I never thought that I would struggle with school. I had graduated high school among a very competitive class, and I had succeeded in being in the top five. I came to Iowa State University being confident only in my study skills.
     That said, it was a very large pill for me to swallow when I had to admit to myself that I needed help in order to be successful in some of my classes. Accepting help from a tutor was extremely hard for me. I was also extremely homesick, and I refused to admit that for a long time. I missed my family, my pets, and my boyfriend back home more than anything in the world. I was off to a very rough start here at ISU.
     Now that I've almost completed my first semester, I've found that it really does get a little bit easier with time. I still miss everyone, but it doesn't control my day anymore. I know that asking for a little help goes a long way, and I'm happy to say that I'm doing extremely well in all of my classes now. I've learned how to study, how to ask for help, and how to live on my own (that one is still in progress every day though). My experience here at ISU is looking up, and I think it is true that struggles make you stronger.

Understanding Diversity

     Earlier in this semester, we were required to go to a "Diversity Event". I chose to attend one about understanding the media's portrayal of women in todays' society. I have always been interested in this topic, and I even wrote a research paper about it in the past. However, I still found this event very interesting. The speaker was a writer for a newspaper, and she frequently writes and talks about controversial issues.
     I learned a lot about various ads, and why they are used the way they are. It was very interesting to hear her opinions on the ads, and she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. When I look at ads, I never really think about why they look the way they do, but after attending this event I really did pay more attention to them in everyday life.
     I'm glad I attended this event because it really opened my eyes to the tactics companies use to market their products, and how some of them are very unfair and sexist while doing it. Like I said, I never really noticed these ads before, but now that I'm aware of them, I can see her examples everywhere.

An Amazing Opportunity

     I have worried about the costs of college since around my freshman year. My family doesn't have a whole lot of disposable income, and even though I hold a part time job at Target, it sure didn't pay enough for Iowa State University tuition. I knew I would have to apply for scholarships, but when the time came to do that, I had no idea where to start. There were so many available, and it was a bit overwhelming.
     I had been applying for various scholarships for months when a recent graduate came back to talk to the senior classes about her first year experience at Iowa State. I was very interested in what she had to say because I knew that I would be attending Iowa State that coming fall. My interest spiked even more when she mentioned a scholarship that Iowa State had to offer. She had been a recipient of the Christina Hixson Award, and as soon as she explained it, I knew that I needed to apply for it. I talked to my guidance counselor, and submitted the application as soon as possible.
     Without this award, I would have struggled to attend Iowa State. This award has meant so much to my family and myself. I will be the first one in my immediate family to graduate with a four year degree, and I know that without Christina Hixson's generosity, that would not have been possible. This scholarship has opened so many doors of opportunity for me, and I am forever grateful.

The Truth About Social Networking

     When I was told that I needed to spend time on Facebook or try Twitter for the first time for a grade in a class, I was a little bit skeptical. I've been trying so hard to not use these sites during the day, I felt as if I was going to be forced to waste my time... I knew that if I used my current Facebook, I would just get distracted, so instead, I created a Twitter account and tried the site out for the first time. I decided that I was only going follow people that were experts in the field of Veterinary Medicine, and I think that because I didn't seek out friends to follow, I was much more focused on my actual assignment.
     I had no idea that sites like Facebook and Twitter were used to connect to potential employers. Like I said before, I tend to view these sites as major "time-wasters" for me. It really surprised me to find so many professionals using Twitter. I've personally "boycotted" Twitter until now because I always thought Twitter was a place for people to post meaningless thoughts, and I already had a Facebook so I didn't think it would be much different.
     The articles I read about these social media sites really helped me realize that many people view Twitter the same way I did before this assignment. Twitter is actually a great way to connect with potential employers, and I never realized that before. I didn't know how to connect with people that I've never even met before, and these sites make it so easy. I guess that statement has both pros and cons associated with it, but for this assignment it was very helpful.
    I'm glad that I chose to use Twitter. I learned a lot about animal health and the lives of the professionals in that field, and I was able to experience something new. I'm still not a huge fan of Twitter. I don't use it everyday, or even once a week, but it was very helpful when learning about my field of study.

The Way I Am

     I've always been shy and quiet. Over the years, these qualities have become less pronounced. I'm not scared to go start a conversation with someone anymore, but I still prefer to keep to myself around people that I don't know very well. Once I meet someone and they become a close friend to me, I am the total opposite. I'm loud and energetic. I like to have fun, but it takes me a while to get to that stage with people. When we completed the MBTI for the Hixson seminar, I knew that my result would come back as Introversion. This has been the same for my entire life, so it was no huge shock.
     When it comes to the Sensing vs. Intuition aspect of the MBTI, I think I display both preferences, but my result came back as Sensing. This surprised me a little bit becauseI tend to focus on the future more than the "here and now". Although, the other defining traits of sensing seem to describe me a little better.
     I've consistently been concerned with how others feel and what they think about me. This tends to be an overwhelming problem sometimes. Before I do anything, I tend to think about how others would view or judge me. Now, I don't always admit this. I'm fairly good at pretending I don't care what others think, but deep down, it really bothers me when people don't like me. When I try to solve problems or make decisions, I make sure no one else is really bothered by my choice. However, when conflict arises, it needs to be settled quickly. If I can't get a problem resolved quickly, I tend to stress and worry about it. I can't even go to sleep if I know someone is mad at me. I always try to come up with a solution that works for everyone, so I also agree with my MBTI results in feeling and judging. These are two very important personality preferences for my life.
     My goals reflect my personality style in many ways. My goals are viewed as what is traditional for an 18 year old girl. I want to get married, have kids, finish school, and find a major that I'm passionate about. Like I said, I'm very indecisive and my little goals will probably all change before I graduate, but these are the ones that will stay the same no matter what. I don't think many people can judge me for having these goals since many of us have the same ones, and I don't think I offended anyone by stating these goals. I've never really considered how my way of thinking is determined by my personality style. This was an interesting revelation.

A General Direction

     I can remember the first time I was asked what I wanted to do with my life. It was the common phrase of "What do you want to be when you grow up?". A fairly typical question for someone to ask a little kid. They seem to always have an answer whether it be realistic or not. My mom says that I have always responded to that question the same way. Even at age three, I wanted to become a veterinarian. Up until my senior year in high school, I was confident with this decision I had made as a child. What changed my senior year? I began to stress out about my options. I had never really considered anything else. There are so many options, and I had never bothered to look. So, here I am, a freshman at Iowa State University, enrolled as an Animal Science - Pre-Veterinary Medicine major. It's only the fourth week of school, and I'm already beginning to question my decision. I am taking psychology classes and have a new found interest in that field. I might change my major to that at the end of fall semester. I guess my point is that goals change so frequently, its hard to know what you want to do at age eighteen, with a time span of the rest of your life. As a freshman at ISU, the first thing on my "bucket list" is to find something I thoroughly enjoy learning about and make that my major. I want to do something amazing, something that I love, for the rest of my life. This is the first step in that direction.
     Now, of course, I have other college-oriented goals. Passing Biology 211 might be the first one in that list? Or maybe Econ 101?  Most of my college goals are consistently going to change. I'm one of the most indecisive people that you'll ever meet. The ones that are set in stone are these: graduate with at least a 3.5 g.p.a., never skip a class, and apply myself to whatever it is I decide to do with a passion so that I can hold a future job that I enjoy and am good at.
     So now that I have that figured out, you ask me about the rest of my life? Well, I don't know where I'll end up seventy years from now, but I hope that wherever I am, I'm happy. Don't get me wrong, I've thought about my future a lot. What little girl doesn't dream of her wedding day? Starting a family? As far as my "rest of my life" goals are concerned, these are my top two. I want to end up with a guy who treats me with respect, who's nice, charming, and funny. I want to be a part of the old couple who is still in love even after fifty years of marriage. I also want to have five children. I love my family, but I've always wanted a bigger one. I can't wait to be able to accomplish those two goals. As far as my occupation goes, I'm still pretty unsure. Maybe I will be a small-animal veterinarian, or perhaps I'll be a criminal psychologist. Only time will tell. All I know right now, is that I am very content with where I am in life. I have a general idea of where I'm headed, and as an eighteen year old, college freshmen, I think that's pretty good.

Learning From the Elderly

     I never thought volunteering at the nursing home in my hometown would have such an impact on me. I simply needed something to do for the summer, and I was too young to get an actual paying job. I've always enjoyed volunteering and had past experience with the local animal shelter, so I decided to try something new. I was always close to my grandparents and when they passed away, I was left with a huge empty spot in my life. I felt that I needed the love that only a grandparent can offer, so with that in mind, I decided to volunteer for the local nursing home.
     This decision, made on a whim, offered the opportunity for some of the most gratifying and amazing experiences of my life. I was placed in the Activities department for the Lutheran Home, and I was able to lead various groups, music therapy, arts and crafts, BINGO, and simply be available to talk to the residents when they needed someone to listen. It always amazed me that these people who were once strangers to me, could "take" the spot of the grandparents I was missing so much. Obviously, they would never replace my grandparents, but they helped me cope with my loss.
     While this volunteer experience was very gratifying, it also took a lot of emotional stability. These people were elderly, some more than others, and I was scared of having to go through the loss of more people that I cared about. Since I volunteered for multiple summers at the Lutheran Home, this fear was inescapable, but learning to cope in healthy ways allowed for personal growth. This job also required a lot of responsibility and leadership skills. I led many activities and had to learn to lead effectively. I was able to learn to listen more effectively. Many seniors did not have family coming to visit, so when they had the opportunity to talk to people about their lives, wishes, desires, and concerns, they treasured those moments.
     I believe that the skills I have learned from the various elderly people I have interacted with are very important life skills. The listening, communication, leadership, and responsibility skills will carry through with me for the rest of my life. While I am struggling learning how to effectively get all of the college classwork done, the responsibility skills I have acquired will help me. I know that having great communication and listening skills will help me interact with professors and new people that I meet every day. This great experience will help me succeed, not only in college, but in life as well, and it has drastically changed my life for the better.