U101 was actually pretty amazing.. I enjoyed the class more than I thought I would. I enjoy having a really chill class where I can just come and talk to my peers. I liked having a class where I could get to know everyone in the class. I enjoyed the conversations that we have in class everyday. I enjoy hearing everyone's opinion. Everyone in our class is so outgoing, so its fun seeing how different people are and their opinions on different subjects.
I like blogging for this course. It is a good way to reflect on the things we do in class and mull over the ideas we talk about. It allows me to think and further the ideas we talk about. The topics that we had to blog about corresponded perfectly to the things we did.
For U101, I loved mentoring. that was my favorite part of the class. Today was the last day of my mentoring experience, and it was super sad. She asked me if I would be coming back, and it was hard for me to tell her no. I really enjoyed being able to form a bond with her; it was definitely a highlight of my semester.
I also enjoyed going around to different organizations on campus and learning about the resources we have on campus. Without those days, I don't like I would fully know all about the resources South Carolina has to offer. I'm extremely thankful I took this class.
Its been fun, and I'll definitely miss it.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving!!
OMG I LOVE THANKSGIVING! I'm super excited to be home! It feels good just being with my brother and mom this week. I didn't realize how much I missed them. As soon as I saw them though, it just felt good. I typically didn't LOVE thanksgiving before. I mean, don't get me wrong, I liked it, but I think being away and coming home has made it ultimately AWESOME. I love thanksgiving.
When I was little, my brother, my mom, and I used to go to Chicago to see my family. We would leave school early to begin our 8 hour drive. We would get there sometime Tueday night, and go out for pizza with my step brothers. The next day, we typically spent with running errands, or just having a lazy day. Thursday, my entire family would go to our grandma tex's house. It was always a TON of food, with soo many options. Her little house would be packed, but it was always amazing. Friday, we would go Black Friday Shopping in downtown Chicago. That was always packed and crazy. Thinking back, I sometimes wonder why my parents took us there. It was a lot of hassle... but they knew I loved going, so they took me. The day after Thanksgiving is typically the day that they bring out the Christmas decorations. There is just something soo special about being downtown when the lights first turn on...
Now though, since I'm at USC we can't go to Chicago. But my mom's family is coming over to our house for Thanksgiving. I'm excited to see them again! I can't wait for Thanksgiving!
When I was little, my brother, my mom, and I used to go to Chicago to see my family. We would leave school early to begin our 8 hour drive. We would get there sometime Tueday night, and go out for pizza with my step brothers. The next day, we typically spent with running errands, or just having a lazy day. Thursday, my entire family would go to our grandma tex's house. It was always a TON of food, with soo many options. Her little house would be packed, but it was always amazing. Friday, we would go Black Friday Shopping in downtown Chicago. That was always packed and crazy. Thinking back, I sometimes wonder why my parents took us there. It was a lot of hassle... but they knew I loved going, so they took me. The day after Thanksgiving is typically the day that they bring out the Christmas decorations. There is just something soo special about being downtown when the lights first turn on...
Now though, since I'm at USC we can't go to Chicago. But my mom's family is coming over to our house for Thanksgiving. I'm excited to see them again! I can't wait for Thanksgiving!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
<3 Leadership <3
I've always thought of myself as a leader. The idea of letting someone else have control over me seriously drives me crazy. I've never really been a follower. I mean there are certain situations and scenarios where I'm willing to just hang out in the back seat, but for the most part, I tend to be the leader. I think honestly that a strength that all leaders should possess is knowing when to take a step back and let someone else take the reins. There are certain situations I know I can't handle so I'm more than willing to let someone else step up and conquer. Or there are situations when I see that someone who is less likely to step up is trying to, so I let them. I think a good leader recognizes that; if someone who is typically a "follower" is putting in the effort to lead, and you know its got to be hard for them to break out of that shell, then sometimes its better to just step aside. I guess what I'm trying to say is that a good leader recognizes that its not always important to be THE leader.
Another one of my strengths is that I'm super intuitive to people's feelings and body language. I can read just about anyone. If I spend about 15 minutes with someone, I can figure out what they're thinking, their strong points, and their weaknesses. I'm a people-reader; a trait that I think is super important in a leader. A leader should know who they are delegating to and the chances of that "issue" getting done.
WEAKNESS: STUBBORN
Ohhh mannn I'm stubborn about some things. More the most part, I would say I'm usually flexible, a very go with the flow type individual. But if theres something I've made up my mind about, thats it. I can be flexible about almost everything, but if I'm set on something happening a particular way, mann it takes a BIGGGGG force to change my mind. I just have this vision of how something should happen and I get sooo wrapped up in it that I have a hard time letting it go.
I plan to make a difference after my first semester, I plan on getting involved in college republicans. Because of a class I took this semester, I wasn't able to do it this semester. But I will next semester and hopefully I can gain some type of leadership position there. Or I was also thinking about being a U101 peer leader maybe? I think I could pull it off... :)
Another one of my strengths is that I'm super intuitive to people's feelings and body language. I can read just about anyone. If I spend about 15 minutes with someone, I can figure out what they're thinking, their strong points, and their weaknesses. I'm a people-reader; a trait that I think is super important in a leader. A leader should know who they are delegating to and the chances of that "issue" getting done.
WEAKNESS: STUBBORN
Ohhh mannn I'm stubborn about some things. More the most part, I would say I'm usually flexible, a very go with the flow type individual. But if theres something I've made up my mind about, thats it. I can be flexible about almost everything, but if I'm set on something happening a particular way, mann it takes a BIGGGGG force to change my mind. I just have this vision of how something should happen and I get sooo wrapped up in it that I have a hard time letting it go.
I plan to make a difference after my first semester, I plan on getting involved in college republicans. Because of a class I took this semester, I wasn't able to do it this semester. But I will next semester and hopefully I can gain some type of leadership position there. Or I was also thinking about being a U101 peer leader maybe? I think I could pull it off... :)
MENTORRRRINGGGG
My talks with Alexus about academic success are going beautifully. She has good grades, or at least thats what she tells me, and she tells me about her study strategies. We talk about tests and quizzes that she has upcoming that week and go over how she should go about studying for them. I think on the topic, we're okay.
Involvement is somewhat different. She is involved in chorus at Hand but I think that is about the extent to which she is involved. She did tell me that next year she wants to try out for cheer-leading, because sixth graders can't be on the team. I asked her if there was anything she could do in the mean time, but she said she wasn't really interested in anything else... so I guess I should work on finding something for her.
I think last week was a huge break through for us. She kept asking me questions and introducing me to her teachers and peers. Her comments were like "isn't my mentor nice?" or "isnt she sooo cool?". It was good to see that she's finally come around to accepting me. She even made me a "thank you for being my friend" card. AWWW :)
Saying goodbye.... ummm that's going to be hard. I don't know how I'll do it. maybe I make her like an inspirational card or something to hang in her locker... I don't know I'll think about it :)
Involvement is somewhat different. She is involved in chorus at Hand but I think that is about the extent to which she is involved. She did tell me that next year she wants to try out for cheer-leading, because sixth graders can't be on the team. I asked her if there was anything she could do in the mean time, but she said she wasn't really interested in anything else... so I guess I should work on finding something for her.
I think last week was a huge break through for us. She kept asking me questions and introducing me to her teachers and peers. Her comments were like "isn't my mentor nice?" or "isnt she sooo cool?". It was good to see that she's finally come around to accepting me. She even made me a "thank you for being my friend" card. AWWW :)
Saying goodbye.... ummm that's going to be hard. I don't know how I'll do it. maybe I make her like an inspirational card or something to hang in her locker... I don't know I'll think about it :)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Spirituality
According to Dictionary.com:
Religion: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
Faith: belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion
Spirituality: predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.
To me, religion is the specific domination or practice that you believe. Your religion defines what you believe and how you live your life. Faith is your acknowledgement that there is a higher power and Spirituality is a connection to that higher power.
I don't necessarily define myself as a religious person. I'm a non-denominational Christian: I believe that Jesus was the son of God; that he died on the cross to forgive my sins and rose on the third day; I regularly pray. But, to me, a religious person is someone who devotes their life to God. And while I wish I could say that I have, at this point in my life, I haven't. For that reason, I define myself as a spiritual person. I think it would be hypocritical to compare myself to people like Mary Grace, who have clearly devoted their lives to serving God and living His word.
I do, however, feel like I have a connection with God. I pray when I'm scared and in need of strength. I pray when I'm sad and in need of uplifting. I pray when I'm angry or frustrated and in need of patience. I pray when I feel that someone else needs God's love in their life. I trust that God will show me the right way, in some form or another. For me, though, I seek to make that connection stronger. I want to WANT to live my life by His word; I want God to live through me.
USC is HUGEEE when it comes to religion. I feel like it's even bigger here than it is in Tennessee. Everytime you turn around, its there. Whether it is the nice ministers giving out those little green Bibles around campus, or that crazy man that stands in front of Thomas Cooper, yelling that we're all going to Hell, religion is something that is hard to escape. I think religion has had a HUGE influence on the culture of the South. But it doesn't bother me. I actually enjoy that fact that the society I'm living in follows God's word. It feels natural, and I don't know if I could get along in a place that wasn't so open to religion.
Religion: a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
Faith: belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion
Spirituality: predominantly spiritual character as shown in thought, life, etc.; spiritual tendency or tone.
To me, religion is the specific domination or practice that you believe. Your religion defines what you believe and how you live your life. Faith is your acknowledgement that there is a higher power and Spirituality is a connection to that higher power.
I don't necessarily define myself as a religious person. I'm a non-denominational Christian: I believe that Jesus was the son of God; that he died on the cross to forgive my sins and rose on the third day; I regularly pray. But, to me, a religious person is someone who devotes their life to God. And while I wish I could say that I have, at this point in my life, I haven't. For that reason, I define myself as a spiritual person. I think it would be hypocritical to compare myself to people like Mary Grace, who have clearly devoted their lives to serving God and living His word.
I do, however, feel like I have a connection with God. I pray when I'm scared and in need of strength. I pray when I'm sad and in need of uplifting. I pray when I'm angry or frustrated and in need of patience. I pray when I feel that someone else needs God's love in their life. I trust that God will show me the right way, in some form or another. For me, though, I seek to make that connection stronger. I want to WANT to live my life by His word; I want God to live through me.
USC is HUGEEE when it comes to religion. I feel like it's even bigger here than it is in Tennessee. Everytime you turn around, its there. Whether it is the nice ministers giving out those little green Bibles around campus, or that crazy man that stands in front of Thomas Cooper, yelling that we're all going to Hell, religion is something that is hard to escape. I think religion has had a HUGE influence on the culture of the South. But it doesn't bother me. I actually enjoy that fact that the society I'm living in follows God's word. It feels natural, and I don't know if I could get along in a place that wasn't so open to religion.
Relationships
While being at USC, I've had to form completely new relationships. I've left everything I've ever known behind in Tennessee, and while it's been an adjustment, I have had to form new bonds.
Probably the most important bond I have is the one with my roommate. Alexis and I are super close, both being from out of state and all. We really seem to get each other, which is good. Alexis is VITAL to my academic success. She doesn't let me skip classes, which not gonna lie, would certaintly happen every Tuesday and Thursday morning if not for her. She also makes me focus when I'm trying to do my work but get distracted. (FACEBOOK.... ) In return, I try to help her with her homework. I'm a pretty decent paper writer, so I help her with thesis statements and such. I'm her shoulder to lean on if she's having a hard week.
I've also made friendships with different people in my hall. It would be hard to imagine my life without Justin and Zack. They live across the hall and I'm basically their third roommate. There's a running joke that their room is my room. In fact when I introduce them to people, I typically call them my roommates without thinking. They play a huge part in my life. Then of course there's Natalie and Krystin :) They live down the hall. I basically spend every night with them. Whether we're in my room, their room, or Zack and Justin's, we're one big family. These relationships have come to make USC feel like home. Without them, I don't think I could be successful. They've made me truely happy and I think that is a very important part of success.
My sorority has also helped me form some relationships. My big is awesome!! I don't know if I would have stuck with my sorority if it weren't for her. She is basically the bomb. She's a helpful resource if I ever have questions, but also basically just awesome to be around.
USC has turned my life upside down. I can't think of anything that isn't different. But its a good different. And I'm excited to see what these new relationships have in store.
Probably the most important bond I have is the one with my roommate. Alexis and I are super close, both being from out of state and all. We really seem to get each other, which is good. Alexis is VITAL to my academic success. She doesn't let me skip classes, which not gonna lie, would certaintly happen every Tuesday and Thursday morning if not for her. She also makes me focus when I'm trying to do my work but get distracted. (FACEBOOK.... ) In return, I try to help her with her homework. I'm a pretty decent paper writer, so I help her with thesis statements and such. I'm her shoulder to lean on if she's having a hard week.
I've also made friendships with different people in my hall. It would be hard to imagine my life without Justin and Zack. They live across the hall and I'm basically their third roommate. There's a running joke that their room is my room. In fact when I introduce them to people, I typically call them my roommates without thinking. They play a huge part in my life. Then of course there's Natalie and Krystin :) They live down the hall. I basically spend every night with them. Whether we're in my room, their room, or Zack and Justin's, we're one big family. These relationships have come to make USC feel like home. Without them, I don't think I could be successful. They've made me truely happy and I think that is a very important part of success.
My sorority has also helped me form some relationships. My big is awesome!! I don't know if I would have stuck with my sorority if it weren't for her. She is basically the bomb. She's a helpful resource if I ever have questions, but also basically just awesome to be around.
USC has turned my life upside down. I can't think of anything that isn't different. But its a good different. And I'm excited to see what these new relationships have in store.
Capstone Personal Challenge--- Veganism
As my personal challenge, I decided to go Vegan for one entire week. Now, on the surface, this may seem like a simple task, but let me tell ya, Veganism is hard core. By being vegan, one can not only not eat meat, but also any other animal by products. Do you like milk? Well too bad, you can't have it if you're vegan. This includes yogurt, milk chocolate, some soups, creamers (so coffee's out), cheese (goldfish? I don't think so mister), and sooo much more. Do you like eggs? Whoops, can't have those either. Muffins? nope they gave eggs. Cookies? humm yep they have eggs too. Veganism is hard; it takes a lot of dedication, especially if you're a food lover like myself.
But I found that throughout the week, Veganism wasn't that hard. If you take yourself away from the food that you can't have, you're not tempted to cheat. As long as its not staring at you, tempting you with it's delish smells, veganism is tolerable. Heck, it's even somewhat enjoyable. There's something refreshing about putting natural food in your body. Your body responds differently; you have more energy, you feel lighter. And yes, if you don't take the necessary precautions, veganism can be quite unhealthy. But supplements and vitamins take care of that; I started taking a multi vitamin which can make up for some of the nutrients my diet may lack.
Now, I'm not gonna lie. I could have never done it without the support of my roommate and friends. 4 of us made the decision to go vegan together and throughout the week we relied on each other for support. Having that type of buddy system in place really helped me succeed in my goal. I'm also happy to report that all 4 of us made it through the entire week :)
Now that the week is over, we've all had different responses. Natalie decided to stay vegan; she loves it. Krystin is now a vegetarian, I think. My roommate Alexis went back to meat, but light meat only. I think she'll eventually cut down to just vegetarian. And myself? Not gonna lie, the day after I had the best patty melt I've ever eaten. I also enjoyed that Twix bar. And the Goldfish. Oh and the baked ziti. But after my day of gluttony, I realized that veganism wasn't all that bad. I felt sick after gorging my body with the things that I had deprived it of for a week. My body was used to the vegan way, so I went back to it. I'm now back to veganism, for the time being. I don't know how long it will last, I guess I'll just have to see where my vegan journey takes me :)
But I found that throughout the week, Veganism wasn't that hard. If you take yourself away from the food that you can't have, you're not tempted to cheat. As long as its not staring at you, tempting you with it's delish smells, veganism is tolerable. Heck, it's even somewhat enjoyable. There's something refreshing about putting natural food in your body. Your body responds differently; you have more energy, you feel lighter. And yes, if you don't take the necessary precautions, veganism can be quite unhealthy. But supplements and vitamins take care of that; I started taking a multi vitamin which can make up for some of the nutrients my diet may lack.
Now, I'm not gonna lie. I could have never done it without the support of my roommate and friends. 4 of us made the decision to go vegan together and throughout the week we relied on each other for support. Having that type of buddy system in place really helped me succeed in my goal. I'm also happy to report that all 4 of us made it through the entire week :)
Now that the week is over, we've all had different responses. Natalie decided to stay vegan; she loves it. Krystin is now a vegetarian, I think. My roommate Alexis went back to meat, but light meat only. I think she'll eventually cut down to just vegetarian. And myself? Not gonna lie, the day after I had the best patty melt I've ever eaten. I also enjoyed that Twix bar. And the Goldfish. Oh and the baked ziti. But after my day of gluttony, I realized that veganism wasn't all that bad. I felt sick after gorging my body with the things that I had deprived it of for a week. My body was used to the vegan way, so I went back to it. I'm now back to veganism, for the time being. I don't know how long it will last, I guess I'll just have to see where my vegan journey takes me :)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Study Abroad
OMG yess, I sooo want to study abroad. I went to Europe this summer and had the most amazing experience of my life. I want to go back and live there forever. I think if I studied abroad, I'd either go to Italy again, or maybe try out Spain. Italy was amazing. I don't think anything will ever top it. While I was there, I became obsessed with learning Italian. I want to learn sooo badly. That would be incredible. But, I also took Spanish for 5 years in high school, sooo I feel like Spain would be an amazing opportunity. I can really advance my speaking skills there which was always my weakest ability in Spanish Class. I can read it, write it, listen to it, but speak it.... not so much. I sound like a southern hick, which is strange considering I don't typically have that strong of a southern accent. cool.
Barriers: BIG ONE- If I continue on the track I'm on now, I'll be done with school by the end of my 3rd year. Why is that a problem?
a) I don't know if I have time
b) I'm afraid that if I study abroad, I won't be able to graduate in 3 years.
I'm pretty proud of the fact that I can graduate in 3 years, without taking summer classes, or killing myself... so I'd really like to do just that. So the only way I could potentially travel would be if it fit into my schedule and I took all the classes I needed to still graduate at the end of my third year.
Smaller problem- money. Although there are scholarships and grants dedicated to studying abroad so I'm sure its not that big of an issue.
I hope I get the chance to study abroad. I just don't need it to mess up my plans, thats all :)
Barriers: BIG ONE- If I continue on the track I'm on now, I'll be done with school by the end of my 3rd year. Why is that a problem?
a) I don't know if I have time
b) I'm afraid that if I study abroad, I won't be able to graduate in 3 years.
I'm pretty proud of the fact that I can graduate in 3 years, without taking summer classes, or killing myself... so I'd really like to do just that. So the only way I could potentially travel would be if it fit into my schedule and I took all the classes I needed to still graduate at the end of my third year.
Smaller problem- money. Although there are scholarships and grants dedicated to studying abroad so I'm sure its not that big of an issue.
I hope I get the chance to study abroad. I just don't need it to mess up my plans, thats all :)
Shaping the Minds of the FUTURE
haha. Just kidding. that might be somewhat extreme. But, after going to Hand a couple of times, I've decided that mentoring is something I really enjoy. Granted, I'm not personally shaping the mind of all youth, but I'd like to someway leave an impression with my mentee. The first time I went to Hand, I was super nervous. I didn't want to go, and I was afraid of talking to my mentor. I didn't know how the student was going to approach the situation. But, now I look forward to seeing Alexus. She's opened up to me quite a bit. I've learned things about her life and I've shared some of my own with her.
I think with Alexus, the most important thing to cover with her is peer pressure. Alexus is pretty popular, from what I can gather, with most of the 6th graders in school. And I can see where it would be easy for her to get caught up in the moment and bow to peer pressure. She typically surrounds herself with the girls she claims "are always in trouble"; that makes me somewhat uneasy. Because Alexus seems to have a good head on her shoulders, but I question whether she'll continue to use it as she matures, or lose it to simply fit in (ha, sorry for the cliche rhyme)
I think I can combat this peer pressure by getting her involved in activities. Some questions I could ask her:
1. What types of activities do you typically enjoy outside of school?
2. Are they any clubs here that involve your hobbies and you would be interested in joining?
3. Would you be interested in finding out ways to start clubs for the hobbies you're interested in, but don't have clubs devoted to them yet? I'll help you figure out how to start them.
I think that if I can give her other options, maybe she'll find positive ways to spend her energy and time instead of falling in with "the wrong crowd". I'd also just like to clarify that, being in 6th grade, the wrong crowd is not something so incredibly terrible. Its the future and how she decides to mature that makes me somewhat uneasy. However, I have nothing but faith that Alexus will make the best decisions for herself.
Academically, she seems to understand the material in all her classes. She told me she's making all b's. We can strive for improvement, but I feel like I should also acknowledge the effort that the b's took.Questions I could ask her:
1. How do you typically prepare for tests?
2. What study tools do you use to study?
3. How much time do you typically spend on school work at night?
These questions will allow me to provide tips to improve her grades to perfection!
I think with Alexus, the most important thing to cover with her is peer pressure. Alexus is pretty popular, from what I can gather, with most of the 6th graders in school. And I can see where it would be easy for her to get caught up in the moment and bow to peer pressure. She typically surrounds herself with the girls she claims "are always in trouble"; that makes me somewhat uneasy. Because Alexus seems to have a good head on her shoulders, but I question whether she'll continue to use it as she matures, or lose it to simply fit in (ha, sorry for the cliche rhyme)
I think I can combat this peer pressure by getting her involved in activities. Some questions I could ask her:
1. What types of activities do you typically enjoy outside of school?
2. Are they any clubs here that involve your hobbies and you would be interested in joining?
3. Would you be interested in finding out ways to start clubs for the hobbies you're interested in, but don't have clubs devoted to them yet? I'll help you figure out how to start them.
I think that if I can give her other options, maybe she'll find positive ways to spend her energy and time instead of falling in with "the wrong crowd". I'd also just like to clarify that, being in 6th grade, the wrong crowd is not something so incredibly terrible. Its the future and how she decides to mature that makes me somewhat uneasy. However, I have nothing but faith that Alexus will make the best decisions for herself.
Academically, she seems to understand the material in all her classes. She told me she's making all b's. We can strive for improvement, but I feel like I should also acknowledge the effort that the b's took.Questions I could ask her:
1. How do you typically prepare for tests?
2. What study tools do you use to study?
3. How much time do you typically spend on school work at night?
These questions will allow me to provide tips to improve her grades to perfection!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Wellness
I'd like to believe that I am leading a balanced life here. I tend to balance and juggle everything going on in my life. I am able to juggle homework, class, friends, social activities, and sleep pretty well. I typically devote Tuesdays and Thursdays to work. I only have one class so I can do my work that day. On other days, I have 4 classes so I typically just try to get through those days. At night I'm with my friends, sometimes out or other times just sitting around, doing work.
I wish I had more time for talking to my family. I'm that kid that goes to college and doesn't talk to their parents for like 5 months. I think I typically talk to my mom, oh every 2 weeks. I'd like to be able to talk to her more.
I guess I could try to talk to her tonight, before I go to bed. I just typically dont go to sleep until 2 in the morning. So I highly doubt she'll want to talk then. But, I don't know. I guess I'll figure it out.
I wish I had more time for talking to my family. I'm that kid that goes to college and doesn't talk to their parents for like 5 months. I think I typically talk to my mom, oh every 2 weeks. I'd like to be able to talk to her more.
I guess I could try to talk to her tonight, before I go to bed. I just typically dont go to sleep until 2 in the morning. So I highly doubt she'll want to talk then. But, I don't know. I guess I'll figure it out.
First Experience w/ Alexus
When I first met Alexus, she seemed like she would be shy and more introverted than extroverted. She is small in stature and somewhat meek looking. She is tiny, weighing about 85 pounds. She comes up to my waist. As I sized her up, I expected this child to be reflect her appearance. I figured she would let her size dictate her personality. Boy, was I wrong.
The thing about Alexus is that she knows all. She's got a grip on everything that goes down in the sixth grade at Hand. She can tell me the history of any girl, point out the trouble makers of the school, and identify the nobodies of the school. Walking through the hallways on our tour of the school, at least 6 different people called out her name. It's easy to see she's Miss Popular.
Upon talking to her though, I've identified that she does have some needs. She just gained a new addition to her family, a little sister who's now 2 months old. It seems she's having some trouble dealing with no longer being the only girl in her family. But other than that, she seems somewhat happy with her life.
She is somewhat involved at Hand. She's involved in Chorus at school. She seems to enjoy Chorus. She took me to see her Chorus teacher because she really enjoys the class. I think she was excited to show me off to her class and teacher because it was something she was proud of.
As for resources, I think I'm okay for the time being.
The thing about Alexus is that she knows all. She's got a grip on everything that goes down in the sixth grade at Hand. She can tell me the history of any girl, point out the trouble makers of the school, and identify the nobodies of the school. Walking through the hallways on our tour of the school, at least 6 different people called out her name. It's easy to see she's Miss Popular.
Upon talking to her though, I've identified that she does have some needs. She just gained a new addition to her family, a little sister who's now 2 months old. It seems she's having some trouble dealing with no longer being the only girl in her family. But other than that, she seems somewhat happy with her life.
She is somewhat involved at Hand. She's involved in Chorus at school. She seems to enjoy Chorus. She took me to see her Chorus teacher because she really enjoys the class. I think she was excited to show me off to her class and teacher because it was something she was proud of.
As for resources, I think I'm okay for the time being.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
ACE Coaching
Today, I went to the Academic Center for Excellence and talked with an ACE coach, Jordan. It was actually very helpful. I'm not gonna lie, at first I was dreading going. I thought it was probably going to be a waste of time. But I went in with an open mind and I actually got something very rewarding from it.
I've been unsure of what I wanted my major to be for a long time. So I decided to ask my ACE coach, and we went through my interests. Since I was extremely indecisive, we went back and forth between psychology and political science. We weighed how heavily I wanted to do one major over the other. Once we figured out where my heart was, we were then faced with the task of figuring out how to go about changing my major. He walked me through exactly what classes I would need to take and when. It was like a pre-advisement to my advisement. I now feel prepared for my advisement next week. Now I can go in, tell them what I want and see if that matches.
My appointment was actually a relief because I got information about changing my major, and also signing up for classes, which I was kinda worried about. So I'm super glad I went to ACE.
Good job working there Ben. Its super cool.
I've been unsure of what I wanted my major to be for a long time. So I decided to ask my ACE coach, and we went through my interests. Since I was extremely indecisive, we went back and forth between psychology and political science. We weighed how heavily I wanted to do one major over the other. Once we figured out where my heart was, we were then faced with the task of figuring out how to go about changing my major. He walked me through exactly what classes I would need to take and when. It was like a pre-advisement to my advisement. I now feel prepared for my advisement next week. Now I can go in, tell them what I want and see if that matches.
My appointment was actually a relief because I got information about changing my major, and also signing up for classes, which I was kinda worried about. So I'm super glad I went to ACE.
Good job working there Ben. Its super cool.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Diversity
Diversity at South Carolina occurs practically everyday. There are soo many opportunites and experiences available here that allow one to intermingle with different peoples. South Carolina has clubs and organizations devoted purely to certain cultures and people that its hard not to run into some diversity every now and then. Before coming to South Carolina, I would've defined Diversity as like a bunch of people from different races and cultures coming together in one area. But since comign to South Carolina, I've found that diversity goes beyond simply race.
Diversity be applied to many things. Race and culture for sure, but also things like personality, interests, sexual orientation, or morals. You find that the kid across the hall might like a certain type of music that's different from yours. You find that another kid on a different floor might have a certain sexual preference thats different from the norm. You find that your suitemate has extremely different morals or values. It's all diversity-- an ecletic group of people, not only with different cultures and of different races, but also of interests, all living and coexisting together.
South Carolina definitely has changed my perspective. My views on some things have changed drastically because of that. Although I've only been to hand once now, I've found that I do see diversity there. There are kids of different races, economic background, and interests all attending the same school. And the best thing about it is, they all get along. They all seem happy and content in their school. It seems to me they are able to see past their differences, which is refreshing in its own right to see :)
Diversity be applied to many things. Race and culture for sure, but also things like personality, interests, sexual orientation, or morals. You find that the kid across the hall might like a certain type of music that's different from yours. You find that another kid on a different floor might have a certain sexual preference thats different from the norm. You find that your suitemate has extremely different morals or values. It's all diversity-- an ecletic group of people, not only with different cultures and of different races, but also of interests, all living and coexisting together.
South Carolina definitely has changed my perspective. My views on some things have changed drastically because of that. Although I've only been to hand once now, I've found that I do see diversity there. There are kids of different races, economic background, and interests all attending the same school. And the best thing about it is, they all get along. They all seem happy and content in their school. It seems to me they are able to see past their differences, which is refreshing in its own right to see :)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Capstone Conversation: BLUES MAN
Today, I attended the Capstone Conversation of the blues musician, Walt Liniger. He offered some pretty interesting views on what being a Capstone Scholar meant. He talked about how our generation experiences different pressures from our parents. He furthered this idea to apply to the pressure of the United States' society compared to those of European societies. He talked about how "Dream Big, Impact the Community, Leave a Legacy" was somewhat of a threat or command. He identified how overwhelming it can be when given those orders.
But he talked about how as students we have to overcome those feelings. We have to be strong to overcome the struggle. This he related back to blues music. He told us about the history of blues music. How it identifies the struggles of day to day life. How it was a way to battle struggle and combat the unfairness and disharmony in society.
It was interesting to see how he tied everything together. I'm gonna be honest, at first I wasn't sure if he was going to make much sense. But as the speech went on, it was interesting to see how everything tied together.
But he talked about how as students we have to overcome those feelings. We have to be strong to overcome the struggle. This he related back to blues music. He told us about the history of blues music. How it identifies the struggles of day to day life. How it was a way to battle struggle and combat the unfairness and disharmony in society.
It was interesting to see how he tied everything together. I'm gonna be honest, at first I wasn't sure if he was going to make much sense. But as the speech went on, it was interesting to see how everything tied together.
Political Science
ahhh, poli sci. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but I'm so sure now how much I'm loving it. I don't know what I want to do with it. I mean there's always law school, but somehow I don't see myself really in that field. I wanted to work on campaigns. Or be a speech writer. Or work in the bureaucracyof the government. But, I'm quickly finding that maybe that's not what I want to do. Because I have no interest in learning about political science. I feel like its not really something that can be taught, in a way. To me, its always been about researching the situation and forming some type of position or opinion about it. I feel like enrolling myself in courses where I'm taught about the situation, with an instructors influence on the subject isn't really my idea of politics.
Lately more and more, I've been considering changing my major. I just don't know what I would change it too. Pyschology perhaps? But that seems like the standard "I'm gonna change my major to this because I don't know what I want to do" major. I actually enjoy helping people through their problems and talking. I'm super nosy. I have this thing where I like to follow people's thought process. For instance, if we're having a conversation about eggs, and someone brings up elephants, I HAVE to know how that individual's mind jumped from eggs to elephants. And the strange thing is, if I know them, I can typically follow their thought process to how they got to elephants without even having to ask them. I took a psych class in high school and really enjoyed it.
I think I could be happy as a counselor or psychologist. Or even in the business setting, I could use my psychology degree in human resources or something. I'm just not sure if thats the path for me though.
This whole figuring out what I'm supposed to do thing is actually somewhat stressful. Because of all the AP classes I took in high school, I'm done with most of my undergraduate classes. All I have left are sciences and histories. I fulfilled alll my english, math, foreign language, and humanities credits. so its not like I can just keep putting this off... I feel like I may be visiting the Career Center in the near future. Because I definitely need some guidance in the right direction... Gahhh..
Lately more and more, I've been considering changing my major. I just don't know what I would change it too. Pyschology perhaps? But that seems like the standard "I'm gonna change my major to this because I don't know what I want to do" major. I actually enjoy helping people through their problems and talking. I'm super nosy. I have this thing where I like to follow people's thought process. For instance, if we're having a conversation about eggs, and someone brings up elephants, I HAVE to know how that individual's mind jumped from eggs to elephants. And the strange thing is, if I know them, I can typically follow their thought process to how they got to elephants without even having to ask them. I took a psych class in high school and really enjoyed it.
I think I could be happy as a counselor or psychologist. Or even in the business setting, I could use my psychology degree in human resources or something. I'm just not sure if thats the path for me though.
This whole figuring out what I'm supposed to do thing is actually somewhat stressful. Because of all the AP classes I took in high school, I'm done with most of my undergraduate classes. All I have left are sciences and histories. I fulfilled alll my english, math, foreign language, and humanities credits. so its not like I can just keep putting this off... I feel like I may be visiting the Career Center in the near future. Because I definitely need some guidance in the right direction... Gahhh..
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Middle of the Road
So I guess this is like the halfway point for the semester, if we're taking midterms. I'm actually super happy with the way everything is going. I've got the best schedule ever. Its ridiculously easy and laidback. I'm not stressed at all and I seem to be able to use sucessful time management skills.
Theres honestly not a whole lot I'd like to change. I'm typically the type of person who addresses each problem as they come. So if I had a problem earlier in the semester, I most likely already took care of it. For instance, I was having trouble on wednesdays and mondays keeping up with work. So I took my less busy days, tuesdays and thursdays, and decided to work on those days. Time Management baby.
I am still a little worried about advisment. I still don't have an advisor; its an issue. So I'm probably just going to call down there and try to figure that whole entire mess out after break.
I know I might run into some problems next semester, because I never have work. And I'm basically not in school. My classes are all super easy. So next semester I'm really going to have to buckle down and get to work. But, its not something I haven't done before. So, no worries. I can handle it.
Theres honestly not a whole lot I'd like to change. I'm typically the type of person who addresses each problem as they come. So if I had a problem earlier in the semester, I most likely already took care of it. For instance, I was having trouble on wednesdays and mondays keeping up with work. So I took my less busy days, tuesdays and thursdays, and decided to work on those days. Time Management baby.
I am still a little worried about advisment. I still don't have an advisor; its an issue. So I'm probably just going to call down there and try to figure that whole entire mess out after break.
I know I might run into some problems next semester, because I never have work. And I'm basically not in school. My classes are all super easy. So next semester I'm really going to have to buckle down and get to work. But, its not something I haven't done before. So, no worries. I can handle it.
Capstone Cinema: HOMELESSNESS
The Capstone Cinema was a real eye-opener this evening. It focused on homelessness in Columbia... an obviously HUGE problem in the city. All a person has to do is walk around Columbia around dusk and one will ultimately run into countless homeless people. Today's video followed around one such person, Protein; it showed a typical day for a homeless man.
The video showed how some people had ended up there after losing their jobs, simply due to the economy. It showed people who not only wanted to work, but would do almost any job to get by. It was heartbreaking to see another human being struggling when all they were simply guilty of was being the victim of an awful economy.
Although the story was heartbreaking and hard to watch, I found myself getting somewhat perturbed throughout the movie. I mean, don't get me wrong, no human being should have to live like that. Its inhumane and completely awful. However, I found that some people wanted to blame their situations on other people when ultimately they had put themselves there. For instance, the drug user who was angry that the government didn't spend money to send him to rehab. Heres my argument: its not like he didn't know that using drugs could lead to terrible consequences. If he was enrolled in any type of school system as a child, (which legally he must have been), then he would have been taught some way or another that drugs arent healthy and almost never have positive consequences. And yet he still chose that path. So now HE needs to take the responsibility to get himself help. Not rely on our government to do it for him.
OR the man who said that because he was a convicted felon, he couldn't get a job. I understand that employees don't want to hire felons, and thats rough. I can't imagine wanting to work and not being able to. However yet again, he committed a felony. I know that some people will say that they were young and stupid, but at the same time I almost don't believe that. I'm relatively young, and yet I don't ever see myself in that type of situation. I have enough common sense to recognize that something is wrong or bad and to not do it. Again, its a consequence of his actions; he should have to deal with it. I know some people might claim that his punishment is prison and that he's already paid his debt to society. And I agree with that; he has paid his debt. Not being able to be employed is something completely different. Its a consequence. As children, we are all taught that our actions have consequences. Its a simple elementary school idea. He should have realized that his actions would have good/bad consequences, beside punishment. And I'm sorry that its tough, but he made his decision and now must work through it himself.
Overall it was eye-opening and interesting; it really made me want to get involved some way. I'm definitely going to be participating in the blanket drive and try to get involved in other ways.
The video showed how some people had ended up there after losing their jobs, simply due to the economy. It showed people who not only wanted to work, but would do almost any job to get by. It was heartbreaking to see another human being struggling when all they were simply guilty of was being the victim of an awful economy.
Although the story was heartbreaking and hard to watch, I found myself getting somewhat perturbed throughout the movie. I mean, don't get me wrong, no human being should have to live like that. Its inhumane and completely awful. However, I found that some people wanted to blame their situations on other people when ultimately they had put themselves there. For instance, the drug user who was angry that the government didn't spend money to send him to rehab. Heres my argument: its not like he didn't know that using drugs could lead to terrible consequences. If he was enrolled in any type of school system as a child, (which legally he must have been), then he would have been taught some way or another that drugs arent healthy and almost never have positive consequences. And yet he still chose that path. So now HE needs to take the responsibility to get himself help. Not rely on our government to do it for him.
OR the man who said that because he was a convicted felon, he couldn't get a job. I understand that employees don't want to hire felons, and thats rough. I can't imagine wanting to work and not being able to. However yet again, he committed a felony. I know that some people will say that they were young and stupid, but at the same time I almost don't believe that. I'm relatively young, and yet I don't ever see myself in that type of situation. I have enough common sense to recognize that something is wrong or bad and to not do it. Again, its a consequence of his actions; he should have to deal with it. I know some people might claim that his punishment is prison and that he's already paid his debt to society. And I agree with that; he has paid his debt. Not being able to be employed is something completely different. Its a consequence. As children, we are all taught that our actions have consequences. Its a simple elementary school idea. He should have realized that his actions would have good/bad consequences, beside punishment. And I'm sorry that its tough, but he made his decision and now must work through it himself.
Overall it was eye-opening and interesting; it really made me want to get involved some way. I'm definitely going to be participating in the blanket drive and try to get involved in other ways.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Service Learning 2.0
What does Service Learning meaning to me?
Hummmm...........
I guess service learning is any experience in which you give back to the community and at the same time take away a valuable life lesson. I feel like the service learning that we are going to do is extremely beneficial to the students, yet at the same time I feel like theres a lot I'm going to learn.
I was actually thinking about this in class today. I know I'm not THAT much older than the students; they're probably what like 11 or 12? I'm 19, meaning theres only like a 7 or 8 year difference... yet I feel like theres a huge difference. And its not just like the age difference. Their 11 is different than my 11 was. I feel like they know more than I knew at 11. I feel like they are soo much more advanced technologically and even relationship wise than I ever was at that age. So I'm actually interested in seeing that difference. And I'm sure there are some things that I'm going to learn about them or life in general.
I think on a broader scale, service learning is a way to prepare us for the future. We're being taught things that will impact our careers, relationships, and future lives. Service learning isn't about one message/thought/ idea being drilled into our heads; instead its about taking something away from the experiences we have today and applying that to the future. Service Learning can only be beneficial, in my opinion.
Hummmm...........
I guess service learning is any experience in which you give back to the community and at the same time take away a valuable life lesson. I feel like the service learning that we are going to do is extremely beneficial to the students, yet at the same time I feel like theres a lot I'm going to learn.
I was actually thinking about this in class today. I know I'm not THAT much older than the students; they're probably what like 11 or 12? I'm 19, meaning theres only like a 7 or 8 year difference... yet I feel like theres a huge difference. And its not just like the age difference. Their 11 is different than my 11 was. I feel like they know more than I knew at 11. I feel like they are soo much more advanced technologically and even relationship wise than I ever was at that age. So I'm actually interested in seeing that difference. And I'm sure there are some things that I'm going to learn about them or life in general.
I think on a broader scale, service learning is a way to prepare us for the future. We're being taught things that will impact our careers, relationships, and future lives. Service learning isn't about one message/thought/ idea being drilled into our heads; instead its about taking something away from the experiences we have today and applying that to the future. Service Learning can only be beneficial, in my opinion.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Brothaman.... or not
So not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed when I walked into the campus safety progam and the Brothaman wasn't there. I've heard some pretty entertaining stuff about him and was really looking foward to seeing him in action. But thats okay, because I liked Jessica. I think she had a no nonsense attitude but was still really cool.
I learned some interesting things during the presentation. First of all, I'm way too trusting. I leave my door unlocked and open all the time. I'll leave it open with no one in there if I'm running down the hall to talk to someone. So, I've decided I'm going to start closing it, especially if I can't actually see the door from the room I'm visiting.
I also learned about getting my stuff engraved and reporting the serial numbers to the campus police. I remember when they sat in the lobby of capstone, asking us to do that, and I was like "why?". now I understand. I'm going to report my stuff this weekend.
I realized they were right about how easy it is for someone to sneak in, so I'm going to start locking my doors whenever I'm alone. I don't want to be a victim.
I also think I might sign up for the defense classes that Jessica talked about. I think it would be a smart idea because I always seem to find myself walking alone at night. Especially on nights when I have Greek meetings. so it would be a good idea to use that.
Another thing I didn't know about was the after-hours shuttle. I want that number so that I don't have to keep walking back from the Greek Village to Capstone at like 9pm. I don't think thats quite so safe.
I learned some interesting things during the presentation. First of all, I'm way too trusting. I leave my door unlocked and open all the time. I'll leave it open with no one in there if I'm running down the hall to talk to someone. So, I've decided I'm going to start closing it, especially if I can't actually see the door from the room I'm visiting.
I also learned about getting my stuff engraved and reporting the serial numbers to the campus police. I remember when they sat in the lobby of capstone, asking us to do that, and I was like "why?". now I understand. I'm going to report my stuff this weekend.
I realized they were right about how easy it is for someone to sneak in, so I'm going to start locking my doors whenever I'm alone. I don't want to be a victim.
I also think I might sign up for the defense classes that Jessica talked about. I think it would be a smart idea because I always seem to find myself walking alone at night. Especially on nights when I have Greek meetings. so it would be a good idea to use that.
Another thing I didn't know about was the after-hours shuttle. I want that number so that I don't have to keep walking back from the Greek Village to Capstone at like 9pm. I don't think thats quite so safe.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hot Cookie Friday
Last Friday I attended the glorious event that is "Hot Cookie Friday". I knew I really needed to do something for Capstone; I haven't been able to go to any of the Conversations because I stay in class on Mondays until 8pm. And I somehow missed the last cinema. So thats been an issue. So when Hot Cookie Friday rolled around, I jumped at the chance to attend. My friend Kayla from my floor went with me; I tried unsucessfully to round up a large group of people from my floor, but nobody else wanted to go. So Kayla and I ventured down the street to Hot Cookie Friday.
The Study Shack smelled like awesome goodness when we walked in. The aromas from the cookies made both our stomachs flip. We walked into the living room, hoping to see plates full of all assortments of cookies. Instead we saw 2 half empty plates full of the cookies that nobody else wanted. We had gotten there too late. We turned to leave in disappointment, when suddenly, a very nice man with a very big plate of warm chocolate chip cookies entered the room. CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!! Our mission was a success!!! We had finally gotten what we came for.
After our accomplished victory, Kayla and I stayed around and chatted with a few fellow Capstone Scholars. It was a nice way to meet people and take advantage of free food. Its something I'll definitely be doing again soon.
The Study Shack smelled like awesome goodness when we walked in. The aromas from the cookies made both our stomachs flip. We walked into the living room, hoping to see plates full of all assortments of cookies. Instead we saw 2 half empty plates full of the cookies that nobody else wanted. We had gotten there too late. We turned to leave in disappointment, when suddenly, a very nice man with a very big plate of warm chocolate chip cookies entered the room. CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!! Our mission was a success!!! We had finally gotten what we came for.
After our accomplished victory, Kayla and I stayed around and chatted with a few fellow Capstone Scholars. It was a nice way to meet people and take advantage of free food. Its something I'll definitely be doing again soon.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Coming to South Carolina was one of the bravest things I've ever done. I moved far away from everything I ever knew; I moved to a place where I knew nothing and no one. It was incredibly scary going to a place all by myself and on my own. So the week before I came to South Carolina, I made the hasty decision to rush. That decision turned out to be one of the smartest decisions I've ever made.
Going through rush was incredibly intimidating. Going into all the possible houses, trying to figure out where you fit in, and still trying to impress the different houses gets to be somewhat straining. I felt like I couldn't possibly find a group of girls that I would want to belong to. But then I did.
I am now a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. At first, I was extremely nervous about going to the meetings. I wasn't sure it was something I would fit into. I never imagined myself as a Greek. So getting into that mindset was a bit difficult. But once I joined, I realized it was just the place for me.
KKG is full of girls who are just like me. I find that I get along incredibly well with all the sisters. I like that all the girls are really laid back and chill; they're not judgmental like the stereotypical sorority girl. Instead, they are really open to just about anyone.
It's definitely something I'm going to stick with. I can't wait to see the opportunities that await me and Kappa Kappa Gamma. I know that I have joined an organization that will be able to help me grow and provide me with opportunities I wouldn't otherwise have.
Going through rush was incredibly intimidating. Going into all the possible houses, trying to figure out where you fit in, and still trying to impress the different houses gets to be somewhat straining. I felt like I couldn't possibly find a group of girls that I would want to belong to. But then I did.
I am now a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma. At first, I was extremely nervous about going to the meetings. I wasn't sure it was something I would fit into. I never imagined myself as a Greek. So getting into that mindset was a bit difficult. But once I joined, I realized it was just the place for me.
KKG is full of girls who are just like me. I find that I get along incredibly well with all the sisters. I like that all the girls are really laid back and chill; they're not judgmental like the stereotypical sorority girl. Instead, they are really open to just about anyone.
It's definitely something I'm going to stick with. I can't wait to see the opportunities that await me and Kappa Kappa Gamma. I know that I have joined an organization that will be able to help me grow and provide me with opportunities I wouldn't otherwise have.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Meet Your Professor
For this assignment, I decided to meet with my History 112 Professor, Professor Michele Coffey. When I first heard about the assignment, I'm gonna admit I was a little nervous. This may be a bit shocking, but in new situations, I tend to be a little reserved and shy. So going to meet with my professor was something that was definitely outside my comfort zone. I didn't know how I was going to go about talking to a professor, nor did I have any idea which one I should choose.
And then I realized I had a huge history test coming up. As I was studying for that history test, I realized I kept coming across questions that I had over the material; there were certain points that had gotten lost in my notes that needed some clarification. As I sat wondering about how I could fix this problem, it dawned on me that I had been assigned meeting with my professor. Suddenly the world was brighter. I could kill two birds with one stone; I would fulfill my U101 assignment, while getting some help in history.
Going into Professor Coffey's office hours was a little bit intimidating. It was my first experience with office hours and I wasn't sure what to expect. But I'm actually super glad I did. If it hadn't been for the U101 assignment, I wouldn't have gone and I would still be confused about a lot of things. After going to her office hours, I learned that Professor Coffey does genuinely care about our grades and is willing help. She clarified where I was going wrong and helped suggest studying tips. She turned out to be a really down to earth, laidback person. I was surprised at how easy-going she was.
To those of you who haven't yet ventured into office hours, I highly recommend it. Even if you are a little nervous and unsure of what to expect, go anyway. It's completely beneficial and worth the experience. Professors (most of them anyway) actually do care about your grades. And its a great way to be more than just another face in the crowd. After visiting Professor Coffey that day, I noticed that when I had her class later on, she made eye contact with me during lectures, just to make sure I understood her points. With a little extra help like that, office hours are completely worth the trip.
And then I realized I had a huge history test coming up. As I was studying for that history test, I realized I kept coming across questions that I had over the material; there were certain points that had gotten lost in my notes that needed some clarification. As I sat wondering about how I could fix this problem, it dawned on me that I had been assigned meeting with my professor. Suddenly the world was brighter. I could kill two birds with one stone; I would fulfill my U101 assignment, while getting some help in history.
Going into Professor Coffey's office hours was a little bit intimidating. It was my first experience with office hours and I wasn't sure what to expect. But I'm actually super glad I did. If it hadn't been for the U101 assignment, I wouldn't have gone and I would still be confused about a lot of things. After going to her office hours, I learned that Professor Coffey does genuinely care about our grades and is willing help. She clarified where I was going wrong and helped suggest studying tips. She turned out to be a really down to earth, laidback person. I was surprised at how easy-going she was.
To those of you who haven't yet ventured into office hours, I highly recommend it. Even if you are a little nervous and unsure of what to expect, go anyway. It's completely beneficial and worth the experience. Professors (most of them anyway) actually do care about your grades. And its a great way to be more than just another face in the crowd. After visiting Professor Coffey that day, I noticed that when I had her class later on, she made eye contact with me during lectures, just to make sure I understood her points. With a little extra help like that, office hours are completely worth the trip.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Hand Middle School 2.0
After visiting Hand Middle School today, I'm even more excited than I was before. Hand seems to be a really good school. It seems really well kept and like a positive place for students to grow. I really liked that the almost all the walls were covered with some type of artwork from the kids. It really seems like Hand tries to facilitate the development of all skills, not just academics. I'm super jealous of their school. My middle school was nothing like theirs. I hope the kids really appreciate how awesome their school its.
What really impressed me the most about Hand was the mixture of kids that make up the student population. Our director said that Hand was a mixture of the "haves" and the "have-nots"; but she was quick to inform us that they didn't really dwell on those differences and did everything to ensure everyone had an equal playing field. It was impressive to me that a community can come together and put aside differences in culture, economic situation, and ultimately race to ensure that the kids aren't affected. I really like that Hand is soo diverse. Its completely different from anything I've ever known. I can't wait to see all the diversity that Hand has to offer.
I'm a bit nervous now after visiting the school, though. I feel like that first day is going to be a bit awkward... but hopefully after that, my mentee and I will be able to form some type of relationship. I guess it's up to me to make sure that first day isn't awkward. haha. I'm sure I can handle that.
ps- don't worry. I found another parking spot in Columbia : )
What really impressed me the most about Hand was the mixture of kids that make up the student population. Our director said that Hand was a mixture of the "haves" and the "have-nots"; but she was quick to inform us that they didn't really dwell on those differences and did everything to ensure everyone had an equal playing field. It was impressive to me that a community can come together and put aside differences in culture, economic situation, and ultimately race to ensure that the kids aren't affected. I really like that Hand is soo diverse. Its completely different from anything I've ever known. I can't wait to see all the diversity that Hand has to offer.
I'm a bit nervous now after visiting the school, though. I feel like that first day is going to be a bit awkward... but hopefully after that, my mentee and I will be able to form some type of relationship. I guess it's up to me to make sure that first day isn't awkward. haha. I'm sure I can handle that.
ps- don't worry. I found another parking spot in Columbia : )
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hand Middle School
I'm actually super excited about meeting with the kids of Hand Middle School. I'm excited to get to meet my mentee; pre-teens always seem to be really fun to be around. This is the time when they really start to form their personalities and figure out who they are or want to be. Most of them are going through that weird, awkward social stage, so it'll be fun to kinda help them through that. I know all about awkward stages, so I'm pretty sure I can be a big help to them.
I'm excited to help them get involved around their schools; I know that in middle school I was in a lot of clubs. I tried a lot of different ones to figure where my interests were. So it'll be neat to help my mentee figure out his/her hobby and interests.
I am a bit nervous that I might get a kid that doesn't really want to talk back to me. I'm such a talkative person that I need a kid that I can be myself around. But I know that either way, if I get a talkative kid or a non-talkative one, I'll be able to handle it. If my student is talkative, then I'll be able to keep up; but if they're quiet, I'm normally able to bring people out of their shells and make them open up. I'll be able to adjust my own ideas and strategies for mentoring based on their personality. I'm flexible.
I can't wait to go to Hand Middle School. I'm so excited to shape and mold the youthful minds of Hand Middle School. :)
I'm excited to help them get involved around their schools; I know that in middle school I was in a lot of clubs. I tried a lot of different ones to figure where my interests were. So it'll be neat to help my mentee figure out his/her hobby and interests.
I am a bit nervous that I might get a kid that doesn't really want to talk back to me. I'm such a talkative person that I need a kid that I can be myself around. But I know that either way, if I get a talkative kid or a non-talkative one, I'll be able to handle it. If my student is talkative, then I'll be able to keep up; but if they're quiet, I'm normally able to bring people out of their shells and make them open up. I'll be able to adjust my own ideas and strategies for mentoring based on their personality. I'm flexible.
I can't wait to go to Hand Middle School. I'm so excited to shape and mold the youthful minds of Hand Middle School. :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
LASSI Scores
Hahaha.
My LASSI scores were all over the place. I'm not sure I can really take this test that seriously. It didn't really seem to peg my characteristics at all. Except my motivation. I was highly motivated according to the test. 95% to be exact. That's true, for the most part. I tend to be extremely motivated to get things done. I don't like having things hanging over my head, so I just get them out of the way. Other than that, I'd have to say my LASSI scores were a bit ridiculous.
I got a 10% on Attitude. I don't know how you do that. If you ask me, I should get some type of award for that accomplishment. It seems outrageous to me that I scored sooo high in motivation, but so low in attitude. It's like "you're extremely motivated to do the work, but you don't want to or like to". That doesn't make sense to me..?!? Plus on top of that, I've always been the one to push myself for good grades. I've never felt pressure from my parents to make As; it was always something I wanted. I would be disappointed in myself if I didn't have that perfect GPA. So thats something I definitely don't agree with.
Other things about LASSI, such as the self testing and selecting main ideas were a bit more accurate. They were lower than I thought they would be, but that could just have been my fault when I took the test. I know that ultimately the test calculated my scores based on my responses, so I can't really blame that test. But I guess in order to change my self testing scores, I start to test myself after chapters or learn new testing techniques that would better prepare me for tests. As for selecting main ideas, I could pay more attention to the phrases and words my professors repeat, look for bolded ideas in the text, and other obvious signs.
My LASSI scores were all over the place. I'm not sure I can really take this test that seriously. It didn't really seem to peg my characteristics at all. Except my motivation. I was highly motivated according to the test. 95% to be exact. That's true, for the most part. I tend to be extremely motivated to get things done. I don't like having things hanging over my head, so I just get them out of the way. Other than that, I'd have to say my LASSI scores were a bit ridiculous.
I got a 10% on Attitude. I don't know how you do that. If you ask me, I should get some type of award for that accomplishment. It seems outrageous to me that I scored sooo high in motivation, but so low in attitude. It's like "you're extremely motivated to do the work, but you don't want to or like to". That doesn't make sense to me..?!? Plus on top of that, I've always been the one to push myself for good grades. I've never felt pressure from my parents to make As; it was always something I wanted. I would be disappointed in myself if I didn't have that perfect GPA. So thats something I definitely don't agree with.
Other things about LASSI, such as the self testing and selecting main ideas were a bit more accurate. They were lower than I thought they would be, but that could just have been my fault when I took the test. I know that ultimately the test calculated my scores based on my responses, so I can't really blame that test. But I guess in order to change my self testing scores, I start to test myself after chapters or learn new testing techniques that would better prepare me for tests. As for selecting main ideas, I could pay more attention to the phrases and words my professors repeat, look for bolded ideas in the text, and other obvious signs.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Service Learning
In high school, I was really involved in community service. I was a part of our school's Interact Club, which focused on going out into the community and providing service whetherever we saw the need. We did can drives, read to underpriveledged schools, and cleaned the school campus. Probably the one that affected me the most was the toy drive we did for the Tennessee Baptist Children's Home. The Children's Home is a place where orphaned children can go to live and be taken care of for no extra cost. But these children typically don't recieve Christmas gifts you and I have come to expect. They recieved toothpaste, shampoo, and other toiletries. So my school decided to have a toy drive, where we got the Christmas Lists of the kids there and raised money to buy almost everything on their lists. This was especially touching because my mom grew up at the Tennesee Baptist Children's Home. She knew from first hand experience what the toy drive would mean to the kids. It was sad to envision her as a child, experiencing a blah Christmas. So I really got into the drive, asking students at Ravenwood to donate even change to the cause. It's something I'm really proud to say I was a part of.
I've never really done any community service as a part of a course. Helping the community is just something that my mom has drilled into my head since I was a child. She's been on numerous committees that have raised tons of money for various organizations. So I guess I've never really thought about it as something I supposed to do; its something I need to do. If I'm fortunate enough to have to things I have, then I need to take some time from my life and share what I have.
I've never really done any community service as a part of a course. Helping the community is just something that my mom has drilled into my head since I was a child. She's been on numerous committees that have raised tons of money for various organizations. So I guess I've never really thought about it as something I supposed to do; its something I need to do. If I'm fortunate enough to have to things I have, then I need to take some time from my life and share what I have.
Organization
I've always been a pretty organized girl. I can remember back in middle school, my friends used to tease me about my super organization skills. I guess one can say I'm somewhat OCD. haha
But, in order to stay organized at USC, I plan to really utilize my planner. I got one for free from the USC bookstore and ever since then, I've been writing like EVERYTHING down in it. Even things I would normally remember to do, I still write out lists in it.
As far as time management goes, I tend to have a lot of time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, so those days have been designated as homework days. I get done by 1045 on those days, so I devote the rest of the day to studying and getting caught up on assignments. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have class until 8pm so I try to not leave myself assignments to do on those nights.
If I have a set schedule, for the most part, I tend to stick it. It typically works for me. But I do anicipate certain things, such as sorority activities or football games getting in the way. So I'll just have to plan ahead when I know those things are coming up and get my work done ahead of time. It shouldn't be that big of a deal. Plus my sorority has required study hours, so if need be I can go to those every night if homework becomes an issue.
As far as having a social life, I intend to stick to the weekend for going out. And maybe Thursdays, if I was a good girl that day ;)
But, in order to stay organized at USC, I plan to really utilize my planner. I got one for free from the USC bookstore and ever since then, I've been writing like EVERYTHING down in it. Even things I would normally remember to do, I still write out lists in it.
As far as time management goes, I tend to have a lot of time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, so those days have been designated as homework days. I get done by 1045 on those days, so I devote the rest of the day to studying and getting caught up on assignments. On Mondays and Wednesdays, I have class until 8pm so I try to not leave myself assignments to do on those nights.
If I have a set schedule, for the most part, I tend to stick it. It typically works for me. But I do anicipate certain things, such as sorority activities or football games getting in the way. So I'll just have to plan ahead when I know those things are coming up and get my work done ahead of time. It shouldn't be that big of a deal. Plus my sorority has required study hours, so if need be I can go to those every night if homework becomes an issue.
As far as having a social life, I intend to stick to the weekend for going out. And maybe Thursdays, if I was a good girl that day ;)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Involvement
Today, I visited the student organization fair. To be honest, it was a bit overwhelming. There was just soo much going on and soo much to see; but I managed to find my way over to some tables that I think may hold some good opportunities for me.
Since I am a poli sci major, I'd really like to get involved in some type of Student Government. So I'm thinking the Freshman Council seems like a good way to get involved. Also, today at the fair, I stopped by the College Republicans. I signed up for their email list. They had a meeting at 7:30 tonight, and I really wanted to go, but I had class until 8 tonight. So that was a bummer. But hopefully I can hit up the next one.
Also, I signed up for information about being an Orientation Leader. This summer, when I was going through orientation myself, I thought that it actually looked like something I might want to do. I was a freshman mentor in high school, so being an orientation leader wouldn't be too far of a stretch from that. The only hesitation I have about the whole thing is that I would have to spend summer here. And I really like Tennessee; I'm probably going to want to go home. So it might have to wait until next summer once I'm not so determined to go home.
As for hobbies, I don't actually have any skilled type hobbies. I mostly enjoy reading, shopping, watching movies, and being with my friends. I hate being by myself a majority of the time. I tend to surround myself with people throughout my day, intentionally or unintentionally. I constantly talk, so its nice to have someone around to listen. Otherwise, I'm just that crazy girl that talks to herself. Honestly though, that wouldn't really bother me all that much. I don't typically care much about that kind of stuff. Beside my basic girl hobbies, I LOVE politics. I am such a nerd about it, but I seriously could debate things for forever. I used to give my friends mini-lectures about each candidate during the presidential election. I'm pretty sure they hated me. But I didn't care. They would make me stop, but I kept lecturing anyway. I'm resilient.
I'm excited to see what other opportunities USC holds for me and determined to discover the secrets I haven't uncovered just yet :)
Since I am a poli sci major, I'd really like to get involved in some type of Student Government. So I'm thinking the Freshman Council seems like a good way to get involved. Also, today at the fair, I stopped by the College Republicans. I signed up for their email list. They had a meeting at 7:30 tonight, and I really wanted to go, but I had class until 8 tonight. So that was a bummer. But hopefully I can hit up the next one.
Also, I signed up for information about being an Orientation Leader. This summer, when I was going through orientation myself, I thought that it actually looked like something I might want to do. I was a freshman mentor in high school, so being an orientation leader wouldn't be too far of a stretch from that. The only hesitation I have about the whole thing is that I would have to spend summer here. And I really like Tennessee; I'm probably going to want to go home. So it might have to wait until next summer once I'm not so determined to go home.
As for hobbies, I don't actually have any skilled type hobbies. I mostly enjoy reading, shopping, watching movies, and being with my friends. I hate being by myself a majority of the time. I tend to surround myself with people throughout my day, intentionally or unintentionally. I constantly talk, so its nice to have someone around to listen. Otherwise, I'm just that crazy girl that talks to herself. Honestly though, that wouldn't really bother me all that much. I don't typically care much about that kind of stuff. Beside my basic girl hobbies, I LOVE politics. I am such a nerd about it, but I seriously could debate things for forever. I used to give my friends mini-lectures about each candidate during the presidential election. I'm pretty sure they hated me. But I didn't care. They would make me stop, but I kept lecturing anyway. I'm resilient.
I'm excited to see what other opportunities USC holds for me and determined to discover the secrets I haven't uncovered just yet :)
Carolinian
Hi!
I'm Stevie! I'm from Nashville, Tennessee, but I currently find myself in Columbia, South Carolina attending the University of South Carolina. I have an older brother, Tyler. He's 21 and basically my best friend. We're super close. I lived with my mom in Tennessee. She runs her own company, and due to that spends a lot of time away from home. She travels for business, leaving me and my dog to fend for ourselves. We manage.
As the first few weeks of my time at Carolina come to a close, I find myself enjoying the experience much more than I ever thought I would. I rushed at the beginning of the month, and now I am a Kappa Kappa Gamma pledge :)
I love my roommate. We were completely randomly assigned to eachother, but things have actually worked out amazingly. She's completely chill, which is good for my laid back nature. I LOVE my hall. We spend almost every night doing something: hanging out in one kid's room, going to the movies, or just doing homework together. We've seriously become something like a family in these two short weeks.
The Carolina Creed applies to me in that I intend to do my best academically during my four years here. I'm on scholarship and I intend to keep it. My poli sci professor told me that something like 50% of first years lose their scholarships after their 2nd semester at school. I am determined to not be apart of that 50%. So I need to make sure that I study and keep my grades up, the honest way. No cheating here. Also, bigotry. It sucks. I'm gonna take a stand to it. haha
No, but seriously at USC, I'm going to try to expose myself to a lot of different culture and diversity. Coming from Brentwood, Tennessee, where everyone is bascially the same, I want to explore the people around me; I want to see what factors have affected those not hailing from the Great State of Tennessee.
Basically, I'm really excited to be here. I look forward to finding out what secrets this semester holds for me :)
I'm Stevie! I'm from Nashville, Tennessee, but I currently find myself in Columbia, South Carolina attending the University of South Carolina. I have an older brother, Tyler. He's 21 and basically my best friend. We're super close. I lived with my mom in Tennessee. She runs her own company, and due to that spends a lot of time away from home. She travels for business, leaving me and my dog to fend for ourselves. We manage.
As the first few weeks of my time at Carolina come to a close, I find myself enjoying the experience much more than I ever thought I would. I rushed at the beginning of the month, and now I am a Kappa Kappa Gamma pledge :)
I love my roommate. We were completely randomly assigned to eachother, but things have actually worked out amazingly. She's completely chill, which is good for my laid back nature. I LOVE my hall. We spend almost every night doing something: hanging out in one kid's room, going to the movies, or just doing homework together. We've seriously become something like a family in these two short weeks.
The Carolina Creed applies to me in that I intend to do my best academically during my four years here. I'm on scholarship and I intend to keep it. My poli sci professor told me that something like 50% of first years lose their scholarships after their 2nd semester at school. I am determined to not be apart of that 50%. So I need to make sure that I study and keep my grades up, the honest way. No cheating here. Also, bigotry. It sucks. I'm gonna take a stand to it. haha
No, but seriously at USC, I'm going to try to expose myself to a lot of different culture and diversity. Coming from Brentwood, Tennessee, where everyone is bascially the same, I want to explore the people around me; I want to see what factors have affected those not hailing from the Great State of Tennessee.
Basically, I'm really excited to be here. I look forward to finding out what secrets this semester holds for me :)
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