Hixson Blog Post #6

How I’ve grown, what I’ve learned


I feel as though the Hixson program has really helped me in many ways.  I have definitely grown as a person.  
I have grown to be more responsible about meeting deadlines, and not just completing things the day before they're due.  
I have learned how to study.  I thought that I knew about all the good study habits I needed for college, until I had my first exam.  It was for sure a big wake-up call.  This is no longer high school, and I had to change my habits tremendously!  
I also feel as though I have had to learn to adjust to living with people.  Living with a roommate is totally different than living with your family.  DIFFERENT is actually an understatement, sometimes it can be downright hard!  But I have learned from my experiences, as I'm sure I'll continue to do. 


I have also learned a tremendous amount from class this semester.  I have learned about almost every aspect of opportunity available here at Iowa State.  One of the most interesting, studying abroad.  I didn't realize that you could do a National Student Exchange and study anywhere in the United States for the same tuition that you pay here at Iowa State.  I am greatly considering studying in another state in a future semester.  
I greatly appreciate what we have learned in this class, as I know that I will use it for the remainder of my years here at Iowa State.  

Hixson Blog Post #5

What does the Hixson award mean to me?

"HMMMMMMMM......." is what comes to my mind!

This is one terrific question!!  

I feel as though there are so many things that it means to me...so I did a little research to help me come to terms. 

The biggest thing that I remember when completing my online application was writing the essay, which was to include your personal or financial challenge/s that you have dealt with in your life.  I remember putting a lot of thought into this essay, which wasn't always the easiest to deal with.  You don't always like to bring hardships up, especially when applying for a scholarship.  However, in this case, I think that it helped me.  

Although you don't know the number of applicants from your county, it makes you feel all sorts of emotions to know that you were selected to receive this big of a scholarship.  These are the emotions/thoughts that come to my mind: Blessed, thankful, grateful, lucky, accomplished, worthy, appreciative, and many more.  

I am very appreciative that someone like Christina Hixson would devote a huge portion of her life and budget to help out students like myself.  It takes someone of great integrity to develop a program such as the Hixson program.  I can't imagine where I would be right now if I wasn't a Hixson Scholar.  All of the resources and subjects we have covered in class have been a tremendous help.  Not to mention all of the friends I have met along the way.  I will be forever grateful to Christina Hixson.  When I look back on my college experience, I will always remember how Christina Hixson helped me to accomplish my goals of attending the wonderful college of Iowa State University!

Hixson Blog Post #4

Social Media Week

Q:  You engaged in some form of social media for one week... What did you learn?

A:  I chose to used Linked In as my form of social media.  I created a professional profile and connected with several agricultural companies and groups that I am interested in for possible careers or connections.  I learned that there are many different ways of communicating through different sources of social media.  Lots of businesses and companies use these ways to look for possible job candidates and to advertise.  Because of this, it is very important to set a good image of yourself both on your personal and professional profiles.  

Q:  How did you feel about engaging in this particular medium?

A:  I felt as though Linked In helped me to explore a different medium other than Twitter, Facebook, etc.  I didn't know about Linked In before this project, and I feel as though it is a really good way for me to connect with potential opportunities.  

Q:  How can social media help you reach your goals?

A:  Social media can help me to reach my goals by preparing my professional interview and connecting with possible career opportunities and explore further options that I may have down the road.  With social media, I can find job opportunities that I may not have been able to find without the internet.  There are many different ways to connect with employers and co-workers, and social media proves to be a very convenient and thorough method.    

Q:  You also read a few articles about social media-- and how it's being used around the world. What about these readings was surprising to you? What insights did you gain in reading these articles?

A:  The things that surprised me about the reading was remembering that social media can also be dangerous.  If your profile is on the internet, any one can look at your details.  And you never know who those people might be.  That is why it is important to remember that you need to be careful about the details you share online.  This brought me back to reality and gave me insight on how I need to be careful.  

Hixson Blog Post #3

MBTI


ISFJ: This is the type of preference I prefer.  Introversion (focusing  on the inner world), Sensing (Remembering information through the 5 senses focusing on what is now), Feeling (values are based on people and feelings), and Judging (planning and organizing life).  


I classified myself as ISFJ, however, the MBTI indicated me as ESFJ.  This confuses me because it declared that I was very strong in Extroversion, which I don't think I am at all.  I am a very reflective person who thinks about the past as well as the present and future.  I focus on the main idea of things and what is going to happen.  Extraversion people use the trial and error method with confidence.  I like to think about matters enough so that when I do try it the first time I know that it will work and I won't have to repeat.  This is why I believe I am an introvert. 


Sensing perceptionists like to use their five senses along with the conclusion of details to make decisions.  I do better in retaining information if I can see what we are talking about, or do a hands-on activity to be able to remember it.  "Letting the eyes tell the mind" is something that the MBTI sheet says sensing perceptionists do.  I completely agree with this.  If I see something, it will always be stuck in my head as of how I have seen it.  Even if there is an explanation, I will not be able to get over how I saw the situation with my own eyes.  Even if the explanation makes sense, I will always doubt it.  I fit very well into the sensing category.  


People with the feeling judgment type use lots and lots of reasoning.  Drawing possibilities of different reasons of why I do something constantly comes up.  Weighing options is also something that I do in order to make decisions.  Thinking about why I'm thinking the way I'm thinking (if that makes any sense) is what I do.  If it's not about how I am thinking or feeling, I use the same thinking process in order to figure out how others around me are thinking or feeling.  I always take in consideration of others before I say or do something, out of fear that they might have a bad reaction that could in turn hurt myself.  I care about myself, but am mostly concerned about how others will feel because of my actions. 


Judging is when you have a planed and or organized approach to life.  This is what I live by.  I make lists, both mental and on paper, of what I need to do as well as the time that I am going to do it.  I keep two calendars that remind me what I have going on on what day/month.  I also like to plan out my goals in life, but I keep it to goals that are very realistic.  Which brings me back to my bucket list.  I made my bucket list according to the aspirations I have in my life that I know I will accomplish.  This also describes how I am realistic and organized.  


After completing MBTI, I found some new things that I have learned about myself as well as things that I already knew.  Overall, I think that MBTI has helped to guide me in how I really do live my life, and that it is okay to be the person that I am.  There are many different types of people, and MBTI can help you in order to accept the other types and teach you how to get along with them.  This experience of studying MBTI has given me many new aspects of how I can look at behaviors of those around me.  I look forward to using these in the future when interacting and understanding others.  

Hixson Blog Post #2

My Bucket List


It is rather ironic that writing my bucket list is now a class assignment that I am required to do.  I have been telling myself for a couple years now that I need to make my own bucket list.  However, whenever I sit down to write it, I have had trouble coming up with things to add to it.  It seems like whenever I am out and about and busy, I think of major things that I would like to do before I die.  But when it comes to writing them down, I always forget what it was that I wanted to do.


So here it goes...I am now officially sitting down to write my very own bucket list.  


Things I MUST do at Iowa State:
-Get on the Dean's List
-Go Campanilling
-Have my picture on the Iowa State University web page
-Explain the answer to a difficult question in a lecture hall
-Take an art class at the Memorial Union
-Study Abroad
-Get a "B" in Bio 211
-Have three internships


Things I will do before I die:
-Win the Charolais Junior Nationals (or have my future children win it)
-Hold a snake around my neck
-Travel Abroad
-Get Married
-Have Children
-Buy a house with more than one level
-Own my own land/cattle
-Go to Paris
-Learn French
-Make a difference in someone's life
-Live a long and prosperous life
-Pray every day


After completing my list, I went back and proofread what I wrote (as always).  I realized that I somewhat stuck to a theme.  The majority of the things that I want to do in my life are not wild, crazy, and adventurous, but realistic things that I know will make me happy.  I feel like I live my life somewhat like this.  I am not someone who will go out on a whim and do something without thinking twice about it.  I always ask myself, "Is this a good idea? What will it be like during?  Will I be happy with the outcome?"  "Why?" is another question that I always, always ask.  I'd think of myself as safe, which is okay with me.  My list really reminds me of myself.  While some people's bucket lists might be wild and crazy, I am okay with mine resembling me as realistic things that will make me happy.    

Hixson Blog Post #1

MY "Best" 

According to Webster's Dictionary, "best" means:  excelling all others <the best student>, offering or producing the greatest advantage.  When I think of this word, what comes to my mind is someone or something that has/have proven their way to the top of a contest, class, or an opinion.  Being the best sounds like something that you want to be, but is it always necessary?  Is it something that I have considered myself as?  When thinking about this, I have never been better than anyone else in this universe.  I might have gotten a higher grade on a test than another student, or made a better first impression here or there, but I am no better than anyone else.  However, there are a few times where I can think of myself as having been the best that I can be.  

Last October, I competed in a contest to become Miss Charolais USA 2011.  For those of you who might not know what the term "Charolais" means, a Charolais is a type of cow derived from France that is white in color.  This contest was one that I had been preparing for, for a long time.  This was not just something that I wanted to do and get through.  This contest really meant a lot to me, and I was going to do my best to win.  Upon completing all of the major steps to apply for Miss Charolais USA, I started to work on all of the skills necessary. I was prepared to go through an interview, sell raffle tickets to breeders, social events, work the show ring, and much more.  Presenting myself to the best of my ability was going to be very important.  I had to have the mindset where I thought of myself as the "best" young lady out of them all for this position.  Selling myself to others is something I'm not really used to, but I had to learn very quickly.  This was definitely not the time to be shy or quiet, it was time for me to get out there and promote what I had to offer.  

And this is what I accomplished: 

I was confident in myself and my set of skills.  

I sold myself and what I had to offer to other breeders.  

I introduced myself to everyone that I met as, "Hello my name is Haley Stalcup, and I am running for Miss       Charolais USA 2011."

I answered every question in my interview thoroughly and to the best of my ability.

I even helped the interviewer when she wasn't able to come up with a term, she was very impressed.

These are not the only things I accomplished that weekend in October, I was crowned as Miss Charolais USA 2011.  What I had worked for definitely paid off.  Being confident in myself and putting my best foot forward had worked, it was one of the best feelings of my life.  Not only was I proud of myself, but my family and friends felt the same for me.  As Miss Charolais USA, my opportunities this past year have been amazing.  I have gotten to travel all over the country and represent the Charolais breed, as well as meet so many new people, some of my favorite moments being when little girls have asked me to sign their cowgirl hats.  This October I will pass my crown onto one other lucky and deserving young lady who will get to experience the same opportunities as I have.  I wish all the contestants luck, and hope that they can put their best forward, as I did that weekend.  

Now as a new experience, starting college, I hope that I can continue putting my best foot forward.  Two weeks and one day through, I feel as though I am doing quite well.  My goals for myself in college are extremely high.  Staying confident in my skills as I did throughout the Miss Charolais USA contest will help me tremendously.  As Webster's Dictionary states, being the best is producing the greatest advantage, which is the advantage I strive to produce here at my first semester at Iowa State University.