Interpersonal communication skills.  This is an interesting topic to think about.  It is very important, none the less a necessity for everyday life.  I thought that Coreen and Katie did a very nice job of teaching the class about this topic.  I really liked that they came up with scenarios for us to discuss in groups.  Also, I really liked the fact that they wanted everyone to answer to the discussion or give input. 

We discussed the difference between interpersonal communication and personal communication; also which is appropriate to use in which situation.  I feel like this is mostly instinct, however sometimes there are situations where you will have to decide which to use.  There is also a very fine line between the two.  I thought that when giving advice to a friend, I am more there for moral support; to listen and be there for them.  When giving advice to a student, I would also be a listener, but give more advice to them.  After all, that’s what we’re there for, right?

Within interpersonal communication, there are also helping relationships.  These are very important, as both parties are getting something out of their relationship.  One may be helping the other, or serving as their mentor, but they in turn are getting leadership experience.  These relationships are very important and can be very useful in life.  However, in order to have established one of these relationships, like we will with our students, there are some boundaries and guidelines.  This chapter talks about many, but the few that I found most important are: 

The peer mentor is a secure and approachable person:  This is very important to seem open and willing to listen to your mentees.  That way when they do have an issue or joy to share, they do.

The helping relationship is designed to produce change, and have clear structure: Describing this to students is how the book suggests letting your students know about this relationship in the beginning.  Then, as they utilize the helping relationship, they take full use of it.    

It demonstrates self worth and respect:  Both individuals in this relationship should have a foundation built in order to respect each other.  This is why it is very important to make yourself relatable. 

Overall, I thought that this chapter was very resourceful and meaningful to our future experiences.

How ‘bout that retreat today?  I had a lot of fun doing ice breakers with the other peer mentors today.  Not to mention, our digital storytelling is pretty awesome!

                                                    

This week’s Hixson class was all about culture.  I, personally, think that people view cultures according to many different things.  When I think of culture I think of how you grew up, including where, with whom (both in your household and out), and also with what.  What you grew up with could mean what you were blessed with from your childhood to now, or what struggles you went through as well.  Also when I think of culture, I think of how we deal with our struggles.  Different cultures sometimes tend to have different problems, and also deal with their problems differently.  Maybe they are very religious and pray to God when problems arise.  Maybe they concentrate on dealing with problems by leaning on family to help them out.  Or, they could rely on themselves alone to cope with their problems.  These are just some things that come to my mind when I think about culture.

On the worksheet that Easten gave us on Wednesday, the bottom question was left for us to complete on our own.  The question was, “When you study the items that are not part of your culture, which ones might be difficult for you to understand in someone else’s?  Some items that I might find hard to understand would be different religions than mine, different languages (for the purpose that I do not know them), or ways of living where they do not use all that is available as an advantage to them.  This in no way means that any of these things are wrong, at all.  It just means that I might have to hear a lot about them from someone of that culture in order to understand this part of their culture better.  Just as they say, “Don’t judge someone until you’ve walked in their shoes.”  But as Easten made the point, you will never be in their shoes.  I will never be latino.  I will never be a male.  I will never be an Obama.  I think that there are plenty of ways in which we can understand others’ cultures by learning from them, but we shall never judge them because we will never know what it is truly like in their shoes.

Overall, the lesson really made me think.  I really enjoyed Easten’s way of teaching the class and the examples that he gave to help us relate to culture.  Good job Easten!

I really enjoyed going to Hixson class this week.  I remembered doing MTBI last year as a freshman, but I feel like I got more out of it this time in the smaller group setting.  When Debra was first going over the different letters and what they stood for, I thought that my type was ISFJ.  It turns out that I am an ESFJ.  After going through the packet we got and doing the activities, I soon realized why I was an ESFJ, which is extraversion, sensing, feeling, and judging.  I was very strong (a 30) in the judging category, which is very much like me. 

I really liked when we split up into groups by our preferences between our types and talked about different situations.  I learned that I most often like to be introduced, especially in personal social situations.  At work, I prefer to introduce myself.  Also, as I know, I really like to ask questions before making a decision.  I like to do more research and find facts to support my decisions and answers.  In this group setting, I learned that a lot of others in my group, that were concrete thinkers, also liked to do the same before making decisions.  I learned in class that this is very much okay, and that it is a very normal thinking process for concrete thinkers. 

In the packet we got, there was one page in particular that I found very interesting, the page that describes how different personality types work together.  I like feeling best, then sensing, intuition, and thinking last.  The packet gave me some suggestions in order to use my less-favored processes to work with others better.  It suggested that I take more breaks while working with processes I don’t like as well.  And also to find time doing things using the processes that I do like to build upon them. 

Overall, I learned a lot about how different people think and react with each other that are different MTBI types.  I really enjoyed learning about this, and I can’t wait to continue to research my type.  

This week in class, we continued to get to know the other peer mentors.  As this is one of my favorite things to do in class, it also reminds me that the closer we get to each other and develop as a team, the more able we are to be of aid to the freshman Hixson Scholars.  

I really like how we shared our strengths and weaknesses in our Hixson introductions this week.  Sometimes it’s not the easiest to share what you want to improve upon with others.  However it does make it easier sharing them in a group that is there to help each other.  I really look forward to developing more as a group this coming year.

Another way we will continue to develop, not necessarily as a group, but more of as individuals is to work on our SMART goal setting.  Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time bound is what SMART goal setting stands for.  We were asked to write down our SMART goals for the short, mid, and long term in the professional, personal, and academic settings.  Anyone can set a goal, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is attainable, realistic, or any of the other characteristics of a SMART goal.  

When making my nine goals, I tried to keep all 5 of these characteristics in mind.  I am not going to bore you with all nine of my goals, but I will share one of my goals.  My short-term professional goal is to attain an internship in the animal science field for this coming summer of 2013.  This goal is specific by clarifying what field I want an internship in, measurable by stating what term of year I want the internship.  It is attainable and realistic, I have already had interviews so far for this coming summer, so it is within reach!  My goal is also time bound, just simply by setting a time for my goal, by this summer. 

To end my blog this week, I would like to leave you with a quote from the text.

            “Being able to relate to someone who has been through similar experience but still understands and won’t judge me for needing input on what may seem unimportant.”

This is one of my goals for the year, to provide this exact statement to freshman Hixson scholars.  

Hixson 311A Journal #1

I have chosen to be a peer educator of the Hixson Program at Iowa State for several reasons. 

#1:  To give back to the Hixson Program.

As a first semester freshman, I remember the Hixson Program helping me in several ways that helped me in order to be successful.  As a peer mentor, this is a way for me to give back to the program.  I would like to provide a fun and exciting atmosphere for the freshman to learn about several different topics that will help them to succeed here at Iowa State. 

#2:  To improve my leadership skills.

Being a Hixson peer mentor will help me to improve my leadership skills in many ways.  Not only will I have the responsibility of teaching a section of Hixson recitation, but I will be responsible for preparing lesson plans and so forth in order to teach this class.  In order to be a great teacher to others, you also have to teach yourself things, which is something I’m looking forward to.  Being a leader and an example for the freshman will help me to improve and practice my leadership skills.

#3:  To get to know other Hixson Scholars.

One of the biggest things I am excited about is to get to know the Hixson Scholars of the freshman class.  I remember what it was like as a freshman, just last year!  As a junior, I hope that I will be able to help the freshman with whatever concerns or joys they may have.  Providing a fun atmosphere in recitation is one of my main goals.  Sometimes coming to a class that provides a little fun in your day, relieves a little stress and helps you to concentrate better on your difficult classes after.    

In chapter one of the textbook, Students Helping Students, it describes peer educators as valuable because they are completely effective.  They can relate to situations that students may be having trouble with because they are familiar to campus and their surroundings.  They are also cost effective for the university by providing somewhat as the same duty as an advisor, but on a more personal level. 

This is what I want to be, EFFECTIVE.  Not cost effective, but effective in a way that I am contributing to and helping the students in any way that they may need.  I would like to make a difference in the Hixson Scholar’s first year of college.  Even if I can answer one simple question they have a day, I am still helping them in a way that will make it easier for them to better their education.  This is my goal.   

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!