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!

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.