Personal Challenge

My personal challenge this semester was to climb the rock wall at the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center. I didn't actually manage to get all the way to the top which was not my direct goal, but was what I had hoped to eventually accomplish. I am so terrified of heights that my only goal was to make it as far as I could go, and I did it! I looked down from where I was on the wall and my legs started shaking and my hands got all sweaty.. which is gross but I kept going further because I was challenging myself. I enjoy challenging myself sometimes, even when it's for no reason. For example, one day I decided I would use only the stairs all day (and living on the 9th floor is no picnic on this occasion). So, this personal challenge to me was pertinent and important because it was not only a challenge physically, but mentally because of my fear of heights. I am proud of myself for making it as far as I did, but one day I hope to make it to the top and maybe even one day go skydiving with the flying Gamecocks!

Hot Cookie Friday

At hot cookie friday, I had a very positive experience! Everyone was welcoming and the atmosphere was busy and friendly. The hot cookies were actually real, there was milk, friends, socializing, and lots of sugar. It was amazing. And I got to hang out with friends, talk to Dr. Hickey, meet people who lived in Capstone, and just relax. The Study Shack was not at all what I had expected, because I thought it would have been less like someone's actual house and more like a big room with stuff on the walls and couches... but it was sort of cramped but a lot more cozy. People seemed happy to be there and I was glad I went because I got to eat cookies and socialize with my friends in a place that I had never been before! There was no pressure of school or money or anything like that, and it was nice to just be able to take things at whatever pace I chose; have a cookie, talk, walk over here, maybe another cookie, sit here, get some milk, whatever I want! It was totally worth going a second time, so I'm sad that I only went to one this semester.

Leadership

As a leader, I can be strong at times because I like to speak my mind. However, the crowd overwhich I am leading has a great influence over how strong I am as a leader because in my family, I usually take second seat to my older sister. In my friend group, I see us all as equals and we don't have a leader, so I'm not strong in that point either. However, if working in groups in class or something like that, I find that it's easy to help direct our thoughts to the final product. It's good to be able to be productive but not bossy or demanding, which I hope that I'm not... I aspire to make a difference at the University after my first semester by improving Carolina's sustainability and making sure that people recycle. This is very important to me because I like the environment and I want it to last and be pretty!

4th Lesson Plan

If the fourth lesson plan refers to mentoring, I hope that I'm excused! :)

Religion

Faith, religion, and spirituality to me are all very similar but are not the same. Religion is organized, faith is the belief in something higher, and spirituality is a feeling that someone is looking out for you or you have something to look forward to. Personally, I feel like I have a spiritual outlook as opposed to an organized religion. I consider myself Christian, but I don't read the Bible or go to church because I feel that a lot of things about organized and institutionalized religion have been corrupted over time. I think that USC has become known as s semi-religious school but it definitely doesn't force anything onto anyone. It gives people a lot of options and makes them feel comfortbale if they are surrounded by their faith or people who have similar beliefs.

Relationships

I have formed new relationships with friends, my roommate, my parents, and my teachers. I have gotten to know and connect with so many new people and I have made what I hope are lifelong friends (even though we all get on each other's nerves because we are so childish). My relationships with my friends and teachers are helping me succeed because without people to talk to to relieve some of my stress, I would probably never get anything accomplished. I enjoy the new relationship I have with my family because they are much more understanding and aware of my absence, and that makes them miss me. They know that when I come home, I want to spend time with them. Whereas when I lived at home, I was almost never there between school, work, and friends.

Study Abroad

I have considered studying abroad because if I get to go on the trip that I plan on going on over this coming summer to Australia, I may love it and decide to study there for an entire semester. The plan for that trip is to spend 2 weeks doing volunteer preservation work for the environment and endangered species there. Then, we spend 2 weeks doing adventure travel like white water rafting, rock climbing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and other amazing things that I have never done or had the opportunity to do in America, much less Australia! I think it's going to be ridiculously amazing and I am in the process of applying for a passport travel grant. I hope it's not too late for them to award them all... I forsee few to no barriers in this experience because I am open to the opportunity and very VERY excited about it!!!

Undergrad Research

I still don't have a student to mentor... but if I did have one I'm sure that by now, it would be going swimmingly. I have enjoyed this opportunity because it makes me feel like everyone else has priorities and people to tend to and I get to sit back and not do anything! haha only jokes. But honestly, by now I'm thinking I'm not going to hear from them any time soon, and if I do, it may not be immediately that I could meet with my student. I hope that this experience is not difficult or negative, I really would love to be able to help a student find their way around, or feel more comfortable at the campus. I would like to help them improve their English and learn more interesting things about America, as well as ask them things about their homes and customs.

Capstone Conversation

When the doctor (I actually forgot his name but I promise I was there!) came to visit Capstone, he talked about the importance of spreading knowledge and stopping gang violence. In his video, there was a man that had been shot by a gang member and couldn't move anymore or eat properly because of his gun wounds. He had to have a bag coming out of his side for his bowel movements and the kids that came in to see him (in attempt to reduce the kids' chance of joining gangs, the doctor brought them to see this victim) seemed deeply disturbed by what they saw. The man obviously proved to them that guns and violence are not to be trifled with, and they should stay away from them. All in all, the doctor's presentation made me feel squeamish and grossed out, but mostly like I want to help people stay away from violence and I want to spread knowledge and be able to help people. The problem of gangs is prominent and can be prevented easily with teaching and education.

Capstone cinema

Today we saw the Capstone Cinema called "Border Story." This film was sad and powerful because it focused on the problems of civil war between the Burmese army and Thailand. The people were suffering mass killings and torture, including the raping of women and girls. This thought is deeply disturbing because the civil war has been going on since the end of World War II, meaning that entire generations of people have literally seen nothing but war. They have never known peace and are forced to flee their homes. Several people watched their parents or loved ones literally get gunned down in front of their eyes. Others watched their homes and villages get burned to the ground for no reason. They feel hurt and angered at the Burmese government because this war is violent and excessive, and people need to know about it so that they can help. This film reminded me of the problems in Africa as well, and it's sad because there seems to be no end in sight for either problem..

Diversity

Prior to college I would define diversity as a group of people who come from different economic, ethnic, and social backgrounds that mix together without conflict. During my time at Carolina, my view has changed because I see that diversity isn't always obvious and it's not always forced. Most people get along well without realizing that their group of friends is very diverse. People come to college with no prior knowledge of where other people come from or their backgrounds, making it easier to make friends without judgements. I have experienced diversity because I have become friends with people that I potentially would never have gotten to know during high school or if I still lived in my hometown. I feel better for having a diverse group of friends and I appreciate getting to know people without thinking about their economic or ethnic differences. It has made things so much more fun!

ACE appointment

The ACE appointment was not exactly what I was expecting. They helped me realize that I need to improve on my study skills, which I knew, but they were also helpful on helping me realize what I was doing right. I go to the library pretty often, especially when I have a paper to write or notecards to do. We discussed motivation, procrastination, and study skills to improve on. The session was quick and easy, and I feel like I wouldn't need to go again unless I need to get tutored in math. I enjoyed the fact that the ACE appointment was easy to understand and they helped me to understand that I cannot procrastinate in college! It's not a good thing to do at all. I was also hoping to learn about increasing my motivation when it comes to studying. I can motivate myself all the time to go to the gym or get enough sleep or eat healthy foods but I can't seem to make myself study as much as I need to! But the ACE appointment was more helpful than I expected and I'm glad I went to it.

Week 8 Post 1

My major is currently biology but I hope to soon change it to Marine Science because I am more passionate about that specific science than biology in general, even though a biology major may open more doors for me. My dream is to work at Sea World, but if that is unattainable (which I hope it is attainable because it would be awesome!) then I would love to work at the Georgia Aquarium or a Conservation Center in Australia or some other really cool place. If money and education were not factors, I think I would spend the rest of my life doing something that made me really happy, like helping animals. I would like to help people too, but for some reason I feel more sympathy for animals because we damage their habitats and take from them. I think location is an important factor, and I would want to do something with the ocean animals, probably dolphins, whales, or turtles in the Bahamas or Fiji or some place amazing and beachy that I don't even know about. I really love the beach and the ocean and the animals in it and I hope to be able to accomplish what I want to accomplish with my Marine Science major. This summer I signed up for the ISV program of student volunteers and we're going to Australia to help the endangered animals there and hopefully that will help me feel affirmed in my major and I will get to experience marine life and the life of a Marine Biologist.

Midterm

My semester so far has been amazing! I love the campus, the atmosphere, the new friends, the freedom, the football, the opportunities, the involvement, the food, and everything else! Adjusting has been easy and fast; I felt at home within the first two weeks. Missing my family has been hard on me, but it is definitely a learning experience; I need to be on my own someday! What better way to start than going to a school out of state? I feel that a lot of things about the University of South Carolina have been helpful to me, from the ACE centers that are available, to the e-mail system for Capstone Scholars, the Blackboard site, and also my professors. I feel like it's very easy to stay in touch with what is going on at school and what assignments I need to complete, and that is very good for me! I think that I need to work on my study skills and make more friends. For now, those are my main goals and I think they will help me all throughout college!

Flatteners 1&2/ Service Learning

What does service learning mean to me? Well... by definition, service learning is the combination of a community service-type project with education. Mentoring the students at Hand Middle School is a great example of service learning because we as college students at USC need to fulfill our community service requirements, but at the same time it is also voluntary. We volunteer to help these kids (or, in my case, the foreign exchange kids) to help their transitions into middle school/ college. It's a beneficial thing to do, both on their side and on ours, because we get to know a stranger that we may have never come across and perhaps help them more than they could have imagined! Mentoring a student from another country could open my eyes to many different customs, languages, and ideas and could maybe even help me to make a new friend. This service learning project is very beneficial and helps to promote globalization as well, because we as individuals are closing the gap between countries. 

week 6 - safety

This wednesday, watching Jessica give us the safety presentation was very informative. The numbers for the Duck Shuttle and the non-emergency police were numbers that I had not previously recieved at USC. I hope to be able to avoid confrontations and the need for the safety boxes, but knowing that the USC police will respond immediately and come to my aid is a comforting thought. The advice of not being on the phone while walking to the car is new to me as well. I always thought that being on the phone and talking to someone would be a helpful deterrant to someone who could be following you, but I now know that this is not safe. I carry pepperspray, but knowing what I know now to stay safe makes me feel much more comfortable. I lock my door at all times when I'm not awake or in the room and hopefully this will keep my belongings safe as well!

Week 6 - student org.

This week, I attended the student organization for the Scuba Club in the Blatt Center. I'm not certified yet in Scuba diving, but attending was interesting. I don't think I will stay involved with this club because they don't seem to be very active, and I am not certified in Scuba diving... I thought that they would be able to teach me but that's not the case! I hope to find the minutes for the Lions Club, the club I am most interested in, on the USC website. However, I have not yet had the opportunity to attend a meeting! From a student organization, I hope to find something interesting that will help me get involved and stay involved. I really want to start a club (the Field Trip Club or the Vegetarian/Vegan Club!) and hopefully people will join me. I am really looking forward to getting involved at USC!

Week 5- Hand/professor

After your first visit at Hand what do you think this experience will be like? I think that this experience will be enriching with my foreign student .... and not a Hand Middle School student....
What do you hope to gain out of it? I hope to learn a lot about my student and help them to understand more of our language. Hopefully they will be able to adapt well!
How was your visit with your professor? It was calm, easy, and brief
What was something new you learned about your professor? She attended a mormon college in Utah and has been in college for 10 years (with a 2 year hiatus)
What advice would you give to someone who is about to visit with his or her professor? Don't be afraid; they want to help you and get to know you just as much as you want the help and attention! Also later they are more likely to help you if they know you are invested in helping yourself.

LASSI Scores

My LASSI scores showed that my highest score, and therefore the element that I need the least amount of work on is my anxiety levels. The lowest score, my motivation, shows that I need improvement. The fact that this blog is late shows that I need help motivating myself! I disagree on the attitude section because I believe that many people in our class that recieved negative feedback on their attitudes about school had very positive attitudes and were also very motivated and responsible. I hope to increase my motivation scores by planning out more precisely what I need to get accomplished. I have begun making to-do lists and they help me a bit.
Out of tutoring an international student, I hope to gain a better understanding of what it's like to feel out of place and to struggle with learning a new language. Hopefully, I will be able to show my compassionate side and become friends with the student, as well as maybe learn some of their language as well!

Week 3 blog (9/10)

How do you plan to get/stay organized at USC? I bought a whiteboard for my room, and I wrote down my schedule upon it, as well as my ever-changing to do list. It really helps me to stay organized and remember my priorities.
How do you manage your time? I put my health and happiness first, but always leave time to do my work. I always keep my workload on mind as I plan my night and make sure to get lots of rest!
What strategies have worked in the past? I never really studied in high school, but when I did flash cards and time alone helped a lot. Music can be distracting sometimes, but if I have no background music I space out and get bored, so background noise helps me focus.
What adjustments do you anticipate making during college? I anticipate trying to manage my time more effectively and prepare for harder work.
Describe your past service experience? I had to volunteer at a church one time for a ticket I received in a minor fender-bender.. It wasn't too bad!
Why did you choose to volunteer? I don't mind volunteering, but that time it was mandatory. Are there any significant issues or areas you are passionate about? I am passionate about animals and cancer research. I always donate to those causes.
Has any of your service been connected to a course? No

U101 first blog (9/4)

What’s your story? Well, I was born in Winston Salem, NC and moved to GA when i was five years old. I have only moved one other time, and it was to a house around the block. I have two sisters, Sarah and Rachel, and three cats and two dogs. My parents names are Rob and Jane and we are all pretty weird. I attend USC now and saw my first Carolina football game on tv last night! woot woot
What did you expect USC to be like? I expected it to be overwhelming and intimidating with hard classes and scary teachers.. and a crazy workload.
What do you think of USC during your first few weeks? I really love getting to meet so many people! Everyone is trying to make new friends, and it's a lot easier since there are no cliques.
How is the Carolinian Creed relevant to your life as a student? It helps me to remember not to judge people

What were your overall impressions of the Student Organization Fair? It was chaotic! Even though there was so much going on, I really felt like it was easy to find the things I wanted to join, as well as learn about new organizations. I also loved all the free stuff
What were 2 organizations you would potentially join? Lions club, SEAS
What are your hobbies/interests? I am interested in marine science and I don't really have any hobbies.. except hanging out with people!