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.