It is amazing the impact that social media has on our world (I say this with Facebook and Twitter tabs up on my Firefox). As most people know, especially my boyfriend, I am a Twitter addict. I follow over 300 people/companies/products/whatever, and am constantly checking my feed. Though some people may find this as some meaningless way to waste time, I have used Twitter often to connect with professionals in the field of student affairs, which I plan to pursue after graduation in the spring.
I follow many student affairs professionals online as well as higher education news sources and blogs. This has taught me a lot about the profession and given me some insight into situations I will hopefully be dealing with in the future. It has really been a learning tool.
Twitter I feel has become a new sort of news source. The first time I heard about a lot of breaking news, such as Steve Jobs passing or Osama Bin Laden's capture, I immediately pull out my phone and get on Twitter. I follow so many local and national news sources, such as the Daily, DSM Register, USA Today, CNN, Breaking News, the list goes on and on, it makes it so convenient to keep up with current events that I probably wouldn't know because it wasn't directly handed to me via Twitter feed.
I know a lot of people who have an aversion to getting Twitter, but I feel like it is one of the most beneficial ways a college student can stay up to date, connect with others and network in today's society.
Monday, October 24
Sunday, October 16
Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way
I have decided to read the book "Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way" to gain some inspiration on female leadership. I am so far impressed with the book and how it is laid out. It is a biography of Ms. Roosevelt and how those events in her life shaped her leadership style and how one can let the events in their life affect their leadership style as well. Each chapter is a different topic about leadership, such as "Find Mentors and Advisers", "Find Your Leadership Passion", and "Never Stop Learning", and how Mrs. Roosevelt did all of these things throughout her life in her quest to become one of the greatest female leaders of our time.
I chose this book because I wanted to read something about female leaders and I really admire Mrs. Roosevelt and thought there would be no one better to learn from when it comes to leadership. So far that has certainly been the case. From the first chapter, the author tells the reader of all the personal struggles Mrs. Roosevelt went through as a child (a bad relationship with her mother, orphaned by age 10, sent abroad to boarding school, etc.) and how she let these events advance her life, not hold her back. I think she is a really amazing woman and I can't wait to see what else the book can teach me and how I can use her tips to improve my leadership as well.
-Chels
I chose this book because I wanted to read something about female leaders and I really admire Mrs. Roosevelt and thought there would be no one better to learn from when it comes to leadership. So far that has certainly been the case. From the first chapter, the author tells the reader of all the personal struggles Mrs. Roosevelt went through as a child (a bad relationship with her mother, orphaned by age 10, sent abroad to boarding school, etc.) and how she let these events advance her life, not hold her back. I think she is a really amazing woman and I can't wait to see what else the book can teach me and how I can use her tips to improve my leadership as well.
-Chels
Sunday, September 25
MBTI
Going over our MBTI results is always something I look forward to in Hixson. It must be the psychology nerd in me. Getting the detailed report last spring was really exciting because it gave me a lot more insight into my preferences and tendencies than the previous reports. I enjoyed how each category was broken down even further and how it showed that sometimes we do things that do not totally fit into our normal preferences.
I think what I learned the most about myself this time around through MBTI is how I have evolved throughout my college career and how my preferences have become more set than they were as a freshman. My preference for being pressure-prompted I think started out from not having to work very hard at school work in high school and being able to easily put something off until last minute and still pull it off. But I think over my college career it has morphed into being my most productive time because my distractions are limited and my head is more in the game than before.
I also have realized that even though I have a tendency to act in certain ways, that doesn't mean I always do things in these ways. As an ENFP, some of my tendencies are said to be not paying attention to details or being late, but these actually rarely describe me. I am almost never late because I think it is rude and impolite to others, and I pay a lot of attention to details to make sure I have done everything properly and to minimize issues that may occur by not thinking about the details of the situation.
All in all, MBTI continues to teach me about myself and helps me discover how to make my preferences work for me.
I think what I learned the most about myself this time around through MBTI is how I have evolved throughout my college career and how my preferences have become more set than they were as a freshman. My preference for being pressure-prompted I think started out from not having to work very hard at school work in high school and being able to easily put something off until last minute and still pull it off. But I think over my college career it has morphed into being my most productive time because my distractions are limited and my head is more in the game than before.
I also have realized that even though I have a tendency to act in certain ways, that doesn't mean I always do things in these ways. As an ENFP, some of my tendencies are said to be not paying attention to details or being late, but these actually rarely describe me. I am almost never late because I think it is rude and impolite to others, and I pay a lot of attention to details to make sure I have done everything properly and to minimize issues that may occur by not thinking about the details of the situation.
All in all, MBTI continues to teach me about myself and helps me discover how to make my preferences work for me.
Monday, September 19
Bucket List
So back my freshman year I had to make a bucket list as well. Looking back at this list now is pretty comical. Since I wrote this list I have accomplished a few of the things on the list (some multiple times), others I definitely haven't. A few aren't even something really that important to me anymore, and others I'm glad I was reminded of because I really do want to do them and time is counting down! Eek!
1. Be on the Dean’s List, preferably multiple times. (Every semester so far :D )
2. Learn a new language. (Spanish 97, blegh)
3. Go Campaniling. (um... check)
4. Do 250 hours of community service in one full calendar year. (um yea about that...)
5. Sell my plasma. (I've made so much money from doing this it's ridiculous)
6. Sit front row at a football and a men’s basketball game. (Neither. Turns out the upper deck for football is the best place to see everything)
7. Study abroad for at least one semester. (Sadly no, too poor. But I definitely encourage everyone to try this if they can!)
8. Build a snowman on Central Campus. (OMG I WANNA DO THIS!)
9. Be involved in choir for all four years. (Just freshman year. It wasn't that fun. lol. Singing for me is now confined to my car/shower.)
10. Become the chairperson for something in my sorority. (I held a position for a year, but quickly realized my calling was serving the campus somewhere else. Hello Hixson program!)
Remember this list to look back on when you are a senior. It will really teach you how far you have come throughout college and how much you grow in the 4 years you spend here at wonderful Iowa State!
-Chels
1. Be on the Dean’s List, preferably multiple times. (Every semester so far :D )
2. Learn a new language. (Spanish 97, blegh)
3. Go Campaniling. (um... check)
4. Do 250 hours of community service in one full calendar year. (um yea about that...)
5. Sell my plasma. (I've made so much money from doing this it's ridiculous)
6. Sit front row at a football and a men’s basketball game. (Neither. Turns out the upper deck for football is the best place to see everything)
7. Study abroad for at least one semester. (Sadly no, too poor. But I definitely encourage everyone to try this if they can!)
8. Build a snowman on Central Campus. (OMG I WANNA DO THIS!)
9. Be involved in choir for all four years. (Just freshman year. It wasn't that fun. lol. Singing for me is now confined to my car/shower.)
10. Become the chairperson for something in my sorority. (I held a position for a year, but quickly realized my calling was serving the campus somewhere else. Hello Hixson program!)
Remember this list to look back on when you are a senior. It will really teach you how far you have come throughout college and how much you grow in the 4 years you spend here at wonderful Iowa State!
-Chels
Tuesday, September 6
My own self, at my very best, all the time
This summer I had the awesome opportunity to attend the Wakonse Undergraduate Conference in conjunction with the Wakonse Conference on College Teaching in Shelby, Michigan from May 25-30. I was nominated to attend last winter through Iowa State Learning Communities and the Hixson program, and a month after I submitted my application I found out I was one of 5 Iowa State undergrads selected to attend.
Wakonse is a much different conference than one most faculty members attend. It is not at a hotel or in a big city, but instead at Camp Miniwanca, an American Youth Foundation summer camp set on the coast of Lake Michigan. The only way I could fully describe it to people who weren't there was "the summer camp from The Parent Trap". It was absolutely beautiful, full of trees, secluded areas to gather your thoughts, and lots and lots of sand. There was basically zero cell phone reception at the camp, so we were all fully removed from technology. As someone who is not particularly outdoorsy, it was amazing to be able to connect to nature and to those around me without even having the option to check Twitter or see who texted me.
I spent this week learning about myself on a deeper level and thinking about my future and what I really want to do and who I really want around me while I do it. I thought about my attitude toward different situations and how I am as a leader. I had many “Ah Ha!” moments as we called them, where I came to realizations about the importance of learning versus getting a good grade, or that the assignments my professors had me do in the past were actually worthwhile to my education even though I might not have been able to realize it back then. I laughed harder than I ever thought I could with people I barely knew, and made memories and connections with people from all over the country who had so many similarities and differences with each other. Best of all I challenged myself every day to do something I had never done, like canoeing, participating in a high ropes course, and having a one-on-one lunch with a faculty member who I had only briefly met.
At Wakonse, we lived by the motto “My own self, at my very best, all the time”. Since returning home from that life altering and inspiring week I spent on the shores of Lake Michigan, I try to remind myself of that motto as often as I can. That week at Wakonse I was 100% at my best. I did things that I knew were important for me to do, no matter how silly or pointless or lame some people back here might think they were. I connected on a deep level with people that without this conference I would have never had the pleasure of knowing, some of whom inspired me to try even harder than I thought was my best, and challenged me to realize my great leadership ability and that I deserve to be confident in that ability. That week and those people taught me so much more than I could have ever anticipated going into it, and without them I don’t think I could ever truly be “my best”.
-Chels, or more commonly known by my Wakonse fellows Chelsaaaay :D
Wakonse is a much different conference than one most faculty members attend. It is not at a hotel or in a big city, but instead at Camp Miniwanca, an American Youth Foundation summer camp set on the coast of Lake Michigan. The only way I could fully describe it to people who weren't there was "the summer camp from The Parent Trap". It was absolutely beautiful, full of trees, secluded areas to gather your thoughts, and lots and lots of sand. There was basically zero cell phone reception at the camp, so we were all fully removed from technology. As someone who is not particularly outdoorsy, it was amazing to be able to connect to nature and to those around me without even having the option to check Twitter or see who texted me.
I spent this week learning about myself on a deeper level and thinking about my future and what I really want to do and who I really want around me while I do it. I thought about my attitude toward different situations and how I am as a leader. I had many “Ah Ha!” moments as we called them, where I came to realizations about the importance of learning versus getting a good grade, or that the assignments my professors had me do in the past were actually worthwhile to my education even though I might not have been able to realize it back then. I laughed harder than I ever thought I could with people I barely knew, and made memories and connections with people from all over the country who had so many similarities and differences with each other. Best of all I challenged myself every day to do something I had never done, like canoeing, participating in a high ropes course, and having a one-on-one lunch with a faculty member who I had only briefly met.
At Wakonse, we lived by the motto “My own self, at my very best, all the time”. Since returning home from that life altering and inspiring week I spent on the shores of Lake Michigan, I try to remind myself of that motto as often as I can. That week at Wakonse I was 100% at my best. I did things that I knew were important for me to do, no matter how silly or pointless or lame some people back here might think they were. I connected on a deep level with people that without this conference I would have never had the pleasure of knowing, some of whom inspired me to try even harder than I thought was my best, and challenged me to realize my great leadership ability and that I deserve to be confident in that ability. That week and those people taught me so much more than I could have ever anticipated going into it, and without them I don’t think I could ever truly be “my best”.
-Chels, or more commonly known by my Wakonse fellows Chelsaaaay :D
Sunday, April 10
Gooooooooooal(s)! -Wayne Gretzky
Hey guys!
VEISHEA week is upon us! Too bad I have 2 tests, 3 papers, quizzes, group projects, digital storytellings, and a portfolio all by Thursday. GREAT. Alright enough ranting. On to my goals.
My main goal I wanted to focus on was connecting with my students on a deeper level than I did last year. I knew a lot about each of them and still am in contact with a lot of them, but I felt like I could have done more outside of class to make a difference in their lives.
When my co-leader Taylor and I did our one-on-ones last semester we just got all our students together to watch Toy Story 3 (which was the movie for their digital storytelling) and just pulled them out one by one to talk to them and see if there was anything going on with them that they hadn't informed us about. It was surprising to see how fast all the students opened up about really important issues with their family, friends, roommates, grades, and more. All of this did not come out until about midway through October, or halfway through the semester. I was glad all of my students could open up to me like they did, but it upset me to know they were dealing with all of these problems for so long and hadn't told anyone.
I think back on this day when I think about how I want to improve my mentoring skills in the fall. If I had connected on a deeper level sooner than I had, they wouldn't have had to experience these problems for such an extended amount of time. Last fall I had classes right before and right after my recitation and I would really like to make sure that doesn't happen this coming fall. It was more difficult for me to get to know my students when I was rushing in and out of recitation which is a time where I should be focused solely on them. Even just talking to your students before and after class if you both have time can greatly improve your relationships with them, which is something I really want to do this fall.
It should be a mentoring goal of every one of us to make class a worthwhile time for our students. Creating an experience where they can learn and still have fun and enjoy themselves is so important in what we do. This is something I tried to do every week last fall, and even recently I heard from a friend of a former student that "she hated coming to class!" Not only was a shocked but I was personally hurt. Making that class enjoyable was something I thought about every week when I would create a lesson plan and to know that even one of my students hated my class was painful to hear. Keep in mind that while you make think you have reached a goal, there is always room for improvement. I know not everyone of my students will enjoy every class I teach, but I'll keep striving for that as long as I'm still mentoring!
-Chels
VEISHEA week is upon us! Too bad I have 2 tests, 3 papers, quizzes, group projects, digital storytellings, and a portfolio all by Thursday. GREAT. Alright enough ranting. On to my goals.
My main goal I wanted to focus on was connecting with my students on a deeper level than I did last year. I knew a lot about each of them and still am in contact with a lot of them, but I felt like I could have done more outside of class to make a difference in their lives.
When my co-leader Taylor and I did our one-on-ones last semester we just got all our students together to watch Toy Story 3 (which was the movie for their digital storytelling) and just pulled them out one by one to talk to them and see if there was anything going on with them that they hadn't informed us about. It was surprising to see how fast all the students opened up about really important issues with their family, friends, roommates, grades, and more. All of this did not come out until about midway through October, or halfway through the semester. I was glad all of my students could open up to me like they did, but it upset me to know they were dealing with all of these problems for so long and hadn't told anyone.
I think back on this day when I think about how I want to improve my mentoring skills in the fall. If I had connected on a deeper level sooner than I had, they wouldn't have had to experience these problems for such an extended amount of time. Last fall I had classes right before and right after my recitation and I would really like to make sure that doesn't happen this coming fall. It was more difficult for me to get to know my students when I was rushing in and out of recitation which is a time where I should be focused solely on them. Even just talking to your students before and after class if you both have time can greatly improve your relationships with them, which is something I really want to do this fall.
It should be a mentoring goal of every one of us to make class a worthwhile time for our students. Creating an experience where they can learn and still have fun and enjoy themselves is so important in what we do. This is something I tried to do every week last fall, and even recently I heard from a friend of a former student that "she hated coming to class!" Not only was a shocked but I was personally hurt. Making that class enjoyable was something I thought about every week when I would create a lesson plan and to know that even one of my students hated my class was painful to hear. Keep in mind that while you make think you have reached a goal, there is always room for improvement. I know not everyone of my students will enjoy every class I teach, but I'll keep striving for that as long as I'm still mentoring!
-Chels
Tuesday, March 29
Making Poverty History
Sorry for skipping out on class a little early today, but it was for a good cause!
Kelly and I attended "Making Poverty History" which was given by Scott Lacy, Ph.D. the executive director of African Sky, a non-profit working to end inequality and extreme poverty in Mali, a country in West Africa.
Dr. Lacy did a great job presenting on this topic. He gave a lot of facts and statistics and then backed them up with personal stories of his experiences over the past 16 years helping in Mali.
He started off talking about how fighting poverty is the biggest social movement in the world. The UN also created the Millennium Development Goals which include ending poverty and hunger, universal education, child healthcare, combating HIV/AIDS and many more. There goal is to halve poverty by 2015 and end poverty in our lifetime which is a HUGE goal. Dr. Lacy said that the World Bank estimated that halving poverty in the next 5 years would cost $20 billion. That sounded like a lot until I learned that $1.3 TRILLION is spent a year on global military. Seems like ending poverty could be a little easier than we originally thought huh?
Dr. Lacy told many great stories about what he has done in Mali. He has a "teach them to fish" philosophy, where he will initially front groups a small amount of money when they have an idea to start a project, like making and selling peanut butter or soap, or holding literacy classes for women in their village, and then let them go with their idea and work for themselves. These projects tend to work out incredibly well because people can work for themselves and see their hard work thrive. He also said being grateful and accepting thanks from those he helps builds their self esteem and puts them on a peer level, instead of making them feel like a charity case.
Overall I really enjoyed his presentation and anecdotes about his hard work. People like Dr. Lacy are incredibly inspiring to me. If only I could be as good of a person as people like him are. Its something to strive towards.
Kelly and I attended "Making Poverty History" which was given by Scott Lacy, Ph.D. the executive director of African Sky, a non-profit working to end inequality and extreme poverty in Mali, a country in West Africa.
Dr. Lacy did a great job presenting on this topic. He gave a lot of facts and statistics and then backed them up with personal stories of his experiences over the past 16 years helping in Mali.
He started off talking about how fighting poverty is the biggest social movement in the world. The UN also created the Millennium Development Goals which include ending poverty and hunger, universal education, child healthcare, combating HIV/AIDS and many more. There goal is to halve poverty by 2015 and end poverty in our lifetime which is a HUGE goal. Dr. Lacy said that the World Bank estimated that halving poverty in the next 5 years would cost $20 billion. That sounded like a lot until I learned that $1.3 TRILLION is spent a year on global military. Seems like ending poverty could be a little easier than we originally thought huh?
Dr. Lacy told many great stories about what he has done in Mali. He has a "teach them to fish" philosophy, where he will initially front groups a small amount of money when they have an idea to start a project, like making and selling peanut butter or soap, or holding literacy classes for women in their village, and then let them go with their idea and work for themselves. These projects tend to work out incredibly well because people can work for themselves and see their hard work thrive. He also said being grateful and accepting thanks from those he helps builds their self esteem and puts them on a peer level, instead of making them feel like a charity case.
Overall I really enjoyed his presentation and anecdotes about his hard work. People like Dr. Lacy are incredibly inspiring to me. If only I could be as good of a person as people like him are. Its something to strive towards.
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