Being Different Is Okay!

They ask you as a Hixson scholar to attend one diversity event during the semester, and to reflect on this. I attended a diversity event at the beginning of the school year, now to ask me what it was called, can't remember. They started off with a skit about hate, and about the differences you'd see at college. It featured different races and gender issues, and asked for crowd input. This allowed us to get involved and put ourselves in the situation of those people. The presenters asked us different questions such as "How would you react in this situation?". The second was based more on sexual identity. Coming to a big university from such a small town really opened my eyes as to what I would be experiencing the next four years. I understood that there would be diversity coming to Ames, especially because I came from a school with all heterosexual, white teens. I was excited to come here and find out what it was like to know other people. This diversity event allowed me to take more out of the experiences I would face over these next few college years, and then be able to make the best of some situations.

Twitter..Where Do I Even Begin?

Well well well, I have just signed up for Twitter...this was one thing I had vowed never to do. I think the only reason I didn't want Twitter to begin with was just because it was a "fad", but then again, look at Facebook! I guess just because I have a Facebook account I didn't find it necessary to open another social media network, what was the point to say the same thing to the same people multiple times in multiple places? My point is, there's a lot of creepy people in this world and the less people that found me would be beneficial. On the other hand, now many people (such as business groups) are becoming more technology friendly and are opening Facebook and Twitter accounts. This could find me a job eventually, but now I also have to maintain another social media network. The number of passwords I own is completely ridiculous. Understand, I won't use the same password for more than one site, because that's just plain common sense. Twitter does not seem too appealing to me after this long week. I find it stupid to log on to a site where I can't use more than 100 characters, and only post a status that has to be "socially appealing". The definition of "socially appealing" can be panned out into many different perceptions. My thought on that, if you don't like it, don't read it. Don't let me be the Negative Nancy to your day.

Being the Best Me I Can Be

So, as most of you know, I'm an Agriculture Education major. The events getting me launched into this career path I would have to say, were by far the best way to prepare me for what I'm getting myself into now. I was actively involved with the FFA, which is the main reason I want to be an Agriculture teacher. Being actively involved maybe had an input on how I ended up spending my time...which was mainly at school or school activities. I was on several committees and officer positions (as well as being my advisor's work horse), that needed equal attention, and well as we know I still don't have the greatest time management skills, I feel I do some of my best work under pressure. This is going to definitely prepare me for life as that crazy teacher who has a bunch of kids talking to them, the phone ringing off the hook, and emails piling up in their inbox. If I could just get a handle on the whole time thing.
Now, why did I feel being super stressed in high school would prepare me for this thing we call college? Im going to have to choose door number 3 and go with, because it's stressful as well! I'm noticing that I do a lot of reading now compared to what I did in highschool (which is partially why my time management sucks). I have had to re-learn how to study, which still hasn't clicked yet in my brain; but we're giving it some time. Being a part of so many activities has made me slow down, assess the situation, and then kind of decide what to do with that information.
I feel that the flexibility I've gained through my work with the FFA will allow me to keep striving for that better time management I desire so much. I mean they say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but I'm not old yet! In the long run, I think that this semester of college will end up preparing me for the next 4 years, and then eventually my future career. It's a win-win situation.

2014...Socially into the Loop or Out of It?

While reading the Mindset List, I found many points made in the article to be falsifying. The author assumes because the class of 2014 grew up in a technological era, they don't know the basics of "real world" living.
As a matter of fact, I grew up writing in cursive because our school system required us in elementary school to write in cursive. I continue to use snail mail (well not as much anymore now that I'm in college) to get things out. I will however, agree that we do spend a vast majority of our time based around technology. As I write this blog in fact, I'm torked that Facebook isn't up and running!!!! I think that scientists don't credit society enough, just because a lot of the mindsets on the lists I can relate to. I knew what Beevis and Butthead were, I remember things that were on the list. So what does that mean? Does anybody else remember this???? Of course technology will continue to better itself everyday, I mean that's why people have jobs in that area.
 I think that generations to come will not understand what any of the things on the mindset list are, but then again some of them will never experience the stuff we did growing up. But as I figure, there will be some things they know about, that we won't when we're old (well most of us anyway). It's all about the era you grow up in! Someday, the oldies music will be the stuff we listen to now...anybody remember the days when the Backstreet Boys were a big deal? Now if you hear it on the radio it makes you feel old am I not right?
Because the rate of technology advancing is so high, we realize nothing stays the same for long. We look to the near future and realize there will always be something new to learn, or a new gadget to buy. But will we forget what we learn in the past? Most likely not I'd assume. The saying "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" just popped into my head. Completely understanding this terminology now! I tried teaching my grandma how to use a cell phone once...complete epic failure! But she knows how to excel in the things she already knows how to do.
I feel that because older people can make assumptions about the generation today, aka our class, some people will go along with the act. However, maybe sometimes what they think isn't always right.