Week 14: What's on Your Mind

We were asked this week, "what's on your mind?" good question, as a slight ADD and a type 7 on the enneagram my mind is always buzzing. Whether I like it or not. If it ever looks like I'm not paying attention I probably am but I am also thinking about Human Biology and singing the theme song of "The Office".  Overall my mind is always full.

Yet what is on my mind NOW. At this moment its reflection, reflecting on everything that has happened this semester. The good, the bad, the wonderful, and the ugly. I think back to my first week and move in day. I remember my parents leaving at that awful meeting. My first RA meeting as I sat curled in a little ball just wanting to go home. I stayed and thank the Lord I did.





If you sat me down 14 short weeks ago and told me that college was like this, I would laugh. It is so much better, so much stranger, a little more painful, but oh so rewarding. If you told me I would join the equestrian team I would've laughed, that to me was just a far-off dream of a child. Yet there is where I found my big and one of my best friends.

I think if someone told me my fate of rush I wouldn't have bothered doing it. I sit here now with an AOII hat on feeling proud to be chosen to be with a group of amazing girls. I would've missed out on so much, like staying up till midnight with my big watching the Polar Express, laughing the whole time, and trying to bounce whip cream off our hands and catching it in our mouths. I wouldn't have gotten into Step Sing and the dance break, which I still can hardly believe.



If I hadn't come to Samford I wouldn't have felt turmoil with people and struggled with certain things. But if I hadn't come to Samford wouldn't have learned to trust fully in the Lord and his plan. I wouldn't have gotten into the habit of reading my Bible each and every day and praying whenever stress came my way. If I hadn't come to Samford my life wouldn't be amazing.

Most of that may not make much sense but hey my mind is kinda weird!

Week 13

This week we were asked what healthy habits we have, which healthy habits do you hope to have one day, and what does, "hope is not a strategy" mean?


Some healthy habits I have are, exercising, eat healthy, reading, and give myself time to recharge. They are necessarily all about physical health but more mental health. 



I love to run or ride horses they are both very different because one helps with cardio and the other strength training. Running helps me gain stamina for equestrian and riding helps me get muscles for running.  This and eating healthy(most of the time) help me stay fit for my sport and life.

Reading is a good way for me to stay intellectually healthy. I love to read so it has never been a challenge for me to do so. Reading Harry Potter is a great way to end the night.

Giving myself recharging time is either through reading my Bible every morning or just sitting alone for a little why. It helps me a lot when I am in a stressful time.

In the future, I really need to have a  solid scdhuele for all of these plans, it is hard to stick to one. I can be a bit flighty and distracted!

Saying "hope is not a strategy" just simply means to put things in practice and not sit and hope for change. This is a hard lesson to learn but once achieved it helps in life.

Week 11: Being a Friend

This week we asked out of 13 characteristics of friendship we possessed. I believe I have the following qualities some strengths and some weaknesses:

Strengths:


-I am loyal to the people I care about:

I am very loyal, as a person you can attack me and make fun of me and I usually will just hold me ground and walk away. Yet if you attack my friend I will not stand for it and turn pretty offensive(appropriately of course).

-I experience and express empathy for others:

I love expressing emotions, I love emotions because they show a person's true nature. I enjoy just letting people vent to me or laugh with me because I feel their pain or joy.

-I am good listener:
This goes with empathy one, listening to other people bring me joy. As a person I want to know what is going in your life.

-I am there in the good/bad times:

With listening I also am willing to always just be there, any friend of mine deserves it.

-I am usually able to see the humor in life:

I love to laugh, so watching The Office for the 10th time is always a good idea. For me making others laugh makes me happy.

Weaknesses:

-I am honest with others:

It can be hard for me to to hurt people, being a southern girl I am a big people pleaser. Telling someone bad news is hard for me.

-I am easily able to trust others:

Though I am loyal it takes a while for me to warm up to you. Of course I will be nice but before I deeply care about you it takes a little time.

-I am self confident:

I have a nice little anxiety bug that likes to criticize everything I do. Lately I have got in under-control but I really feel like I missed out on some great friendships because I let it get the best of me.

Week 10 Spiritual Life at Samford

I am a strong Christian so of course having a good  Jesus community at college was extremely important. So far I have enjoyed convo, going to a dgroup, and am running for Chaplin of AOII.

Convo has been very good, I try to go as much as possible but my scheduled classes are pretty intense so a lot of my time is still spent in the Library. Convo is a good time for me to reflect.

I go to a dgroup every Monday night. It is lead by a Samford grad and few freshman girls. I have made some ever lasting friends through that as well!!

I am also running for Chaplin of AOII. The competition is fierce but I think I am ready.

Overall the spiritual life at Samford has exceeded my expectations.

What do I Think it Means to Educated?

Being educated to me means a few things. These are truly my ideas and I could be totally off but from my experience this is what it means to be educated.

First I want to say it is different from smart. Being educated you can act well in all situation the best and most logical way. Not simply knowing who was the first Queen of England(Queen Mary I).

Second off it means basic courtesy for a human. Willing to acknowledge they are not the only person on the planet and helping others to teach others how to act. Having that social awareness displays emotional smarts which is needed in this world.

Third, being able to hold a conversation or arguement. In our world today many people fail in this arena, due to the constant state of social media we are in. I know it is so much easier to send a text with someone then sit down with them and engage in a conversation. An educated person will be willing to talk someone wether they agree with their thoughts or not.

Finally having logical smarts is a good sign. They may not know the answer but they usually figure it out. They use their educated brains to make a very educated guess.

Overall this is what I believe makes an educated person.

Week 7 in Test Heaven

So far we have been asked a lot of questions about our lives, financial things, and now academically! I can't lie and tell you everything has been perfect, full of straight A's and sunshine. It has been hard and grueling work but I am proud.

Are first question was, "How are you doing academically"? I answered it basically above but I can eloborate. I spend most of my day in the library studying everything I learned that day. It is not that bad, the third floor is a great place to feel motiviated to work. I am really shaping my study habits to help me get the best grades I have. I used the charts for Human Biology and it really helped me on the test! I feel like overall I am doing pretty well and I am proud of where I am as of now.

Next question was, "Are you getting the grades that you were expecting"? I'd have to say yes and no. I have all As and one C(which I am not proud of). I didn't expect the C, I have always been a pretty good student and thank one surprised me, I know I can bring it up, I just need to work a hard for this next test.

3rd question was about our dream class or semester. Class would probably be a drama class or an equestrian class(which I know they do not have so I will stick with drama). Drama is really my strong suit and I enjoy getting up in front of people and performing. I hope to take it as an elective later in college.

My last question was about my advisor and what I would ask her. I really want to know if I am able to study abroad. I love traveling but I am crazy in-love with London. A jan-term there would be a dream come true. Though the weather here has matched Londons pretty well this week so I get a little piece of it.

Overall, college is hard but I am always ready for a challenge.

Studying

This week we were asked:

"Do you think you have good study habits? Would your study habits work well for other students?  If not, what do you plan to do about it?"

I would have to say my study habits are good but they are still being shaped to how I like. At the beginning I was quizlet crazy but when I walked into my first test I freaked out and forgot most of the knowledge I had worked so hard on. I barely got a B which I was upset about. Now, I really use those flow charts in class we were given as well as teaching my notes to an "imaginary class". 

I learn all of notes and then make a flow chart based off it, study for 45 minutes and take a 15 minute break doing nothing and not touching my phone, then I attempt to fill in all the blanks of my flow chart, finally I teach it after studying for about 15 more minutes.  It is very tailored to my style of learning so I am sure another student could use it but would have to tweak it to their learning style. 

For example, I showed my friend my flow chart and she looked at it and was so confused she said, "What is that? Looks like you threw up Human Biology on a page". I told her how I learned it and she quizzed me and I was able to get all the questions right. She basically reviews everything by acting it out and then writing it down so not my style at all, I hate hand writing things. 

I also am starting to make a daily schedule, a min. of 4 hours of studying in the library and making sure I get breaks. It may seem like a lot but most of my classes are brutal. I do hope they get easier, which they won't but I know I will become more accustomed to them over time. 

Overall I think my study habits are really over trial and error which is hard but it doesn't mean I am not gonna succeed. 

Week 5 and Still Alive

This week was crazy!! Not much interesting happened but I studied a ton! It was a week that all the teachers believed lots of hw and tests was what we needed. In Highschool I was convinced all the teachers got together and decided that this one week was where all the test, projects, homework, and busy work was piled on the students to watch them and see how they react. I think there are too many Professors here to do that but you never know.....(lol).

I had a tough test in math but it helped me now know what to expect and be better next time. Math is really hard but I am able to teach myself anything as long as I don't get distracted, which is quite easy for me.

This weekend I went home to see my little sister compete in a gymnastic competition. She is super good and so fun to watch. There is much time in between her events so I got some good studying, which was nice to be with my fam but gets lots of human bio stuffed in my brain!

Overall, Camryn, my sister did amazing! She is 11 and loves every second of gymnastic. She got all nines in Bar, Beam, and Floor and an eight in Vault. The judges were very difficult and most girls were getting sevens and eights. She is so incredible at it, I do not understand how she is so focused and precise. I was a gymnast once but I was not a fan of tough love. Horses though can be just as stubborn as gymnastic coaches though. I told her that and she laughed.

Knowing that Fall break is coming up really helped me take a deep breathe in and out and get ready for what is too come!!

Really the community around me has been amazing! Everybody is very willing to help which is nice since I get lost easily and look a bit like a chicken with it's head cut off! Enhancing Samford to me right now is being helpful or being the reason someone laughs or smiles that day. If I can, I will try to always go out of my way to help someone in need and I try to smile at everyone I see, even if I look a bit goofy! I think those little moments in the day when others smile back makes my day so much better. If everyone smiles at least one person a day then imagine how happy Samford would be!

My biggest resource has been the gym. I love running, but with it being 1,000 degrees outside I prefer just workout indoors. A place for me to let off my anxiety of the day is perfect. I promise myself that whenever I walk in I do not think of anything school, social, stressful things, etc. I always feel like when I walk in there it is just me and God and I love to run and listen to what he has to say to me. I may be sweating buckets but it is so calming.

A very Interesting Pathfinder

In Foundation's class we took a quiz to figure out our "financial identities".  The options were Tenderfoot, Pathfinder, Trooper, and Nomad. I was interested when I got the results saying I was a pathfinder.

At first glance I was a bit confused but once I read over the description it fit me very well. This is what it said, "You are actively engaged in learning about financial matters. You seek information from multiple sources and explore different approaches to managing your finances. You think before making financial choices and are flexible when it comes to making decisions. However, when you make a financial decision, you are committed to that choice. You take initiative to figure out responsible money management skills on your own." 

Wow lots of words right! Honestly, it really described me well as a person.  I love learning how to do things several different ways but once I find one I love, I stick with it!!

Some questions I was asked to answer were these:

1. What are the pros and cons of this decision? Is there a more efficient or effective way way to achieve my goal?
2. How could I be doing more to invest in my future?
3. Should I talk to a financial professional before making this decision?
4. How could I be doing more to reach my short-and long-term goals?
5. What adjustments could I make to my budget to reach my goals faster?

Number 1, pros and cons are lists are my favorite things ever!! When I went through rush every night I would sit down and make a long pros and cons list about all my choices, it helped calm me a bit in such a tough situation. I think looking at more effective and efficient ways to do things is important for me. I may get stuck on one of doing things and maybe there is a better way to do them.

Number 2,  investing in my future is a big deal for me. My college may be 6-8 years depending on if/when I get more doctorate. It will be a steep climb but one worth while. Maybe setting aside more of my money would help me get prepared to save up for those expensive college bills! 

Number 3, talking to a professional is always a good idea. Come on, they know what they are talking about(no matter how crazy they may see). Consulting a financial professional before I dive into something would really help me.

Number 4, this one kinda ties into number 2. Long term budgeting and watching how much I spend. Short term making I spend less money then I get and buy only needs and not wants. I am a very goal oriented person I so understand well how short term and long term goals work!

Finally number 5, also ties into number 2! If I really put just a little bit more effort into budgeting it would really help me in the long run. It sounds a bit clique but hey it is gonna work for the best, right?

Overall this budgeting quiz gave me some great insights on how to spend/save my money in a way that works for me!

Third week and the Three Visitors

Week Three was awesome and I can hardly believe that we are already at this point in school. It may seem silly to say that so soon but honestly I felt like I have climbed Mount Everest to get here!

Normally I would take you through my week day by day but last week was a bit dry until the weekend. I will give you a short summary of my week and then go onto the fun stuff!

Monday was well Monday, it was one of those days were you the whole time you are thinking about how far away Tuesday. Don't get me wrong though it wasn't awful or anything it just lacked excitement. OK actually it kinda did because I got to run on the treadmill which I do quite often but running to me is such a great outlet for me.

Tuesday was fun because I had my new member meeting for the first time at AOPI. We were kinda introduced to the whole sorority and what it stands for which i like!

Wednesday was dry and boring again except that I joined the Equestrian Team!! I am super excited to start and tryouts are this Sunday. I rode a lot as a kid but not in high-school because of the money but now I get to pick it back up again!!

Thursday was slow but I got lots of homework done because of it!

Friday is when my three guests came. I had been waiting anxiously for their arrival since they dropped me off 21 days ago! I went to go pick up one of them, my dad, at the airport at 4pm. I got him easily but my mom asked us to find a Publix and we got lost in Bham for 40 minutes! It was cool to see the whole town though!
My little sister and Mom met us at the hotel where we would be staying for the next two nights but Camryn(my sister) had other plans. She begged me to let her spend the night in the dorm with me and since my room-mate wasn't there that night she was ok with it and so was my RA. We stayed up really late watching old Disney movies and laughing.

Saturday was busy to say the least. We woke up early and waited for our parents to arrive so we could get started for the tailgate. Once they got here we went to Ben Brown to get set up with another family we knew from home. We all ate and talked forever but it was so nice to catch up with everyone and show them my new home. Eventually Camryn and her friend got into a little dispute about who could braid hair better so they both tied my hair in knots. Her friend Bella does have quite a knack for braids though. She called this one a waterfall twist:
 
I love to make bracelets, color, and braid so I was impressed to say the least and in the end I think she won(don't tell Camryn).

We ended up not going to the game because it was so incredibly hot! I'm pretty sure I melted a few times that day.

The rest of the day we shopped and got cookie fix which was amazing!! That night I did get to stay in the hotel and sleep in a comfortable bed! We watched the Auburn game and the Texas A&M game but once the A&M game was on I was out right after half-time I was wiped!

Sunday was when they left which was sad but I am kinda getting used to it now. We went to Church of the Highlands which I loved and I plan to go back this Sunday or try out another church! They also gave me a Harry Potter coloring book which I love even though it has taken forever to even color this much!


I know this coming week is going to be hectic so I am very glad this week was a bit more relaxed!

P.S. Hamilton my fish is still alive and well!!

Second Week and Rush!

This week has been a roller-coaster of events! Rush really took up most of my time so school took a bit of a backseat. 

  Monday we had off so I consisted of me coming back to Bham and actually getting a beta fish! As a kid I almost always had a fish, but after they all kept dying I stopped getting them. I thought a beta would brighten up my room and bring a smile to any visitors face! His name is Hamilton based off of my all time favorite musical Hamilton! He may be a fish but he's super sweet and loves to eat!! Here is a picture of him(I promise he looks less pitiful in real life!):

Tuesday was when rush started! It was so much fun to meet all the different houses and the sisters in there! At first it was so nerve-wracking I wanted to puke! After a few houses though it became easier and felt like a simple conversation. It was hard just to choose a top four that night since I loved all of them!

Wednesday was my day off of rush so I stayed in my dorm and caught up on lots of homework! I had so much and did not have time to do much of it on Tuesday. Lots of studying went into that night but it was not that boring. I love most all of my classes so far making studying quite easy. 

Thursday and Friday was more rush and I went to 4 houses, 3 were my top and one was my 5th choice. I again was super nervous but after I went to one house every other house felt like a breeze. That day I also had lunch with my Foundations professor which I really enjoyed. It was fun and an easy conversation about her application for a school education thing that I can't seem to remember. I do hope she gets it though. 

Saturday was more rush and I was down to my final two which i was excited about. Both of the house were very good and I was excited to get into AOPi. I have a picture of me accepting my bid here: 

Overall it was a crazy hectic week but I loved every second of it! I hope next week is just as good.

First Week of College

The first week of college was scary and exciting. So far I have loved almost every second of it. It is so much better than high-school and I can hardly wait to continue on this great journey.

So far my favorite class has probably been UCCP or Cultural Perspectives. I love to read and I was excited by all the books that were shipped to my house month ago for it. Not to mention, my teacher, Dr. Vaughn Cross is amazing. She is hands down my favorite teacher. She teaches the class in a way that is interesting yet simple. She also really lets us run the conversations and will put little inputs when needed. She seems to really love what she does and wants us to love it too.

The only class I am a bit concerned about it Pre-Cal. I have excelled at math in the past and last week was pretty easy but I have fear for the future. My teacher is very good but she teaches very differently from the way I was taught in the past. It can confuse me a bit but luckily I have some friends in that class that could help me if ever needed. Khan Academy has also already been a helping hand, so it may be tricky but I can manage.

Having a "challenge" like college is exciting. I love doing hard tasks and seeing what I am capable of, this is why high school was incredibly boring for me. I can sense college is going to be a great 6 years!

One friend I made was technically in my connection group. We really didn't get close though until she said she wanted to run. I love to run and it really helps me get rid of nerves. We became fast friends and have different interests but still get along well. Her, another friend, and I have started hanging out together and it is nice to have two girls I can be with whenever needed(even if all our classes are all different).

On Wednesday actually we all went to the planetarium together! It was me, Olivia, and Maddie(my two friends) with a few others. It was so amazing to see all the planets and stars. It was really something I look forward too and I can't wait to go again.

I also went to the student organization fair on Thursday with a different Maddie(there are quite a few :)). We both showed interest in joining the Cultural Club. I was interested because I lived in Singapore for about a year and a half. This made me super interested in the world and cultures around me and I can't wait to see all the different cultures they do.

Overall this whole week was great! I was really expecting nothing exciting and mainly just mean teachers but I was awesome to see that they really care. I can't wait to continue my Samford Career!