Tonight I went to 'Countdown To The Caucuses With Ron Paul' held in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union. I figured this would be a good event for me to go to because I feel it is our right and duty to become knowledgeable about our presidential candidates. It was a good experience and something I will continue to do for years to come.
Ron Paul is a physician, congressman, and presidential candidate from Texas. He advocates for a dramatic reduction in the size of the government and a return to our constitutional principles. He is currently second in most major polls for the Republican nomination. I believe that he is bringing the right mindset to the table, even though some of his positions seem a little outlandish.
Being that he really wants to reduce the size of the government, he wants to slash the Federal Reserve and Departments of Education, Homeland Security, Health and Human services, among others. I don't think this is practical or even feasible. While I agree with the fact that we need to reduce the size(i.e. spending) of our government, this seems too drastic, at least for the time being. Paul is all for giving the states all rights that aren't explicitly given to the national government. I just don't think the state governments are ready for this undertaking. And wouldn't this increase state government size and spending, which would just take our national debt and parcel it out to individual states? I have no answers to this, so don't take my word for this.
While I applaud Paul for his mindset and thinking that our country needs a major overhaul, I don't think we need to go quite as far as he wants. Nor do I think any Congress would allow this, no matter who has the political majority. They wouldn't want to have to go back to their constituents and have to explain how the Federal Reserve was eliminated. But you know what, that's their job and they damn well need to start doing it.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
How I've Grown
It's totally weird to think about, but my first semester at college is just about up! The time has flown by here! It's been fun, nerve-wracking, and challenging at times. It has helped me to grown scholastically and individually. I've learned a lot about circuits, infinite series, my friends, and myself.
As we age, we naturally(or usually) mature. But when we get here to college that process gets accelerated more than usual. We are forced to live, not necessarily on our own, but apart from what we've grown up with. I've grown as a person by adapting to this new environment. I now do my own laundry(or just pile it up until I can take it home to mom), wake myself up, and make sure I'm at the right places at the right time. My mom has always had to wake me up for school or whatever activity, but now it's on me and my alarm clock. You don't have to option of falling back asleep until mom comes back in because she's not here. Also, time management is a new place I've grown. I now have to make sure I don't spend too much time playing socializing or working out or playing video games because there is always something that needs to be done. Having to learn this ability wasn't scary at all. It felt liberating to finally be able to set up my schedule when I want.
I've also grown socially. Coming from a small town, everybody pretty much knew me, whether it was from sports, school, or church. Conversation was easy to come by and wasn't hard to maintain. But coming here is different. There are so many people here that you feel like you can just get lost in it all. People don't really know who you are and you have to go out and make new friends. I wasn't scared of this, but I knew it would draw me out of my comfort zone a little bit. But after a semester of introducing myself and having new conversations, I feel like I am a better social person because of it.
Here at ISU I've definitely grown as a person. I've grown in many different ways. I know view myself as a person who can take care of himself. I can talk with most people pretty easily. I can be confident in my self that I'm making the right decisions for the present and the future. And that is the only way I can keep growing.
As we age, we naturally(or usually) mature. But when we get here to college that process gets accelerated more than usual. We are forced to live, not necessarily on our own, but apart from what we've grown up with. I've grown as a person by adapting to this new environment. I now do my own laundry(or just pile it up until I can take it home to mom), wake myself up, and make sure I'm at the right places at the right time. My mom has always had to wake me up for school or whatever activity, but now it's on me and my alarm clock. You don't have to option of falling back asleep until mom comes back in because she's not here. Also, time management is a new place I've grown. I now have to make sure I don't spend too much time playing socializing or working out or playing video games because there is always something that needs to be done. Having to learn this ability wasn't scary at all. It felt liberating to finally be able to set up my schedule when I want.
I've also grown socially. Coming from a small town, everybody pretty much knew me, whether it was from sports, school, or church. Conversation was easy to come by and wasn't hard to maintain. But coming here is different. There are so many people here that you feel like you can just get lost in it all. People don't really know who you are and you have to go out and make new friends. I wasn't scared of this, but I knew it would draw me out of my comfort zone a little bit. But after a semester of introducing myself and having new conversations, I feel like I am a better social person because of it.
Here at ISU I've definitely grown as a person. I've grown in many different ways. I know view myself as a person who can take care of himself. I can talk with most people pretty easily. I can be confident in my self that I'm making the right decisions for the present and the future. And that is the only way I can keep growing.
Monday, November 14, 2011
What the Hixson Award Means to Me
The Hixson Award has a double dip of sweetness for what it means to me. Award recipients must demonstrate financial need, having faced tough challenges, and have the potential to succeed. You can see why this award could make any proud, but it also has hidden value, the people who fund it, run it, and who you meet in it are comparable to the money.
Of course, the award has a great impact on me because of the financial security it brings me. Receiving this award was a big factor in my decision to come here. My family does not have the resources to help me out with schooling so this falls on me. I would be burdened with a lot of college debt after school, but because of this award I will not be so in debt, and so for that, I am, funnily enough, in debt to Christina for it.
As I mentioned before, the money is definitely the main focus of the scholarship, but what sets this scholarship apart is the people. The people who fund the scholarship care about us, the mentors and advisors care about us, and the other recipients care too. There is such a feeling of support that you can't find anywhere else on campus and that means the world. The advisors and mentors are always checking up on us and making sure we are succeeding to the best of our abilities. If we aren't, they offer advice and tell us ways to help improve, be it their own knowledge or referring us to a campus service that will help.
The Hixson award is a point of pride for myself. It is a great program to be involved in and it is an honor to have received the award. Its financial assistance has allowed for me to attend college without having to live with the fact that I will have thousands of dollars of debt afterwards, and that peace of mind can't be appreciated enough. So thank you, Christina and all of the Hixson advisors and mentors.
Of course, the award has a great impact on me because of the financial security it brings me. Receiving this award was a big factor in my decision to come here. My family does not have the resources to help me out with schooling so this falls on me. I would be burdened with a lot of college debt after school, but because of this award I will not be so in debt, and so for that, I am, funnily enough, in debt to Christina for it.
As I mentioned before, the money is definitely the main focus of the scholarship, but what sets this scholarship apart is the people. The people who fund the scholarship care about us, the mentors and advisors care about us, and the other recipients care too. There is such a feeling of support that you can't find anywhere else on campus and that means the world. The advisors and mentors are always checking up on us and making sure we are succeeding to the best of our abilities. If we aren't, they offer advice and tell us ways to help improve, be it their own knowledge or referring us to a campus service that will help.
The Hixson award is a point of pride for myself. It is a great program to be involved in and it is an honor to have received the award. Its financial assistance has allowed for me to attend college without having to live with the fact that I will have thousands of dollars of debt afterwards, and that peace of mind can't be appreciated enough. So thank you, Christina and all of the Hixson advisors and mentors.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Social Media
For this blog's topic, we were to do a week of social media postings. We had the options to choose Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and a few other things, but I figured the majority of people would use Facebook and Twitter since most students, most likely all, utilize one of these social media sites. I wasn't necessarily excited about this project because I didn't see much benefit to it, I mean, what good comes from randomly tweeting about your class? But I didn't have all negative feelings towards it.
I chose to do the Twitter assignment because I already had an account and I felt like I might gain more expertise of the media from this assignment. I knew how to tweet and 'hashtag' things so I didn't learn much from that perspective. I guess what I got out of it was the realization that Twitter can be used in a very professional manner, and to the benefit of that manner, I might add. We are able to get in contact with companies, and in some cases, even top executives in those companies! But all of this relies more on the person to reach out and try to gain attention. But if one really put their mind to it, they could open up a whole new real of possibilities and get ahead of the competition by utilizing the social media aspect, but only if it were used as a supplicant to real face to face interaction, because that is what really matters.
From the articles we read I was surprised by how many older people use Twitter. It feels much more professional than Facebook, plus it is much easier to find people and follow them. The articles said just following someone can make a difference, and it can. If you can stay up to date on a company you are interested in, utilizing that information in an interviewing based session will definitely impress the recruiter. So always do your homework, kids!
I chose to do the Twitter assignment because I already had an account and I felt like I might gain more expertise of the media from this assignment. I knew how to tweet and 'hashtag' things so I didn't learn much from that perspective. I guess what I got out of it was the realization that Twitter can be used in a very professional manner, and to the benefit of that manner, I might add. We are able to get in contact with companies, and in some cases, even top executives in those companies! But all of this relies more on the person to reach out and try to gain attention. But if one really put their mind to it, they could open up a whole new real of possibilities and get ahead of the competition by utilizing the social media aspect, but only if it were used as a supplicant to real face to face interaction, because that is what really matters.
From the articles we read I was surprised by how many older people use Twitter. It feels much more professional than Facebook, plus it is much easier to find people and follow them. The articles said just following someone can make a difference, and it can. If you can stay up to date on a company you are interested in, utilizing that information in an interviewing based session will definitely impress the recruiter. So always do your homework, kids!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
What I learned about Myself
My preferences were ISTJ. To explain more, I prefer introversion, sensing perception, thinking judgement, and judging. At first glance, I wouldn't have believed you that I was an introvert or sensing, but after reading over their respective properties, I drew many parallels between them and what I realized myself to go, and hope to be.
I hadn't really thought about my personally as an introvert, but it was probably because it was shadowed by some extrovert qualities I have. I, like all people, like to be goofy and mess around, and have fun, so I assumed I was an extrovert, but after reviewing the qualities, I realized that on a personal level, I'm definitely an introvert. I never act on a whim, I always need my time to think things over. I always need some 'me' time to unwind and just relax. These are some of the introvert qualities that I exhibit. When I compare some of these to my goals, I realize they can be similar. Some of my goals were to travel to other places, and part of it was to just be able to soak it all in, to enjoy the moment and just relax. I think that idea has some parallels with the introversion preference.
The other three preferences I would have figured would be me. For sensing, I definitely like factual details and making sure the little things get done. I make sure I know what happens and then digest it. For thinking judgement, I definitely use logical analysis when I make most decisions. Will there be any repercussions? Am I going to benefit from this? Will I enjoy it? And I also admit that I am skeptical a lot. I don't always believe things unless I see them, it's just the way I am, it's hard to trust everything that people tell me, for bettor or worse. Lastly, judging was very easy to spot. I organize and schedule like it's my job. If my schedule gets thrown off, I don't go crazy, but I do get a little perturbed that things aren't like I mapped them out to be. This relates to my goals because I like to think I have a pretty good idea where I'm headed. I know that nothing is for sure and life will throw me curveballs, but I believe that with enough preparation in advanced, unfortunate situations can be avoided and your life can go smoothly, just as you want it to.
I hadn't really thought about my personally as an introvert, but it was probably because it was shadowed by some extrovert qualities I have. I, like all people, like to be goofy and mess around, and have fun, so I assumed I was an extrovert, but after reviewing the qualities, I realized that on a personal level, I'm definitely an introvert. I never act on a whim, I always need my time to think things over. I always need some 'me' time to unwind and just relax. These are some of the introvert qualities that I exhibit. When I compare some of these to my goals, I realize they can be similar. Some of my goals were to travel to other places, and part of it was to just be able to soak it all in, to enjoy the moment and just relax. I think that idea has some parallels with the introversion preference.
The other three preferences I would have figured would be me. For sensing, I definitely like factual details and making sure the little things get done. I make sure I know what happens and then digest it. For thinking judgement, I definitely use logical analysis when I make most decisions. Will there be any repercussions? Am I going to benefit from this? Will I enjoy it? And I also admit that I am skeptical a lot. I don't always believe things unless I see them, it's just the way I am, it's hard to trust everything that people tell me, for bettor or worse. Lastly, judging was very easy to spot. I organize and schedule like it's my job. If my schedule gets thrown off, I don't go crazy, but I do get a little perturbed that things aren't like I mapped them out to be. This relates to my goals because I like to think I have a pretty good idea where I'm headed. I know that nothing is for sure and life will throw me curveballs, but I believe that with enough preparation in advanced, unfortunate situations can be avoided and your life can go smoothly, just as you want it to.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
My Bucket List
During high school, I was never much of a goal-oriented person. Usually my goals were to make it through the school day with the least amount of brain power used, or something along that line. I was never worried about the future, because the thought of graduation seemed too surreal, almost as if I'd be in high school forever because I had never put any thought past it. But then after I graduated, my whole way of thinking totally changed.
I suppose I had thought about my future enough to know that I wanted to attend Iowa State and be an electrical engineer, but never any specific goals for either of them, such as GPA, an internship, or where I would like to work after. But since arriving here, I've put a substantial amount of thought into it so far.
While here at ISU, I have some academic and other goals I would like to achieve. GPA-wise, I am shooting for a 4.0, but realistically, anything above a 3.75 I can live with. I want to study abroad twice to two different countries, but which countries I couldn't tell you because I don't even know yet. I want to land an internship for the summer after my freshmen year and then either go back to that company for subsequent summers, or try out a longer internship with another company in my later years. Those were my academic goals, but I have more than that. I want to cheer front row for at least one football and basketball game each year. I have already gone campaniling so I have that checked off already :) And the last thing I can think of would be to do the Beardshear challenge, so I definitely have some interesting things to check off during my time here at Iowa State.
Beyond ISU, my goal is to get a master's degree(maybe from here) and potentially a doctoral degree(I have a lot of time to rethink this, so don't judge) from an Ivy League school or MIT. The odds of this happening are probably slim, but I'm going to try to do everything to set myself up for success, and if it doesn't happen, then it's just not meant to be.
Ok, so that takes care of all my academic goals, thank god, and now I am talking about goals for the rest of my life. My goal is to have a (very) well paying job to support my family and my adventures. I want to travel to the UK and ride on a double-decker bus. I want to go to Australia and watching kangaroos bounce around. I want to go to New Zealand and see where the filmed Lord of the Rings. I want to visit Switzerland and have some authentic swiss chocolate after skiing on their picturesque slopes. I want to hike in Alaska. I want to visit as many college football stadiums and experience the atmospheres. I want to go to a Super Bowl, the World Cup, and watching Olympic Track and Field.
This is my bucket list, and although it is pretty long, I intend to have a long and fulfilling life to match it. I realize I may not be able to do some, or maybe many, of these wishes, but honestly, life isn't about those chosen few little trips. Sure, they make life more interesting and you have something to look forward to, but enjoying the little moments, like having fun with coworkers, or coming home to your loving family, or playing with a pet, is what makes all the difference in life.
I suppose I had thought about my future enough to know that I wanted to attend Iowa State and be an electrical engineer, but never any specific goals for either of them, such as GPA, an internship, or where I would like to work after. But since arriving here, I've put a substantial amount of thought into it so far.
While here at ISU, I have some academic and other goals I would like to achieve. GPA-wise, I am shooting for a 4.0, but realistically, anything above a 3.75 I can live with. I want to study abroad twice to two different countries, but which countries I couldn't tell you because I don't even know yet. I want to land an internship for the summer after my freshmen year and then either go back to that company for subsequent summers, or try out a longer internship with another company in my later years. Those were my academic goals, but I have more than that. I want to cheer front row for at least one football and basketball game each year. I have already gone campaniling so I have that checked off already :) And the last thing I can think of would be to do the Beardshear challenge, so I definitely have some interesting things to check off during my time here at Iowa State.
Beyond ISU, my goal is to get a master's degree(maybe from here) and potentially a doctoral degree(I have a lot of time to rethink this, so don't judge) from an Ivy League school or MIT. The odds of this happening are probably slim, but I'm going to try to do everything to set myself up for success, and if it doesn't happen, then it's just not meant to be.
Ok, so that takes care of all my academic goals, thank god, and now I am talking about goals for the rest of my life. My goal is to have a (very) well paying job to support my family and my adventures. I want to travel to the UK and ride on a double-decker bus. I want to go to Australia and watching kangaroos bounce around. I want to go to New Zealand and see where the filmed Lord of the Rings. I want to visit Switzerland and have some authentic swiss chocolate after skiing on their picturesque slopes. I want to hike in Alaska. I want to visit as many college football stadiums and experience the atmospheres. I want to go to a Super Bowl, the World Cup, and watching Olympic Track and Field.
This is my bucket list, and although it is pretty long, I intend to have a long and fulfilling life to match it. I realize I may not be able to do some, or maybe many, of these wishes, but honestly, life isn't about those chosen few little trips. Sure, they make life more interesting and you have something to look forward to, but enjoying the little moments, like having fun with coworkers, or coming home to your loving family, or playing with a pet, is what makes all the difference in life.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
My Story
When I was at my best, I wasn't there because I was the best, I was there because I was the happiest I'd ever been. Football was awesome, fall was in full swing, my jobs were so fun to work at, and being a senior was an amazing experience. All of these factors contributed to me being at my best, which to me, means being the happiest and having a feeling of fulfillment.
The changing of the leaves during the fall just amazes me. One of my jobs was to ref a youth soccer league. Their games were on Saturday mornings, so I was always sore and tired from football the night before. But that only made it better. Getting to watch kids run around and have fun is actually a really exhilarating thing to watch. Couple that with the fact that they played right next to the football field, and I admit I found myself reliving the previous night's game more than paying attention to rules, and that it was set against a hillside that has some of the most spectacular fall images, it was awesome.
Senior year was also in full swing. Some people say senior year was just a year they dreamed of leaving school, but that's not how I looked at it. I relished the fact that people looked up to me. I made tons of friends with the underclassmen and it was just a really fun year. I saw myself develop as a leader athletically, academically, and musically, and I loved it. Leading people that you have a respect for, and they return it, is really worth it.
Football was the time of my life and I love the sport. If you haven't played football, you don't really know what I'm talking when I say there is just a different chemistry and team camaraderie than other things. My senior year we weren't the best team, but we were still pretty good. We didn't win as many games as we would have liked, but looking back, losing gave me a perspective that winning wouldn't have. Even after losses, we were able to still be as close a team as you can imagine, and that's what I took away from football.
You can win all the time and it's just great, but the truth is, almost nobody can win at everything. We all have times where we fall flat and just fail, but it's about getting back up, remaining who you are, and trying to get better. These things are what I can transfer to my college, and ultimately, real-world life.
The changing of the leaves during the fall just amazes me. One of my jobs was to ref a youth soccer league. Their games were on Saturday mornings, so I was always sore and tired from football the night before. But that only made it better. Getting to watch kids run around and have fun is actually a really exhilarating thing to watch. Couple that with the fact that they played right next to the football field, and I admit I found myself reliving the previous night's game more than paying attention to rules, and that it was set against a hillside that has some of the most spectacular fall images, it was awesome.
Senior year was also in full swing. Some people say senior year was just a year they dreamed of leaving school, but that's not how I looked at it. I relished the fact that people looked up to me. I made tons of friends with the underclassmen and it was just a really fun year. I saw myself develop as a leader athletically, academically, and musically, and I loved it. Leading people that you have a respect for, and they return it, is really worth it.
Football was the time of my life and I love the sport. If you haven't played football, you don't really know what I'm talking when I say there is just a different chemistry and team camaraderie than other things. My senior year we weren't the best team, but we were still pretty good. We didn't win as many games as we would have liked, but looking back, losing gave me a perspective that winning wouldn't have. Even after losses, we were able to still be as close a team as you can imagine, and that's what I took away from football.
You can win all the time and it's just great, but the truth is, almost nobody can win at everything. We all have times where we fall flat and just fail, but it's about getting back up, remaining who you are, and trying to get better. These things are what I can transfer to my college, and ultimately, real-world life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)