How I have grown and what I have learned

     So far I have learned quit a few new things since I came to college.  For instance I now know that managing money is a huge factor.  I learned that I can no longer blow my money on random things but instead save it for only mandatory things.  I also know that when trying to live with someone you didn't know before college, adapting and making sacrafices is a huge factor in making it work.  One final thing is that I now realize that staying focused on what is important and not getting caught up in "the college life" will make a huge difference on how successful one will become.
     I feel that I have grown up about twenty years since coming to college.  Now that I am in charge of what I do and all the things I need to pay for I can finally see the stress one may incounter when having to juggle school, work,bills, and friend time.  I think that because of these things I have grown stronger as well.  I can see how many things I am actually capable of doing.  Knowing that I have gotten this far already shows that if I just keep working hard I CAN reach my goals.
     My experience so far has been a good one.  I have gained many things such as friends, knowledge, and courage.  I realize that college was a good choice for me and after changing my major I feel that I am on the right track to my life long goals.  I feel like, thanks to ISU, I have grown as a person and have learned many life lessons already.  I can not wait to see how much more I learn and grow after graduating in 3.5 years.

What the Hixson means to me

     When I recieved the Hixson I was overjoyed.  I couldn't believe that I was the one person chosen from my county.  It meant that I would actually have a chance of affording Iowa State as college.  It meant that I could actually go to a great college and start building a better future for myself.  Since I am the only one paying for my college, having this big of a scholarship meant a great deal to me.  It was a great relief to find out that half of my tuition was covered.  Not only for my first year but all four years!
     Now that I have recieved the Hixson I have gotten to experience Iowa State at its fullest.  Yes I still work, but now I know I have a little more support to back me up, this was a great relief.  I also get to go to the Hixson classes that give a little more information that will help me in college.  I like this because I didn't have help from parents to figure out college so this class is a real guidence for me in a way.  I also like that because of this scholarship I have met many new people and friends.  This scholarship also encourages me to do my best in my classes because I know now that in order to keep this scholarship and to make the Hixson people look good I must achieve my best. 
     I am so lucky to have gotten this scholarship because I now have the chance to create my future and have no excuses why I can't succeed regardless of what people have told me.  I feel grateful for all the support and friendships it has given me.  Basically if I had not gotten this scholarship I would not be at Iowa State right now typing this blog.  So I am glad that I was chosen for this scholarship and plan to stay focused in college and do great in my classes to show how thankful I am.

MBTI

     When people are asked to describe themselves, often they can without thinking.  Everyone naturally thinks that they know everything when it comes to oneself.  However after taking the MBTI people can be proven wrong.  In fact I learned that I like to help the world and inspire others.  Who wouldn't want to learn that?
     This test said that I was INFJ.  This means that "I" I focus on my inner ideas and impressions.  "N" means that I take in information by seeing patterns and the big picture, focusing more on the future.  "F" I make decisions mostly on the basis of values and subjective, people-centered concerns.  The "J" means I take a planned and organized approach to life.  It means I love planning.
     After looking at this I know can see that this statement is true.  I have been a motherly figure to my younger siblings for awhile so I can see that bringing out the best in others may be a habit of mine.  I also can see how this test says that I  worry about other peoples needs and concerns.  I have always tried to help my younger siblings achieve their goals and do well in schooling.  It also says that I have an imaginative way of saying things.  I do not feel this is true because I often just say what pops into my head.  I don't stop to think of how creative it is.  I love to plan out everything and make lists!  I have planners (yes plural), sticky notes, calanders, and a tack board.  I love to make sure everything follows schedule and happens when it needs to.  I do have plans for the future that I try to make happen.  So this part was spot on.  I don't understand how I have a reserved outer life, and a spontaneous inner life so I'll leave that part for a later day. 
     I think overall this has been a good test to better understand myself.  It described me in ways I wouldn't normally have done.  After reading it though I can see that it does describe me pretty well.  Now that I know this information I don't know really what to say other than, "Yep, that's me."  However for future refrence I can simply say, "No, I'm not stuborn.  I simply like to have everything planned out and folllow order.  The test told me so."  So I guess that worked out well. 

Social Media Week

     The project I chose for the social media week was the Facebook project.  Since i do not have a twitter or any of the other networks, this seemed logical.  This project was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be.  I also got one company to reply back to me.
     I thought the easy part was liking ten facebook pages.  I just liked the first ten companies I actually shopped at.  Some included Wet Seal, Express, Forever 21, and of course Target.  The part that i did not feel to great about was actually leaving comments on their walls.  At first I felt like a creep.  As I scrolled down their pages I noticed there was not many other people actually leaving comments as I was.  I mentioned how I loved to buy shoes at Wet Seal and they actually messaged me back.  Pretty awesome. 
     I feel that this may help me with my goals because if I start socializing with other companies then I may get connected and start making contacts.  I don't know how affective this is but it is worth a try.  It is kind of fun.
     I learned a lot from social media week.  I learned that there is a ton of facebook and twitter users.  I do not remember the exact number but it surely was a lot.  I learned that soon highschools will be converting to many more online teachings.  I also learned that in the technology world the state of Iowa is a step behind.  I now know where my state stands and what has to happen in order to get us caught up and ahead like we have done with so many  other things.
    

Diversity Event

     My diversity even that I attened was the Women and Gender Studies 35th Anniversary Keynote Address.  I went simply for two reasons, 1 i needed to attend a diversity event and two I would get extra credit for one of  my fashion classes.  Therefore I hit the jackpot, a two in one deal. 
     This particular diversity event consisted of a woman talking about how woman are viewed in society.  For instance in the job force men still are making more money per hour than woman are.  Woman are also called a lot of horrible names even though they could do the exact same thing as a man.  It talked about how most people felt that men were better than woman and were head of household. 
     The speaker also talked about females who wrote blogs and wrote for the newspaper.  Often times men would write back and critisize what they had to say.  Men would just get thrills down grading the woman and making fun of them.  This often times would cause the woman bloggers or writers to stop writing because they felt threatened.  Some were even made fun of for moral values and religion beliefs.
     From this event I learned some new ideas about where woman are said to be placed in this world.  I took away from this message that men were supposed to be of higher status than woman and woman would always come second.  I however in no way agree with this message.  I realized all the things the world said of woman and now know what I must do to over come all of the degrading of the sex.  I know that it has to deal with how strong someone is and how must will they have to pursue their passion.  I therefore made a deal with myself that I would do what it takes to make it in life to get where I want to be, even if hurtful remarks are thrown my way.  I will simply brush them aside and move on. 

My Bucket List

     In my school career and my life in general I have many types of goals I wish to achomplish.  Some seem crazy and some are more realistic.  I have always liked setting goals because it gives me something I can look foward to or aim to acheive.  I have already reached small goals like making it to college so now I must aim higher and dream bigger. 
     I have small goals for college such as design a dress that will be awesome enough to make it into the yearly fashion show.  I also wish to keep good grades in all my classes, no matter how much studying that make bring at times.  I wish to reach out to more people than I have in the past with things like volunteer work.  This goal I have already managed to start.  Other goals for college are things like staying active and being more social.  I have joined many clubs already and now my goal is to stay in them and excell. 
     I have other goals for college such as studying abroad.  I have always loved to travel and I believe this would be a great way to learn something new and have a little fun while I am at it.  I also wish to intern in New York for my major.  I have never been here before but I have been to other big cities and loved it.  I also have always wanted to go bungy jumping.  It seems scary but my goal is to do it and prove that I am tougher than I look.
     My goals in the long run are much more complex, such as owning a house that has three bed rooms, one to sleep in, one for a closet, and one for a sewing room.  This will not probably happen but it's always fun to wish.  I hope one day to own my own company selling dresses and other apperal that I myself had a part in designing or making.  I also wish to keep up with the volunteer work but branch out in a bigger way.  I don't know exactly how yet.  I one day want to have a family that gets along great and be able to give my kids (if i dare have any) things that I as a child would have loved to have.  Oh and I also one day want to own a slug bug because that is my favorite car.
     My goals may seem a little odd to some but to me it fits my personality perfectly.  I don't have any goals that I don't think I will not be able to achieve before I die.  My over all goal is to get the most out of life when I have the chance.  I don't want to have anymore regrets about things I should or should not have done.  Life is for living and following dreams.  I will  make the most out of every second that I am given.  These are my goals.

Felicia's Best

     Ever since I was a little child I have always found the thrill in creating new "master pieces".  I have thus found sewing an awesome little hobby to have.  I received my first sewing machine in fifth grade and couldn't have been happier.  Ever since that day I always feel accomplished when i finish a project.  My best project was the first spring dress I had ever created.

     Having prior experience in the sewing department made going into High School sewing classes a smoother transition from middle school.  It wasn't until I heard the news that I would be creating a dress that I became really pumped.  The task set before me was to find a pattern and then go pick out and purchase the fabric needed including all the supplies required.  Then I would have to put cut the pattern to the appropriate size and follow the directions for the garment.  This all had to fit in to the alloted time frame given by the teacher in charge.

     This task may seem like a no brainer or easy.  The trick was that the pattern chosen had seven possible dress designs included.  So I had to go through the pattern and pick the pieces I believed to work best and then put it all together.  Once this was done the smaller parts to making a dress where added such as ironing, cutting, pinning, and hemming.  It takes a lot of focus and determination to get through this process at times.  Not to mention a whole lot of pin pricks to the fingers.  

     Then the day came when I added the zipper, the finishing touch, and had finally completed my dress. I was overjoyed when I was able to try on my dress for the last time to see if I had managed to make it fit me and sure enough it did.  My head had a place to go and my arms could fit nicely beneath the straps.  I was in heaven standing in front of the mirror twirling around and my dress flowing gracefully with me.  I had finally made an amazing dress that I could proudly show off and say, "Yeah, I made this dress.  No big deal".  

      My thrill comes from designing and creating new items that take a little more effort than some may be willing to give.  I was at my best the day I created my first dress and since then have created many more.  I feel as though I am in my own world when I am working on my latest project.  I feel even better when I can proudly wear something I made and it not look as though I had made it.  I was at my best this day and it has led me to do many more creative dress designs that I wouldn't have thought of without first having back ground in dress making.  Oh and I forgot to mention that I received an A+ on that project.