How I’ve Grown and What I've Learned this Semester

As my first semester of college wraps up, this is a GREAT time to discuss how I have grown and what I have learned.

As a person, I have most definitely grown! For starters, I have grown 1/4 inch since last year (big improvements)! I have also grown, in the fact that I have learned how to live on my own. I have always been fairly independent, but being completely away from a day scheduled like high-school, and creating my own schedule has really made me realize the importance of scheduling. I have found out what works and what doesn't. For example, setting my alarm for 7:00 AM without setting a goal or task for myself is completely useless. I will simply 'snooze' my alarm and sleep in.

With that, another way I have grown is in my time management. You really must prioritize your schedule and lay down deadlines for yourself. You are not in class every day with a person constantly reminding you when things are due. Since your entire day is open for what you want to do, you must manage your time so you can be as effective as possible and get something done.

This semester I have learned and experienced so much more than was provided by my classes. Discovering your own 'community' is a very important factor that you can not overlook. Some of the most fun times I have had at college have been with 'my community'. This group is made up of people I live with, people I have class with and people I see on a regular basis. Your community is your support group. The people in my community are there for me when I want to chill, talk, eat, work... pretty much any time I want to do something, someone in my community will be around.

I have also learned that you must schedule time to relax. I am the kind of person that always has to be busy. Sometimes I am busy with school work, things for FFA or just personal activities, but in order to not drain yourself of all you have, you must take the time to 're-charge' by simply relaxing. Take some time to wind down before you go to bed to let your brain 'decompress' from the days work. This will help you have a better day and enjoy your college experience a little more.

The group of Hixson's I have been with this semester have created a great support group (community) for me to hang out with. It is great to know that there are other people on campus that will help me out when the need arises. For that, I am thankful.

This first semester has been a great one and I pray that every one that follows is just as fulfilling if not more. Thanks everyone!

What does the Hixson award mean to me?

To me, the Hixson Opportunity Award at Iowa State University means:

I believe it is truly amazing that one woman, with a passion for helping today's youth, could so willingly reach out and relieve 100 different students, at Iowa State, EVERY YEAR of a huge financial burden. Because of Christina Hixson's belief of putting our past behind us and improving on the opportunities of the future, all Hixson's have the fundamental backbone to support our education. Knowing that there is someone out there, who never knew me before, has faith in me to succeed as a learner, really gives me a drive to push myself to grow.

Scholarships

Scholarships... Where do I even start. First off, they are ESSENTIAL to apply for if you are paying for your education and taking it seriously. There are people, organizations and companies out there that are willing to invest in YOU!

My senior year of high school, I filled out my first scholarship application in December. That started the trend of me applying for more than 25 scholarships from December to August. I did not receive all of the scholarships I applied for. I didn't even receive half of the scholarships I applied for. I got to the point where there was one week that I got two letters in the mail saying I was not the right applicant. I was denied the opportunity I had put an effort towards. But all it takes is that one letter saying they want an interview or that you have received their scholarship to get your hopes up and see a more exciting future.

I have been told that the scholarship process continues, even as you continue into college. Just looking at the Iowa State University scholarship webpage,

this is what I see: . That means there are 806 OPPORTUNITIES for me to fund my education! Even if half of these, or a quarter, or even a TENTH of these apply to me, that is a LOT of cash available for my education! From my experience I have found out that once you have applied for several scholarships, it is easier to apply for more. If you save all of your completed applications, all you have to do for a lot of scholarships is 'copy' and 'paste'.

The way I see it, it takes you four hours to fill out a scholarship application and write an essay. It takes you a little bit of efforts and communication to ask around and get two letters of recommendation. It takes walking to the mailbox to put a letter in it and put the flag up. All in all, it could take five hours to fill out a scholarship application. Let's say this scholarship is worth $1000 dollars towards furthering your education. If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you just made approximately $200 dollars an hour just for filling it out. That's one big chunk of payback for five hours!

The number one reason a person does not receive a scholarship is because he/she does not apply for one! There are hundreds of scholarships out there that no one applies for on a year to year basis. If you apply, YOU could be the one receiving the scholarship and award that will motivate, encourage and support YOU furthering YOUR education! Fill out a scholarship application TODAY!

=D Social Media Week (¡ʞǝǝʍ ɐıpǝɯ ןɐıɔos)

You engaged in some form of social media for one week... What did you learn? For my social media adventure, I decided to utilize TWITTER. Being an avid user of FACEBOOK to reach others for a cause, I thought I would step out of my box and see what I could accomplish through TWITTER.

How did you feel about engaging in this particular medium? I absolutely love interacting with others through the use of social media. One challenge I find with it is that sometime it is hard to get others to interact with you. Sometimes it feels as if your efforts online seem useless because of the lack of response, but it really does make my day when someone TWEETS at me or writes on my WALL or PAGE. (Or comments on my blog:)

How can social media help you reach your goals? Social media can most definitely help you to not only become an instant publisher, but continuously interact with others and get instant feedback. In the business world, if you had a strong social media presence, you could post a survey on your FACEBOOK page or WEBSITE and within minutes have results. I can utilize social media personally to reach out to others to advocate for agriculture, interact with professionals in the same field of my interests and keep in touch with friends & family around the world. This can produce a 'go-to' network for me whenever I need the resources.

You also read a few articles about social media-- and how it's being used around the world. What about these readings was surprising to you? It truly surprised how many people are on TWITTER: from students to professionals, workers to executives. If used correctly, you can make connections with individuals that really make an impact. Social media is more than a fab, more than time-killer. If used correctly, those who use social media can rise up through the ranks faster and more efficiently than ever with the direct use of information.

What insights did you gain in reading these articles? The main insight I learned from reading these articles is how to 'professionalize' my online presence. This is essential and a vital key to succeeding while using social media.

Check out MY online BRAND and MAKE MY DAY by writing on my wall, tweeting at me or posting comments on my blogs! :)... Reach out and IMPACT more people through social media!

Personal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-Brockshus/503855678

Personal Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/StavieBrock (@StavieBrock)

Hixson Blog: http://stevenbrockshus.blogspot.com/

FFA State Officer Blog: http://nwiowaffa.blogspot.com/

FFA Northwest District Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Northwest-Iowa-FFA/226445164049664

FFA Northwest District Twitter: http://twitter.com/?lang=en&logged_out=1#!/NWiaFFA (@NWiaFFA)

FFA Northwest District Website: http://www.iowaffa.com/northwest.aspx

My Styles of Learning

"Look at this next picture for one minute..."

This is what started my mind going on what my learning style is. Through various exercises, I discovered that I am a GREAT visual learner. In other words, when learning something new or while studying, I remember things more readily when there is a visual along with the information.
Through another exercise, I found out that audio learning is not my thing. This could explain why I don't feel like I get much information from purely talking lectures. Sure, I find some of them interesting, but I don't retain what I hear.


Our last exercise showed that I am equally as much a tactile learner as I am a visual learner. This means I learn better and retain more with hands on projects. I have always loved 'getting down and dirty' and actually do something instead of just talk about it.


While studying, now that I know my learning styles, I will most definitely put them into action. I can study visually by drawing what I learn, looking up pictures that correlate with what I'm learning and use a whiteboard to visually put my thoughts on.

I can study using tactile methods by relating the information learned to direct objects, by building models and by creating a simple game to remember what I have learned.


This is Steven Brockshus and I am a visual and tactile learner.

What I learned about myself (MBTI)

Steven Brockshus is: Energized by the outer world; EXTRAVERSION.

Steven Brockshus is: Seeing patterns, the BIG picture & future possibilites; INTUITION.

Steven Brockshus is: Making decisions mostly on the basis of logic and objectve analysis; THINKING.

Steven Brockshus is: Taking a flexible, spontaneous approach to life, liking to keep options open; PERCEIVING.

-WHAT I LEARNED FROM THE MBTI TEST-

I learned that I am INVENTIVE and an ANALYTICAL PLANNER OF CHANGE. I am also ENTHUSIASTIC (if you couldn't tell) and INDEPENDENT. I naturally PURSUE INSPIRATION with IMPULSIVE ENERGY. I SEEK to UNDERSTAND and INSPIRE. My strongest mental process is EXTRAVERTED INTUITION. I am at my best when I am caught up in the ENTHUSIASM of a new project and PROMOTING its BENEFITS.

This could several goals listed on my *MUST DO's (before I die:)* blog post. One of my goals that really directly relates to the MBTI is that I am an ANALYTICAL PLANNER OF CHANGE. I definitely am always SEEKING ways to improve our world.

"With my life, I want to and will strive to impact others and make a difference."

This is the last sentence I posted on a previous blog. This, undoubtedly, relates to what the MBTI showed me.

The whole IMPULSIVE ENERGY ordeal makes me chuckle on the inside, because it is so true. I will randomly have surges of motivation and ENERGY. Anyone who knows me can and will see that different aspects from my MBTI results are my way of life on a daily basis.

It is just interesting and amazing to see how a test that I took can put into words "who I am" so well. If you have had any experience that proves or disproves the results of the MBTI for me, please post a comment about it- we'd all love to hear it! :)

The Veritas (TRUTH) Forum- Diversity Event

WHAT WAS VERITAS ALL ABOUT-

The Veritas Forum was brought to ISU to engage in life's difficult questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ in our everyday lives. The speaker was Dr. Mary Poplin. The main story from Dr. Poplin was her experiences doing 'social work' with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta. She really dove deep into showing us how religious and humble Mother Teresa was. She talked all about what her calling is and how God came to her for the first time. At the end the audience had an opportunity to ask questions. This was great to see how she responded and during the questioning we found out that she is a strong Christian serving Christ as a school teacher.

HOW IT AFFECTS ME-

It affects me by showing me what types of cultures are out there. What kind of people are out there. How God works throughout the world. I gained a firm grasp of who Mother Teresa is and how God has worked through her. This forum made me realize that I need to continue to be strong in my faith and let God take ahold of my life to use me as a tool for Him. I need to "find my Calcutta."

WHAT I LIKE-

I liked how it showed how diverse the world truly is and what is out there. It also showed how strong God is around the world. I liked how we could ask questions at the end to really dive into who Dr. Poplin was. Because of this, we found out what her beliefs and relationship with God really is.

WHAT I DISLIKE-

Throughout the entire time it seemed to me that Dr. Poplin didn't want to offend anyone, so it appeared that she was holding back her true faith. She was speaking directly about how God has impacted and changed her life, but the way she spoke almost contradicted that. It wasn't until the end that we found out for sure that she was a true believer.

MUST DO's (before I die:)

I don't have a 'bucket list' directly for my years at Iowa State, but more for my goals and aspirations for my entire life. I hope and pray that every single one of my experiences at Iowa State University will continue to provide me with a fulfilling, successful life. I perceive college, not "class by class" or "going to get a degree", but "experience by opportunity to advance and propel myself farther in life". I don't see my time here as, "spent at school", but instead I see this as "my life", because that is what it truly is. So without further ado, Steven Brockshus's Must Do's Before I Die (a.k.a. bucket list):

+Solve the Rubik's Cube

+Travel to a foreign country(besides Canada)

+Be in a movie

+Own a business

+Do something astronomical for someone else without them knowing it was me

+Travel to outer space

+Save a life

+Go sky diving

+Go bungee jumping

+Go rock climbing

+Climb Mount Everest

+Shake the President's hand

+Get married

+Have children

+Run a marathon

+Play guitar and sing a song at the same time

+Dance in the rain

+Ride an elephant

+Own a pet turtle

+Drive a Lamborghini

+Travel to all 50 states

+Catch a squirrel

+Go deep sea diving

This is an ever-growing list. This is a list of concrete achievables, and I can not even begin to think of all the unmeasurable aspirations I have for my life.

Overall I want to impact others and make a difference. One crazy idea I'll share with you (while you're reading) is to spur an 'energy revolution'. With oil a great resource, but no longer sustainable, we must find an alternative to it, or a new source entirely. We, as a human population, must change our way of thinking, step out of the past and grow up. Every single person must stop complaining and keeping their thoughts to themselves. We must stand up and take initiative to save this Earth that God has given us.

With my life, I want to and will strive to impact others and make a difference.

An Experience at my BEST

A time that I was at my best... I would have to say I was at my best was during the fall season at Sibley-Ocheydan High School last year.

During the fall season I am a very busy person. Not only do I have football practice and musical rehearsals, I am also preparing daily for marching band competitions, learning show choir choreography and drilling my scales and songs for all-state band tryouts. I have my day scheduled out precisely so that I can maximize the use of my time.

I got to school in time to get a good workout in before marching band practice at 7:00. School started at 8:15 and we went back outside for marching band at that time too. Then I had my regular classes until 3:15. Throughout the day I always practiced all-state music during my lunch hour. After classes got out, I hit the locker room for football. Practice usually went until 6:00-6:30. This gave me time to get cleaned up, get some food in my body and practice my lines a little bit before heading to musical practice.

When 7:30 came around, we were all set up on stage and ready for our rehearsal. On times that I wasn't on stage, I just chilled with my peers or went over my lines. After practice got out at 9:30 I went through my all-state music one last time before calling it a day.

While reading this, you may think,

"How can you not go crazy?"

I often thought about this, but I loved being busy and always having something productive to do. I never got burnt out, because I had all of my time prioritized and while at each activity, I had the mindset that this is what I was doing. I wasn't thinking about band when at football or vise versa.

Of course this time was hectic, but hey- it was FUN. Fun is what it is all about! Applying everything I physically and mentally have to a team or cause, to pursue a goal, is the greatest feeling in the world.

At the end of all of this, I felt accomplished and excited about what I had done. Not only did I have success as an individual or as a team, I had great life experiences that I will never forget. I created many memories with those around me that I will cherish forever. I did something with my high school career. I didn't just sit and be a bump on a log. I did something with my life in those four years.

All of those high school experiences can and will carry over into my everyday life. My college life. My career life. Time management, work, and social aspects from all my experiences fall into their place. You must be able to organize and structure your life in some way. Whether that be down in pen on paper in a planner, written on a calendar, or on sticky notes piled up in your locker. You have 24 hours in a day and you always use them, whether you know it or not. For me, I had to maximize the use of every single minute of my day. This was fun because I enjoyed what I was doing and concentrated my entire focus on what I was doing at that exact moment. I hope to continue into college with that same mindset and hopefully my actions inspire others to do the same. Put your best foot forward and GO FOR IT.