Diversity Blog

I attended The Mystical Arts of Tibet's mandala lecture on Wednesday, September 21, at the Memorial Union. The lecture began with five Buddhas chanting/meditating on stage, and then one Buddha began to inform us about the mandala of Avalokileshvara, the Buddha of compassion.  First of all, the mandala is used for mediation purposes only, not religion. It helps relieve stress, reduce depression, and improve mental health. The mandala possesses three meanings, one of which is to enlighten the world. Second, the seven colors demonstrate good ideas and show Buddhas how to use life and defend their educational ideas. In addition, the mandala is indestructible due to its strong elements of fire, water, earth, and wind. The mandala also contains a detail that is called the crossed vajra, which is the foundation on which the mandala is constructed. Furthermore, the mandala contains five colors that represent the five activities of enlightment, and these colors form a circle at the center of the mandala. This circle signifies the unbreakable teaching of the mandala. The five principal colors include white, blue, green, yellow, and red and denote the five family Buddhas. These five Buddhas stand for the elimination of five negative principal mental afflictions. Some of these afflictions include ignorance, attachment, anger, and jealousy. Additionally, another aspect of the mandala is the eight petals that signify three channels; left, right, and center. Moreover, the mandala contains five five-layered, five colored walls that represent the five wisdoms and pure visions. Likewise, the mandala contains four gates at its center that exemplifies actions that benefit others like speaking gently, helping others, and training others. The mandala also contains a square that stands for truth, and each of the points stand for joyfulness, compassion, love, and mental equality. Lastly, the mandala signifies the eleven levels/stages that Buddha’s have to complete to reach the enlightment stage. To reach this final stage, you have to eliminate all negative emotions within yourself. 

In conclusion, I learned numerous facts about the mandala and a Buddha’s way of life and enjoyed attending this lecture. The only downfall was that the speaker's native language was not English, and it was very hard to understand him sometimes. He occasionally didn't talk in complete sentences, which was also very difficult to understand. Minus those minor defects, it was a very interesting and a worthwhile lecture.

        Here is an example of an mandala.

What I Have Learned and How I Have Grown

As my first semester of college draws to an end, I can certainly say that I have learned several important life skills and have grown immensely over the course of a semester. Not only have I learned copious skills academically that will assist me in obtaining a college degree and employment, but wisdom that will even more so assist me in living a successful career. For instance, I will never forget when my music theory professor told us that as we hold any job our employers are just going to fire us if we don't meet deadlines. She continued to say that when we are music educators down the road, and we don't turn in registration for honor bands, contests, and other music events in on time, we aren't just hurting ourselves, but we are hurting our students and our school's reputation. She also told us that when we are selecting music for our ensembles to play or sing, it is our job to pick something that showcases their abilities and challenges them, but not to the extent that they play the literature poorly. In addition, another music professor told us that we as music majors need sleep more than anything. He said that if we do not get an adequate amount of sleep, then we get sick and can't attend lessons or practice, which sets us behind. He stated that other majors can stay up all hours of the night and just go to class, but not music majors; they have more expected of them. He continued saying that other majors believe that music is just a candy course, but he wants to see them try it for a week. Furthermore, my flute professor told me that most students are like flowers. As a seed, you give flowers a little "encouragement" by watering them and providing them with sunlight, and they eventually grow into a beautiful flower. It is the same with students. You give them a little praise and encouragement and they blossom into great musicians. Not only have I gained wisdom from my music professors, but I have also learned skills to help me obtain a successful career by taking UST 101A. For instance, I have learned how important social media is to not only the whole world, but the professional world as well. In addition, after taking the MBTI, I learned that I shared copious characteristics with the ESTP type, which stimulated me to use these findings to my advantage in completing several of my career and life goals. In conclusion, I have learned numerous essential life and career skills and have grown immensely during my first semester of college.

What the Hixson Scholarship Means to Me

 

I can still vividly remember the day that I received a letter stating that I was the 2011 Cass County recipient of the Christina Hixson Scholarship. When I saw that envelope with the Christina Hixson Opportunity Award return address, I ripped it open and screamed after I read the first sentence. I couldn't believe my eyes! I remember turning to my mom and telling her with tears in my eyes that I was a Hixson Scholar! My whole family was just as thrilled as I was, and I couldn't wait to tell everybody that I came across!

           As a 2011 Cass County recipient of the prestigious Christina Hixson Scholarship, I am so honored and privileged to enjoy not only the great financial assistance, but all the many other unparalleled benefits and support it provides. This scholarship will sufficiently enable me to accomplish my dream of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in music education. It was especially rewarding to me to help guide and inspire youngsters in music and also in life by participating in vocal and instrumental music in school and assisting my music teachers. Being awarded this monetary gift over a four-year period is reassuring and gives me a sense of successfully pursuing and accomplishing the career path I have chosen. In addition, what better assistance to help reach this goal but a wonderful success center on campus with all the amenities in the learning and studying process of course work. I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to not have the privilege of 24 hour access to the Hixson building, free printing, accessibility to great peer mentors and staff, and all the other wonderful amenities this scholarship provides. I am constantly in the Hixson study lab studying and doing homework for hours upon hours, and if it wasn't for this 24 hour accessibility, I would not be able to study and complete homework in a quite environment after late nights at the music building. Due to the fact that I am a music education major, I constantly have music, staff paper, theory handouts, lesson notes, lecture notes, and study guides to print off. It is such an immense relief to know that I don’t have to worry about paying for expensive campus printing. There is just not enough words to express how grateful I am to be awarded this prestigious scholarship and be provided with such wonderful amenities to ensure a successful completion of a college degree.
            In conclusion, I appreciate the opportunities this scholarship allows me, and I will strive to use them to the fullest extent in obtaining my career and life-long goals.

Social Media Week

At first, I was very leery about participating in the social media week. I have never had a twitter, Facebook, or other chatting accounts due to the stories I have heard about cyber bulling, stalkers, and people posting stupid stuff like what they are doing every five minutes. I came to the conclusion, that if I really wanted to talk to someone, I would give them a call or shoot them an email. It may seem really silly to many people that I had no care to tweet or post things on Facebook, but it was something I didn't believe in until I spent a week learning about social media.

           We are all living in a world that is constantly advancing in technology and becoming more dependent on this technology. With our advanced technology, we can find out almost anything through search engines on the internet. For example, just by typing in someone's name to Google, you can find their Facebook page, articles about them from newspapers, and even pictures. Employers all over the world use this great tool for getting a quick view of a interviewee's background, which based on their findings, helps them determine which candidate should get the job. Due to this fact, as an adult competing with others for the perfect job, you want to have a great internet profile. If you don't, an employer might suspect you are someone else that he finds on the internet with the same name and a bad reputation. This never occurred to me until I read the articles and attended our seminar.
           In addition, the use of social media not only helps you obtain a job, but is how you can connect with people all over the world in your same profession. I was very intrigued by the article titled "How Twitter Can Benefit You in College" when it stated that you can tweet with people who know about your major and have some tips about how to be successful. This also never occurred to me, and I soon realized how true it was when I created a twitter account. I began following many people that are currently carrying out a career in my field. For example, I began following Nate Simons and Jarrod O'Donnell, current band directors in southwest Iowa, and music publishing companies, stores, magazines/catalogs, and instrument manufacturing companies like Gemeinhardt. By reading their tweets, I have learned about new music, instruments, teaching tips, and life as a band director. All these connections will be beneficial to me as I am reaching my educational and career goals. For example, one person I follow, Mary Ann Stewart, has copious tips and sources on music education that will help me become an influential and successful band director someday.
           In conclusion, now that I have learned about social media and its many positive aspects, I will use this knowledge to my advantage. I will build a superb internet profile and connect with people in my profession that can supply me with beneficial knowledge and wisdom. By participating in these activities, I am taking small steps that will eventually lead me to accomplish my copious academic and career goals. 

My MBTI

   
            
       By taking the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), we all learned how we prefer to get through our day and how to apply these preferences to succeed in the classroom. People could have been described as one of the sixteen types. For instance, some people found that they possessed the characteristics most common with the type ENTJ, while others found that they shared characteristics with the ISFP type. Although I could have been labeled any of the sixteen types, I shared copious characteristics with the ESTP type; consequently, I now know what strategies I should take to succeed in the classroom and reach my numerous goals.



        Since I prefer extraversion and sensing over introversion and Intuition, I possess many different characteristics and preferences. First of all, I am more concerned with the outer world than the inner world, I concentrate more on people than I do Ideas, and I prefer making confident mistakes instead of thinking before acting. Furthermore, I prefer gaining motivation from my environment instead of from within myself, I prefer to observe with my five senses instead of with my memory, and I focus more on the given moment than future possibilities. Lastly, I concentrate more on factual details, then seeing the "big picture," I pay more attention to realities then possibilities, and prefer completing task step-by-step and not just pulling ideas out of my head of how to complete it.



       Due to the fact that I prefer thinking and perceiving, I possess many different characteristics and preferences than someone who prefers feeling and judging. First of all, I am more skeptical about who and what to believe and tend not to trust everyone and everything, firm-minded, prefer logic order, and always investigate with logic and reason. In addition, I consider the cause and effect of certain actions, adapt to change, curious and interested in aspects I don't know about and open-minded to new ideas. Furthermore, I defy conclusion until I acquire complete facts instead of desiring conclusions when incomplete facts are still present. Lastly, when I identify, I use sensing and instinct instead of thinking and judging.



      Because I completed the MBTI and learned about what type I am considered, I can use these findings to my advantage in completing several of my goals. For example, since I know that I look for efficient ways of completing a task, I will strive to find efficient ways to practice and study to reach my goal of making Dean's List every semester and completing my Bachelor's Degree. Furthermore, by using my skill of pursuing useful skills, I will strive to find beneficial playing, studying, and teaching techniques that will be valuable to my academic and career goals. Additionally, people who are classified as ESTP are notorious to be adventurers. This characteristic will help me reach my goal of visiting London, Wyoming, California, Norway, and trying copious new things. Furthermore, due to the fact that we are also known for being great troubleshooters, I will find and fix problems in my teaching, practicing, and studying, so I will reach all of my academic and career goals. Lastly, because ESTPs find fun in their work and spark others to have fun, I will to teach my students in a fun and exciting way to get them enthused about music and reach my goal of inspiring a student.



       In conclusion, after taking the MBTI, I learned useful facts about my type that I can use to live a successful life. First of all, I will find efficient ways to practice and study to accomplish my goal of making Dean's List every semester and completing my Bachelor's Degree. Secondly, I will strive to find beneficial playing, studying, and teaching techniques that will be beneficial to my academic and career goals. Furthermore, I will to find and fix problems in my teaching, practicing, and studying, so I will reach all of my academic and career goals. Lastly, I will teach my students in a fun and exciting ways to get them enthused about music and reach my goal of inspiring a student.

My Bucket List

Things to do before I graduate from Iowa State:

1. Make Dean's List every semester.
2. Make it into the Wind Ensemble.
3. Audition for Jazz Band.
4. Make it into Jazz Band.
5. Become the best flutist I can be.
6. Pass my continuation exam.
7. Pass all of my juries.
8. Play successfully at my senior recital.
9. Receive a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education! :)
10. Graduate with a 4.0.

Because I have always set high expectations for myself, I would like to make Dean's List every semester and graduate with a 4.0. Furthermore, I have always dreamed of being in Wind Ensemble, so I want to reach this dream, which will require hard work and dedication in my part. In addition, becoming the best flutist I can be, passing my exams and juries, and playing a successful senior recital, are also a part of my dream in part that they are very important stepping stones in achieving my dream of becoming a band director.

Things to do before I die:

1. Become a band director at a southwest Iowa high school.
2. Eventually teach at my old high school.
3. Have a student make it into All-State.
4. Have a student make all of the southwest Iowa honor bands.
5. Have my band receive ones at all contests.
6. Inspire a student.
7. Farm with my brother.
8. Raise horses, sheep, and other livestock.
9. Become a 4-H leader.
10. Visit Disney Land and buy a stuffed Mickey Mouse!!!! :) :) :)
11. Visit London, England.
12. Visit the city in Norway where my ancestors lived before coming to America.
13. Visit California.
14. Visit Wyoming.
15. Raise a family.
16. Have no regrets.

          Due to the fact that I love southwest Iowa and the wonderful music opportunities it offers, I would like to become a band director in that area, so I can still be a part of all the great opportunities. On the same note, I want to also teach at my old high school because the band room there was my second home and somewhere that I always wanted to be. Plus, the two people who inspired me to become a band director, my high school band director and her high school band director, were band directors there. What would be better than following in my two biggest role models' footsteps? Furthermore, the goal of having my students make honor bands and receive ones at contest is very important to me because I want all of my students to do their best and experience that great feeling of accomplishment. Due to the fact that my band director inspired me, I want to carry out this same inspiration and inspire someone else. In addition, 4-H and agriculture have been a huge part of my life; consequently, living on a farm, farming/raising livestock, and becoming a 4-H leader is something that I want to do for the rest of my life. Visiting all of the above places and raising a family has always been an interest of mine and something I want to do before I die. Finally, the goal of having no regrets is a goal I want accomplish because I don't want to live my life wishing I would have done something. You only get one life to live.

        As I nervously waited for the computer screen to show me the acceptance list for the 2008 Southwest Iowa Honor Marching Band, my head was spinning with many different emotions. The questions "did I make it?" and "did I work hard enough?" floated through my mind, along with the strong emotions of fear and anxiety. After what seemed like hours, the computer screen finally popped up with the acceptance list.  Simultaneously, I quickly shut my eyes afraid of what was displayed on the screen, but as soon as I found some courage, I slowly opened my eyes and gasped. My name was on the list! I couldn't believe it. I was going to march with the Southwest Iowa Honor Marching in Orlando, Florida!  At that moment, I knew I had done my very best and was rewarded with the best gift of all.
        During a luminous day in first hour band, my band director was informing the class about an approaching honor band audition.  She not only told us about the rich history and tradition this honor band possessed, but also the wonderful opportunities a member receives, like a trip to Orlando, Florida.  I knew that this would be such a wonderful opportunity, but I was certain that I wouldn't be accepted due to the outcome of previous honor band auditions.  If only I knew at the time that the reason I didn't make previous honor bands was because I didn't practice with consistency and determination, I would have had a lot more courage and ambition to audition for this honor band; all I needed was a little push from a important person in my family to get me on the right track.  After hearing about the upcoming auditions, my uncle Todd told me that he wanted me to audition for the Southwest Iowa Honor Marching Band. Being an alumnus of this honor band, he knew the joy and pride that accompanied its membership, and he wanted me to be able to experience it too. Not wanting to let one of my role models down, I signed up to audition for the honor band and began practicing for what would soon mark a great milestone in my life.  At the beginning, I fell into my same routine of not practicing, but soon my uncle began constantly hounding me to practice and would daily ask how long I practiced. Not only did I not want to disappoint my uncle, but I also wanted to see the happiness on his face when I told him I practiced for at least an hour every day; consequently, I began not only practicing for one hour a day, but practicing from two to three hours a day.  After several weeks of practicing, the anticipated day of auditions finally came, and accompanied by nerves, I walked into the audition room for the first time with well-prepared audition material.
       The moment I walked into that audition room, I knew that I had accomplished great things.  I knew whatever the outcome maybe I still reached my goals and had felt overwhelmed with satisfaction, pride, and determination to accomplish any of my hearts desires.  Due to the lesson I learned through auditioning for the Southwest Iowa Honor Marching Band, I will set goals and strive with determination to complete those goals for the rest of my life.  In my current college years, I will set goals to achieve excellence in academics, which will reward me with a college degree and a beneficial career.  Also, I will never forget that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.
       As stated before, becoming a member of the Southwest Iowa Honor Marching Band taught me the importance of striving for excellence in all aspects of life and the wonderful rewards that come with hard work and dedication.  Without experiencing this important event of my life, I probably would not strive for excellence and would not have the privilege of knowing what it feels like to accomplish a higher goal.  I hope many other people have also experienced this sense of pride and accomplishment that encourages them to strive for excellence in everything they do.