In class on Wednesday I really liked the activity we did when we got that little piece of paper with the various scenarios on them that the incoming freshmen next year have.  It was helpful to play it out with each other and get a sense of what we should do and how to go about a certain situation.  It was also pretty neat when we went around the room and just listed off different situations that freshmen can encounter in their first year of college, and if we’re being honest I probably hit every one of those at one point freshman year.

It’s definitely hard and it’s stressful transitioning from going to high school where it’s easy to get by and you really don’t have to do a whole lot of work, then coming to a university like Iowa State where yes, you actually have to do your work to be able to know what’s going on and actually read the texts for a class.  That was probably one of my worst things to get used too.  Reading wasn't really my thing in high school and procrastination was and boy did I bring that to college with me, and I feel like some of you can agree to that.  I’m getting better with some of the readings, especially this past week when I had to read something for my Criminal Justice class.  It’s nice when you’re actually intrigued by what you’re reading and you want to know and learn more about it. 

That’s something that I want to pass on that it’s going to be hard work in the beginning especially with gen ed. classes, but as you start taking classes that are more linked in to your major you will enjoy those classes.  All the hard work would be paid off and you’ll be able to reward yourself with doing something you actually love/want to do. I hope the freshmen will see that they've been given an amazing opportunity to be able to go to college and pursue they’re education and I really hope they remember they when they feel like times may be getting hard.

First week of class

Meeting the new group of Hixson Peer Mentors for next fall was really exciting to see who I'll be spending a lot of time with this semester and next fall.  It's also slightly nerve racking meeting new people, but that's like it is in any situation.  I can't wait till everyone becomes comfortable with each other and we can bond and be friends not only in class but outside of it as well.  Our group seems to get along very well and I'm excited to see what we can accomplish within the Hixson program this spring and in the fall.  

The activities that we have done in class so far I feel have been very helpful in getting to know one another.  Although some people get tired of icebreakers they have been nice and help with opening up about different things.  It helps with different ideas so then we can better understand what we need to do next year during our recitation classes.  Along with that, I find it helpful with most of us being first year peer mentors that we have other peer mentors from the previous year.  It’s good to know that they liked it and had so much fun that they wanted to do it again!  That makes me excited to look forward to this semester and the fall to see what great opportunities and experiences we will have together.

I also really like that the previous peer mentors can helps us with what we are going to go through.  They know where we’re coming from as being students and having to juggle all the class work with the majors and the Hixson program.  It will be helpful to ask them questions about being a leader and recitation class because they have already gone through it and they will give us a better idea of how to go about everything.  If I decide to be a peer mentor after next year I hope I would be someone that the incoming peer mentors would be able to go to too because I would like to be able to help out anyway I can because I would’ve been in their position just a year before.