How I've Grown, What I've Learned

There are many things that I've learned over the course of my lifetime that have helped me grow up to be the person that I am today.  Unfortunately, many of the events that drastically changed who I am were negative.  However, I feel that they have changed me the most because I am  now a stronger and more independent person.
One of the events that has changed me drastically was my parent's divorce.  It was the topic of my essay that I used while applying for the Hixson scholarship.

I think that bad things happen to people every day.  However, it isn't about what you've been through-it's about how you react.  If you constantly let bad the things that happen bring you down,  you will never be able to live up to your full potential.  I try to take everything that has happened to me in a positive manner.  Sure, some of the events were horrible at the time and are still hard to bring up, but I now realize that I wouldn't be the person I am today if it hadn't been for those events.  For instance, I may not have gotten the Hixson scholarship if my parents hadn't gotten divorced in the manner that they did.  If I hadn't gotten the Hixson, I wouldn't have learned so many new things or met so many new people that helped me to become the person that I am now.
So here's some advice-remember that even the little things are remembered.  Most importantly, remember that every time that you interact with someone in any way, you could be changing them for the better or for the worse.  So it's your choice-
Would you rather leave a mark on this world as the person that was good but became better and made other people better in the process, or as the person that was satisfied with just being good?

What the Hixson Means to Me

There are no words  to describe what an amazing opportunity this scholarship has given me.  I felt like I spent my entire senior year applying for scholarships to help with the financial burden of college.  Of all the scholarships I recieved though, the Hixson was by far the most meaningful.  I remember reading my essay to so many teachers to make sure that it was absolutely perfect before I sent my application in.  And I cannot even begin to describe how happy I was when I was informed that I had recieved the award.  During the award ceremony at my high school a teacher of mine was the one that got to give me the award, and she was so happy that she cried during the speech.  It felt so amazing to know that people were proud of me and wanted to help me succeed.  This scholarship gives people like me the opportunity to get an amazing education.  Without this scholarship, I would have been constantly worried about money.  As a design student, it is extremely hard to have a job and work on the projects that are due for the major as well.  Because of this scholarship I can put my mind on my academics instead and work as hard as I know a Hixson Scholar should.

Social Media

Social media is a part of life.  Because of this, I wasn't surprised at most of the information that I read about the social media.  One of the biggest problems of networking sites is obvious-it consumes time.  And mattering on how much of a "facebook junkie" you are, it can take up more of your time than it should.  Even so, I don't think anyone would be willing to give up their networking sites based on how easily it distracts people.  The convenience and ability to keep in touch with friends no matter where they are in the world is just too nice to give up. 

I think that social media is also very beneficial.  People can upload videos, pictures, and create posts to get feedback from their peers.  For instance, a start-up photography business in my  hometown created a Facebook page where they uploaded all of the pictures that they took (with consent of course) so that people could comment and say what they liked and didn't like about the pictures.  Because of that page, they now have many seniors go there for senior pictures.  The seniors know what kind of pictures they will recieve due to the examples that were on the page. 

Personally, I try to spend as little time on Facebook and any social media sites as possible.  Time, especially in college, is a very precious thing.  I don't want to waste it on something pointless.  Honestly, I would rather read a book or watch a movie than sit and chat with someone on Facebook for two hours.  What is the point?  If I really want/need to get ahold of someone, I call them.  There is no special font for sarcasm, and I know many friendships and relationships that have been ruined due to misinterpretation of a status or comment on Facebook.  It isn't worth it.  Find another way to spend your time....Something that will actually benefit you in the future.

Blog Post 3-MBTI

I am not surprised that I was given an ENTP type.  However, I was surprised by how close some of my types were to being the opposite type.  For instance, in the thinking/feeling section, I only preferred the thinking type by two selections. 

A little bit about my type:

After reading about my type, I found that it got many qualities about me right.  I am a creative, imaginative, curious, and resourceful person that is stimulated by difficulties.  I see connections and patterns that others don't usually see.  I am also a very independent, enthusiastic, assertive, and outspoken person.  All of these qualities describe me very well. 

Because my major is design, many of these qualities will help me succeed.  A design major must be creative and imaginative, and must not get upset when something doesn't look the same way on paper as it did in our heads.  Because I usually have to work on projects by myself, I need to be an independent person.  I also need to be enthusiastic about my work, and be very precise about what I am doing. 

Overall, I am very pleased with my type.  I think that having my type specified for me allowed me to remember my strengths and take advantage of them. 

The Mystical Arts of Tibet

So...I'm not really sure what you want me to say about the seminar/speech thing I attended, but I will kind of just tell you what it was about...
First of all, I went to the seminar on The Mystical Arts of Tibet. Fun, right? Welllll......The people presenting were a group of monks from Tibet that couldn't speak english very well, so most of what they said I didn't understand.  However, there was a powerpoint that went along with the seminar that kind of explained what they were attempting to say. 
The seminar was about this thing called a mandala, which is super important to the monks because it is a tool used to create peace on earth and get rid of "negative energy."  It is made from millions of grains of sand, and is usually about five feet by five feet in size.  Different colors, shapes, and areas represent very different things. The four elements (water, earth, wind, and fire) are the basis of the construction on this thing called a cross vajra, which is the foundation on which the madala is physically and mentally constructed.
The five colors of the mandala(white, green, yellow, blue, and red) represent the five activities of enlightenment.
The circle in the center signifies unbreakable teaching.
The eight petals in the middle of the circle are the "channel petals."  These eight petals surround one main petal.

Then the monk talked about afflictions that the mandala would cure.
The five mental afflictions are ignorance, attachment, anger, pride, and jealousy.

There are also four steps that he talked about (suffering, karma, freedom from suffering, and path leading from suffering) that lead to enlightenment.

The seminar started out with this super awesome chant by the monks that was very interesting to watch.  I thought that the chant was probably the best part, based primarily on the fact that the monk was so hard to understand.  Halfway through his speech he actually had a translator come up and translate for him because he knew we couldn't understand him!  It's too bad that the translator was just as hard to understand.. :(

Here is a picture of the mandala!

My Bucket List :)

There are so many things that I can think of that I want to do with my life.  I actually have tons of "bucket lists" at home that I've made throughout the years of goals and fun little things that I want to do during my life.  Here are just a few of those things...fifty to be exact. :)




Bucket List for My Life:

1.       Go to a fancy restaurant and order desert first.

2.       Slow dance in the rain.

3.       Kiss in the rain. (Like the movies!)

4.       Change someone’s life drastically for the better.

5.       Always help a friend in need.

6.       Travel the world-without a schedule.

7.       Ride a double-decker bus.

8.       Go parasailing.

9.       Carve my name into a tree with the one I love.

10.   Learn my purpose.

11.   Conquer a fear…fearlessly.

12.   Go on a Cruise.

13.   Start a tradition.

14.   See Cirque du Soleil.

15.   Ride a gondola in Venice.

16.   Witness an eclipse.

17.   Learn to salsa dance.

18.   Climb a mountain.

19.   Ride a horse on the beach at sunset.

20.   Ride a horse bareback.

21.   Learn how to say “I love you” in 5+ languages.

22.   Go snorkeling.

23.   Go scuba diving.

24.   Ride in a hot air balloon.

25.   Go hiking in the rainforest.

26.   Ride a mechanical bull.

27.   Ride the largest roller coaster in the world.

28.   Swim with dolphins.

29.   Go on a safari in Africa.

30.   Go white water rafting.

31.   See the Grand Canyon.

32.   See Niagara Falls.

33.   See the Northern Lights.

34.   Go to the pyramids of Egypt.

35.   Go to St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican, Rome.

36.   See the Great Wall of China.

37.   Visit the Louvre.

38.   See the Eiffel Tower.

39.   Visit an old concentration camp.

40.   Visit the four corners.

41.   Allow myself to make mistakes.

42.   Get a complete makeover.

43.   Give a complete makeover.

44.   Crash a wedding.

45.   Shop in Rodeo Drive.

46.   Sleep in a castle.

47.   Fly first class.

48.   Buy jewelry at Tiffany & Co.

49.   Find my soul mate.

50.   Learn to forgive.

My Iowa State Bucket List:

1.       Maintain a 3.5 or higher GPA.

2.       Decide what to do for the rest of my life.

3.       Kiss at the campanile.

4.       Graduate without having missed a class.

5.       Study abroad.

Blog Post 1-At My Best

     The summer before my sophomore year of high school, I went on a week long mission trip to Jonesville, Virginia.  I was with a church group called the Sigourney Servants, and we were meeting up with hundreds of other people to help with the Appalachia Service Project.  The Appalachia Service Project is an organization that helps rebuild homes of people struck by poverty in the Appalachian Mountains. 
     During that week, I met an amazing family that taught me many lessons.  At that point in life, I had never questioned anything that I had done.  But after that week, I looked at the world through new eyes.  I realized that I was materialistic, I judged people way too fast, and I was selfish.  I now look at things a little differently. 
     I was in no way prepared for how that week was going to turn out, but am glad to say that it went perfectly.  Sometimes things just work out that way. 

     I am hoping that college works out that way also.  After coming to Iowa State University, I realized that I was in no way prepared for how this year was going to work.  Now, however, I look back on my first few weeks happily.  By studying hard, getting involved, and being outgoing, I have a feeling that my Iowa State experience will be a success. 

Hey!

Hello!

So...here's a little bit about yours truly:

My full name is Jenna Rae Kurtz.  I was born and raised in Sigourney, Iowa.  That means that I am the Hixson scholar for Keokuk County.

My favorites are:
color-purple
number-7
food-my grandma's homemade mashed potatoes and noodles
sport-volleyball
music-country

I'm super outgoing and love to laugh and talk! :)
Ask me for help on anything!