Final Blog- Anna's Greatest Hits

Well Hello Friends,

What an adventure this semester has been so far. I cannot speak for everyone, but I can speak for most people when I say it has been quite amazing, to say the least. I have had so many different, new experiences. I have made numerous friends and have learned so much, mostly about myself.

Most of these experiences have been from the Honors Program. Seriously, it is my absolute favorite part about UNA. I am so lucky to be a part of this amazing family. Yes, we are seriously one big family, a dysfunctional family, but a family none the less. I am a little sad that this semester is over, and I am going to miss these blogs. Okay, maybe I won’t miss them that much. However, this last one will be a flashback. It will be one of those epic ones that tell a story and make connections to present a bigger picture at the end. You ready for this, Vince? It’s going to be awesome.

My experience here in the honors program really began with a little trip to Memphis. We all jumped upon a jolly bus and headed to a place most of us had not been to with people we sure as heck did not know at all. It is funny that most of first impressions of people have changed since then. As most of us were talking earlier in the lobby, we all thought Graem was shy. I also thought Chuck was a jock. He is athletic, but we all know Chuck now as his own being, not able to fit in any one category. The people I did not know at all became my family, my closest friends with which I spend most of my time. A value that Dr. Vince talked about tonight was community. I believe that is definitely something we have established here. This community has provided much support to me throughout this semester. Before my first Makowski test, I received much advice and hugs. When Drew White made me want to cry, my honors friends reminded me that I was in the honors program. I have spent so much time here. I have had study sessions, as well as fun times. This community has been here for my angry days, my breakdowns, and here to celebrate with me through my accomplishments.

I would like to introduce a little flashback, something I said in my very first blog.  

“My favorite part of the trip was the art museum. I have never been to anything like that before in my life, and it was so exciting. I had so much fun and learned a lot. My favorite part was analyzing and debating a ridiculous piece (in my opinion) made of eyelashes. It was so much fun to hear everyone’s perspectives. It still didn't change mine, but it definitely opened my mind to how others perceive art. I am looking forward to more memories here at UNA and in the Honors Program.”

I remember this moment. Graem was actually a part of it I believe. Now we are both sitting here together studying our butts off for finals. Actually, I think he’s just about to go play Halo. So, never mind on that one. In seriousness, this was a great moment. It actually ties into a class I took this semester, Art Appreciation. Although many people might say what a joke class this was, I really enjoyed it. My appreciation really started at the museum we went to, because I had never been to one before. I really enjoyed it. It made me realize how real, tangible and alive art is. So, it helped me in that class. Maybe it did not help academically necessarily, but definitely on a deeper, more personal level.

I met one of my very best friends on this trip. We sat next to each other on the bus. We did not know each other at all. Now, we are super close. Funny how that happens right.

Life continued, as well as our forum class. The common theme was values. I do not think my values have changed over the course of the semester; however, I have learned that it is completely and totally doable to have multiple values in one’s life. One thing I still stand for is love. Flash backing to another one of my blogs from early in the semester….

“I think that love governs all things. Love is the fuel behind our courage, the spark that illuminates our faith, and the push behind our passion. It is what makes us have friendship and be capable of creativity- because we "love" what we do and want to come up with more. We love ourselves to care about our health. We love others to have "helpfulness". Of course, love also produces respect. Therefore, love really does encompass anything. Coming from the Christian faith, love is the center of the universe-being God (God is love). So, love really is everything. Aside from religious views, as I have said before, love governs many of the values society cares about. “

Of course, I still agree with this. As I have seen this semester, love really does govern everything. It is the most important value to which we base our other values on. Love has taught me a lot. It has strengthened me and has reminded me of who I am and what I stand for. It has taught me to stand with who I am. It has taught me how to be a friend and how to keep the relationships that are important to me in my life, while also teaching me how to form new ones.

My old friends:





And some of my new ones:







It is all about balance. And also LOVE. :)


 Love is so very important. How could I have made it through this semester without love in my life, the love from others around me, as well as the divine love that gives me enduring strength?
 

Well, enough with the sappy things. At this point in the story, the semester got hard. Classes were in full swing and the POD was kicking my rear end.






Here is some comments from blogs at that point:

“More than anything, I realized I do not know anything.”

 “Life happens. Let us embrace it from the very core of our beings wholly unsure of what is to come. “

These sound pretty eloquent and epic, but no need to fear. They only stemmed from the inner depths of my frightened and tiresome soul. However, it is ironic to read these things now, finals being just around the corner. Life does happen. It is a roller coaster my friend. Some things happen that you cannot control at all. This semester I feel as though I have learned to better deal with these situations, as well as learned to control myself in these given situations. Along with love, I can get through anything.

I did not know all though. Here comes the “big question” that has been a common theme this semester. It has reoccurred not only in my academic life, such as Forum, but my personal and social life as well.

“The same question has been haunting me since I get to UNA in various forms around campus. It is this: “Who am I and what am I called to do?” This is such a large question, that, to be honest, I don’t even know if I can understand it, much less answer it myself.  College, thus far, has been challenging, exciting, fun, stressful, awesome, etc- however; no revelations of any kind have been conceived even leading me to this answer. So, fellow bloggers, hopefully by the last one of these, or at least when you see me getting my diploma, I will be able to answer it for you.”

I still don’t think I can give you an exact answer. That, however, I feel is okay. I do better understand the question and how to come to it. I have learned a lot about people, especially myself, over the course of this semester. I have learned, for one thing, that I am a complicated human being. I am made up of multiple dimensions. I have many paths and opportunities to choose from. Generally, I have a wonderful life. So, I know that much. I know who I want to be. I know that I am called to themes, one of them being love, another service. I think these are good answers thus far.

Continuing on the journey of my life (this semester), we are then brought to a wonderful time, full of questions and stress. How shall we overcome life’s challenges? One word: Courage!

“It takes courage to ask questions in class. It takes courage to do many of the things that make us better human beings, as well as progress society. Many of our world's greatest philosophers, inventors, scientists, and leaders had to have courage to accomplish whatever it was they made them so "great". Courage is not easy, or else all of us would have it. Like, love it is a fuel. It fuels many other aspects of our lives that make them better.”

I have learned this in full. Recently, I have talent he courage to try many new things. I interviewed to be a SOAR counselor, a Community Advisor for next semester, as well as a job back home over the break. Thanks to my fearless courage to try these things confidently, as well as my awesome lucky interview outfit, I was blessed with all of these things. I am very excited to participate in all of them. It took courage to apply, it took courage to interview, and most of all it took courage to have confidence in myself to believe that I can do it. That is what has made all the difference.




Courage gave me strength during those long hours at band practice (especially Saturday morning). Courage is a value that I have implemented into my life. It is important. With love, it is helping me figure out who I am.

At this point in the semester, I am really understanding my specific purpose in this forum. I am to find who I am and answer some questions that I have always had. I think that has been a fun journey for myself. It has opened my eyes to things I would have never thought to look at before. Trying to figure all this out has made me a great observer, thinker, and listener. It has made me curious. With courage, I am able to ask questions to make my process even better.

"You have clear identities that normally stay stagnant during your time there. College, however, is a completely different story. You are no longer really defined by the same things. It could possibly be a time to change your identities, or just add new ones. I have been flooded with so many new opportunities since I have been here. It is hard trying to balance it all. So, I am having a great time. I have learned a lot about myself as a person, as well as determined some goals for myself and future. Despite all the questions, my future looks bright. I am thankful for the adventures I have had, as well as excited for the ones ahead."

As you can tell, I was very excited. I do not think this was taken from a blog based on a speaker. I believe this was a free standing one that I wrote for myself, in my self-discovery. I know this all sounds cheesy, but it really does mean a lot to me.

In college, especially, we are stupid. We make mistakes. It is part of the college experience right?

"We make mistakes. Often times, those mistakes shape who we are today.  We would not have enjoyed the roller coaster that is life without the twists, turns, and unexpected bumps and jolts."

Is that not so true though? I wrote this off of what the CEO of a bank said. Surely, the guy knew what he was talking about. It is important to remember the big picture. It is important to not let the twists, turns, and stomach drops keep you from enjoying the ride. Roller coasters are a thrill right? Well then such is life.
(This is finals week. I really need to remember this.)

Then comes October 2nd. It was my birthday ya'll. I turned 19 that day. It was a pretty good day. I ate lots of chocolate and went to eat after forum. Ironically, it was one of my favorite speakers that night. Alyson's dad, the CEO of Shoals Hospital, spoke with us. I really, really liked him and everything he had to say. That day reminded me of what I want to do. It reminded me of why I want to do it. I would definitely want to work for him, or someone like him in my future.
He had a mission statement for his life. It seemed to be working pretty swell for him. So, I thought that making one would be good for me. I also thought it might help in coming up with some of the answers to my self-actualization questions.

"So, I just have to come up with a mission statement for Anna Goggans to live by and make decisions from. Okay, I can do that. I'll get back to you when I have made my final copy. I have a plan. I am ready to execute it. The journey is already in motion."

Well, I still don't have anything too neat yet. I figure love and courage will play a role. Maybe my motto will be, "Love courageously". Is that already taken? I'm sorry friends. It is still a work in progress.

As Walt Disney said, "If you can dream it, you can do it."
This provides me with much encouragement and inspiration.
Do the right thing, the right way, for the right reason.


Awesome advice right? Plus, who doesn't love Disney?!

Anyways, I digress.
So, life went on. It was pretty boring considering the last big event was my birthday. Since I am not big on Halloween, October is not so much my month anyways.

As I am sure you have probably guessed, band has not exactly been what I expected. I have always had a passion for music. Despite my experiences and my decision to not march next year, I still hope that it stays in my life. Here are some of those thoughts when I was making that decision and realizing how music played a role in my life:

"Music is something that has kept me grounded, sane, and has reminded me of who I am and who I want to be. Relating to my life questions, it helps me find myself. Scratch that, it is helping me find myself.Music amazes me and makes me happy. I hope that I never loose that no matter where I am or what I am doing. "

Reading this right now makes me very sad to be quite honest. I know that band is no longer something for me. I know that music can be played and appreciated in different ways. However, this will always be something special to me. Band was my life. I guess with college, we have to leave old things behind. This must be mine. It is sad. However, I am excited for the future. Maybe one day I will still get to play. I am playing next semester so hopefully I can enjoy that as much as I did before I came here.
I know it may not be a big deal to most people. However, this is a big deal to me. UNA's band was one of the main reasons I came here. Knowing now that it is not what I thought it was, nor is it where I am supposed to be is a little hard to deal with.
I am moving on though. I am leaving that part of my past behind.


Yes, all those medals were earned.


This is actually a picture of me right before my UNA scholarship audition. How ironic right?




Here's me rippin' it up sophomore year on my epic solo. Yeah, I'll miss that.



However, music will never leave me. It is such a vital part of who I am. It has shaped me into the person I am now. Maybe that was a part in discovering myself and who I am. I had to see myself stripped of something I thought made up who I was to see that I am something else. This process has shown me, especially through courage and my community, that I am so much more. I do not know what yet, but I have big plans in store in my life.

"As I got older, I realized that I had a passion for different people. I realized that I really had a passion for missions, specifically. I loved children as well. So, I started going on Mission trips working with lots of different types of children. Those have always been such fond memories for me. I hope to continue doing such things. Even though this is just a small portion of all of the things that shape me as a person, they help to define who I am and who I want. I want to help people more than anything. Also, I want to give hope to people, in any way. I want to make people believe in magic, in some way. I still really don't know who I am, but I am getting a better idea of the person I was and the person I believe I am meant to be."

Maybe this is the path I should follow instead. In previous blogs I have talked about my mission trips. That is definitely something I want to continue to do. Relating to my Disney obsession here I see I talk about Magic. But in reality, I do think it is important. It is important for people to experience love and to feel hope. It is important for every single girl on this planet to feel like a princess at leas once in their life. I think this had to do with the talk about childhood, about doing what makes us happy. Well, helping people makes me happy. It always has and it always will. I love putting a smile on someones face. I love taking care of others. I love making a difference. Whether I do that on another continent or in the future hospital I will be working at, I hope to affect people's lives.


As I have said before, some of my sweetest memories are helping others.
Children, especially.
There is just something about being around the beautiful innocence of a child that fuels me.
I love feeling their gracious love.

I worked at a summer camp over the summer. Let me tell you something, it was NOT easy. There are times where I wanted to strangle those kids. However, I loved them regardless. I loved those special moments where we connected. I loved the hugs and the fights with mud. I loved putting a princess band aid on their scraped knees.

So, overall, I guess this has really been a scrapbook. I have shown you my thoughts and experiences throughout the semester, as well as my memories from the past. Both have shaped me into the person I am this very day, this very second of this very hour.
We are constantly changing. I think that is why I cannot so acutely define who I am. I know who I want to be and I have plans to get me there. As we have talked about, sometimes life is crazy. However, I feel as though I can tackle those curves better now. I know what it takes to get to where I want to be.
I know my priorities and I know that love is all you need.
I have seen and felt courage and its importance in my life.
I also feel my community and its important presence in my life.
I guess in retrospect I may have really answered more questions than I asked without really answering the first. However, I am okay with that. College is not over. This semester is not over. I have much more to learn. I also have much more to learn about myself.
As quoted by one of my favorite songs, "My learning isn't done." It is never done.



Who am I? Guess it depends on the hour. At this particular moment, I am a tired, sleep-deprived college freshman stressed about finals. Who knows what tomorrow has in store?

I know one thing is for sure:

"I NEVER want to work in Corporate America. EVER. That is definitely not where I should be."

Sometimes I just crack myself up. For real.
And that, my friends, is Anna's Greatest Hits. I believe I have said some pretty deep stuff, as well as some funny stuff, and maybe even just crap you really don't care about. That is okay, I feel you.
I apologize for my brain being all over the place sometimes. Thanks for keeping up. Truly, you are amazing.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!!
Much love from Anna Goggans
Peace.

"Corporate Marshall"

Corporate Values:

The speaker, such a nice old man, first talked to us about his carrer with many different oil companies. I guess that type of work interests him. He then began talking about the importance of networking, and other such skills needed in the workplace, or really for life. Networking is something my mother has always taught me. She always told me. "It is not what you know, but who you know", which to a certain extent describes much of what he talked about last night. It is actuallyt quite relevant in my life right now. I was looking for somewhere to work back home over the holidays. I had heard Chick fil A was hiring for Christmas break, so i called them. I mentioned that I knew people that worked there, one of them including the talented Abigail Caitlyn. From that, I got an interview this Saturday. So, shout out to Abbie! Also, wish me luck on this interview. I really need it you guys.
He talked about business and his observations on corporations. He mentioned a lot of helpful things.
From the employee perspective, what matters??
He said a successful employee exhibits the following:
*show up
*be prepared
*be profesional
*do the right things the right way, consistently
*exceed expectations

I think these are all very important characteristics and actions to display in the workforce, especially in a corporate place.

Prepared:

Have scenarios in your head, that way nothing can go wrong. This, I think, applies to what I want to do. In nursing, you are always going to have to be thinking on your feet and dealing with new and different situations all the time. However, if you have planned out in your head what to do for each situation (scenario), then most of the time you will not have problems.
He told us to "burn the midnight oil" if necessary. To a certain degree, I agree with that. But as his lecture continued, I got the sense that his career was his life. For some people, that is great. However, I want to be a balanced person. I do not want my entire focus in my life to be my career.
Communication, of course is a big one. We all need to know how to communicate effectively, no matter what career path we choose. I think that is something that is crucially important in any field. Demonstrating what you know matters more than what you actually know.

Doing the right thing...?

That is a field that was quite fuzzy between the two of us. The way he described what he thought was right was a little sketchy, being a little hazy in his explanation. What matters to him, or to that specific company, may be different for someone else somewhere else. So, I think that is a very subjective matter.
It is important to learn the rules of effective team building. "Teams" will be everywhere. Simply, it is important for everyone to know how to work with others, because people will be doing that for the rest of their lives.
He also talked about integrity, which is something I highly value. I was very pleased when he brought this up. He said, "You never want to say anything not true. You loose credibility." He was definitely right. This also applies to what I want to do. I can't be telling patients wrong or guessed answers. It is better to tell them I do not know and I will figure it out. It could be a serious matter, like giving someone false hope, or false bad news.


He told us to capture opportunity and be on top. He told us that in order to exceed expectations, we must manage our expectations by learning to communicate, clarify, anticipate, and review our performance.
KISS- Keep It Simple Stupid!! <-- This was hilarious, and I have heard it before. (My 6th grade math teacher.)

Perception is Reality:
The people you work for only know what they see you do. People are watching you, always.
The way you look, the way you dress, and the way you carry yourself is very important because not only is that their first impression of you, but that is most of what they see.

The next part of my discussion will be focused on what i don't agree with, but things that I do see the productive aspects of.
He talked about the importance of office etiquette and conformity. They way he presented it, it seemed as if he would change himself to fit his job. Although he did say it was important to find the right culture in your workplace that fits you. However, he did stress the importance of being the person they want you to be.
This reminds me of my favorite show, How I Met Your Mother.




Marshall starts working in the corporate world and "changes", or so his wife says. Anyways, the point is he had to change many of the things he valued most to fit the job he had to do, to work in the corporate world. I NEVER want to work in Corporate America. EVER. That is definitely not where I should be.
But, many of the things he said tonight were helpful for me and my career.


Cheers my friends!

Anna :)

P.S. I don't think this will be the last blog, by the way.

The future UNA, the future ME

Tonight Mr. Steve Pierce came to Forum tonight to talk about the values most employers look for, as well as the future of UNA.
He is a trustee for the University and is a business owner. He began with discussing "our plan" for our lives. I, like some students in the class, know what I want to do after college. I want to be a pediatric nurse and eventually get my masters to be a nurse practitioner. I am currently on the right track, as I am in the honors program and hopefully that will help me get in the nursing school here. See what I did there? I hope you are laughing right now. He mentioned that we are the "cream of the crop". This reminds me of eighth grade. My algebra teacher gave us a speech about being the "cream of the crop". It was an advanced class so at the time it was quite hard for me, as well as for the rest of the class. So, we obviously were struggling. That was the premise for the speech. It was humorous and made for comedy all through out high school. Sorry, I digress. He talked about the importance of networking and getting involved. He talked about the significance of shaking someone's hand and making contact. This is something that my mother has always taught me. Most of my friends in high school made fun of me for trying to network, and being professional in my interactions. They said I was "sucking up", but I was really just networking. They just didn't understand. Now, I hope they are laughing. Not to brag, but those are skills that I feel that I have masteres over the years. I have no fear in putting myself out there and taking risks, like Mr. Pierce talked about. Also, my facebook is clean. He talked about employers looking at that and making judgements as such. That is something else I feel I do not have to worry about. The one thing he discussed I do have to worry about is the presence of the global compeition in the job market. He is definitley right. We are going to be competing with people from all over the world for jobs here in the U.S.
He was being very encouraging and compelling by telling us to not waste our talents that God has given us. It is also important to never stop learning.

Another thing that he talked about alot was the new additions to come to UNA in the future, I knew the premise  of the future plans, but not the whole package. Of course, concerning coffee and chicken, I am all in! I am a big fan of both starbucks and Chick fil A. So, this will make Anna one happy camper. One thing, however, I was not aware of were the new counseling facilities. I think that is a very nice, unique addition. I also think it could be of much help to many students. Another thing that heavily interests me is the building of the new science building. Having lots of classes in Floyd, being a nursing major, I can definitely tell you that Floyd is JANK. I mean, I'll say it. It is for dang sure. Everyone knows it. Floyd is gross and outdated. I feel that having a new science building will be beneficial and will encourage others to pursue degrees and careers in the science fields.

I really liked this speaker, as well as the content discussed.

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Peace Out

Anna Goggans

My Childhood...

The mulit-talented Mr. McGee came to talk to us tonight and share his life story, as well as provide insight on how we should stay true to ourselves.
He was born in Florence and raised on a farm. He was familiar with hunting, fishinng, and was quite family oriented. He also grew up around heavy equipment and eventually began to take up welding (that ended quickly, though). He was a boy scout, which he cherished very much. As a kid, as well as an adolescent, he loved adventurous things. He originally wanted to live out West. He eventually went to UNA, then Auburn University to study Forrestry. As he got older, he decided that he was getting far from his roots, from his true spirit, so he decided to become an artist. His career as an artist began with metal and the outdoors were a major influence on his works.
Throughout his life, he has had many wonderful life experiences. He has been all over the world and has done many different things.
The main things that he wanted to teach us was to stay true to our roots. He told us to remain stagnant with our true spirit and make sure that we do not get caught up in the busy, complicated world that is today. He taught us to slow down and to go back to our childhood and see what really made us happy then and let that really govern what we are doing now (in a way). He told us to develop our own set of principles to live by, to establish a moral foundation. The people who we looked up to when we were young are important, because they are a part of that foundation. Good values are instilled in us at an early age.
So, basically, what I got from this was an answer to a question that I have been having the day I got here. In former blogs, you can see that I am getting different answers to this question and that I have not really yet come up with a final answer. I think I have determined that I never will. Anyways, the question, "Who am I?", can be answered by looking at my childhood and starting from there. With the help of Mr. McGee, that conclusion has been made. So, for the remainder of my blog I am going to explore some of my favorite things as a child. By looking at all of these, maybe an answer of who I am or who I want to be can be determined.
My favorite movie growing up was The Little Mermaid. I loved Disney, in general , of course, but that movie was my favorite. I was obsessed. I had all the dolls. I had blankets, pillows, and a whole room dedicated to the princess from the sea. I think this was important to me because of how fantastical it really was. Everyone wants to believe in magic and love. This was it for me. Also, it shows that no matter where you come from, everyone deserves a prince. As chessy as that sounds, it gives me comfort and hope even to this day. Because, despite popular belief, I am such a romantic. Anyways, this was a big part of my childhood.




As I got older, I realized that I had a passion for different people. I realized that I really had a passion for missions, specifically. I loved children as well. So, I started going on Mission trips working with lots of different types of children. Those have always been such fond memories for me. I hope to continue doing such things.








Even though this is just a small portion of all of the things that shape me as a person, they help to define who I am and who I want. I want to help people more than anything. Also, I want to give hope to people, in any way. I want to make people believe in magic, in some way. I still really don't know who I am, but I am getting a better idea of the person I was and the person I believe I am meant to be.

Later friends

Anna Goggans

P.S. I really liked this guy. He seemed pretty cool.

My Hopes and Dreams- Study Abroad

Of course I want to study abroad! I think it is important for everyone to experience something like that. I have been out of the country before and have always enjoyed it. My most recent trip, a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, was amazing. It was very different, the culture there being something I have never experienced before. I learned a lot about people and how they function. Also, how environment plays such a big part of how we live day to day life. I mostly stayed in an area that was very poor and definitely not commercial. We has to travel down very small, sketchy, and sometimes long roads to get to where we were going. It was not the "tourist" area if you get what I mean. I also learned that where I am from is very conservative. Many things that are legal, or accepted, are simply tabbo here. Anyways, it was a very rich experience. Along with the work we did there and the impact I had, I learned a lot and gained more from them emotionally than I could ever give them physically.
Overall, it was amazing. I love travel and I love experiencing new people and places.
Therefore, in my time here I want to travel. The best and most enriching way to do that is study abroad. Actually, I know exactly how I am going to do that. Of course, the cost is a big issue. However, I have found an opportunity perfect for me that won't be too bad cost wise. That is the Nursing trip to Honduras. Not only is it a great opportunity to travel and experience a foreign country, but it is a great way to do what I love and gain experience in my field. This is real life experience because I never know where I could be working or what I could be working with. Therefore, I think this would be great for me. It also does not interfere with with my schedule and graduating on time. I cannot wait for this trip, whenever it will be in my time here at UNA. I also can speak some Spanish and that will probably help me there. Being in the Dominican, I learned, though, that Spanish learned here and conversational Spanish spoken in other countries is quite different. That was also something very interesting to me. I learned a lot of new Spanish there.








Thanks Google for the pics by the way!

Needless to say, I am excited about this trip!

UNA provides so many opportunities to study abroad, so why not?!

Peace Out

Anna Goggans

Do the right thing because it's the right thing to do.

Hello dear honor friends,

Tonight a lovely lady by the name of Ms. Libby Jordan came to talk to us tonight. You have no idea how happy I am that it is finally a female!!! It's about time now, Vince. You sexist or something? I'm just kidding. Hopefully he won't see that one.
She began with a story of an earlier time about her kids and an encounter at Dairy Queen. Basically, she misjudges. Like all of us at somepoint do, she put herslef over another woman and her children because of the impression she got from her appearance. She learned a lot that day though and she will never forget it. Everyone has worth and value.
Also, everyone is a salesperson. In some shape, form, or fashion, we all are selling something. In the basic job market, we are selling ourselves to possible employers. We are selling ourselves to the opposite sex in hopes of finding a mate.
She sells an image, the town of Florence. She told us that UNA, as well as the Honors Program indirectly, play a big part in that. That kind of made me feel very proud. I love UNA and the town of Florence.
She also discussed a lot about dishonesty. She related it to the difference between being legal and ethical. I had never really thought of that before but it makes complete sense to me. Something that I question myself is speeding. Is it legal? No. Is it ethical? I mean, why not? I am not saying it is I am just posing the question. It brings a new light on things. Obviously, we should be as honest as possible, as it will get us far in life. Even if we have to stand alone, doing the right thing is always important. Cheating, and things of the like, tend to weaken your core. It is a gradual thing that will catch up with you and deteriorate you as a person. I definitely can attest to this statement. I think that is true for anything. When you do something you know you shouldn't, there is always that feeling of guilt that just seems to really eat you up. Maybe I am the only person who feels that way.
A good example of how being honest gets you places is of her story with the new public library. Because she told them it was actually going to be over budget, they gave more money. That absolutely shocked me. For one, it was a lot of money to begin with.
I really liked everything she had to say. Relating to jobs and such, I felt that her stories were relevant and helpful. It was nice because she did not display herself as perfect in any way, that makes her more relatable. She was real, as well as a very respectable person in general.
Overall, awesome speaker. Loved it.

Later friends!

Anna Goggans

Hospitals and Walmarts

Today was very interesting to say the least. Dr. Desselle jumped right into the nitty gritty with FREAKING AWESOME pictures. I love it when this happens because all the girls feel sick and the guys just feel wierd because they see an infested penis on the screen hoping it will never happen to them. I, on the other hand, think it is fascinating. Of course it's not like I "enjoy" seeing disease, but I feel like it is important, necessary, and neat to analyze. I guess that it is a good thing I want to work in the medical field then.
Dr. Desselle was an LSU graduate and has many years of experience being a surgeon. He really began talking about the pros and cons of having medicine as a career. However, I feel like these really apply to doctors, specifically. I think this because I have weighed out the differences in nursing and doctors. Sure, I won't get paid as much. But golly, I won't have that con list like he does. I have shadowed Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Doctors. From that experience, I have realized that Nursing (Nurse Practitioning)  is what I want to do. Tonigh has only emphasized and fueled that passion more.
Some of his values in learning and practicing medicine were: mentorship, perserverance, and trust. I feel like these are super important values to have. Specifically in the workplace, trust is important. My family and I have to trust in my grandmother's nurses and doctors to take care of her because we can not be at the nursing home that is two hours away all the time. We have to trust that they will fullfil her needs because she cannot remember herself. That, my friends, take a lot of trust. The patients, as well as the families, are entrusting lives into these people. That is a big undertaking and trust is something that needs to be established first. That is why I think it takes people of character to work in the medical field. It does not matter if you are the smartest doctor in the world, if your patients cannot trust in you and your character, they will not receive your service.
I disagree with him on one thing. I do think the larger hospital, less private practice theory of change is good. I mean, of course he does not want this. He has his own practice. However, it is not about money. It is not about how expensive it is. It is about the patients and the quality of their care. It basically goes back to the well-being of the population. I believe that should come first, before anything else. If it happens that the way to improve care for everyone is through the big hospital chain, then I believe that is the way to go.
Finally, he left us with important advice: to try to identify with someone that can guide us through difficult decisions and to always cherish our family.
Overall, tonight has reminded me of why I want to do what I want to do.

Peace Out

Anna

Farming. Roll Tide.

This week, Mr. William Lee spoke to us about his job and they way he conducts his business. Although he has not been my absolute favorite speaker, he did have a lot of good things to say.
First of all, Mr. Lee was a firm believer in hard work. That was something that was evident beyond his words. That was evident from the sun on his face and the assurance in his voice.
He is an Auburn graduate and now is a commercial farmer. I thought it was interesting that they grow non-perishable items, such as wheat, soy beans, cotton, and corn. This is smart because they can store it for a long time if it does not sell right away.

 He described the farming business as being labor intensive, but also something that requires thought and heart. He says, "It doesn't take a lot of people, but it does take good people." I think this concept can be applied to many tasks in life. Specifically, it reminds of one important organization that I am in on campus- the POD. Dr. Jones always talks to us about our values as a group. He talks about character, excellence, and the dedication it takes to do what we do. The thing I am most proud of is our size. Relatively, we are small for a college band. We probably could be bigger if we wanted. However, to practice and perform the way we do, we do not need those numbers. It is not about the numbers, it is about the quality of those numbers. In which case, the POD has a lot of. That is something we are proud of, as well as Mr. Lee.

A lot of the things Mr. Lee talked about were just simply not applicable to me. I could not relate nor understand what he was talking about. But, I could take the concepts he discussed and apply them to my life. He talked about how diversifying his crops made for much more certainty and production. This is the same in life. When we are only focused on one thing, it is much easier to fail. However, when we have backups and other interests, the liklihood at us failing at all of those things are quite slim.

Farming is a family business. Mr. Lee has been involved for a very long time. Farming also takes a lot of capitol or a lot of land to start. It also takes a lot of risks, knowing when and what to invest. With all of these challenges, Mr. Lee still holds strong to his original values and that is quite respectable.

I was curious about the plants themselves and I actually found out from Mr. Lee that most of what they actually spray on them is against weeds, not insects. The method he uses to farm also surprised me. The fact that they kill a whole field (pretty much) to farm something else shocked me. I wonder what are the reall effects, as Mr. Lee avoided many of those direct questions.

He also talked about the relation between farming and population growth. This reminded me of Makowski's class, as we were talking about the first days of farming and how it sparked population. I wonder if other developing countries are going through that same spark now with farming. It also makes me wonder if we ARE going to run out. There is only so much land on the earth. It reminds me of my hometown- good ole Hazel Green. Abbie was right. Many of the farming, cotton, fields are being replaced with subdivions. There is one big cotton field right next to my house and I wonder when the day is that it will no longer be there. It kind of makes me sad because one day the small country town I grew up might turn into a city with it's own WalMart.

Lastly, the question of success was brought up. What is the key to success? Mr. Lee says not only hard work, but to take advantage of technologies and know how to use them. However true this may be, it wasn't exactly the answer I was looking for. However, I assume that one word cannot answer that question. It also is different for every person. For me, I really don't know yet. I've tried a lot of things to be "successful" and I am not sure if those have worked yet. Check back in four years.

Does anyone know the answer to world hunger by the way? Just asking.

Later

Anna Goggans

I know my learning isn't done.

This song pertained a lot to me around the time I was graduating high school. Although I still think it applies now. We are finding ourselves and learning new things everyday, things academically and things that have nothing to do with school.
I am posting this video because I hope some will watch. The lyrics are with it (that is what is most prevalent). Even if you don't like the style, see what you think. Does this apply to you? Am I the only one that thinks this is brilliance?
Anyways, Enjoy.
Golden- Farewell Fighter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkRYLrXTmP8

On a musical sidenote..haha.. Get it?

I have always been affected by music. It is something I have always loved and something I have always done. I have been in band since the 6th grade and playing my trumpet is something I could not ever imagine just not doing. Well, in case you haven't noticed from talking to me, band here hasn't exactly been what I was expecting. I feel hesitant at first to talk about this, but decided to anyways because it is something heavy in my life here at UNA. As everyone knows, the POD sucks up all your time. It is tiring and just to be quite honest, hard. For all you athletes, yes I know it is not hard physically necessarily. It is hard in a entirely different way. I never thought I would hate playing my trumpet. However, now I do. That is what makes it so hard. Most days I dread band practice and I look forward to when the game is over.
There are times, however, when the fire rekindles and everything is worth it. That, my friends, is halftime. There is no drug out there that will produce the same high as performing a halftime show with the POD will give you. It is like nothing else.
There are also other times that remind me why I love music.
Monday night was one of those nights. I got lucky enough (Thank you KATE PARTAIN!!!) to acquire Civil Wars tickets and got to go to the concert. It was AMAZING! It was absolutely amazing. Those are some talented musicians. Normally I am a little biased with singers because I can do more on my horn. But, what they do with their voices is something else. The same effect could not be produced by one instrument, or with a whole orchestra for that matter. They way they bend and harmonize is unparallel. It was simply amazing. They reminded me of the passion I have behind music. I love to hear it, I love to play it, but mostly I love to feel it. I love the message behind the music. If that is through the notes, the dynamics, the piece as  a whole, the lyrics, the ending..anything that makes music what it is. I appreciate so much of it. Music is something that has kept me grounded, sane, and has reminded me of who I am and who I want to be. Relating to my life questions, it helps me find myself. Scratch that, it is helping me find myself.
Music amazes me and makes me happy.
I hope that I never loose that no matter where I am or what I am doing.

Do the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons.

October 2nd was such a lovely day. Besides the fact that it was my birthday, it was cold (my favorite kind of weather) and the day was full of smiles and friends. I ate lots of sugar and was quite happy.
Aside from my digression, the speaker at forum also contributed to my wonderful day. He has definitely been my favorite thus far. Yes, he is the CEO of a hospital, which obviously appeals to me because of the profession I want to pursue, but I also admired him as a person, as well as his decisions in life. I like the way he told us his story. He was very real and presented his values in a way where we could see them without him ever actually having to say them. He is a respectable person, in every aspect of the word. I respect the way he runs his hospital and hopefully can one day work for him, or have an opportunity to observe. He emphasized that we need to take care of ourselves. We need to decide what we want to do, make a plan, and do it. I really liked the metaphor he used of aviation. Sometimes we will experience turbulence, we might have to make a stop along the way, and the destination may be farther than we expected. However, with determination we will get there. This made me feel very good. I have not always been the smartest or most talented. But, I have a plan and a will. That drive has fueld many of my decsions, such as Mr. Berry, and has given me hope for my future.
He alluded to Walt Disney, to which he recieves many brownie points for that, saying. "If you can dream it, you can do it." I have some big plans for mysef in the future, some of which including international efforts, most of which my family has nevers supported. However, that will not stop me. In fact, I look forward to the journey that will get me to where I am going.
His mission statement is something I admire and that I hope to adopt in my own life some way:
Faith
Family
Career
Community
In that order..
Of course I am not in the same place he is in life, but I feel like this can still apply to me. In the very least, it motivates me to come up with my own and life by it. Maybe once I come up with that, it will help answer the questions I have posed about myself in previous blogs. There we go! So, I just have to come up with a mission statement for Anna Goggans to live by and make decisions from. Okay, I can do that. I'll get back to you when I have made my final copy.
He also used a metaphor of a sack. He used imagery of a person walking carrying a sack on their back and every bad decision was like adding a brick to that sack. I hope that my sack never gets too heavy to hinder my goals and dreams. Of course, I am not going to say I do not already have bricks. We all have them. We have all made bad decisions at some point. However, I am not going to let that weigh me down.
Mr. Berry gave me lots of great advice, as well as expressing the values he exhibits in his workplace and life. He gave me hope and motivation to keep going and strive for the best. He reminded me of why it is important to work hard and not take anything for granted. I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I have a God that loves me, a country I can be free in, and parents that support and nuture me.
I have a plan. I am ready to execute it. The journey is already in motion.

The President of Bank Independent speaks...

Mr. Mauldin, President of Bank Independent

Tuesday evening, Mr. Mauldin, the President of Bank Independent came to speak to us. In general, he talked to us about the values he holds at his bank. It made a lot of sense, and applied to me as a customer, future businessperson, as well as a person in general.  I did not really know what Bank Independent was, nor how it functioned. It serves locally and has roughly 500 employees. I got the vibe that the employees were one big family, metaphorically and literally. There are five words that they like to conduct business by: people, community, strength, service, and convenience. There, it is all about the customer. That was a very comforting fact. Connecting the values he uses in business to real life, he told us about values that we should have in college. He said, “What you do now will affect you for the rest of your life”. That really stuck to me. I did not realize the weight that this time in my life has. However, I really felt like Mr. Mauldin was talking specifically to me when he talked about the jerks that you encounter and how you will always remember them. You will remember them, what they said, and how they said it. I have had a few, really just one, encounters of mistreatment. I agree with Mr. Mauldin, I will always remember that. I will remember how hard it made some days of college, and how much it hurt. I will remember the face and name, as well as the words produced with hate. As I have said, Mr. Mauldin was directly talking to me.

He also quoted his wife saying, “do not worry it it’s not going to matter in 5 years”. I know his wife very well. She is absolutely lovely. She helped me a lot getting my scholarship to UNA. Aside from that, I definitely agree with what she said. Although it is hard to live by, we definitely should worry less. Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Mr. Mauldin told us that this is the best time in our life. That, I can believe. He also told us that we have so much free time right now. That is a lie. Mr. Mauldin must not have been a member of the POD.  I hope others reading this can attest to the fact that you sell your life over to the POD when you sign up. Free time? I really don’t know if I have ever heard such a thing. No, I’m only being slightly dramatic. There is SOME time to breathe; you just have to make it for yourself.  

What you do matters. He definitely stressed the word integrity a lot. Relating to my inner questions about life, integrity is definitely something I am grounded in.  I believe it is important in every aspect of life.

He also addressed something that is taboo: we screw up. He said that we cannot do everything right all the time, and isn’t that the real truth. Not only are we human beings, but most of us aren’t even real adults yet. We might be of age, but we do not pay taxes and bills. We make mistakes. Often times, those mistakes shape who we are today.  We would not have enjoyed the roller coaster that is life without the twists, turns, and unexpected bumps and jolts. The thing that we have to remember is to own up to our mistakes and try to correct it. The most mature concept that is so simply ignored is recognition.

Overall, I really enjoyed what Mr. Mauldin had to say. He is a very respectable man, as well as a wonderful businessman.

Anna

Life's Questions, as well as a few answers.

The more I learn, the more I realize how stupid I am. College Life.

I want to first start off by saying that since I have been in college and have been learning more than I ever have in my life, my questions have substantially increased in numbers and difficulty. How is that even possible? The more I learn, the more questions I have. Needless to say, I have been thinking a lot recently, as in the past few weeks or so. From Makowski's history class, to forum, to my awesome Psychology class, and even church, I have been pondering so many things. There is one question, however, that has kept reappearing, as if I am being told something.
The question is: who am I. In high school, it is easy to define yourself. You are a daughter, a student (probably honors in our case), a band member, an athlete, a Christian, a democrat..etc and the list goes on and on. You have clear identities that normally stay stagnant during your time there. College, however, is a completely different story. You are no longer really defined by the same things. It could possibly be a time to change your identities, or just add new ones. I have been flooded with so many new opportunities since I have been here. It is hard trying to balance it all.
Therefore, I have not yet figured out exactly who I am. I know who I want to be, and who I have been. The question of who I am right now though is still a work in progress. I do not mean to sound lost or confused, but I am pretty sure I am not the only one really figuring our their place right now.
Every class, every church service, and most conversations I have had have challenged that question. They have made me think a whole lot, probably a lot more than I should.
College has been super fun so far, as well as stressful and very challenging. Let's be honest, college is freakin hard. We are definitely not in high school anymore. Classes definitely stress me out sometimes, but not as much as band does. That my friends, is not something  for the weak at heart. I think if I did not have band, college would be a lot less stressful and busy. But, I am in the POD, and I am proud of it. We work our butts off. Despite the busy schedule and stress, I have found time to engage in fun college activities, such as Waffle House at 3 a.m. I never knew how good Waffle House was until I came to college. So, I am having a great time. I have learned a lot about myself as a person, as well as determined some goals for myself and future.
Despite all the questions, my future looks bright. I am thankful for the adventures I have had, as well as excited for the ones ahead.

Check in next time.

Anna Goggans

Courage, or at least YOUR interpretation of it.

To be very honest, I had a lot of trouble trying to comprehend and process all that Mr. Self had to say. He made very good points, said a lot of very eloquent and politically correct things. However, his point and central thesis I did not stay on track with. I did not understand why he was there. Was he there to tell us to follow the law or to just talk about himself. I don't really know. I mean know disrespect to the very distinguished Judge of our area, but I did feel the night was a little...different I guess is a nice word.
In the beginning he talked a lot about his life and the things he handles on a daily basis. If that did not tell me I do NOT want to be in law, I do not know what could. I do not ever want to be in the position to decide someone's fate, life, or future. He has to make a lot of very important decisions everyday, which effect numerous people. He mentioned that he wanted to help people. I know in my life, I want to help people too. However, that is definitely not the means i personally want to do it.

I believe a central theme he was trying to achieve was the human value of courage. Although we perceive courage in different ways on different levels, I still agree with him on the importance of courage. I believe courage is important in everyday life. To be quite honest, it takes courage to get out of bed in the morning, to stand up against the evil, luring covers. It takes courage to ask questions in class. It takes courage to do many of the things that make us better human beings, as well as progress society. Many of our world's greatest philosophers, inventors, scientists, and leaders had to have courage to accomplish whatever it was they made them so "great". Courage is not easy, or else all of us would have it. Like, love it is a fuel. It fuels many other aspects of our lives that make them better.

I want to leave with a quote that Mr. Self said had inspired him, as it also does me. It reminds me to keep going. It reminds me that though I may suffer now, I will enjoy much later, and appreciate it that much more.


Thank you and goodnight.

Anna

Value of STEM Education and the relevance with our identities

Well, that was a lovely speaker. My first thought was, “Hey! There’s the Six Flags guy” so from that thought onward I knew it was going to be good. I like the way he spoke and the dynamics of his voice.  Most of what he said made very much sense to me.

I guess I really just want to share my general thoughts on what he had to say.

He began talking about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and its relevance in the world today.

Yes, interest is going down while innovation and demand is going down. I agree with everything he said. However, for the sake of arguing I would like to bring up a confounding variable. It relates to job security and the role the government plays. Let’s be honest here, some (not all) of the jobs related with STEM are now on the downfall, concerning security and availability. We all know NASA and many defense organizations from the government where CUT. They were CUT, as in there is no opportunity there. I feel as if that plays a big role in the interest of upcoming individuals in education. For example, if little Johnny sees that engineer, math oriented, Dad comes home without a job, little Johnny is less likely to pursue the same thing that caused distress in his household. It may be a little far-fetched, but you cannot deny its application.

Contemplating my purpose in life: to eat or swing from trees?? Decisions, Decisions. #thirdworldprobz

 

The very first thing Dr. Calhoun said was about our identities. I knew then where he was going with that. Soon, if not already, our identities will be shaken. They will be challenged and changed. Being an honor student is one identity, however, that I have found I do not want to change. I have thought on this a lot and have concluded that while I am here in college, I don’t want to change that about myself. Challenges will present themselves in that journey, as well as the journey with shaken identities. More than anything, I realized I do not know anything.  Dr. Calhoun made that revelation present for me.

Leading from that, it made me question myself. The same question has been haunting me since I get to UNA in various forms around campus. It is this: “Who am I and what am I called to do?” This is such a large question, that, to be honest, I don’t even know if I can understand it, much less answer it myself.  College, thus far, has been challenging, exciting, fun, stressful, awesome, etc- however; no revelations of any kind have been conceived even leading me to this answer. So, fellow bloggers, hopefully by the last one of these, or at least when you see me getting my diploma, I will be able to answer it for you.

He said one thing that I absolutely cannot forget. He said, “Allow yourself to experience ignorance”. I think this is super important. Not only does it teach you humility, but also a new way of how you see yourself, as well as others. Be who you want to be, and do not let others, or other situations, stop you from doing so.

Life happens. Let us embrace it from the very core of our beings wholly unsure of what is to come.

 

Anna (confused, yet enlightened, college student)

 

 

We're people. We have values.

So, as everyone knows from the other night, we all have different values.
According society, we value such things like money, sex, power, etc. Yes, I am sure much of society does value those things. In fact, we must for society to progress. However, as I learned in class, much of us value other things, as I believe most others do as well.
Many of the things we value and the things society values are different. So, they are in conflict. When values are in conflict, they change (at least eventually). They are challenged, pondered over, and eventually changed.
We got in some groups and decided what we thought were the most important values. My group's values were as follows: challenge, love, integrity, faith, passion, courage, and creativity. Personally my number one was love. I must agree with Chuck on this one: all you need is love. That is the truth.
I think that love governs all things. Love is the fuel behind our courage, the spark that illuminates our faith, and the push behind our passion. It is what makes us have friendship and be capable of creativity- because we "love" what we do and want to come up with more. We love ourselves to care about our health. We love others to have "helpfulness". Of course, love also produces respect. Therefore, love really does encompass anything. Coming from the Christian faith, love is the center of the universe-being God (God is love). So, love really is everything. Aside from religious views, as I have said before,love governs many of the values society cares about.
So I know I have made some pretty stretching relationships and have probably jumped around and made no sense. The fact is however, that is how much of society deals with values. They jump around trying to figure out which one they are going to follow for the day.
As for me, I try to live everyday trying to follow love. Of course, it does not always work out. Sometimes the desire for success overules my value of health or responsibility. As with anyting in life, values are something to be balanced. You can't do everything. Such is life.
Values. Have them.

Anna Goggans

Let's Begin

Well hello there.
It has been quite an adventure since I have first arrived on the beautiful UNA campus. Many things have happened, including the acquisition of many new friends, courtesy of the honors program. My very first encounter with many of these lovely people was at the Memphis trip. I am pretty sure i was not the only one dreading the awkwardness of being thrown on a bus with a bunch of people i did not know. However, it was not like that at all. It was so much fun. We were all so eager to meet eachother and get to know one another. I give a big shout out to my bus buddy, because now she is a great friend. I love the honors people, not just because they are interesting and funny, but because of how open and nice everyone is.
My favorite part of the trip was the art museum. I have never been to anything like that before in my life, and it was so exciting. I had so much fun and learned a lot. My favorite part was analyzing and debating a ridiculous piece (in my opinion) made of eyelashes. It was so much fun to hear everyones perspectives. It still didn't change mine, but it definitely openend my mind to how others perceive art.
Going downtown around Memphis was also fun. It was great for me to see the city, because that is where i eventually want to work someday- at St. Jude's Hospital. It was cool to see a city, where I feel like I could make a difference. So overall, of course, i loved the trip.
Aside from the trip, hanging out at the Honors Dorms has been so much fun. I have met so many people that way. Plus it's always nice to know people in my class and have easy access to them to ask them questions. Even though I don't live there, i am constantly over there "studying", socializing, and eating cookies ( Thanks Abs ;) ). I am not going to lie; the work load is a lot. I am worried about upcoming tests just because I do not know what to expect. However, I have been staying on top of things, at least I think I am. I am looking forward to more memories here at UNA and in the Honors Program.
Relating to what we talked about, I had a few thoughts, which I am not sure how much they pertain, but that is okay. It reminded me a lot of my Sociology class back in High School. We talked about society's values. They were similar to the values we talked about in class. However, that was one society. Every society values different things, so it makes me think of how what we "value" is so very different than many people on the planet. So really, how important are our values? Especially if we were to try and function in another society. I don't really know. My thoughts are still cooking. I am looking forward to see what all these future people have to say.

Till next time

Anna.