Create YourSelf Identity Conference- Day 2

Day 2 of this conference was a day to remember! I learned so many things about myself and life in general that will definitely help me in my future as long as I apply them. Throughout the day, we went through presentations as a whole then discussions with our group from Day 1 on more serious topics. Some of the activities included doing and sharing our Social Identity Wheel. This helped us to learn about ourselves and to be able to share how these different things on the wheel affect us in our everyday life. Next, we did a privilege walk. This helped us to see that everyone goes through different experiences and some of us are more privileged in life than others. Dr. Cullen taught us that no matter how far or close you were to being privileged we could all get there. She compared this to baseball by using herself as an example. She grew up in a pretty well environment so she started life on third base where others of us had to start off on base one or even as batters. We are all batting for home runs but it takes more from some of us to get their than others, because of our privilege which we have NO control over. Some people are on bases waiting for others to hit the ball to move them along but when it all comes down to the end we are all batting for the same home run, so we need to help each other reach home base. In order to do that, we, as a society, must remember to treat everyone not equally but equitably. People need to be set up to succeed not treated the same because we are not all given the same privileges in life. Dr. Cullen used an example of having a race with million dollar prizes at the end. Everyone would be treated the same so everyone would wear a size 6.5 shoe. She showed us that even the best runners would not win because we were all given the same size shoe when we all wear different sizes. This was a great analogy to show us that you cannot treat everyone the same because we are not all the same. Instead, we need to set everyone up to succeed. Another activity, included characters (Color Blind, Mr. Fix It, Gag Man, Invisible and Quiz Quiz: The African American Woman) that showed us what a diversity conversation usually looks like. We went through the pros and cons of each character and learned what character we most relate to and how we can improve ourselves. Our last presentation was on 10 ways to be a leader. The most important thing I took away from that presentation was raising the B.A.R. We need to learn to Breathe...Acknowledge...Respond when approaching a difficult situation instead of Reacting...Attacking....Breathing. This will help me so much, and the way she broke it down will definitely make it easier to apply in my everyday life. That only includes some of the great things I took away from this conference, so I'm sure you can see how phenomenal this experience was. If everyone in the world could hear Dr. Maura Cullen speak they should. Finally, I forgot to mention her AWESOME magic tricks. My mind was blown the entire weekend with them! Dr. Cullen is someone I will never forget and her lessons are ones that I will try my hardest to apply in my life for the rest of my life starting now!

 Heading to Day 2 of Create YourSelf Identity Conference

 Discussing our Social Identity Wheel

 Katherine, Justin and Gretchen, our facilitator

 Anna

My unforgettable discussion group

-Ti'a creating herself identity until next time

Create YourSelf Identity Conference-Day 1

Day 1 of Create YourSelf Identity Conference was absolutely amazing and made me pumped for day 2! Our speaker for the conference was Dr. Maura Cullen and words cannot begin to describe how inspiring and moving she is as a speaker. She was the perfect person for this occasion, and I know for a fact that not one person left without getting something out of this conference to help them become a better them!

 Day 1 was a presentation on varying topics from diversity to realizing our own identity. She showed us that we have to be our best selves because if we take out or alter any piece of our identity to "fit in," whether it be our race, age, gender or even sexual orientation we will not truly be ourselves. We have to learn to embrace, accept and love ourselves so we can go out in the world and make it a better place for all!

After the presentation, we were broken up into smaller groups (based off our application answers) so we could get to know one another and prepare ourselves for the next full day of the conference. I knew as soon as I met my group this conference was going to be life changing. We all opened up with one another and learned as much as we could. It was amazing to hear everyone's life experiences and to see all they went through to get where they are today. This group experience really showed me that we are all different but yet so similar at the same time. We all come from different places and go through different experiences but we are all batting for the same home run. This was only day 1 and I did not think day 2 could top this, but Dr. Cullen came and made an impact on my life I will, can and never want to forget!

Tyler and I heading to Day 1 of Create YourSelf Identity Conference

-Ti'a enjoying Day 1 of Create YourSelf Identity Conference until Day 2

Hot Coco Social

Sechrist Hall RA's hosted a hot chocolate social for our residents on their return back from Winter Break. We thought it would be a great program to have since everyone came back to snow and 10 degree weather! The residents really turned out and we all had a fabulous time! This was a great way to kick off the semester for us all!

 Residents enjoying their hot chocolate, cookies and each other

Sechrist RA's serving their residents

-Ti'a enjoying our hot chocolate social until next time

Star Student

"Star Student" is an ongoing event for the entire semester for my residents. They will get a star, write their academic accomplishment on it and post it on our "fridge". At the end of the semester, there will be a party for all who participated. I am just as excited for this as the ladies are, because I feel like it will make them work even harder knowing that they will get to show it off to the entire floor and everyone who walks through! My ladies have already made me proud last semester, so I cannot wait for them to show me what they can do this semester!

-Ti'a, a very proud RA until next time

Dinner-Movie Date Night

Last night, Mary and I went to dinner at Olive Garden (my favorite place ever) and watched Zero Dark Thirty afterwards. We had a blast and enjoyed each others company, except when we got stranded at the movie theater! The entire theater was closing as they started locking the doors and shutting the lights off but the manager was nice and stayed inside with us until someone came to get us! We called a cab but it took over a hour to come get us so that was definitely the craziest moment of our night. Other than night, I really had a great night and I have to say Zero Dark Thirty is a must see movie! I would not even leave to go to the restroom it was so amazing. Seeing a woman in that role leading this country to defeat our enemy was phenomenal and I could watch it over and over again. This movie not only depicted history but I believe it shows how important women are and that we too can do great things against all odds!

-Ti'a enjoying the best Dinner-Movie Date Night ever until next time

Justice Living Learning Community

We just had our first living learning community meeting with the residents and I loved it! I really missed the living learning community and all the various activities we participate in throughout the semester. I love this program and I truly believe it is super beneficial to the residents. They get to live with others who have the same major making it easier to have study groups, and they get to live in a community that is invested in their academic major to help them succeed! Amber is the best living learning community mentor ever and Colin and I support her to the fullest. She does fun yet relevant activities that draws the students out and gets them involved. I can't wait to do all the activities we planned already for this semester. Some of the things we planned include: going to a trial (there is currently a murder trial we are planning on attending), a medical examiner, a hike and the list continues on! This is going to be an even better semester than last semester with the living learning community, especially with Amber in the lead!

 (1) Amber, Justice Living Learning Community Mentor

 (2) Dirt Cups Amber made for our first meeting of the semester

(3) Amber, Colin and I

-Ti'a enjoying the Justice Living Learning Community until next time

Outback Steakhouse

Jazmine, Freddie, Krista and I decided to treat ourselves to a delicious dinner at Outback Steakhouse. Classes just started and we are all jumping right into the semester and getting our work done so we deserved a fun night. The food was amazing and we had a night full of fun and laughter. The entire night Krista called our waitress Cinderella as a joke and as if on cue our waitress would walk by as she was saying it. Dinner off-campus was a great way to relax and being with friends made it the perfect night!

(1) Jazmine and Freddie

 (2) Krista being silly

 (3) Krista

(4) Krista and I

-Ti'a enjoying Outback Steakhouse until next time

Club Mickey Mouse

Club Mickey Mouse was the last event in RA Training which was designed to be entertainment. It was awesome and RA's could get up and perform their various talents they wanted to share! We had a great time and our very own Kyle played his guitar while Lauren, Flood, Brandon and Mandy sang I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift. I can honestly say they represented the Sechrist Moose very well. This was definitely a great way to end training and kick off the spring semester in a great way.

 (1) Club Mickey Mouse

 (2) Sechrist representing!

(3) They are really into it now!

(4) They are the best ever!

-Ti'a having fun at Club Mickey Mouse until next time

RA Spring Training

NAU had a theme of Disney this year for Spring 2013 Training and Sechrist decided to be Up! We all had an awesome time dressing up and this definitely brought excitement and fun to training this semester. I love when we do simple things like this because it helps our staff to bond even more. Training was enjoyable and highly informative but I can't say I'm sad that it is over!

 (1) Flood...the house

(2) Sechrist...better known as Up!

-Ti'a getting through RA Spring Training until next time

Arizona...Here I Come!

Bright and early in the morning, I'll be heading back to Arizona! There is no place like home here in SC but I must return to my MOOSE Family (Sechrist RA's). I am excited to create some more awesome memories in Arizona and share them with you all soon! Wish me luck on my flight back to Arizona!

 (1) Ready or Not Arizona.....Here I Come!

(2) I'm packed and ready to go

-Ti'a heading back to Arizona until next time

Gamecock Gear

I am more than ready to head back to Arizona, after I got the best Christmas present ever to prepare me for the cold weather! My mother (well Santa Clause actually) bought me the best GAMECOCK jacket ever. It has two layers. It has an inner jacket for warmth and the outer jacket acting as a wind breaker and rain proof. Those are detachable making them two separate jackets. The inner jacket is reversible AND you can unzip the arms and turn it into a vest! Basically, I got 6 different jackets in one!  I was the happiest girl, I'm sure of it, this Christmas. My mom (oops...Santa Clause) got the best present ever and I couldn't be more happier. Even though I'm going to miss home, this new jacket alone makes me excited to go back to Arizona!

 (1) The best ever!

 (2) I absolutely love it!

-Ti'a rocking her new gamecock gear until next time

2013

Oh 2012 where have you gone!? It seems as if 2012 just came, as I remember exactly what I did last year on New Year's Eve. I thank God for allowing me to see another year and I can't wait to see what this new year has in store for me (I pray that they are all great!). I've had nothing but great things happen so far this year so I hope that continues. Also, I'll be heading back to Arizona shortly which is such a blessing and an experience I will never forget! I'm glad I randomly saw that NSE brochure and decided to chase a new opportunity in life. Being in Arizona is helping me to grow and develop as a young adult ready to tackle any and everything the world throws at me! Well 2013 is definitely here and all I can say is Arizona here I come...back!

-Ti'a enjoying 2013 until next time