Study Abroad

I am definitely interested in a study abroad or national exchange during my time here at the University of South Carolina.  In high school, my family hosted three German exchange students and one French student.  I also participated in the exchange program when I went to Germany in the summer of 2008 with several students from my high school and my german teacher, who was originally from Germany.  We lived with our host family for two weeks, and then travelled around the southern half of Germany for another week.  We went hiking, touring, and shopping.  It was one of the best trips of my life.  I still keep in touch with a German student who was part of hosting our trip, and he visited me the following summer.  I would love to go back to Germany to study, but I would also love to go to England or Ireland to experience something new. 
I don't really have a favorite part of my service site because we simply put stickers in the books for Cocky's Reading Express; it is the same thing every time we go.  I'm sure it will be more interesting when we actually get to go on trips with the program to visit schools.

Leadership

I think of leadership as having the confidence and the personal relations skills to take charge of a group of people and accomplish something.  It is helpful to have motivational skills as well as the ability to delegate responsibility.  I have been a leader in my high school clubs, a captain of my soccer team, and I was invited to attend the National Youth Leadership Conference my senior year of high school.  The conference was  based on law and crime scene investigation, but leaders from schools nationwide were chosen by their teachers to attend the conference in Washington D.C.  We toured government buildings, met with lawyers, and built relationships with peers who had originally been complete strangers.  It was a really great experience, and I would strongly recommend that everyone who has the opportunity should attend.  I may be interested in leadership roles in the activities here at USC once I have some more experience with the club--most of the leaders currently are upperclassmen who have been in the club for a while and know what they are doing.

Diversity

Prior to coming to USC, I didn't think very much about the definition of diversity.  I see more of a division between physical diversity in the south- according to race and ethnicity.  At home, there were still cliques, but they were not based on race at all.  Here in the south, I hear a lot more racial slurs and prejudice just in everyday conversation.  After our conversation in University 101, I realized that diversity is much more than race.  It is composed of culture, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual preference, and much much more.  I haven't really experienced diversity in my service site because each week we just go to the library and put stickers in the books that they will give to kids on the Friday trips with Cocky's Reading Express.  I will probably experience more diversity when we go to Hands Middle School at the beginning of November when I go with the program to the actual school.

Traditions

I was going to partake in the First Night Carolina tradition, but this year it was cancelled becuase of the rain. I also participated in the black-out at the football game against Alabama.  A big tradition that I do with my family or friends every Halloween is pumpkin carving.  We separate the pumpkin seeds and then roast them in the oven with butter and salt.  They are so good!!!  This year over fall break Alyssa, her friends, and I all carved pumpkins.  I carved a bat, Alyssa carved a cat face, and her friends carved a ghost.  Yesterday I carved another pumpkin with my friend, and we carved a face with two triangle eyes, a square nose, and a smiling face with one tooth.  It was really cute!!

Service Site

Today, Wednesday October 6th, was the first day I attended the Cocky's Reading Express site to actually volunteer.  Alyssa was assigned the same time as me (from 1pm to 2pm), so we went together (like always!) to the library to begin our first day.  Ellen was there when we arrived, and she intructed us on where to put the stickers inside the book for the Lauren's trip that Cocky's Reading Express is taking this Friday.  The stickers are to recognize the companies that donate to make Cocky's Reading Express possible.  Today, the stickers said "This book was brought to you by Cocky's Reading Express, thanks to BP."  I am really excited to go on an actual trip, but I can only go on one of them this semester; I have three classes on fridays, and one of them is my anthropology lab which I cannot miss.  However, it was fun simply putting the stickers in the books, and I know that I am helping with the program.

Reflection on the Semester Thus Far

My favorite memories so far are probably the home football games.  The first one of the year was one of the best, because it was my first Carolina football game ever, and I was just so excited to be there.  However, the other ones have been great too!!!  I do not think there is really anything that I would do over again if I could.  I am well on track to achieving my goals from the beginning of the semester.  Alyssa and I go to the gym very often, and we attend vini-yoga on Tuesdays and Thursdays regularly, which is really fun.  My academic goals are also going very well; I have A’s in all of my classes, and I have developed good study habits and am able to make time to get all of my work done.  I would like to become more involved in my clubs, but I feel like right now—the first semester especially—I spend a lot of time studying, and it is definitely paying off.