"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." Plato

GO Diversity Event:

As you can see, I enjoy using quotations for titles. Plus, I think it gives me a little more credibility. Although I do not entirely agree with this quote, I still believe that it is relevant to the GO diversity event I chose to attend. I attended the Post-Election Analysis lecture by Candy Crowley on Tuesday, November 13th. Personally, I am not very interested in the world of politics so I'm not sure why I chose this event, but it was still interesting and a learning experience.

Candy Crowley is CNN's award-winning political correspondent. She was asked to speak for the Fall 2012 Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics which  at the lecture I discovered is part of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women & Politics 20th Anniversary Celebration. I gathered that this was an incredible honor, not only for her, but for us for being alluded the privilege of hearing her speak about the 2012 Elections.

Crowley not only covered this past election, but also the presidential campaigns of Pat Buchanan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, John Kerry, and Barack Obama. 

During the lecture she spoke from a Republican point of view. She spoke of the behind the scenes information about Mitt Romney and how he thought the election would turn out. She made it appear that because of inaccurate polls that did not account for all variables he thought he would win the election. Crowley seemed knowledge and it was interesting to have the opportunity to hear her opinion so recently after the election. It allowed me to reflect on what I believed and felt about the election. 

“Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” John Quincy Adams

How I have grown and what I have learned during my first semester at Iowa State and the Hixson program:

This semester has undoubtedly been a growth period for me. I have endured trials this first semester that  in any period previous to this would have knocked me on my face. I have developed time management skills as well as methods for coping with stress that have enabled me to overcome the various trials I explained in a previous post. I think my biggest lesson so far this year is that I cannot do everything on my own, sometimes I need to accept the helping hand that is outstretched to me by friends and family.

I am generally a very stubbornly independent person, but this semester has torn down some of those walls and forced me to realize that not everything is about myself and my ability to do things on my own. I have learned a lot from allowing others to help me. It also is a trusting factor, when I reach out for support those friends and family feel trusted by me which helps develop stronger relationships. 

Like the quote in the title of this post states, patience and perseverance are two lessons I have learned this past semester. I have discovered that patience is necessary always, but in college is even more important. Living with someone you hadn't met before, working in groups with people drastically different from yourself, enduring the types of random struggles I have had this year all require immense patience. Luckily, my roommate is easy to get along with and I haven't had too many group projects yet. :)

I don't think I have grown or changed too much, but I am sure that more growth is to come as I have put into more unfamiliar situations and pushed further and further outside of my comfort zone.

Opportunity (noun): a good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success.

What does the Hixson award mean to me?

In short, the Christina Hixson Award means opportunity. Opportunity is defined as a good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success. Another definition is a situation or condition favorable for attainment of a goal. The Hixson award means opportunity to me because it provided me with the financial assistance necessary in order to seek further education; without the Hixson award I may not have had the opportunity to attend college.

The Hixson award also means community. The community of appreciative students and helpful staff all working together in order to make the most of our experience at Iowa State is incomparable to any other organization. The help available from the Hixson staff and peer mentors builds the sense of community. Everyone in the Hixson program is dedicated to providing help and services and inclusion for all the recipients, but especially the first year students like myself.

The Hixson award signifies leadership. The leadership opportunities available through the Hixson program and the references that the program can provide, give us Hixson scholars the jump start necessary to build character and our resume. Leadership is one of the few qualities that are looked at by all professionals and graduate schools; leadership can transcend occupations and majors and is a necessary area in which to gain experience. 

Hixson award means investment. To invest: to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something. By investing in our future, Christina Hixson is investing by give her time and money to provide us with purpose and the ability to achieve something. The Hixson award is an investment that will have far greater impacts than just a college diploma for a few students; it's an investment that will last many lifetimes after her own. By providing us with the opportunity for a college degree she is helping to provide careers and motivation to make a difference in this world. 

Hixson is opportunity, community, leadership, and investment.