Time Strategies

Time management for me will be critical this semester. I prefer to get ahead in my online classes so once finals role around I am not as stressed. Over the past few years I have been living out of an agenda. I have to write things down and get organized. The later part of my week will always get pretty hectic with traveling, other homework, and a busier (or should I say I am prioritized on my) class schedule. By being aware of this, I hope to be able to focus on this class earlier in the week and on the weekends. With that said, I also want to work ahead, so my exact schedule isn't set in stone. My strategy will be to plan my week on Saturday or Sunday, leave time for workouts and house work, get a majority of work done in the afternoon and morning, and set productivity goals each week.

I read The Myth of "Too Busy" and Realistic Study Plans. Both of these articles were useful, and I actually sent them to a few of my friends who always complain about being too busy. The main thing I have learned from these two articles is why I should take control of my schedule. I knew how, but the ability to understand how critical being in control is for stress and organization was emphasized greatly. It was also mind opening to think about how much time we waste on social media. On iPhone there is a setting that tells you how much time you spend on social media, productivity, and etc. I try to keep an eye on this time and get it as low as I can, but it is shocking how large the number of hours is. This is my biggest time challenge. If I could get back the time I spend on my phone, I would be able to achieve a lot more.

(Picture from Learning by HEART: by Dan Regan)

Tech Savvy Technology

As I have said in previous blog post, I am not tech savvy. This part of the class seems overwhelming, but my mind is open to all possibilities. The only tool I am familiar with is Google Docs (which I am obsessed with for group projects). Everything else is very new to me. I am going to have to organize my bookmarks for this class so I am grateful you included information concerning Diigo. Twine is absolutely incredible to me. I was playing around with the stories you hyper linked and it is so much fun. I definitely want to try using Twine at some point this semester. Overall, I feel as if I am getting the hang of this course. The technology is intimidating, but I am excited to learn.

(Baby with Computer: Picture by Needpix)

Assignments

When I first looked at the class on Canvas, I was nervous. I procrastinated starting the course because it seemed overwhelming. I wondered how to make a blog, much less how to create content. Once I got started however, the instructions provided clarity and made the process enjoyable. 

I am truly exited for this course for many reasons. Overall, I am ready to challenge myself through blogging and storytelling. I have little experience with both, but I enjoy being creative. Storytelling, through explicit core assignments and the semester long project, is one aspect I am especially eager for. I have never had the opportunity to create my own story. Another portion of the class I am excited for is the extra credit, especially the tech tips. I am not tech savvy, but I am ready to improve! In most classes, the material you are expected to know and execute is given in the form of a lecture. What makes this class different is the opportunity to experience the material through creation. There is not a correct answer, but an experience to be had. 

(Happy Dog by Creative Commons)

Growth Mindset

(Forward to Growth: Picture by Creative Commons)

Growth mindset is a perception I have had my entire life. I had never heard Carol Dweck, but I found her ideas very accurate to what I have been taught. From a very young age I faced challenges in an academic setting. In third grade I was tested for dyslexia and had all three underlying parts. I struggled with spelling, reading, and quick thinking. My mom and I would sit down after school for hours and work through my school work and through reading programs. I would come home in tears because I would fail my spelling test, my minute math quizzes, and my writing assignments. I remember my mom ripping up a failed spelling test when I was in first grade as she told me it did not define me. She always said "shake it off and step it up." Growth mindset was what got me to where I am today. I faced challenges every single day growing up and when I finally completed those challenges I was already in the mindset to take on the next. 

It was not until college that I actually believed I was intelligent. It was not until I had a 4.0 my sophomore year while majoring in Neuroscience that I realized I knew what I was doing. My mindset was in the right place. In elementary school I had to constantly be working and studying, but as I grew older, I never stopped coming home and studying. Dyslexia gave me an advantage. It has given me my work ethic, positivity, endurance, and my determination to achieve. With this said, both of my siblings have a growth mindset. My brother and sister are the polar opposite of me in a lot of ways. They would figure out three additional ways to solve a math problem while the teacher would still be explaining one way to the class. While the initial learning process came more natural to them, they never stopped learning. They challenged themselves every moment they could: in sports, in academics, and in life. Growing is not comfortable. Failure is frightening. Even so, in order to achieve you must: 

Get comfortable with being uncomfortable!  

(Be Bold: Picture by Creative Commons)

Introduction of a Woman Who Loves to Yell Boomer Sooner

Last night I was talking to a couple of Freshman girls at a recruiting event and they asked me, "Does college really go by fast?" At first, I was in genuine shock that I was finally old enough to be asked that question. After almost four years of college I was suddenly OLD. I was on my way to using a Jitterbug and sneaking extra sugary candy to my grandkids. At 21 years of age, I am suddenly the greatest source of knowledge there ever was concerning time. So, after my many years of experience.... does college actually go by just as fast as everyone says it does?

(My New Phone, The Samsung Jitterbug. Photo by Flickr)

I am Camille and I am a Senior at The University of Oklahoma majoring in Neuroscience. I chose Neuroscience because at the age of ten my Grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Watching my family suffer put the fuel in my tank to make a change in what we know about the brain. I have hope that someday I can help prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. The link between nutrition and Alzheimer's fascinates me and I hope to be able to use food to prevent the onset of the disease. Concerning my future from here, I have no idea. I am going to take on one day at a time till I get to where I am going.

When I am not studying I am doing one of a few things: working out, hiking (click HERE to see my favorite hiking adventures), or spending time with my friends. If you are a fan of OU Football you probably know my friends and I, we are the RUF/NEKS and the RUF/NEK Lil'Sis. If that does not ring a bell, we are the people who shoot the shotguns and drive/ride the Sooner Schooner every football game (If you are still drawing a blank, check out the picture below to see us in action)! These people have become my rock while at OU. We have traveled from Long Beach, CA to Miami, FL together, stayed up way too late, woken up way too early, and have a great time representing the University of Oklahoma.

(Touchdown Run with Sooner Schooner: Picture by Camille)

The past four years have been nothing short of incredible, but..... did they go by in a blink if the eye? 

No. The longest portion of my life has felt like college. I look back and it feels as if it has been an eternity, but in the best way ever. It has been full. Filled to the brim with friends, laughter, success, growth, love, and learning. I have traveled across the United States, hiked to the tops of mountains (small mountains, no Kilimanjaro....yet), and found my friends in a rowdy group. I have seen things and felt things that I was ignorant to before college. College has only been four years for me, but every moment has been full and has made me who I am today: a fun loving, adventurous, and determined woman who loves to yell Boomer Sooner (:

Storybook Favorites

Here are a few of my favorite Storybooks that demonstrated creativity!

Alice's Journey...Through Social Media? (READ HERE)

Alice's Journey...Through Social Media? is a great story with a familiar topic. Alice in Wonderland was the inspiration of this story, but the story had a twist. The event layout of the story was spot on with the original. The presentation of the story was unique and different. The story was presented through Alice's social media accounts. Due to the well known nature of Alice in Wonderland, it was easy to follow along with the story. Overall the design of the pages was great. The style was simple to follow and enjoyable to look at. I liked the use of "personal photos" from Alice and the creation of social media inspired pictures. This style of image is shown below.

(Picture from "Alice's Journey...Through Social Media?": 

Alice's Snap Story, web source: SnapSR)

Nine Lives of a Cat (READ HERE)

Nine Lives of a Cat is a in-depth story filled with life lessons. I enjoyed the idea of going through the nine lives of a cat and each life being its own separate entity. The topic was entirely new to me and kept me curious the entire time. The first sentence of the introduction grabbed my attention and made me excited to continue reading. With this said, I felt that the story lacked simplicity. I was struggling to understand exactly what the story was wanting me to understand. The story also utilized quotes at the top of each section which I enjoyed in this story. Images were used as well, but the story did not rely on them or utilize them as other stories did. The images were thrown in the bottom of the page with no direct tie to the story. 

Retirement Home for the Gods (READ HERE)

Retirement Home for the Gods is a fun and playful story about the adventures in Greek Mythology from the Gods themselves. Yahtzee, a popular dice game, is the center of the story. It is the place where all the Gods compete and boast about themselves. Understanding the dynamics of the game makes the actions of the characters easy to visualize. The introduction grabs the readers attention and does a great job of explaining the relationship between the characters in the story. There was diversity between the characters, their morals, their personality, and their stories. This diversity kept the story interesting throughout, but I wish there was a separate conclusion to the story.  Concerning the design, I felt there was more room for creativity in the image selection. 

Views from Altitude...My Favorite Places

I feel most alive among the mountains, especially in these places!

The Rocky Mountains, Colorado: I spent every summer of my childhood in my family's cabin up in the Arapaho National Park. While I was much too young to hike up fourteen thousand feet, I would sit in the cabin with my Grandmother painting and solving puzzles. As I grew older we would venture out of the cabin on our own small hikes (we would bring a cardboard box and I would slide down the "mountain" I had climbed at the age of six). Upon the decline of my Grandmothers health, summers became a time spent in the Texas sun with her and my Grandfather. As I reached an age I could climb and hike, life had other priorities for me. With that said, once I was 18 years old my childhood dreams of hiking to the top of those grandiose mountains with my friends and family became my passion. Here is a picture of my first hike after my break from the mountains (12,000 ft).

(First Hike: Photo by Camille Fichera)

 This was the view at the very top of the mountain!

(The Top of the Columbine Trail: Photo by Camille Fichera)

Alaska: If it was not for the slim 6 hours of daylight in the Winter, I would be packed up and ready to move to Alaska already. I visited Alaska with my family the Summer of 2018. The weather was phenomenal and the views were even better. There is also an abundance of "mountain air" (basically when the air noticeably smells pure). While we were in Alaska we traveled all over the State by boat, plane, train, and sometimes a car. The joke in Alaska is that to get to most of the cities you either get there by boat, plane, or birth canal. The places you can visit in Alaska are untouched beauties. Filled to the brim with mountains, wildlife, and vegetation. Alaska contains part of the Tongass National Forest, the largest intact temperate rain forest in the world. This is the big show stopper of Alaska, Denali, the largest mountain in North America (20,310 ft):

(Wonder Lake and Denali (original Flickr title: Reflection Pond): From Wikimedia Common)

This was my favorite hike in Alaska. We hiked nine miles to Mendenhall Glacier and then strapped on crampons to hike on the glacier itself! 

(Mendenhall Glacier: Photo by Camille Fichera)

(Exploring the Crevasses: Photo by Camille Fichera)