Iowa State Resources

This past Wednesday we discussed campus resources.  At Iowa State we have access to many different programs and individuals that are here to help us succeed.  In this blog I will highlight some of the resources that I believe are the most useful and that everyone should check out.  First and foremost the Iowa State advisors are very helpful.  My advisor has helped me with many things including my schedule, a four-year plan, dropping a course, and even with some financial advice.  The advisors are here to help and give advice, and we all should take advantage of their advice and direction.  Another resource that I find very valuable is the Academic Success center.  I have used the center to find a tutor for a class that I was struggling in, and the website also has the list for all of the supplemental instruction session.  The Academic Success Center can help with an abundance of other issues as well.  I also found the financial aid office in Beardsheare to be quite helpful as well.  I utilized this resource a lot my freshman year; I was very unsure of the process for financial aid, and the advisors their helped my with everything!  One last resource that I suggest everyone take advantage of is Iowa State’s Study Abroad Center.  This program is awesome if you are thinking about going abroad any time during your academic career.  They walk you through the entire process from applying to coming home.  They have numerous programs to choose from, and they will help you find a time, place, and budget perfect for you. 

College and the many adventures that come with it can seem like a scary and difficult thing.  However, with as many resources and people we have at our feet here on campus, there is nothing Iowa State students cannot conquer.  Weather it be trouble with a course or professor, questions about financial, or even needing a place to feel safe, there is always someplace to turn.  

Strategies for Academic Success

Laura and Sebastian’s lesson was about academic success.  I think that this topic was an important subject to focus on as peer mentors.  Not only is our own academic success important as leaders here at Iowa State, but it vital that we know some strategies for success and about the obstacles students face academically for the students we will be working with next fall.  In class we did some good activities and group discussion about the three different categories that influence our academic success.  The first is a circumstance factor.  This includes things like socio-economic status, family situations, and geographic location.  In regards to the circumstance factor and my academic success, I think of my Hixson scholarship.  Without my scholarship, I might not be here getting an education here at Iowa State.  The second factor is personal:  attitudes, self-perceptions, behaviors, and values.  My personal factors have a major influence on my academic success.  While I tend to be a procrastinator and am easily distracted, I am highly motivated and value and education.  The last factor we discussed was our Abilities.  These were things like high school records, ACT scores, and other placement tests.  I am not the best at standardized tests, but my GPA and previous academic success landed me a spot here at Iowa State.  Every student should think about these different factors and their variables and weather they help or hinder their academic success.  Also, as mentors we will be a better resource for our students; we will be better able to diagnose academic issues and help to find a fitting solution.  

ISCORE

I attended Iowa State’s Conference On Race and Ethnicity this past Friday.  The conference was rather interesting.  The first session I attended was the luncheon and the keynote speaker, Grace Amemiya.  Grace’s story was truly inspiring.  At age 91, she stood in front of a large crowd and told her story of internment during World War II.  Grace’s message was to always forgive.  Although Grace and her family, along with many other innocent Japanese American families, were falsely imprisoned, she still somehow is able to look at such a tragedy in a positive way.  Her willingness to forgive and ability to put an optimistic spin on the horrible treatment she and her family endured is admirable. 

Grace talked about the troubles many Asians faced in the 1940’s all do to their race.  While the internment of the Japanese happened almost 70 years ago, we still face many issues with race today.  Grace believes that everyone is entitled to their opinion and beliefs, but wishes for everyone to be able to bury the hatchet and make a fresh start when awful things happen. 

As a white American, I do believe that white privilege is a real thing, and I am also able to see the devastating effects of discrimination.  Problems and tragedies of race and ethnicity stretch the entire globe, still today.  It is realistic to say that we will never reach a point of complete peace and harmony between all races, however it would make quite the impact if everyone were a bit more like Grace—forgiving all.  Graces speech was not just about forgiving in regards to race, but in every aspect of life.  It is a quality to look up to and for everyone to work on.  As Gandhi once said, the weak can never forgive, forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”