Zipped, Mr. Washington!

Another bucket list thing crossed off! I went with some very close friends to the West side of SD and went zip-lining at the Rushmore Caves! It wasn't regular zip-lining, it was more like a ride, and it was not very long, but the adrenaline was there! It was great! I did also see Crazy Horse, Mount Rushmore, Saloon No. 10, ate at a Social Club, got sillay, read Hunger Games, and got to laugh a ton with the people I was with. :) It was a trip that will never be forgotten!

short blog, yes. Adventure over? No. Way.
Stay tuned.

Reach for the Sky 2012

So yes, it may be April, but I have already accomplished one of my bucket list goals for 2012...twice. I went Polar Bearing. This was not my first time, in fact, it was my tenth year doing it in Milwaukee on New Year's Day. I also did it in Brookings, SD in March to raise money for the Special Olympics. The day was 80 degrees, but the ice-filled water was still a shock to the system. It is an exhilarating experience that I definitely recommend! Things I have learned through doing the Polar Plunge:

Always wear shoes. Always.
Don't think. Just run and jump in.
Have fun! Make it a tradition!

Try it sometime! Live a little!

Those Were the Days...

I remember when I was an RA and how much I loved getting to know my residents. That passion I had for their lives and putting on programs I knew they were excited about gave me so much energy. Maybe that was because I love psychology so much and I find people to be interesting...maybe it was because I am an outgoing person...but either way, I tried my hardest. Although I groaned about it too, I liked sitting the desk and hanging out with my staff and going on rounds. I enjoyed seeing my impact on them as they grew up through the year and become leaders. I loved hearing their stories when they came back to visit. I made my wing my family when I was an RA. When I became a hall manager, I still had that passion for residents and was very involved in their lives as well as my staff's lives. It was awesome getting to know them and I saw that same passion in their eyes as I had in mine. They wanted to make a difference, just like I did.

Those were the days...

The Invincible Tree

I realized that my abnormal need to regress back to childhood is not something I keep to myself. I have been fighting a losing battle my whole life to not become a grown up and now that I am considered one (technically) I find the most pleasure in things that made me happy as a kid. My happiness lies in the coolness of fingerpaint and the endless possibilities of a blank piece of paper. I feel safest under a blanket and I am still afraid of the dark. My life has been a constant game of chutes and ladders, but all of our adult experiences stem from the ones we had as kids.

It is unbelievable that little things like those bring us back to such a simple and comforting place. Today I had a one-on-one in a tree. I haven't climbed a tree in like 7 years. It was small and so simple, but the feeling of being high off the ground was indescribable. I felt that sense of adventure and wonder when I did as a child and I felt like I could do anything. It made me feel invincible.

South Dakota Sweet

Today, I actually felt peace. This is something that I don't think I have ever felt fully before, but peace is the only way I know how to describe it. I found a little passion for what makes me happy and I feel so alive. I cannot explain the support system I have here and how understanding and compassionate they are. I am so lucky to know the people that I do. Maybe I'm not really sure who I am or what I want to do, but I think I am in the right place at the right time.

I do miss friends and family from home and my support system there, but don't worry, Wisconsin. I'm in good hands here.

Dear Mr. Sandman...I have to cancel on you again...

Ok, so sleep has NOT been on the agenda lately and I am finding myself adapting to that quicker than adapting to waking up early. It has been a while since I have posted, but someone inspired me. :) So I am posting now!

I cannot go on without telling you about the amazing people that surround me and all of the special things they do for me. My first birthday in SD was fantastic! Summed up, I got flowers from my loving family and my sweet boyfriend, cards from a ton of people, including my very new staff, some missed friends and family, watermelon from my buddy and his wife, cheesecake AND cake from some generous staff members, and my office was "gnomed" or decorated by this mythical gnome on campus! It was such a great day!

So training is already almost over and the day is almost here. Saturday is when all of the residents will fill the halls again with the joyful cries of education. Bring it on!

Residence Life is Like Taking a Bath

Training and activities have taken over my life once again and I am busier than ever! I have learned things that I never thought I would and done things that I haven't done in a far away place. It is mostly long days followed by long nights, but all of it has been so fun to do. With the help and generosity of my new co-workers, I have been all over the town exploring and I have found generous people genuinely trying to earn a living and enjoying the company of their community.

As I sink more and more back into residence life lifestyle, I can't help but feel that passion that led me into student affairs in the first place. The only thing I can compare it to that is pretty universal is taking a bath. Most of the time, the idea of a bath sends children running, possibly because they do not quite understand what it is or why they need to take it. When they conquer that fear of the unknown and step into the water, they cannot help but feel that warmth surround them. Once they know that it is something they like, they incorporate toys and use their shampoo to stick their hair straight up. As we get older, we realize that showers are more efficient most days and that shampoo is for cleaning and not rebellious hairstyles. It actually serves a function of cleanliness and personal hygiene.

In Residence Life, specifically in what I am doing, stepping in the water can be scary and overwhelming at times, but once you do, you see all the fun and functional purposes it has. Even though I am still training and am standing next to the tub deciding that I am going to step in, I feel an overwhelming excitement for the opportunities that are ahead and all the warmth that will surround me.

What else can I do with my shampoo? :)