M7 Strength Test

As we as humans grow in life we are faced with moments in time which mold our character, personality, and develop our strengths as a person. I recently took a Strengths test online found here. A Strength test is a multiple choice test which predicts your top characteristic strengths. Examples of these strengths include: bravery, integrity, learning, love, leadership, forgiveness, hope, etc. The Strengths test provides you with better, more in depth, knowledge of yourself. In addition to providing strengths, it also reveals weaknesses. Both are essential in knowing because they both provide further clarity to who you are as an individual. My top strengths resulted in kindness, love, and citizenship. This in was surprised me, but also didn't. The one that did not surprise me was love. I have always been one who gives love and seeks to receive love in return. I was, however, surprised by citizenship. Citizenship is defined as someone who thrives with social responsibility and is a team player. Despite being independent, enjoying being alone at times, and also selfish at times, I still see moments where citizenship shines through in my character. Lastly, as I look at how I interact with friends and strangers alike I do notice kindness shining through in my life. I do enjoy showing kindness to any and all people. I do have my moments, though, where kindness is not always used. Who doesn't lash out or have a melt down every-once- in-a-while though? We are college students and human! Its to be expected. 

After taking the test I was further challenged with applying my strengths to my daily life. I had to find three new ways to use my top three strengths this week. I decided to tackle kindness first. To show kindness I chose to pay for a man's coffee at Starbuck's on Monday. He was a sweet older man who in return we very grateful that I had shown kindness to him. Although my deed was small it warmed my heart to know I had put a smile on his face and given him some happiness. Next, I chose to show love. This was a little more difficult because love is so easily poured out everyday. I can't compromise going one full day without displaying any act of love, it comes natural to people to show love. Because of this I wanted my acton of love to be bold and big. My opportunity came when my aunt asked me to join her on a mission trip to Costa Rica. This is not the first time she has asked me to join her on a mission trip. However, I had declined all the previous requests mostly because the dates overlapped with other events, but also because mission trips challenge me to get out of my comfort zone. I've always been intimidated by mission trips because I never truly felt qualified enough to preach God to people of different backgrounds and languages. However, my aunt explained to me that preaching isn't what these people needed, it was love. I knew, then, that I couldn't pass up the opportunity. It would be wrong of me to not share love, one of my top strengths, to those in need of it. In addition, the mission trip will be a wonderful and fulfilling was to show love to my Savior. My last strength to accomplish was citizenship. To express citizenship I chose to pick up litter that I saw throughout the week and throw it away in a trash can. You don't truly realize how much people litter until your the one picking some of it up. Some places I found litter was in a parking lot, in my yard, on side walks, and at different places around my college campus. I made the pledge that if a piece of trash was within walking distance that I would throw it away. Picking up litter was not a job I particularly enjoyed, but it did give me a new sense of pride for my city and college campus. These were both places that I called home and I, along with other citizens and student, need to treat these places as so. 

Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is something I think everyone should be aware of. In addition, discovering ways to use your strengths throughout your everyday life is an eye-opening experience. You learn to better love yourself and the people and places surrounding you! 

M6 Task #CounselorsHelp

Counselors are defined as a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems. The process of becoming a counselor is not a quick degree. It requires a Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, working as an intern, and earning professional credentials to begin one's own practice. The tedious requirements to become a counselor is mandatory in order to ensure the counselor is fully equipped mentally, socially, and physically to successfully aid people in their personal issues. Counselors are trained to connect to all types of people who are enduring all walks of life. That is what I think makes them so incredible. Types of counselors include: Marriage and Family Therapists, School Counselors, Psychiatrists, Spiritual Counselors, Domestic Violence Counselors, Pediatric Counselors, Child Abuse Counselors, Grief Counselors, Depression Counselors, Suicide Counselors, and many more. I personally have never been to a counselor so I cannot express a personal experience, however, I did vow at a young age to engage in premarital counseling once I become engaged. I believe premarital counseling is detrimental to maintaining a healthy relationship throughout marriage. Premarital counseling is commonly sought out by couples of religious faith, specifically Christianity. However, premarital counseling was originally intended for all couples despite religion, background, culture, gender, skin color, age, ect. Premarital counseling aids to ultimately prevent divorce and strengthen relationships. Other pros of premarital counseling include discussing marriage related topics, the fact that underlying problems can be solved sufficiently, the opportunity for marriage tips to be shared, and obtaining a more in-depth understanding of your partner. It is a great and almost always successful way to properly prepare for marriage. I, personally, believe counselors are some of the best people you can encounter. They are nonjudgemental, loving, and uplifting men and women who seek the best for their clients. I would encourage anyone who is experiencing difficulty in life, in need of aid in marriage, or just needing someone to talk to and lend a listening ear to visit a counselor. I don't think you will regret it! Now, enjoy these comical photos about counseling! 
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M5 Muticulturalism

Multiculturalism is the co-existence of diverse cultures and one's ability to gain a deeper understanding of differences and shared commonalities. It wasn't until a got to college that I truly appreciate multiculturalism in my life. I spent my youth growing up in the small Texas town of Granbury. Granbury has the reputation of being a retirement town, specifically a white retirement town. There were no protesters lining the streets in hopes to scare away people of different skin color or rash judgement being sent on anyone not of white decent. The reason as to why Granbury was predominately white was of no specific reason except those are the people who chose to move there. I went to a very small private school from kindergarten to senior year. During my time at Cornerstone there I only encountered four black students. There is only one in my grade and that I became good friends with. However, the topic of culture was never brought up in any conversation. It wasn't.t until college that racism became a reality for me. Growing up in a predominately white town, I never experienced racism second-hand. College provided me with seminars, meetings, and friends which equipped me with the knowledge and social impaction of racism. It was no longer a figment of my imagination. Because I was now exposed to friendships of different races I was enlightened with a new understanding of culture and racism. I distinctly remember my friend telling me that she always wished as a child to have a doll which "looked like her." She also didn't have a Disney princess which matched her skin color. That was heartbreaking to me. I was too simpleminded to realize that it was an impactful issue to some children growing up. In addition, even as a teenager diversity was not shown on television. Commercials, series, movies, you name it- white was the dominant race. I, also, was unaware of this really until someone pointed it out to me. My perception of how different races were viewed in society was altered for the better. I better understood why prejudice existed, because media. I better understood the reality of racism even racism being experienced at a young age. I better understood the passion people of color have when one of their own is slandered due to color. It is crazy now to me to see how blinded I was as a youth. I, personally, never experienced racism, therefore, I had a difficult time believing in its existence. I am thankful college is a place prone to diversity. It is a place where people are fortunate enough to learn about different cultures, religion, gender, etc. College is a place where diversity is welcomed, not shunned. It is the place which ignited my senses which furthered my knowledge and created a better understanding of people in general. No race is superior to another. No gender is superior to another. And no culture is superior to another. We are all one body, one flesh, and one soul. Society needs to recognize and apply this reality in order for racism to end. I am blessed to have made friends in college who have accepted me, loved me, prayed for me, helped me, and have gave me a more realistic way to view the world and others. Multiculturalism is a part of life and should not be overlooked. It is the basis of America and ultimately the world.