Alexis – Fall 2015 Class Portfolios http://fall15blogs.tracigardner.com Portfolios by Students in the Fall 2015 Sections Mon, 11 Jul 2016 15:37:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.5.3 When You Grow Up http://fall15blogs.tracigardner.com/2015/10/02/when-you-grow-up/ Fri, 02 Oct 2015 20:47:48 +0000 http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/alexisdudek/?p=4356 Read more →

]]> We’ve all heard this question a million times. Parents, teachers, relatives all ask, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My answer varied throughout the years. I wanted to be a dancer, a doctor, a journalist. It wasn’t until my senior year that I submitted my final answer. I would hold my head up high and declare, “I want to be a lawyer!”

Even though I have selected my dream job, I still face many challenges. My journey to becoming a law student is full of challenges. I’ll have to take the LSAT, earn a stellar GPA, join more extracurriculars, and earn letters of recommendation. Sometimes it all seems impossible, but I’m determined to achieve my goals.

Another obstacle I must overcome is choosing what kind of law I want to practice. There are just so many options to choose from! I haven’t exactly thought that far ahead yet. Right now I just want to get into an excellent law school.

So, not knowing your dream job yet is okay. It’s never to late follow your dreams. Just keep testing yourself and the rest will unfold. Like Walt Disney said, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

 

]]> Relieving College Stress http://fall15blogs.tracigardner.com/2015/10/02/relieving-college-stress/ Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:19:35 +0000 http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/alexisdudek/?p=4346 Read more →

]]> Yesterday, I had the immense pleasure of experiencing  outdoor class at the Duck Pond. My American Literary History professor, Dr. Reed, insisted on having class outside to emulate Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay, Nature.  My class convened on the steps of Solitude, awaiting a difficult quiz we collectively dreaded. However, instead of distributing the quizzes, Dr. Reed instructed us to walk around the Duck Pond and take a couple of minutes to silently observe our surroundings. She specifically demanded that we leave our cellphones behind while completing this exercise. Reluctantly, I abandoned my dear iPhone and walked toward the water.

The Duck Pond was particularly beautiful, despite the cloudy sky. I watched the geese swim, listened to the birds chirp, and reveled in the tranquil silence. I thought back to Emerson’s essay and finally understood his philosophies. Emerson believed that establishing a relationship with nature helped stimulate the intellect and relieve the stresses of daily life. I fully appreciated the Duck Pond as it mollified my inner turmoil. This semester had been hitting me hard. The tests, quizzes, projects, and essays were piling up and I felt extremely overwhelmed. It seemed as if there was no escape from the stress. The Duck Pond saved me from my own fears and anxieties.

My advice to any Virginia Tech student who is struggling with anxiety is to just breathe, turn off the electronics for awhile, and find a relaxing spot on campus. Whether it’s the Duck Pond or the Drillfield, take a moment to turn your brain off for a little while. Your sanity will thank you later!

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