Learning Challenge: Multiple Intellegences

Hi, all!

I checked out Multiple Intelligences this week from the Growth Mindset topic. Link here.

This theory states that we all have multiple areas of intellect- and we're not all good at the same things. For example, I believe I am a naturalist, interpersonal, bodily-kinesthetic, logic-mathematical person! Feel free to comment below what you believe that your strong points are!

8 different types of intelligence

source here

Learning Challenge: PostSecret

Hi, all!

This week I decided to check out 'PostSecret' to learn a little bit about empathy. You can check it out here.

Here is one of the post cards that has been submitted. I love this one because it is so altruistic and kind, unlike some of the other confessions on the site.

(Source here)

I think this blog is so cool- such a neat idea to get a glimpse into stranger's lives. This is definitely a blog that I'll continue to check out. It really is a good reminder to always be kind to people, because you never really know what's going on in their life.

Emily

Storytelling: The Man Above The Clouds

There was once a terrible, horrible monster that lived above the clouds and would periodically come down and snatch up unassuming victims for a light snack. All the people of the town were terrified of him, the man above the clouds, and they would stay inside for weeks at a time to ensure that they didn't fall victim to him.

Finally, a young girl became sick of this predicament. She knew that she could be the hero that saved the town! So, she gathered a group of people and went to go confront the man in the clouds.

"Hey, you!" she shouted to the man in the clouds. He peeked his eye out of the sky. "Who, me?" he asked. "Yeah, you! If you eat one more person, that will be the end of you! We will come up there and defeat you once and for all!" The town was silent. "Uh, you don't want to do that" he finally replied. "You don't know what happened last time".

The young girl stood her ground. "I mean it!" she said. "Not one mo-" before she could even finish her sentence, the man above the clouds reached down and plucked up an old man off of his farm and finished him in one crunch.

The young girl and her warriors climbed the trees and began poking at him with their swords, but to no avail, he was much too high above the clouds. "Fine" he said. "I'll stop eating people. I'll only eat off the land. You'll see."

They were elated! They had beaten the man in the clouds with no further casualties. For the next few weeks, there were people partying in the streets, as they felt safe for the first time in years. Then, the young girl noticed something.

They were running low on food. And water. And places to put homes. Almost every resource in the town was running on reserve. She fell ill during the weeks after the man in the cloud had been defeated, but there was no medicine left for her to take. The town was soon ravaged with a plague- people were up all night to the screams of their neighbors in agony. Grocery stores closed. Farms dried up. Livestock died.

She finally realized the purpose of the man above the clouds- the town couldn't provide for all these people and their exponential population growth. The man in the clouds was there to take the weak town members, and to keep the town and the town's resources in check.

So, she climbed the tree and told the man above the clouds that she was wrong, and that the town needed him if they were to survive. She begged and begged until the man above the clouds peeked out and whispered, "I told you so".

So, the town learned a lesson about sustainability. They accepted that at anytime, the man above the clouds could decide that it was their time to go- but until then, they kept partying in the streets.

The Man Above the Clouds.

(source)

Author's Note:
I was inspired to write this story based on the Cyclops in Homer's Odyssey. The dark aspect of a giant eating people and the people being relatively defenseless against him really caught my curiosity. From this character, I pulled some ideas from my biology classes about population sustainability.

Bibliography:
From Homer's Odyssey, on the chapter "The Cyclops Defeated". Source here.

Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey, Part B

Ghosts of Erebus
-recipe book for food/ potions
-story of a sword

Ghosts of Elpenor and Teiresias
-wine as an undoing
-soul of the dead appearing
-story of a shipwreck

The Spirit of Anticleia
-parents in past life

Ghosts of Famous Women
-lineage
-sons legacy
-twins

Zeus and Antiope by Boyvin

(source)

Ghost of Agamemnon
-possession
-husband/wife relationship

The Spirit of Achilles
-recount of life as dying

Ghost of Ajax
-story of weapons
-ghost of past kills

The Sirens, Scylla, and Charybdis
-Love Sirens
-James' video game SMITE
-song of the sirens
-Scylla as a girl


Bibliography:
From Homer's Odyssey, Translated by Tony Kline

Source here

Tech Tip: Hashtags and Retweeting

Hi, all! This week I checked out Hashtags and Retweeting on Twitter. Although I do know how to use Twitter, I don't always use Hashtags in my posts, so hopefully I will become better informed about this tip!

I retweeted this Tweet because I thought it was clever and funny- I think magic creatures are super interesting.

I also checked out #nationaldogday because not only am I obsessed with my dog- I'm obsessed with all dogs.

Emily

Reading Notes: Homer's Odyssey Part A

The Land of the Cyclopes

-each man makes his own laws according to their own families*

-cyclopes are intimidating

-nymphs are fun characters 

-story from goat's perspective

Prisoners of the Cyclops

-story of the 3rd eye

Cyclops Defeated

-monster that eats people, turns vegetarian, back again*

-getting a monster drunk

-prayer is the answer from his friends in his time of need

Escape from the Cyclops

-Using other senses

-speaking before safe

-same words that they spoke were bringing them closer to shore

Curse of Polyphemus

-sacrifices to gods

I love this picture- it shows that Circe has so much respect from these powerful creatures.

Circe by Wright Barker

Circe's Magic

-magic drugs

-traps and mischief

-prophecies 

The Moly Defeats Circe

-magical herbs

-'love making conquers all'

-magic wand

-spells

On Circe's Island

-being resourceful/having many friends better than standing alone

-comrade speaking out against leadership choices

-keeping promises/ wrath

The Death of Elpenor

-use long name, son of... lord of... etc

-imagery

-Ghost tales in Hades

Bibliography:

From Homer's Odyssey, Translated by Tony Kline

Source here

Learning Challenge: Making Memes

Hi, all!

This week I made a meme/ inspirational poster about one of my favorite quotes to remind me to stay happy and healthy in college in order to achieve my full potential. Also, I love sunflowers :-)

Made with automotivator

Emily

Feedback thoughts

Hi, all!

In the article titled "5 Tips For Taking Feedback Like a Champ" (access here), I learned that it is okay to not love to be criticized- and that it is normal to feel uncomfortable. The only way to grow is to get out of your comfort zone! By being flexible and growing, you can continue to reach your full potential. It is important to remember the intentions behind the people giving you feedback- usually it is positive and helpful, not malicious and detrimental. I really enjoyed this article!

"Why rejection hurts so much- and what to do about it" is another great article (access here) about dealing with negative feedback. I believe the best tip for me that came from this article is to not accept self-criticism. I am my biggest critic, according to my mother, and I always push myself to great limits to see what I'm made of. While this is usually a great thing, sometimes I'm too hard on myself and it actually hurts me, rather than help me.

I really appreciated the message in this picture- you could be giving it your all and still face rejection. It is important to keep pushing, and eventually the wall that you've been hitting will fall. This is an important reminder for me as I am applying to medical school!

(source here)

"Presence, Not Praise: How To Cultivate a Healthy Relationship with Achievement" (access here) is a great article about how to give criticism with positive intention. When I used to request allowance money from my mom for doing my chores, she would always reply with, "why would I reward something that you are supposed to do anyway?". This always resonated with me, especially in college. I knew that if I really wanted to achieve something great, I would have to do more than the bare minimum- I would truly have to go above and beyond the norm. I believe giving this type of encouragement is beneficial for someone's growth process.

"Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset" is the final article I read about giving feedback (access here). I think it is important to take yourself out of the feedback- because the end goal is not that they please you, it should be that they are pleasing themselves, and therefore fostering a growth mindset. This definitely helps encourage them to constantly better themselves for their own benefit, rather than feel like they need someone else's' approval. 

Emily

Wikipedia Trail: from Jorge Luis Borges to Bibi Aisha

Hi, all!

Here's another wikipedia trail!

I started with Jorge Luis Borges here- I learned all about who he was and how he contributed to the fantasy genre and what some of his political opinions were. Interesting guy!

Jorge Luis Borges (source)

From there, I checked out "Conspiracy Theories" here. I have always loved conspiracy stories and have regarded them as such- stories! I think they're as entertaining as the people that believe in them. 

This depicts one of my favorite conspiracy stories. This picture on the $1 bill has led some people to believe that the American Government is in cahoots with the illuminati. (source)

This led to me check out "Time Magazine" here. I didn't know that it was founded in 1923! I remember when I was younger I used to read "TIME for Kids" all the time.

Finally, I checked out Bibi Aisha- a victim of violence in Afghanistan. Her story is horrific, but her spirit is inspirational. 

Bibi Aisha on the cover of TIME Magazine. (source)

Emily

Story: The Cell that Cried, "Pathogen"

Once there lived a little white blood cell. He was a happy cell when he was young, but as he grew older, he began to take on the responsibilities of being an adult white blood cell. He wanted to be taken seriously in the body, but no one would listen to him because he was still very young. So, he devised a plan to attract some attention to him.

Our protagonist, the young white blood cell. 

(Source)

"PATHOGEN!" he cried, loud enough for all the neighboring cells to hear him. "PATHOGEN!" he cried louder, so the cells in all the nearby organs could hear. Soon enough, the area around him flooded with white blood cells, ready to take on an intruder.

"Where is it at?" the white blood cells asked frantically. The adult white blood cells took their job very seriously. They began shooting histamines all about, attempting to take down the pathogen. Eventually, the adult white blood cells became frustrated. "Where is this pathogen you alerted us about?", they asked to the young white blood cell. "Oh, um... guess it was nothing after all!" he replied. Frustrated and annoyed, the adult white blood cells left the scene and went back to their original posts. 

The young white blood cell was elated. "WOW! DID YOU SEE THAT RESPONSE? The human must have had the worst allergies! I can't believe I did all that by myself!" he thought to himself. It wasn't long until he began to devise another plan.

"TUMOR! COME QUICK EVERYONE!" he shouted, so all the organs in the body could hear him. Immediately, the area was flushed with adult white blood cells. The white blood cells immediately went to work, interrogating all the neighboring cells about their replication cycles and making sure that everyone was in check. After a while, all the cells in the area had been questioned, but none of them were tumorous. They all surrounded the young white blood cell and scolded him. "This is a serious job!" they yelled. "How could you do such a thing? You put all our jobs at risk! You put the human at risk!" they said. The while blood cell sulked. "I just wanted to be taken seriously" he replied to them. The adult white blood cells swam off in a huff.

Neighboring white blood cells attacking the "tumor" that the white blood cell spoke about.

(Source)

The young white cell was defeated. "How could I have done all this?" he asked himself. "I could have really hurt someone! I could have even killed someone!" He moped around in his corner for the next few days, reflecting on his actions.

On the fourth day after the incident, a strange color flickered out of the corner of his eye. He spun around and there was a massive pathogen attacking a group of muscle cells! "HELP!" he cried out. "PATHOGEN! INTRUDER! HELP!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, but to no avail. None of the adult white blood cells believed in his claims anymore. So, the young white blood cell took it upon himself to fight this pathogen. He used all his strength against this cell, but he was no match for the experienced infection, especially after the pathogen began to divide. The red blood cells in the area saw this gallant effort, and began signaling to the adult white blood cells. Soon, word had gotten around the body that there actually was a pathogen that needed to be taken out. In no time at all, the white blood cells arrived and defeated the pathogen.

The young white blood cell was deemed a hero after that. "Taking on a pathogen of that virulent by yourself is no easy feat!", they admitted. After that day, all the adult white blood cells took him seriously. The young white blood cell had certainly learned his lesson.

Our hero, the young white blood cell.

(Source)

Author's Note:

This story is based on "The Shepard's Boy" in from Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs. The original story is about a lonely boy that lied about seeing a wolf in his pasture multiple times, until the towns people no longer believed him. Then, when a real wolf did come to the pasture, the wolf ate all of the sheep. The lesson to this story is that no one believes a liar, even when they tell the truth. In my adaptation, the protagonist learns his lesson, and the adult white blood cells take him seriously.

Bibliography:

From "The Fables of Aesop" by Joseph Jacobs. From the story "The Shepard's Boy" (Source)

Emily

Reading Notes: Aesop's Fables Part B

Hi, all!

Example of the illustrations that accompany most of the fables in Aesop's Fables. 

(Source)

Birds, Part 1
I like the story about not trusting "flatterers" (Fox and the Crow) as some people may have alternative motives
One of my favorite short stories is the one about the Crow and the Pitcher- I love the innovation that the Crow shows is an awesome reminder that nothing is impossible if you can be innovative and think creatively- good to pull from
The morbidity of the Tortoise and the Birds would be fun to pull from
"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds" (Jay and the Peacock) would be a good story about materialism

Birds, Part 2
"Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin" would be a good story about speaking up/speaking out against something
"We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction" reminds me of high school dynamics
I think the story of "Neither Beast Nor Bird" reminds me that when you belong to some identity, you inherently have friends

Insects, Snakes, Crabs
I love the ant as a character- small but mighty
The lesson from The Ant and The Grasshopper reminds me of how I should save my money in case of emergency
"No gratitude from the wicked" would make a good horror story/ reminds me of when I saved the wasp
Serpent makes a good strong character, too
Crabs are an interesting character- not sure how to develop this

Frogs and Fish
"better no rule than cruel rule"- this current election
"The Fisher and the Little Fish" I don't agree with- I believe it is better to be patient/ reminds me of game shows

Nature and Inanimate Objects
I love anthropomorphizing inanimate objects in stories- could definitely pull from these stories
Oak and the Reed- bend but not break
"you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"- same as Wind and the Sun

Humans and Gods
Avaricious and Envious embodying people is an interesting concept
Hercules is one of my favorite characters
I also love "Death" as a character- unbiased

Family and Friends 
If you give to everyone, then soon you will have nothing to give anyone- man and his two wifes
I am familiar with the "bundle of sticks" story- easy to base story off of

People Wise and Foolish, Part 1
The little boy who cried wolf/ "The Shepard's Boy" familiar story**
The Trumpeter Taken Prisoner- music brings people together

People Wise and Foolish, Part 2
I am familiar with The Man, The Boy and the Donkey- can't please everyone
The Milkmaid and Her Pail has a good story- don't count chickens before they hatch- could take it literally

More Fables
Fear is usually worse than what you're actually fearing- first fable


Bibliography:
Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs; link to source.

Emily

Tech Tip: Youtube in Blog

Hi, all!

Here I'll be trying out a tech tip I just learned- how to embed a youtube video into a blog.

This video is one of my favorites! I have danced for probably 16 years of my life- it is something I have a passion for and would love to continue. This choreography is so much fun and I would love to take a class from this school of dance!

(Missy Elliot's WTF Dance Video)

Emily

Reading Notes: Aesop's Fables Part A (Lions to Hares)

Hi, all!

Here are my reading notes for my first reading for this class!

Lions, Part 1
"Lions shame" reminds me of several stories/ movies
I love the little 'lessons' that accompany these fables
Lions are such a symbol of power and majesty in stories- interesting thing to pull from
I loved the story of Androcles and the Lion- definitely a story to revisit
"We can easily represent things as we wish them to be" (Lion and the Statue)
- great quote to base a story off of

Lion and the Statue (Source)

Lions, part 2

"United we stand, divided we fall" is a common theme in many things- sports, work, relationships (The Four Oxen and the Lion)

"The Lion in Love" has another great lesson about love making you do crazy things

I thought it was interesting that the fox was portrayed as witty and cunning, while the lion was powerful and dangerous in "The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts"

Foxes, part 1

The stork is portrayed as unforgiving in "The Fox and the Stork"

In "the fox and the grapes", the fox is angry that he cannot reach the grapes and therefore says that they must be sour- this is a coping mechanism that I use frequently

Foxes, part 2

The lesson that "familiarity breeds contempt" from "The Fox and The Lion" reminds me of how college and meeting new people generally goes- you may feel intimidated by someone at first glance, the more that you come into contact with them the more comfortable you become

In "The Fox Without a Tail", the lesson about not trusting advice reminds me of how some politicians campaign

Wolves

Wolves are typically portrayed as being ruthless and without conscience and lambs as defenseless and sometimes as sacrifice- these fables portray this

"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance" is a lesson that I have learned through people speaking 

Dogs are often portrayed as being loyal and obedient, while wolves are free and arrogant

Dogs and Cats

I loved 'The Dog and the Shadow"-there are many lessons to be learned here about greed and jealousy and I think its a great story to pull from

The Ox is a symbol is strength and wisdom- another important character in the fables

"Better one safe way than a hundred on which you cannot reckon"- reminds me of fire drills (The cat and the fox)

From "the cat and venus"- nature will out or win is an interesting theme as a biologist

Mice

The first story about belling the cat reminds me of many decisions and sacrifices I had to make as a leader in my sorority

"Little friends may prove great friends"- little in age or little in size- I have learned this lesson in both groups!

I love the story about being too ambitious- one must not bite off more than they can chew (as I so often do)

Asses

The first story reminds me of the quote by Abraham Lincoln, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

I love that the foxes are portrayed as witty- although sometimes it betrays them

Deer

"advantages may be dearly bought" from Horse and Man reminds me that no good deed goes unpunished

In the Stag and the Ox-Stall, the deer are discovered because of they were sticking out of the hay- which was easily identifiable to the master- interesting to pull from

Hares

Hares are usually depicted as fast, anxious, sometimes sly or arrogant

"there is always someone worse off than yourself" could be tied to the foodchain (Hares and the Frogs)

Persistence beats impulse is a great theme to live by especially in college (and when you're trying to save money!)- "The Hare and the Tortoise"

Bibliography: 

Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs; link to source.

Emily

Review Week 1: Monsters in America

Hi, all!

So I checked out the daily announcements from the previous semester, and I came across this gem! I LOVE fun stuff like this. This Cryptozoological Map (definition: "the search for and study of animals whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, such as the Loch Ness monster and the yeti." from google define) is so clever!

Monsters in America

(source)

Google Timer Tech Tip

Hi, all!

I checked out the Google timer and I thought it was pretty neat! This is a great little tool for studying. By using this on my laptop, I don't have to set a timer on my phone, so I won't be tempted to mess around on my phone for other things. I'll be sure to use this tool this semester!

Screenshot of Google Timer

(personal photo, 2016)

Wikipedia Trail: from Bunnies to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Hi, all!

So I took ventured into @OnlineCrsLady's twitter and I found this tweet and I was inspired to look up "how to train rabbits" on wikipedia. That google search landed me here.
Apparently, you can house-train bunnies to do their business in a litter box!

Here's a rabbit sharing an apple with his owner :-)

(source)

As I read further on that article, the pre-medical student in me discovered Malocclusion. This is the misalignment between the top and bottom teeth when they approach each other when the jaw closes. This can present in any species with teeth! 

Rabbit presenting with Malocclusion.

(source)

In this article, it explains why Malocclusion may occur, which includes nail biting, or onychophagia. This is a super common habit- 45% of teenagers engage in nail biting! I thought this article was really interesting and also super gross.

Finally, I checked out the wikipedia page over the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. I had studied this briefly as I was studying for the MCAT, but not in depth. I am glad I got to dive further into these topics!!

Emily

Reading Options

Hi, all!

For next week's reading options, I chose Aesop's Fables from Ancient Greece. I chose this option because it reminds me of when I was younger and I used to read these stories all the time. I remember the book was too big for me to hold, so I would have to lay on my stomach and open it on the ground. I read and re-read these stories over and over. I fell in love with the creativity of the stories and the illustrations that accompanied them.

The book "Aesop's Fables" that I read when I was younger.

(Source)

I also was interested in Bible Women and Homer's Odyssey.

Bible Women caught my interest because, although I am not particularly religious, I thought that this section would be super interesting, and would inform me about some people or stories that people allude to.
Homer's Odyssey also caught my interest because although I read the novel in High School, there are parts I don't really remember the details about, and I would love to get a nice refresher.

Saints and Animals also caught my attention. This is probably because I am a huge animal lover and I love stories that involve animals.

Emily

Growth Mindset

Hi, all!

I just watched Carol Dweck's videos on the "Growth Mindset", and in this post I'll be discussing some of my thoughts about her research and the concept of fixed mindsets vs growth mindsets. 

This is my first time actually watching these videos and studying the concepts, but I feel as if I am familiar with the concept. 

I really liked this image from this source! 

It helps specify what having a growth mindset really means.

I feel like I do have a growth mindset, as I have achieved more in college than I really thought was possible in high school due to some very hard work and dedication. I have failed many times, and although initially I thought it meant that I wasn't good enough, I have figured out how to put things into perspective. Being a biology/pre-medicine student isn't always easy, and it definitely puts my strength to the test at times. But, I have never left a learning opportunity behind. 

I thought this was a clever way to remind yourself that you need to put things in perspective.

Source

This was my thinking process while I was studying long hours for the MCAT all last semester.

(tweeted by @RISDGT via twitter)

I am definitely interested in learning more about this mindset, as I believe that it can really help me through medical school and into my future profession. I hope to become better at admitting if I don't know something, or if I need help, because I can be kind of stubborn at times. I think developing this mindset will help me in many aspects of my life!

Emily

Starting the Semester

Hi, all!
In this post I'm going to be sharing some of my favorite organizational tips for a good semester!

1) Get an agenda
Not just any agenda- get a super cute one that makes you excited every time you get to open it. I just recently got this one (below) from PostScrips on Campus Corner.

My agenda for the year! 

(Personal photo, 2016)

2) Clean your living space
I am a happier, healthier, more productive person when my room and living areas are tidy. Take 5 minutes to clean up your house and you may find yourself in higher spirits.

3) Get a watch
Or a fitbit. Or anything that readily displays the time. I love being aware of the time and not having to get out my cell phone.

4) Make to-do lists for the next day
I make a ridiculous amounts of lists- grocery lists, to-do lists, chore lists, birthday present lists, wish lists... you get the point. But they help me stay on track and prioritize things in my life.

Okay, maybe this is a little extreme, but if it works, then it's not stupid!

(Source)

5) Set goals
I always try to set a few short-term and a few long-term goals every so often. I like to keep them fresh in my mind. It gives me a really great sense of accomplishment when I finish them, too.

Here are just a few ways that I get organized for the semester (and life in general). I can't wait to read all of the other ideas!

Storybook Favorites

LSD in a Yellow Submarine

Image from LSD in a Yellow Submarine.

(Source)

I thought this story was fascinating. I know a very general amount of information about drugs as medicine, but not as much about recreational drugs. I love that the author addressed a typically taboo topic, and turned it into an interesting story. The title is creative and grabbed my attention. The layout of the page does a great job of integrating with the story being told. The introduction immediately grabbed my attention and made me want to read more. The only suggestion I might have added with the page is that they included more creative pictures. I really enjoyed this story and page!

Horrors in Amityville

Image of the Amityville Horror House.

(Source)

I have always loved horror movies. I was introduced to them when I was pretty young, and my fascination with them has only grown since. I am familiar with the original Amityville Horror story, as well as some of the inspired stories. This page immediately caught my attention with the allusion to the original story! The layout fits nicely with the theme, with dark colors that set an eerie mood. The navigation around this page is simple and user-friendly. I wanted to keep reading this story when I finished it. I really appreciated this story and page design! 

Comical Ghost Stories

Image from the Author's story "Ghost on the Tracks".

(Source)

These stories were particularly fun. I loved how the author made several different stories under one theme. I really loved how he told them as "campfire stories". The layout was good for the most part, but some of the images were not aligned correctly on the page, so it took away from the overall cohesive-ness of the page. I would have probably included more pictures with the stories to give the reader a better image of what I was trying to portray. I also think the colors could have been chosen better to fit the theme. Overall, I loved this idea and how he executed it!

Introduction to a Pre-Med Biologist

In this blog post, I'll be writing a few things about myself in order for you to get to know me better!

I am currently a senior at the University of Oklahoma, and I am majoring in Biology. I am currently in the process of applying for medical school, so think happy thoughts for me! You may be asking yourself, "Why is a science major taking a class in mythology and folklore?" Well, I love to expand my horizons and not limit myself to one certain subject.

Me and my friend Maddie before an OU football game.

(Personal Photo, 2016)

I have two older sisters, Courtney and Chelsea, that I consider my best friends. My other best friend and soul mate is my 8 year old (on August 20th) golden doodle, Mercedes (or Cedie). In total, my family has six dogs: Mercedes, Bentley, Raider, Jake, Boomer, and Bella. Also, I have a pet Betta fish named Betta Mayfield!

Pictured here is my family! 

(Humans from left to right: Helen/Mom, Me, Courtney, Chelsea)

(Dogs from left to right, top to bottom: Bella, Boomer, Mercedes, Raider, Bentley. Not pictured: Dog Jake or Human Craig)

(Personal photo, 2015)

Betta Mayfield

(Personal photo, 2016)

I love reading books about medicine. I am currently reading, "Better" by Atul Gawande. However, I also just received, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", so I can't wait to get into that!

I love all kinds of music, and I am constantly playing something on my Spotify account. Currently, my favorite song is “Cold Water” by Justin Beiber, but that will probably change by the time I am finished writing the blog post!

This past summer I was able to travel to Panama City, Panama with the Global Brigades for a medical mission trip. We did some community service for the first couple days- building showers and getting people access to clean water in order to promote sanitary practices in the communities. For the remaining time of the mission, we were able to open and run a free clinic for the Panamanian people. We distributed life-saving medication and ran a dental clinic, where we provided teeth cleaning treatments and preformed tooth extractions. I loved getting the opportunity to serve people outside of my “bubble”, and I hope to learn more about global medicine and how to serve others!

Working in the clinic!

(Personal photo, 2016)

Teaching the community members about proper dental hygiene.

(Personal Photo, 2016)

I hope this gives you a little picture of me and what I’m passionate about. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below!

Story: The Dog that Learned to Share

Mercedes, better known as Cedie, loved the dog park. She loved being able to prance around without being held back by a leash. She loved meeting new dog-friends. She loved playing in the plastic pool full of muddy water. But what she loved most was the seemingly limitless tennis balls.

The dog park. (Source)

Cedie always brought her own tennis ball to the park. When she was a puppy, she loved to share her ball with the other dogs at the park. She would sometimes even give it to the humans so they could have fun with the ball, too. However, as she got older, she became stingier with her ball, until one day she wouldn’t let any other dogs or humans play with her ball.

Cedie's friend playing with a tennis ball. (Source)

As the years progressed, Cedie became even more selfish. She began stealing the other dog’s balls and collecting them in the corner for herself. Soon, Cedie had over 10 tennis balls collected.

This outraged the other dogs. At first, the dogs stopped bringing their balls to the park. Then, fewer and fewer dogs came to the park, until they all stopped coming at all. This initially pleased Cedie, until she took a look around the park.

Cedie began to reflect on her predicament. “I have all these tennis balls, but no one to play with! I don't even know which one of these tennis balls is mine anymore.”

So, Cedie devised a plan to bring all her friends back. “I’ll give away all these balls for free, so we can all play in the park together once again!”

Cedie and her friend holding paws after a great day at the dog park.

(Personal photo, 2016)

So, Cedie took it upon herself to spread the news around the town about the ball giveaway. Soon, dogs and humans from all over came to visit Cedie and the seemingly limitless tennis balls in the dog park. Cedie learned to love her single tennis ball again. She swore to never take her tennis ball or her friends for granted again.

Cedie and her tennis ball.

(Personal photo, 2016)

(Edited with BeFunky)

Author's Note:

This short story was inspired by Aesop's Fable "The Dog and the Shadow". I interpreted this fable as a lesson on being selfish, or else you will lose what you truly valued in the first place.

IT happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace. Now on his way home he had to cross a plank lying across a running brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he made up his mind to have that also. So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more. 

“BEWARE LEST YOU LOSE THE SUBSTANCE BY GRASPING AT THE SHADOW.”

Bibliography. "The Dog & The Shadow", a fable from Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs. Web Source.

My favorite place

Hi, all!

My favorite place is Breckenridge, CO. I was lucky enough to be able to travel there with my boyfriend and his family this past Spring Break. The scenery was beautiful. We stayed in a beautiful resort and we were able to ski for three days! I made some awesome memories here, and hope to return soon!

My boyfriend and I about to ski down the mountain. 

(Personal photo from 2016)

Breckenridge has some AWESOME Crepes at Crepes a la Carte. Highly recommend. 

(Personal photo from 2016)

Breckenridge is beautiful!

(Source: Pixabay)