Volunteering

I'm really glad that I was able to volunteer at my church! It seemed nice to give back to a community that has given me so much.

In the grand scheme of things, I don't do as much as I need to, but I think this was a good place to start.

What Do I Value?

To live life in search of happiness and security. Keeping in mind my family and my faith, I will incorporate integrity, respect, and kindness into all that I do.

Reece Museum Visit

On Tuesday I visited the Reece Museum on campus.

There were two exhibits open when I went; The FL3TCH3R exhibit and the Best of Tennessee Craft exhibit.

My personal favorite was The FL3TCH3R exhibit. The work in this exhibit really made me think about the message the artist was trying to convey to the audience. Even though I am not big on politics and many of the pieces were politically charged, I enjoyed it.

There were a lot of concerns that were able to be expressed peacefully, and that, I think, was the overall goal.

Piano Recital

Last Sunday I attended a piano recital featuring Yihan Sun and Ke Shi.

This was the first live performance I had ever been to, so I was excited. The recital hall was packed with people came to the event.

I was very impressed by the intensity of the performance. It was real and emotional, and unlike anything I'd ever seen before. It was so much better than just listening to music on my phone. It was almost like the music was being played just for me.

Leading Voices in Public Health - Elynn Walter, MPH

This presentation was about how millions of people do not have access to water. And how an even greater number does not have access to clean, safe, drinkable water. There are potential epidemic causing bacteria in many water sources across the globe, especially in third world countries. Bacteria such as Cholera and E. Coli reside in the water source of many people. While a few select locations have been able to make advancements towards keeping their water clean, common happenings such as rain chip away at that progress. While many projects have assisted in getting water to those who did not previously have access. However, these projects did not tackle the issue of clean water.

Elynn Walter, MPH did a great job presenting this information. She seems to know what she is talking about, and is very knowledgeable on the subject matter. I think she asks a lot of interesting questions. Walter brings up several goals that we should strive to achieve. Not only does she have a set of goals to achieve, she has ideas to reach those goals.

"Who Are You" Activity

During class we discussed the what matters to us the most. In the event of a fire, what would we save? Why would we save that item? What significance does it possess?

In the event of a fire, I would make an effort to save my bible. I have many different verses highlighted that help me with my daily struggles. It gives me confidence when I need it most, and it comforts me when all hope seems lost.

Native American Festival

I took a stroll through the event on Friday (9/23). The festival showcased many different aspects of a beautiful culture. While there, I found myself captivated by the Dream Catchers they had made. I wanted to know more about the significance of these within the culture so I did some research.


Native Americans believe that Dream Catchers filter the dreams one has while sleeping at night. Good dreams can pass through the Dream Catcher while the bad dreams get stuck. In the morning when sunlight hits the Dream Catcher, the bad dreams are destroyed.

You can read more about the history and the making of Dream Catchers at
http://www.dream-catchers.org/