Journal #3 - Favorite Campus Spot

My favorite place on campus would be the outside area behind Whittaker Hall. There’s a bridge that makes it easy to access the modules and the parking garage that isn’t as jam packed with people as the other ones on campus. There are also picnic tables that are nice to sit at if I have something to read for class or do some light homework, even eat a snack between classes. It’s a beautiful place to be on campus, even more so when I can enjoy it when there are no students or faculty members smoking thus ruining the nice spot. When I sit there, I just shake my head at the amount of cigarette butts thrown on the ground. In addition to the bridge being accessible and that the area is great for doing assignments, I particularly love how this spot is the epitome of what Florida Gulf Coast University represents. Despite not banning smoking, this area shows how environmentally friendly our campus is. The lake houses several families of turtles that are fun to watch even when I am just trying to pass the time. Also, while I have not seen any recently, during my first year here at FGCU, I spotted an alligator sunbathing in that particular lake. There are students who are terrified of the alligators on our campus, but I think they add to the appeal of our campus, so it irks me when students act so selfishly and try to feed them which leads to them being “destroyed.”

Journal #2 - Current "Sense of Place"

My current "sense of place” is being in the surroundings of school. Although I may not enjoy school at times, I know that graduating is something that I have to do. I want to graduate with a B.A in Psychology in order to work with a variety of marine mammals. I am hoping to graduate in the Spring of 2011, and afterward, I may move back home to Ft. Lauderdale in order to continue my education and receive an A.A in Veterinary Technician. This is so I can have more experience with animals, and I may even want to be a technician permanently. All I do know is that my passion lies with animals, and I’d give anything to work in a husbandry type of interaction with animals. I want to help spread the word about animals that people may not normally get the chance to see and to help conservation efforts with certain mammals. While attending Florida Gulf Coast University, I took a course called Environmental Humanities. In this course, there was a Wings of Hope project that entailed having to teach Elementary aged students about nature and the conservation of Florida Panthers. Seeing the children light up when they learned about different species of Florida wildlife and protecting the Florida panther made my day. I know that educating people is what I want to do while also partaking in the actual care of the animals. The field I want to get into is controversial to some, but I know that this is what will make me happy. I currently volunteer at a no-kill animal shelter and when families come to adopt the animals, it gives me an indescribable feeling knowing that what I am doing is helping others and animals. I can only hope that more people would be more aware of the harmful effects of breeding animals and also buying animals from pet stores. Aside from being passionate about animals, I also do my best not to use plastic water bottles as they are abundant in landfills. I also try to recycle and to eat locally. I am not perfect with my actions, but I do know that every little bit makes a difference.

Journal #1 - Reflect Upon Expectations for Learning and Outcomes for Colloquium.

For this colloquium course, I am hoping to have my eyes opened right now to the world we live in. In the first class, I found the video to be fascinating as it made me aware of things that I didn’t know before. There are some people who like to turn their backs on the world’s problems and pretend as if they aren’t happening, but that isn’t me. I am someone who enjoys taking part in making a difference, so I feel as if this class will be beneficial in the sense that I will do my best to make issues known to other people and spread the word. Yet, as someone who has a future goal to work with marine mammals in the future, I did not like how it was told that polar bears are done for. However, this does happen to be the truth, and we are to blame for it. The honesty that will be brought out in this class is something to look forward to. People need to face the harsh reality of the issues we’re facing. Being in my fourth year here at FGCU, I have heard some awful things about University Colloquium, but fortunately, the first day of this class made me realize that this will be an experience like no other, and it didn’t seem as if it would have the same bad experiences that other students had in their individual courses. I am eager to learn what will be taught in this course, and am pleased that bigger issues will be brought about rather than miniscule issues even though those are important as well. I am also looking forward to the field trips as these are places I have not visited before, and I enjoy being in the outdoors exploring.