What I learned through MBTI...

I was really surprised by how much they got out of the MBTI evaluation. In all honesty, it was a last minute, just get it over with deal. Between work, scholarships, orientation, placement tests, and getting ready for college in general, my summer was hectic and it was just another bullet on the list of things to do. Nevertheless, I answered it to the best of my ability and was surprised by how well it ended up turning out like how I thought of myself. I had picked myself out as ESFP and it placed me with an ENFP.

I can see how both the S and N, S for sensing and N for intuition, could fit me. I personally believe that it depends on the situation and mood I'm in. Sensing leans more towards facts and what I can feel and point out, which I can definitely relate to as it's the one I picked out. Intuition is apparently for me imaginative and creative ways of viewing situations, which I still think is less me than facts, but I can see how it could apply for certain instances.

In general, ENFP places me as someone who is really interested in social activities and outgoing things, that I like to use my imagination and base my ideas and choices off of it. I also place more stake in emotional value and important to me on a personal level when making decisions. P I think in general sums up my life, I'm laid back and I don't plan things out, I don't like having set plans and usually just go with the flow. Along with the fact that I'm horrible when it comes to procrastination.

I liked the opportunity that the MBTI gave me to really take a hard look at myself the motivation behind my decisions and feelings. It was a new experience and I'm glad that I did it.

My Goals/Bucket List

Well I guess I'll just start off this blog post with a basic list and throw in some explanations.

1. Go skydiving
- This one means a lot to me, and I think that it's going to be a little emotional for me when I do end up going. I say that because this was both my dad's and my main desire in terms of a bucket list. I honestly can't remember whether I mentioned this in my past blog post but my dad passed away a little over three years ago, he meant the world to me and I would give anything to talk to him one more time. I can tell you that when I am free-falling towards the ground as fast and as long as possible that my dad will be the main thing on my mind and I'm going to experience it for the both of us. The ironic part is that if my dad hadn't passed away, I don't know whether I'd be able to be here at Iowa State right now since it's due to the fact that his employer sent me a check for my education that I'm able to pay tuition and was able to successfully obtain the Hixson scholarship. Now I've already signed up for the skydiving club and am set up to go this spring, I can't wait!

2. Live comfortably with a family
- Well since I'm in the electrical engineering program, I'd like to think that I'm going to be able to make quite a bit of money per year. My dream home would be pretty large, modest, yet large. It would be nestled back into some woods so that I'd be able to hunt both deer and turkey with a nearby lake big enough to do any water sports on with my boat that I'll hopefully be able to afford. I'd also like there to plenty of natural cliffs close enough to rock climb on the weekends. My boat would be parked over next to my airplane that I would love to one day get my pilot's license for. I know it seems like a lot, but this would be the very best of the best in terms of living with my wife and two maybe three children that I could teach to hunt, fish, and rock climb.

3. See the ocean/learn to surf

- I've already gotten several reactions for not having seen the ocean along the lines of, "What?! You need to see it!" But yeah, I've never been to the ocean and I would love to one day see it. Along those lines, when I do get to see the ocean, I want to try my hand at surfing and hopefully not get bitten by a shark, which seems to be the main thing people worry about when I tell them I want to surf.

4. Learn to longboard 
- I chose the most basic one I could think of to end my list on, if I put everything on here it'd never end. I didn't really have the desire to learn to longboard until I got to Iowa State and saw people doing it all over campus. It just seems like something fun to pass the time and I want something attainable to strive for this year, so longboarding it is. I've signed up for the club and hopefully will be able to get the hang of it after some time. By the way, I can't hardly stand on a skateboard, so we'll see how this goes. 

A time when I was at my best...

     A time when I feel like I was at my best would have to be this past summer. There are two fields that I have a particularly strong passion for, one being electrical and the other mechanical. For the past three summers I worked at an automotive shop and for the most part I'd done basic oil changes, tire repairs, new tires, and anything else that came up on the full service. But the guy above me had recently gotten a new job prior to this summer so I got the chance to step up to the plate in terms of the work I was doing. It was all stuff I'd helped do before so I was confident in my abilities and the fact that my boss was too really made me feel good about myself. I loved going to work, knowing that with each stride I had a purpose and people came to me looking for advice and instruction. It was great coming to work knowing that I'd do anything from putting in a new radiator, alternator, or starter to doing a transmission flush or air conditioner recharge. My stride was solid and sure of itself and that's why I believe I was at my best this past summer.