The People You Meet – by Julia

This year I attended the fourth largest university by enrollment in the United States, and while the classroom learning is phenomenal the lessons I learned outside the classroom were equally important.  Even at the end of the year I felt as if I was meeting or connecting with a new person every day (I thought remembering names at nationals was hard, but at least we had name tags there!) and the hundreds of people it seems that I have met have all taught me a little something; the following are the ones that stuck with me the most.

With the exception of my roommate, Branden was one of my first dear friends at college; he was also one of the first people to figure me out.  I think I had known him a week when he told me with complete confidence that I was going to be an engineer some day.  I of course scoffed at this, but he just laughed and said that I would eventually figure it out.  Branden had confidence in my abilities before I did and I owe him my future career in biomedical engineering for that.

Laura, my dear neighbor for my entire freshman year, is one of the most personable people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing or even meeting.  This is a girl who can start up a conversation with anyone, lighten the mood of any room, and fill at least a quarter of our approximately 700 occupant building with her laughter.  To her I owe many hours of talking and a lighter heart that has an increased appreciation and awareness for spending precious time with family and friends.

Ericka, Laura’s roommate and another one of my dear friends has taught me probably much more than she knows.  Besides being one of the funniest people I have ever met, she is also one of the strongest and most humble.  She cares so much for her family, especially her younger siblings and has inspired me to be a better and stronger role model for my own.

Nick, is a friend that I met through Laura as well, and despite what we thought was a personality clash that made us complete opposites; he and I are so much alike in our work ethic it was quite shocking when it was first brought to my attention.  Our competitiveness was heightened when we shared a class second semester and I must say that I most likely would not have cared about that class as much as I did, had he not been in it.  I owe him a wonderful lesson in patience and a solidified belief that hard work does pay off.

Mary is without a doubt the most wonderfully outgoing person I have ever met.  She is not afraid in any way of what others might think of her and has a knack for making a room full of people die with laughter.  She has taught me how to laugh a little harder and hug a lot tighter.

John will argue against me until the day he dies, but he truly is the most caring person I have yet to meet.  He has the biggest heart for everyone he meets and probably knows at least a quarter of the undergraduate population (or at least it feels like it).  He has taught me that you should be grateful every second of every day for the people in your life and you should not be afraid to tell them so.

Joseph, my first friend as an admissions ambassador(tour-guide), is a person whose hugs and smiles could brighten the day of the saddest person in the world.  I secretly hope that I will see him around campus so I can yell his name and be welcomed by one of his famous hugs (not joking- everyone knows him for his hugs).  He has taught me to always keep a smile on my face because you never know whose day it may brighten.

Margo, is the type of person who despite having just met her you feel like you have known her forever.  She is a wonderful listener and I look forward to many long talks with her in the future. 

Last but certainly not least, Shelby has been my roommate and best friend throughout this year.  She is one of the most hard-working people I know and she has a great heart and sense of humor to match.  I cannot list the number of things she has taught me because it would go on forever; but if there is one thing that she has taught me the most it is that a true friend will stand by your side no matter what the circumstances. 

Unfortunately, most of the people reading this will not have the opportunity to meet these people, however I would like everyone to take a moment to appreciate the Branden or Shelby in their life.  To those of you young women heading off to college in the fall, it may seem like the scariest thing in the world, especially if you are going somewhere where you will know little to nobody but there are so many wonderful people out there and they have so much to teach you whether they mean to or not.  I am grateful that I have three years left to learn more from those that have already touched my life and from those who I have yet to encounter.  Thank you all!
 
Julia Carlson is a college freshman at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota majoring in Biology with a minor in Management. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Julia was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Nebraska for 2012. Learn more about Julia here!

Light up the Night - by Julia

NASA recently released captivating new satellite photos of the Earth at night.  These new photos show the light that illuminates our planet when the sun goes down.  It is funny how, even without the presence of the sun; we, as a human race are capable of illuminating the world we live in.  There is something to be said for the ability to create light in the absence of that which is supposed to illuminate the world.  Without a doubt, the sun is a wondrous thing that I am sure we are all thankful for.  On the other hand, the ability to create your own light is an invaluable skill.

Picture yourself in a remote forested area, the sun is setting, your time is limited, and before long you will be left in not only the dark, but the cold as well, and without much shelter.  You’re best option is to use the remaining time you have with the sun to create a fire.  As time goes by you frantically scavenge for bits and pieces, which could help you build something; anything at all that could be used to produce even the smallest light.  It is the final few minutes of light, and as you scrape sticks together over a pile of twigs, you see a spark, and then another, and another until you have built a somewhat measly but present fire.  You wait a few minutes and allow the fire to strengthen before you add some more sticks and even a few large branch pieces you have been able to find.  As the fire gets larger you are able to see more of what is around you and you are able to gather a pile of wood to use when the fire needs to be replenished.

The setting in the forest is not so foreign to most as it may seem.  For anyone trying to find his or her way in this world, doing it without the comfort of the “sun” is neither a small or simple task.  For me in particular this situation is relatable to my college transition.  I knew my time in the comforts of my home, city, and even state were coming to an end, and so as the clock ticked I did my best to prepare myself for the unknown by building my best fire.  It just so happened that I found the best quality about fires; they help you see the things around you so you can find other fires.  As I discovered other people that were struggling to do the same thing that I was, we were able to form quite the light!

Moving out of your comfort zone where your worries are minimal and you know what is coming can be extraordinarily scary.  At the same time however, it is the moments in life that force you out of your comfort zone that allow you to see all that you are capable of, and discover new experiences and people.  My hope is that we would all get the courage to step away from our comfort zone and see what we could accomplish when the sun goes down.  My bet is we would be able to make our world so bright it wouldn’t even compare to NASA’s satellite photos.

Julia Carlson is a college freshman at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota majoring in Biology with a minor in Management. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Julia was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Nebraska for 2012. Learn more about Julia here!

Living in the Moment - by Julia

This past week, I was selected to attend a leadership workshop for students in my college here at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.  While excited for the opportunity, I must admit that the strongest motivation for my attendance was free food that did not consist of another handmade turkey sandwich from the dining hall (what can I say I’m a poor college student!).  I expected to receive a nice refresher course on the aspects of leadership and the importance of planning ahead, however to my surprise I was informed of the opposite.  ten minutes into the presentation, as this woman whom I had never met before stood in front of me and 39 other undergraduate students, I was asked a question that challenged my perspective on life.  This wonderful, ebullient woman with beautifully exaggerated hand gestures and a cute little stride was talking to us about leadership when she turned and looked each of us in the eye and said, “What year are you living in?” When she received no reply she repeated herself, “No really, what year are you livingin?  2014? 2016? What year?”  My mind instantly went to the year that I intend to apply to graduate school, 2017; the year that had been on my mind most since the beginning of fall term.

In today’s culture we are incessant planners.  We plan parties and get-togethers, projects and presentations, weddings and birthdays; we plan for tests, holidays, deadlines, graduations, applications, interviews, and jobs.  We plan so much that by the time the event we have been planning comes around we are too busy planning the next thing on our “to-do list” to give the actual execution or completion much thought. Conveniently enough I had literally been talking about graduate school to my roommate an hour before the workshop I attended and it was still in the back of my mind as it began.  Those words were the kind that reached in and smothered my brain with new thoughts, ideas and questions.  Despite this new idea I was brought to a new level of tranquility. 

Sometimes it really is best to close the planner, disconnect from Pinterest or Facebook or Twitter, take a deep breathe and fully engage and appreciate the things that are right next to you.  There is no way you know everything about everyone (and if you do I would like to be your friend so you can tell me what my Chemistry professor is planning on including in my upcoming midterm).  This week I propose a challenge to you; learn something new about the people or person who you think you know the most; whether a partner, best friend, parent/guardian, grandparent, even a coworker.  Ask them about their dreams, their hardships, favorite memory from childhood, anything!  There is always something to learn about people, and they always have something to share that will surprise you.  Sometimes even the simplest conversations are the best, just think back to those wonderful Winnie the Pooh days, where the best lessons were learned; “What day is it?” Asked Pooh.  “It’s today,” Squeaked Piglet.  “My favorite day,” said Pooh.

Julia Carlson is a college freshman at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota majoring in Biology with a minor in Management. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Julia was a participant in the Distinguished Young Women program and was selected as the Distinguished Young Woman of Nebraska for 2012. Learn more about Julia here!

Get to Know Julia Carlson - Distinguished Young Woman of Nebraska for 2012

Name: Julia Ann Carlson Age: 19 Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska College: University of Minnesota Major: Biology with a minor in Management Favorite food: Pumpkin anything…and tea!  Favorite movie: Elf, I watch it all year round! Current #1 most played song on your iPod: Is and will always be "Dancing in the Moonlight"  Favorite quote: very difficult to choose, but one I am recently fond of is… “elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but  of those who have already taken possession of their future.” -Coco Chanel Favorite time of year: Fall, the trees are so pretty!  Plan ahead OR procrastinate: Plan ahead, although there are occasional deadlines that somehow slip through the cracks! Paper OR plastic: Paper so I can recycle it. Glass half-full OR glass half-empty: Half-Full! Introvert OR extrovert: I appear to be an introvert, but I like to think of myself as an extrovert. Cats OR Dogs: Dogs, I miss my dog Bob so much, I haven’t seen him since August and I can’t wait until Thanksgiving when I get to!  Morning person OR night person: Morning person…as soon as I’ve had my tea! If you could be any color crayon, what would you be and why? If I could be any color crayon I would be sea-foam green, because it is the color of my car and my car smells like crayons!  Not to mention, when I tell everyone I own a Volkswagen bug they tend to say, “Oh Julia, you would!” What would I find in your refrigerator right now (if you have one)? Currently, my side of my roommate and I’s tiny refrigerator is full of almond milk, apples, left-over tea leaves from the last cup of tea I made, and Trader Joe’s peanut butter. What do you want to be when you grow up and why? For the longest time my career goals have been more scattered than leaves in the fall.  However, I am happy to say that upon entering college I have finally narrowed down what I want to be!  Currently, I would like to earn a dual degree in Law and Public Health Administration and Policy; a mouthful I know!  I want to be one of the people mandating our countries health policies and making change to the public for the better.  I love applying research and working with people and I feel that this is the right place for me.  It makes me so happy every time I get the opportunity to talk about it and I am so happy that I know where I am headed! Describe your single-most favorite moment from your Distinguished Young Women experience. It is so hard to choose a favorite moment of an experience that was bursting with happy memories.  However, the one that touched my heart the most was when I heard the name of the Distinguished Young Woman of Nebraska for 2013 and it was Maddy Miller, my dear friend, whose mother has been my dance teacher since I was four years old.  To be able to put the silver medallion around her neck was such a wonderful moment for me.  I was so proud of her and I cannot express how excited I am that she gets to go through the same experience that I did!  Maddy is such a wonderfully distinguished woman and I cannot wait to hear about her experience when she comes back from Mobile, hopefully I will be able to be there for her as a has-been!