Well it's a new year and a new round of blogging for the Hixson Program.  Although blogging is not my favorite thing, to do I do think it is a good chance to get to know each other on a level that you may not be able to reach in person.  The things we write reveal more than you realize so I guess it is a good thing.  I guess I don’t like blogging because I sometimes find it difficult to find the words I want to use.   But that is enough complaining for today.

I’m really excited about being a Hixson peer mentor.  I am so happy that I am getting the opportunity to give back to the Hixson program, and the change to get to know more of the Hixson scholars.  So far our course this spring is going well.   I think it seems like it shall be a fun and insightful semester.  I am a little nervous about the learning sessions, but that is mainly just because I do not know what to expect out of them.  Hopefully those nerves will go away after seeing Easten’s presentation and a few of the other presentations too.  I am kind of looking forward to going to the Iowa State Leadership experience and the Learning Community Mid-year Institute.  There were several sessions that sounded really interesting.  I hope that I will be able to get some useful information from the sessions I have signed up for.

I have started reading the first to chapters in Students Helping Students.  So far I like how it is organized.  The discussion questions keep you engaged and give you something to think about while you are reading.  It is also nice to have a clear definition of the different types of student helpers on university campuses.  Overall from what I have read so far I think this should be a book that will actually be interesting to read rather than just another textbook.