HIV Testing

Today I had the opportunity to be tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. I drove to the University Village Apartments and filled out the necessary paper work. As I answered the questions on the page I started thinking about the probability of my test being positive. I thought of the ways that I had been exposed possibly to this deathly virus and it made my heart pound.  I looked around at the room full of students my age, and wondered if they felt the slight panic that I was feeling. As my turn for testing came closer, I felt more and more at ease, because everyone else was so calm. Then I entered the room where I was to be tested. I hadn’t asked what the test consisted of, but assumed it involved blood work. I was surprised and relieved to know it was just and oral antibody test.

 The person preforming my test was very personable and informative. She seemed to be genuinely interested in my health and well-being, although we had jest met seconds before. I swabbed the tester in between my upper lip and teeth then did the same with my lower lip. It was a very strange sensation. Then I was instructed to leave the testing room and come back to see my results after twenty minutes. I then waited patiently with my friend who was also waiting for her results. After the time was up I returned to the testing room and got my results. Finally I was awarded with a Starbucks gift card for participating.

This experience affected me positively. I now feel better informed about the dieses. I am better educated on how it is contracted and know the importance staying protected.   I used to think that you could get it through saliva or casual contact. After being tested I see the strong importance of knowing if you or significant other is infected, because you cannot generally tell by just looking at someone. One may be infected and not even know it. It is crucial to know if you do have it so the correct medical attention can be given.

Time Managment

In the first few weeks of this life-long learning course, we had a couple student speakers give us some helpful insight. They all told us about their individual experiences as first year students, and the strategies they had learned. The panel of students all emphasized the importance of time management. As I listened to their advice I was happy to hear that many of the strategies they suggested I already used. In high school, I was highly involved and had to constantly manage my busy schedule on my own. So I thought that I had an advantage and a head start coming into college.

  In high school, I learned that the only way to keep track of everything is to write it down. Trying to remember appointments and due dates off the top of your head never works. Some of the students suggested using planners, which made me giddy, because I take my planner everywhere. I get a new planner at the beginning of every school year and it holds my life. I write everything in it, which helps me stay organized and on time. On the monthly pages I write important dates and times, and on the weekly pages I write what needs to get done that week and any other reminders. This worked for me in high school, but college is a whole other ball game.

Now I have to balance academics, work, community service, family, friends, and still have time to sleep and eat. The work load is heavier than I was used to. I also now have to factor the time it takes to commute to and from school, since I used public transit.  This semester I had a very hard time managing my time. I do not think I took on too much, but the way I handled was ineffective. This was due to my lack of prioritizing. I wanted to do everything and more, but there simply weren’t enough hours in each day. For example, I would make my daily to-do list and choose to clean my car and paint my nails first. Then I would not have enough time to finish my reading for my class. I failed to realize that things have higher importance need to be done first, and that there are things that need to just wait.

This semester I learned that I need to do my assignments as soon as they are assigned, instead of waiting until the last minute.  I learned that I need to take advantage of the free time I have and always be productive. I can’t afford to waste time. At the same time though, I need to schedule time to relax and group myself. This is highly important, because the only way for me to learn and produce good work is for me to be rested and healthy.

Campus Involvment: Campus Rec Excusion

As a freshman in college, it is really important to me that I branch out and do as many things as I possibly can. I want to try new things, meet new people, and make lasting memories.  Besides the academics, the experiences and the growth we make as people are the most important parts of college. So I am very eager to participate in what I can. Last Saturday, I partook in the kayaking and snorkeling Campus Rec Excursion.  It was such a breath taking adventure and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to be a part of it.

                My two friends, which I have known for years, joined me on the excursion. We all got to the Clarke early that Saturday morning and waited for our transportation. There were a total of seventeen students on the excursion.  After a short trip on the CSUSM bus we arrived at La Jolla Shores. Being still early in the day the sky was far from clear, but the weather was pleasant. We entered the tour shop and changed into our skin tight wet suits. Next we collected all of our gear. This included: snorkel masks, fins, helmets and life jackets. Then we finally headed to the beach!

                On the sand the instructors taught us what we needed to know once we set sail. We learned how to efficiently paddle and how to get back in to our kayaks once we were in the water. I was itching to get going! I’ve been kayaking before so I already knew the basics of what they were teaching us and was very inpatient. Then we all paired up and they sent us into the waves in our kayaks.

                The water was glassy and clear, and the sun was shining bright right above us. I have lived by the ocean all my live and it is unbelievable to me how much cleaner the water is at that beach then the ones I am used to in my area! We paddled out a long way before reaching a large rock wall upon which sea lions were posted. You could hear their barking before you could see them. A hand full of them majestically posing on the rocks, and other sea lions were wrestling. The great part was how close we actually got to them, they seem comfortable with humans.  After this we were taken into some caves. It is so beautiful, to be surrounded by rock. My kayak partner laughed at me because we crashed in to the walls so much, and every time I couldn’t hold back a little panicked yelp.

                After the kayaking exploration can my favorite part: the snorkeling. We anchored our kayaks and got ready for the water. I put my flippers on, and took my life jacket and helmet off. Then I leaped off my kayak. Whoa was the water shockingly cold! Even with my wet suit on! I look at my tour guides who are just in swim trunks and are swimming with no complaints, and push through my comfort. My whole group swam freely around. I first began scanning the surface with my mask underwater, and then gained the courage to dive deeper. There were so many fish, huge brilliantly bright orange fish.  It was so serene and relaxing to take a deep breath and swim alongside a school of fish. To have such a gorgeous surrounding and to only hear your breathing, your own thoughts, and the movement of the water is so enthralling.

                We snorkeled for a while and then were instructed to return to out kayaks. We paddled to a new destination, which was closer to shore and again anchored our kayaks. Some group members decided to stay in theirs and paddle around some more, but I was excited to get back under water. Our tour guides also informed us that if we were lucky we could see some leopard sharks that were commonly in that area.  I swam a long way from my kayak and then caught a glimpse of what looked like an enormous fish, but once I inched closer it was clearly a small shark! Then I started to run in to more and more. They were just like the ones I had always seen at sea world, except these were swimming right under me instead of behind glass. It was amazing!

                Later we made our way back to shore and had a delish lunch, which was much needed because we had all really worked up an appetite. We returned all our gear and finished the wonderful day by relaxing on the beach. This campus rec excursion is one of my first very special experiences here at CSUSM and I can’t wait for many more new adventures.

Student Org. Fair!

Leave Your Mark

Whoo! This is my friend Niki at Leave Your Mark!

Introduction! It's kind of long... I like to babble.

Hello my fellow Cougars!

My name is Jackie Felix, and I’m very excited to be starting my college experience here CSUSM. I’m planning to major in social science with a primary focus on communication, to eventually become a social worker. I’m currently commuting from Vista, and living at home with my family. I have a younger brother and a quirky pug named Rocky. I’m full Mexican and am fluent in Spanish. I have lived in Vista my whole life, and attended a small charter school called Guajome Park Academy.  After seven years at this school, 6^th-12^th grade, I became very involved in everything I could. I played on the volleyball team for 4 years, was a part of our winter formal committee, a member of key club, managed our boys baseball team for a season, and my favorite was being a part of our theater program for 2 year. After realizing I had so much fun on stage through multiple school plays, I then ventured into local pageants. I won a spot on the Miss Vista court 2011, and am currently a Strawberry Princess.  I know what you must think “Omg this girl does pageants… ew.” But trust me it’s nothing like Toddlers and Tiaras. We work so hard in community, volunteering for countless organizations across San Diego County.

Right now I’m taking two other classes besides this GEL class: Communication 100 and Math 30. I really wanted to ease into school especially because I tend to work five days a week. I’m a hostess at the Chili’s in Vista. And that pretty much sums me up J If any of you aren’t local and want to get to know the area better let me know I would LOVE to give you a tour, and show you were the best taco shops or ice cream places or anything else is!