Self-Discipline

Here are five areas in my life that I need imporved self-discipline:


Time Management: I don't know how to manage my time at all. Sometimes I'll catch myself spending hours on one project when I should be spending thirty minutes or so on it everyday for a week instead of working on other, more pressing, projects.

Studies: I find it hard to sit down and study at times. I always want to do what is more fun. It's a real problem that I am working on.

Knowing when to stop: Sometimes I'll be giving my buddies crap and I just don't stop. I'll catch myself, but usually they'll say something before I get to that point.

Temper: When I get mad, like really mad, it takes a LONG time for me to calm down. I don't know why, maybe it's because I don't get really mad often, but I can't control myself.


Sitting still: I have a hard time sitting still. I like to be off by myself at times so I can think, but I end up spending a lot of that time wondering why I am unable to sit still. It's a good thing, in my opinion, to be able to sit still and I have definitely got issues with that at times.

My dad has a great deal of discipline. He always is able to get his work done and he often has to miss the stuff he enjoys doing (watching football games or working in his garden) to make sure his work gets done.

I'm accountable for my own decisions. I'm also accountable for my pledge brothers and their decisions. I look out for them as they look out for me.

My Mission

I am at my best when I'm feeling the pressure. When I'm forced to make decisions at the last moment or when my decisions will affect others, I feel a sense of calm and I can see clearly..
I will try to prevent times when I have time to plan ahead. I don't like when things go awry when I've got a plan worked out, which something always does..
I will enjoy my work by finding employment where I can I love to get my work done. When it's finished I feel amazing!.
I will find enjoyment in my personal life through I love to just grab a chair, go find somewhere peaceful and just relax..
I will find opportunities to use my natural talents and gifts such as I'm a great friend. Once I've decided that I can trust you, there's no one who will go as far as I will to watch out for a friend..
I can do anything I set my mind to. I will Find a way to end wars peacefully. I know that sounds like the answer you'd get from a nominee in a pageant, but I believe that people shouldn't be fighting each other. It's called the human race, not races. We are one people and we need to realize it..
My life's journey is I imagine it would be to stop some villain who was trying to end the world. I'd work my hardest to stop them and I'd never give up. I'd defend the world and everyone who lived on it. I know I'd succeed..
I will be a person who My best friend, Connor. I hope he'll say something about how I'm the type of friend everyone needs..
My most important future contribution to others will be I just want to help them when they experience hardships. I want them to know that I will always be here for them..

I will stop procrastinating and start working on:

• I want to become more bold. I'm too timid right now and it has caused me to miss out on a lot of great opportunities.
• I need to develop myself as a person. I know I have certain traits which need to be developed before I feel I can lead anyone.

I will strive to incorporate the following attributes into my life:

• Kindness
• Work Ethic
• Chivalry

I will constantly renew myself by focusing on the four dimensions of my life:

• I need to workout more. I need to exercise more so I stay healthy and feel good about myself.
• I need to spend more time reading my Bible. I don't like where I'm at spiritually right now.
• I need to study more. I don't ever want to be considered dumb or ignorant. I love knowledge and I love learning something new.
• I need to be more outgoing. Meeting people is difficult for me. Once I know someone, it's easy for me to talk to them, but initiating a conversation is hard for me.

Board of Advisers

My board of advisers consists of people who have influenced me in the past. They are very important to me.

1) Kerry Collins-I chose my dad because he is someone who I have always wanted to be like. After watching him throughout my entire life, I've learned a lot of valuable things like to be patient and kind towards everyone and to keep trying my hardest all the time.

2) Aaron Beck- I chose my football coach because he showed me the kind of man I wanted to be like. From the moment I first met him he had my respect. That respect only grew with the more time I spent around him. He taught me to work hard for the things I want and that even though you don't always win, it's going out the next week to do it again.

3) Greg Nowlin- I chose my high school math teacher because for the first half of my senior year, I didn't really try all that hard in my math class and my grades reflected it. He sat me down and asked what my motivation was with my schooling. After that conversation, I knew what my motivation was and ever since then I've been trying my hardest to do well.

4) Andy Collins- I chose my brother because he can always make me smile. This has taught me that even when life sucks, you can smile. Everyone should have somebody like this.

5) Connor Sharp- I chose my best friend because there are few people in this world whose advise means more to me than his. He always tells me how it is, not very softly or subtly either. I can trust him with any secret I have or problems I'm facing.

Like in clay Aiken's song, Measure of a Man, he states that you should "love many, trust few." It's because of the fact that earning trust is not an easy thing to do that making it onto someone's board of advisers is so difficult and influential.

Leader in the Field

                                                                                                           Brad Carson

I remember WAY back in August when I first heard about the leader in the field project. I thought it would be easy. Honestly, how hard could it be to send someone a list of questions? It turned out to be a lot more difficult than I had originally thought.

            I started off the semester as an “undeclared petroleum engineer,” but later realized this was not my calling. After much deliberation, I changed my major and declared myself to be a political science major. I realized that I liked helping people and as a politician, I could help people on a major scale. All that was left for the project was to find a politician who shared my values.

            After much searching, I found Brad Carson. Brad Carson served in the the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005. He’s only forty-three and you can already see that he’ll be important to this country in the future.

            My next dilemma was, “What questions do I have for a politician of this level?” I came up with a few and contacted his assistant. His team was very quick to respond and were very courteous. They answered all of my questions which are as follows:

Q) What motivated you to want to be a politician?

A) From an early age, I had an interest in politics. I loved hearing about what was happening all around the world and I dreamt of being able to affect the world in some way.

Q)What does it take to be a politician?

A) You have to be able to move the general public. Explain to them what you believe in in an intelligent manner and allow them to form their own decisions. Don't try to pressure them into believing what you do because, that's the beauty of our society; everyone gets to make their own decisions!

Q)What, in your opinion, is the most important attribute someone can have as a politician?

A) Patience. More times than not, whatever you might be fighting for will be rejected before it really has a chance. Also, this job focuses, for the most part, on long term changes. You have to have the patience and resolution to see your project through until the end.

Q)What traits do you think it takes to be a successful leader?

A) I believe a good leader has patience, intelligence, charisma and have the ability to remain calm in times of stress. If a leader isn't intelligent, why should he be able to run institutions or create laws that will affect thousands of people? A leader also needs charisma because he leads by example. Lastly, being a leader means that there will be times where you feel like the whole world is against you. Being able to deal with this stress effectively and move past it is what defines a true leader.

Q)What advice would you give to someone looking for a career in politics?

A) Be ready for long nights, thousands of coffee runs and receiving little to no praise for your efforts. Like any leadership position, it must be earned. You'll start your career at the bottom, but if you believe in what you're doing and stick to it, someday you'll be in a position to change the world.

Overall, I believe Brad Carson is a great leader in politics. I was honored to have someone who has been in the House of Representatives answer my questions, which I’m sure seemed remedial to other questions he is probably asked on a daily basis.

Link for more info on Brad Carson:

http://www.ontheissues.org/AVA/House/Brad_Carson.htm

Attitudes

I believe that one's attitude in a group effort is one of the most important parts to a successful group project. If someone is always a pessimist it brings the whole attitude of the group down and just causes more problems for the group. However, when the group has a positive attitude everyone will enjoy the work they need to do and it truly makes it easier to complete the task. 

“Our Attitudes are Our Most Important Assets.” -
I think this is completely true. Your attitude in situations can determine the outcome. If you freak out at the time when the group needs someone calm and collected, it can only cause more problems.

Letter to all All Saints' Seniors

Dear seniors at ASES,

Right now you think you're on top of the world, so enjoy it. Next year when you're freshmen, however, you're going to feel completely lost. At times, it can be intimidating, but stick with it because the reward is worth the wait.

Enjoy every minute of it because, much like high school, it all goes by so fast. Accept every experience you're offered because, in college, a whole new world is opened up to you. Take the good and the bad because it is here where you will truly develop the personality traits that will define who you are for the rest of your life.

Sincerely,
Will Collins

Bystander

Last year I witnessed an accident while driving to a morning football practice. I didn't stop to offer help even though I'm certified in CPR because I saw that other cars had stopped and I was running late. Later that night on the local news, I saw that one of the men had died. I'm not sure that if I had stopped it would have made the outcome different, but I wish I could go back and try.

I can't think of a specific time I wish a bystander had stepped in and helped me, but I do know that I wish it had happened a few times during middle school and my freshman year in high school.

I believe that college students don't step in to risky situations is because they're afraid of what will happen if they do. They don't want to be considered the "designated cock-block" or be that person who starts the drama at parties. If they saw someone out on the south oval in trouble, they might not interfere because they don't want to cause problems for themselves.

I've been raised to help those who need it. It's an alien concept to me to not help those in need. I've tried to understand it, but I can't. I don't pass judgment or anything like that. I just don't get it.