Steven's Journal Blog Entry One: Incoming Reflection

Water in Florida

The hill  I used to live on in Panama where I would play in rain forest.

 Initially,  I had no idea what to expect for Colloquium. From what  I had heard from former students, as a "Gordon-Rule" course, the work, especially writing for Florida Gulf Coast University Colloquium could be a little tedious. However, I'm expecting it to be very interesting, because I have always been fascinated with wildlife, and mother nature. As a child, I grew up in the country of Panama for a significant portion of my life. As a child in Panama, I was constantly exposed to many awesome things that Mother Nature has to offer. For several years in one of my families houses in Panama, we literally lived right next to the rain forest. Nearly everyday I would spend most of my time, all the way into the evening exploring, and playing in the rain forest. I was exposed to lots of awesome, and even exotic wildlife, like Toucans, Deer, Snakes (including a Boa Constrictor, and a Coral Snake that I almost stepped on) Sloths, Capibara, and many more. I have always been very intrigued, and amazed by what God has created and made a natural part of our Earth. When I moved back to the United States I would  continue to enjoy spending time outdoors. In the county outside of Charleston, South Carolina my father took me to walk around the woods, and countryside and shoot pellet guns. This is where I first shot a gun, a .22 rifle at a creek that ran through a marsh. I have never really been a hunter, but I have always been a huge fisherman, and enjoy everything about rivers, creeks, bays, oceans, and the land near them. In Jacksonville, Florida I worked as a Referee and general laborer at a Paintball Course in the woods. I saw a huge albino snake one time, over 6 feet as I was guiding several groups of Paintballers. My relationship with the natural world has always been critical. I have always been amazed, enjoyed, and took advantage of what mother nature has to offer, whether it be through exploring, picking berries, working, or especially fishing. I really have no anxieties for this course, the only thing is that I hope this class on top of my other full course load does not get too overwhelming between the work I must due for each course. My personal goals in this class are to succeed, but even better have a strong understanding of the natural landscape of Southwest Florida, and Florida and general. Especially, a better understanding of the wildlife, and vegetation and how they each play a critical role in the ecosystem. This class is very important to my education at Florida Gulf Coast University as it shows me what type of land, and environment this school was built upon. Also, it helps us promote sustainability, and proper use of resources, which is also going to be very vital to my major of Business Management, and my minor of Global Studies. It is important to my life as I have always been intrigued, interested, and very concerned for our environment, and the wildlife it encompasses.