Running List--New and Improved!

While I really enjoyed creating my list of #30before30, and believe it shows me at a point in time, as I'm attempting to accomplish some of these items, I don't feel connected to some of them anymore. Therefore, with the start of a new year, I've decided to update some of my items. I've noted progress on items I've progressed on, and updated those I cared to update. 

1. Get married
2. Own a house--possibly completed!!
3. Go to Canada
4. Vacation with white sands and blue water
5. Start my career--started, love, and in progress!
6. Run a 5k--Half marathon trained for, ran, and COMPLETED!

7. Get published--satisfied, but still striving!
8. Go on a mission-type trip
9. Go zip-lining
10. Buy a car
11. Learn to golf--in progress; slowly but surely!
12. Visit Finland Europe (again)
13. Go to STL World Series/Playoff game
14. Get a pet!--COMPLETED!
15. Learn to ride a motorcycle  ?
16. Create a "Year in the Life" of pictures--COMPLETED!
17. Visit DC New England for extended vacation
18. Cook the majority of a holiday meal--COMPLETED!
19. Learn to successfully curl my hair
20. Own every Dr. Seuss book published
21. Pay off all undergraduate student loans--making good progress!
22. Be credit card/debt free--continually monitored, but success so far!
23. Purchase the "Happiness Bucket" books
24. Tour the White House--COMPLETED!!
25. Go to Disney World/Disney Land
26. Learn to ski/snowboard
27. Go to Convention--COMPLETED!
28. Become a certified fitness instructor
29. Go rock climbing
30. Try to enjoy the NBA--in progress!


Cheers to 2015!

#16. Create a "Year in the Life" of pictures

This may have been one of the hardest goals I put on my list--or at least, one that required the most diligence and motivation. I wanted to take a picture every day of a year and put it together into a book to keep and have the ability to look back onto and remember experiences more clearly.

It was not easy by any means. It was tough to continue to think of items to take a picture of, or to be creative at the end of the day when I realized I had forgotten to capture anything. But it was completely worth it.

As the year is not yet over, I am not yet done. However, I've made it 11 months, and so I'm not worried about the last month. Consider this checked off, proud accomplishment, and maybe just a keeper for future years.

#5. Start my Career

October marks the beginning of my second year working for Indiana University. Thanks to a great mentor at MU, and my persistent (and ever widening) job hunt, I landed a wonderful position to start my career. I get to work with amazing people, continuously learn and grow, help people who are helping their communities, and make pretty decent money while I'm at it. I don't think it's where I want to stay forever, but I'm happy knowing I'm working hard and making a difference.

#22. Be Credit Card Debt Free

When I made my list, I felt like I was drowning in debt from my student loans and credit cards. As mentioned last month, I wasn't making much when I wrote my list, and was still living like I made more than I did. Not the smartest way to spend your mid-twenties, but I almost think it's a rite of passage for many.

As one of my first financial goals when I started working full-time, I'm happy to report that my credit cards no longer have roll-over debt, and haven't since January. While this may seem like a small accomplishment, it's a state I wasn't in for many years prior to January, and am happy to have stayed in since. I do still use my credit cards, but on a MUCH smaller scale and with the ability to pay it off each month.

It's a glorious feeling, and one I hope I continue to experience! As of now, this is marked off my list, however, it is a constant goal to be monitored...

#21. Pay off all student loans

This was one of my more ambitious goals I set at 25 while in school and making about $1000/month; pay off nearly $40,000 (and growing) in student loans.

I had been making small payments to my loans after graduating from Missouri State (and realizing the growing debt I was in), but making about $1000 per month doesn't allow for much extra money for knocking out a large amount of debt. After graduating from MU, finding a job, and realizing how exciting it is to have a real job (with a respectable income and benefits), I've made tremendous strides towards this goal. I'm nearing my one-year anniversary of having a "big-kid" job, and in the past year, I've managed to pay off one of my student loans completely, and make a respectable dent in the others. It's definitely still in progress, but seeming more possible to reach by 30 every month.


Here's to continuing the progress in the next year!

#6. Run a 5k

For this one, I went a little above and beyond. When I made my list, I was a very infrequent exerciser--and when I did, it wasn't usually anything cardio-related. However, knowing I was tremendously out of shape (from where I could and should be), I added a 5k to my list.

Then I became friends with so many runners, and watched all of my friends compete and complete 5ks, half- and full-marathons, that I wanted in on the action. A bought me running shoes for graduation, and I slowly started running and training for a 5k; I figured once I graduated I needed a hobby, and preferably one that got me into shape! However, picking up a new hobby isn't easy, if you're not dedicated...

So as a part of a 2013 Black Friday Sale (in November), I registered to run a half-marathon (in May 2014). Nothing like putting money down on a race you're nowhere close to prepared for, to give you motivation! I did a little research and planned out my training schedule; 16 weeks of running all leading up to Memorial Day Weekend.

And then Indiana winter hit...while the snow didn't trap me indoors so I couldn't run at the gym, it did severely drain my motivation to get started. Once I got started, life kept intervening, making it difficult to get my runs in as I should. All of which are merely excuses attempting to explain why I wasn't ready for my run last weekend. But I'm proud to say, I can happily mark this item as off my list, as I ran in the 2014 Go Girl Half-Marathon May 2014...

...and finished.


I overcame my excuses, incomplete training, and mental barriers all to get a medal the size of my face.

And it was completely worth it.

#7. Get Published

I have high hopes that I am able to do more to cross this off more definitely, however, I have worked hard to accomplish the minimum, so I'm marking it as progress.

When I started working at MU, publishing data briefs was on the wish list for my predecessor and both of my supervisors. I spent my first year treading water and adding to the wish list, so my second year I could start crossing items off. While I'm proud of my time at MU, my proudest accomplishment was the publication of eighteen data-briefs using the surveys I implemented and analyzed. I did not write them all, although I did write a majority, but I truly believe they wouldn't have happened without me (toot, toot, I know).

But perhaps the best part of this accomplishment, is that it didn't end after I left. July marks the end of the first year of my replacement, and I'm happy that they've accomplished another year of published data-briefs. Hopefully, this is an accomplishment that continues in the years to come!


(And for the shameless plug, if you're interested in learning more about College Students in Missouri, check out http://pip.missouri.edu/research.html)