Kendrick, Samuel: Bucket List

                  Death has been one of humanity’s darkest fears since history, although I have no problem with the concept. Of course, that does not mean I do not have anything extraordinary planned for my future, or even five extraordinary things.  To graduate college, learn a non-European language, teach English to non-native speakers, avoid STDs, and write a full-length novel; these are on the top of my bucket list.

                  Before starting on any other goal in my life (before my death), I have to get a college education. College educations allow adults to find high-paying jobs, like I will need to pay for my education in a non-European language (like Mandarin, Hebrew, Aramaic or even Tamil).  Both of those goals will be stepping stones toward my third, which is to use my education and non-European language skills to travel a distant land and teach English as a second language. Though slightly off-beat interests like education, language, and getting a job rarely are found among my generation, these goals are the first three on my bucket list.

                  The next two are quite unrelated to the previous ones: to avoid STDs and to write a novel. I want to avoid STDs because I consider good health a requisite for enjoying life to the fullest and dealing with pustules and ooze are hardly a grand ole time in my humble opinion. On the other hand, perhaps having a terrible STD would provide valuable life experiences and ideas for my novel, which I want to write because I feel that there is always a story to be told. These two ambitions, though estranged from and below the other three, occupy a special place in my heart.

“Life is short”, “carpe diem”, and “yolo” all share the same basic message; live while you can, and achieve your dreams before the opportunities have passed you by. After making this bucket list, I am champing at the bit to work harder towards crossing graduating college, learning a non-European language, teaching English to non-native speakers, avoiding STDs and writing a full-length novel off the list.

Wood, Lindsey: Bucket List

            Everyone has a few goals that they would like accomplish before they die. The general term for this list is called a “Bucket List,” but I prefer to call mine “The Final Countdown.” So what is my final countdown? I’m glad you asked.

            My absolute number one goal in life isn’t to graduate college, or to get married and have a family, or not even to die happy. The most important thing that I strive for each day is to make a difference in other people’s lives. As a society, and as conscious beings, the human race typically resorts to selfishness, greed, and a “my way or the highway” attitude. Through my experiences in my short life of 18 years, I have learned that everyone has a sad story, and just because you have your own doesn’t mean that anyone else’s is less painful. All have their own hardships, no matter how perfect their life seems from the outside looking in. As one person trying to make it through this crazy world, I believe that we should not ignore the sad stories behind the people we encounter. Instead we should acknowledge them and do all that we can to help our fellow humans forget about their troubles for one minute. Just a simple smile and a sincere “have a nice day” can change someone’s entire attitude on the day that they’re facing. I read a quote from a suicidal teenager with depression that just one wave from a stranger in the car next to her made her decide to not take her own life. Suffering from depression myself, I understand the impact of that wave. Saving a life is so effortless. All I want to do in life is be the wave that saves someone’s life.

Clampit, Michael: Bucket List

There are many thing that I want to do before I die, but there are five that are particularly important. The first and most life changing of these is to finish college. The reason is that everything else in my life depends on it and if I fail in this the rest of the list is lost to me as well.  The thing I want to do after that is get a job in my field of game design and animation, leading to the eventual dream of joining Square Enix. If I make it that far and am able to make a name for myself in the field, I eventually hope to own my own game company.

The other two major goals aren’t quite as important. The big one of these two is to get over the paralyzing fear of heights  that I have battled my whole life, and the other is to make enough money through my career to send my eventual children through college, should they need the help. If I can succeed in these five things then my life will be complete and I can die in happiness.

Sutherland, Britanny: Bucket List

The Bucket List was an emotionally trying movie, but one that puts things into a new perspective for many people. Your time on this earth is limited, make the most of it while you can. Most people have their own bucket list, achievements they want to accomplish in the next few years, or simply before death. My bucket list is made up mostly of things I'd like to see happen in the next five to ten years. I would like to see myself graduate college and find a job in my field. Also I aspire to be married and to start my family. Though before beginning a family I would like to travel and see as much of the world as I can. My list holds a great significance to the future I see for myself.

Graduation from SAU is something that is important for me since in my career choice you can’t so much as get a foot in the door without a degree in your hand. I hope to do so much more than just “get in” upon my graduation.

Starting a family has always been in my dreams. Aside from my own maternal instincts, a simple yearning for my own family, there is not much reasoning behind this item. Having a family has been an aspiration of mine for so long.

Naturally, of course, I don’t want to jump in to “mommy-hood” immediately. I want to travel the world before I do. I hope to experience many different cultures across the every continent.

The Bucket List is an emotional film, that gets people to think about mortality, and what they want to do before their life ends. I hope to check off many of the larger- and of course smaller- items from my own bucket list while here at SAU.

Saltwater Aquarium

Addison Ochs and Casey O'Hara and their saltwater aquarium

For their honors project for Dr. Claude Baker's class honors students Addison Ochs and Casey O'Hara are constructing a saltwater aquarium. It will be used to teach students in marine biology and other classes.

Riddle, Morgan: Bucket LIst

A Bucket List, is a list of things that one has not done before, but wants to do before dying, or “kicking the bucket.” I am hopeful that I will not be kicking a bucket anytime soon so that I will have plenty of time to get through my Bucket List.

The first thing on my list of things to do before I die is to visit Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona was originally a colony developed by the Romans, but grew quickly after the onset of economic revival and industrialization. It is now the second largest city in Spain and flourishes with culture and art. Perched on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Barcelona is one place I would love to travel.

Along with traveling to Barcelona, I would like my travels to take me abroad to experience other places in the world such as Greece, Jerusalem, Beirut, and Machu Pichu. These places are rich in culture and history. My hope is to travel to these places and get a better understanding of their culture, and hopefully gain a greater respect for their history.

With a greater understanding of the cultures around the world, the third thing on my list would be to focus on the problems in my own backyard. Problems such as natural disasters devastate America every year. My hope is to one day make my time and talents more available to those in need when disaster strikes.

Although disasters seem inevitable, there is still hope. My fourth task to complete before I die is to give a child hope through adoption. Taking children away from horrible situations and bringing them into homes where they can grow and be happy and seeing the new life in their face will be my ultimate fulfillment in life.

 I want to embrace anything that comes my way. I refuse to spend my limited amount of years on this Earth complaining. My final goal is to just experience life and the lives around me.

Skaggs, Kaitlyn: Bucket List

“Flatlining”, “the point of no return”, “giving up the ghost”, and “kicking the bucket” are just a few euphemisms for death and dying. Those currently living have their eyes set on some sort of goal. These life aspirations vary immensely per individual. Making a “bucket list”--a list in which someone writes down the activities they want to participate in before one “kicks the bucket”-- is relatively common among humanity. I have chosen five items to put on my personal bucket list. 

To begin, I want to have a child before I pass away. I want to be able to love and be loved as only a mother-child relationship can offer. This would truly bring me a sense of life fulfillment. Along with having a child, it would be ideal for me to also be in love with their father. However, I am aware that that may not happen. 

In addition to having a child and "love of my life" before I die, I want to pursue the career I have prepared for. To be successful as a world ambassador would literally "make my life," as the saying goes. I am working very hard to stay on the correct path in order to fulfill my dreams. 

During my travels as an ambassador, I plan on spending time in my dream vacation spot: Belize. From what I have researched of this beautiful island, it seems to be full of life and love. 

Eventually, I desire to live in the country where my blood is from: Belgium. It would bring me the ultimate joy to be a United States Ambassador in Brussels. Though I was not born and raised there, I love my home country with all my heart. 

My bucket list is not set in stone, but neither is this life. I can only trust God that He will allow me to live the best life I can, even if my bucket list is never completed.

Youngblood, Julia: Bucket List

My bucket list is very expansive so narrowing it down to the top few things that I want to do before I die has been a tough decision; however, the things listed are definitely at the top. 

            One of the things at the top of my list is to marry the man of my dreams, who is also my best friend. I want to have someone with whom I can share the experiences of other items on my bucket list.  

            The next thing I want to do it to travel the world, go anywhere and everywhere. I want to see other cultures and experience the differences from my own; I want to see all that the world has to offer. I want to go to Greece, hopefully, I can go on the SAU trip in May. Nevertheless, I want to travel there to taste to foods and swim in the beautiful Mediterranean. I want to travel to the very top of a town built into a hillside so that I can look out and see everything. Another place I really want to visit is Rome. There, I want to make a wish in the Trevi Fountain and eat gelato to my heart’s content. One day, I would like to go to the airport with just a carry on bag and book a ticket to a random place and just go. I want to be guided by my heart and find things new to me. I want to have fun; when I die I want to be old lady who can tell stories of the exciting things she has done and amaze her children and grandchildren with all of the wonderful experiences she has had in her life.

Hight, Lake: Bucket List

                  Nobody truly knows how long their life will last or what things they will be able to accomplish during this time. Due to the uncertainty that life holds, some people create a list of what they would like to do during their life time; it is called a bucket list.

                  The first thing on my list is to graduate from college with honors. That opens the door for many more opportunities and gives me a much better chance of being successful. This will probably be the first thing checked off the list.

                  Of course, I also have some thrills on my list. I believe that going scuba diving would be an amazing experience. I would enjoy being able to see in person what lies deep in the ocean. It’s a view that pictures alone cannot duplicate.

                  Skydiving is another thriller on my list. It would be hard to convince myself to do it, but I know I would love it afterwards. It is a feeling that I would like to experience and it also would be cool to be able to say that I’ve jumped out of an airplane.

                  I need to be able to afford the thrilling activities on my list so money deserves a spot as well. Landing a solid job, preferably as a physical therapist, and earning a very nice salary is another item on my list. I want to have a job that I will enjoy doing while making some good money.

                  The last item on my bucket list is that when I have a son, I would love to get to be his peewee football coach. Football was a big part of my life growing up and I wouldn’t want anything more than to be able to share that with my son.

Callaway, Abigail: Bucket List

            Although the rap artist, Drake, (otherwise known as Aubrey Graham) is not known for an enormous amount of original thought, he has a good point in saying that we only live once. The idea that we each only live one life gives us the spark to make a bucket list, or an itemized list of things that we wish to do before we die.

            I would love to travel to Italy before my time is up. Italy has so many things to see and has so much history. Another thing I would love to do before I kick the bucket is sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City because I have always wanted to perform on that beautiful stage that has held so many well-known singers on it. Another thing I would love to do is go see Mumford and Sons in concert. They are incredible artists with such a large amount of talent. Meeting Johnny Depp is also something I want to do before my time on this earth is through. He is a great actor and he has such an incredible story. In order for my life to be utterly complete I would have to sing on a Broadway stage. Singing on Broadway has been a dream of mine ever since I could remember.

West, Preston: Bucket List

            Every person has a list, whether mental or physical, of the goals they wish to accomplish in life. For some people, these goals are constructed with cautious thinking being the most important aspect. I plan to fulfill every single entry on my bucket list successfully, no matter how absurd or impossible it may seem. This is why I consider myself an idealist.

            Before I die, I would like to participate in a skydiving lesson. This seems to be the most intense and plausible of my goals. So, I decided to put it first in my list. I also believe that it is self explanatory why I would want to do this. The high that I would receive from the release of epinephrine by the adrenal glands is the only reason I am thinking about doing this.

            I would like to make at least a million dollars in my lifetime. This should be easy enough to achieve as long as I am able to acquire a job and possess the necessary skills and responsibility to keep it. Although it isn't mandatory to have a job, it can be considered an essential part of life, so this goal shouldn't require any extra effort.

            These next two goals are tied together. The first is traveling to the moon. I believe this opportunity will one day be available to everyone and should be taken advantage of if possible. The second is playing golf on the moon. Alan Shepard has almost always been an inspiration to me, and I would like to be able to imitate his most famous achievement at least once.

SAU Writing Center

Dr. Shannin Schroeder, Director of the SAU Writing Center

 

Morgan Johnson (MoJo) poses after her presentation this morning to the Honors Seminar 10 am class.

Majesta Miles smiles after presenting to the 9 am class.

Dr. Shannin Schroeder, English faculty member and Director of the SAU Writing Center visited the Honors Seminar class. Accompanying her were a current honors student, Morgan Johnson, and 2013 honors grad Majesta Miles, who will soon serve as the Center's graduate assistant.

Schroeder spoke to both classes about the work of the Center saying that it existed for writers of any stripe writing any kind of material for any kind of project or class.

The Center is open Monday-Thursday 8 to 8, Friday 8 to 1, and Sunday from 3 to 8 (pm). Walk ins are welcome. Students with tight schedules may also schedule times for consultation.

Consultations are only conducted by trained students. Schroeder noted that interpersonal skills were the number one requirement to become a writing consultant. She added that, often, the best writers do not make the best consultants.

Schroeder believed one measure of the Center's success was that many students were "repeat customers." She also invited everyone listening to attend the Writing Center's Open House on Wednesday, October 2. She assured her audiences that lots of chocolate would be available at the Open House.

Curtis, David: Bucket List

    Over the course of my life, short though it may be, I have already seen countless amazing things that people do, and think to myself "I want to do that!" often forgetting these things just a few moments later. Some of these things, however, consistently keep popping back up and I have compiled a short list of the major things that I want to do sometime in the future.

1. Scuba Dive at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
    For a couple years now I have been scuba diving a number of times in Arkansas. The allure of gliding through the water far below the surface, observing the fish - not only observing, but also being observed - always keeps me coming back for more. In more recent months, however, I have found myself attracted towards the brighter colors and diverse marine life of saltwater reefs, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

2. Go skiing in Colorado
    There's just something about snow that I love despite the cold. Skiing has a way of bringing people together while still giving people personal space because skiing is a sport that requires a lot of space.

3. Go parasailing
    Ever since I was a little kid taking to the skies has always been a dream of mine despite the fact that I have never been in the air. Just the thought of being carried aloft by a flying parachute and being able to see for miles around makes me want to get out and go right now. Parasailing is, literally, letting yourself go where the whim of the wind takes you.

4. Visit Six Flags over Texas
    I have always had a very strong affinity for roller coasters! Roller coasters are one of my favorite pastimes. Six Flags over Texas is the home to a wide variety of coaster, with many of the biggest and baddest coasters you could imagine.

Ice Cream Social

The 10 am Honors Seminar class strikes a funny pose after participating in games at the 2013 SAU Ice Cream Social. This event helps freshmen get to know each other better. Click video to see the 9 am class prepare to play the game. Watch as Heather Deaton explains the rules to her classmates.

Ibeawuchi, Emmanuel: Bucket List

      I have thought about the phrase “bucket list” probably thrice in my existence on earth, but for those three times I did, it really meant something special to me. I am proud to say that while I have accomplished some of the items on my list, such as coming to the United States of America to study; the majority of it still remains unfulfilled.   I have a very extensive bucket list but for the sake of this article I will write just the five items at the top of my scale of preference.

      The first thing I will like to do is to become a professional and registered medical doctor, people ask me why do you want to be a medical doctor and not an engineer since you are good at math and physics and I simply tell them there are enough people doing the engineering jobs but not enough “life savers.” My utmost passion in life is to help people in need, especially those people who can’t get sound health care because they don’t have enough money to pay for their medical expenses. It is unfortunate that the health industry is turning into a money making industry rather than one to help the masses. One day I hope to change that with the help of like-minded people.

      The second item on my scale is to travel to and explore all countries in the world. The beauty of nature, people and culture cannot be appreciated by just watching them on television; even a high definition set will not provide the physical or emotional connection like that of seeing, feeling or touching a real object. I believe that every place, person, and object on earth has its own importance, therefore I want to explore, feel, and be united with them.

      Thirdly, I want to get married and start a family of my own, which is very important to me because I want to raise my children in a very humble and educative way just as my parents raised me. I will be there for them in every way possible so we can make special memories together. Another thing I will accomplish before my demise is to start a fully functioning sport center and gym back home in Nigeria for youth, so that they get to involve themselves in meaningful activities that can turn their life around for the better, rather than engage in violence.

      The fifth and final thing on my top five things I would like to do before I kick the bucket is meet Ellen DeGeneres. She is in totality what I think a person should be: fun, loving, caring, open, kind, and most of all humble. If there is one person except my family and friends I would like to spend the rest of my life with, it will be her. In a nutshell I adore her and she is the best.

Terence Lee in London

Terence Lee in front of Harton Theatre, SAU

This summer, honors student Terence Lee attended Drama Summer School at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He describes his experiences there thusly:

Warmth. Generosity. Joy. Danger. The four keys to being a good actor. This summer, I had the privilege of working with some of the most motivated and inspiring individuals, instructors as well as students.

How is it that actors, after working 9am to 5pm shifts at another job can come in to a rehearsal two hours later with so much energy and concentration? Joy. The importance of finding the joy in our work was stressed over the summer and I wholeheartedly believe in that because I have experienced it's benefits.

Apart from that, I had the privilege of watching professional actors perform on London's stages aside from meeting them after their performance for a Q&A session organized as part of the summer program.

In the broad scheme of things, acting is not a conventional career choice. However, it is indeed a tough business. The Guildhall School of Music & Drama's Drama Summer School is indeed an intensive, enlightening and beneficial program to aspiring actors as well as those who are interested in trying something new.

O'Neal, Kayla: Bucket List

      When I think about things on a bucket list usually the common answers, such as,

see the seven wonders of the world or go skydiving, come to mind.  Answers like that are great, but for my own personal bucket list I want to do greater things.  I desire to leave my handprint on the world.    

     1.) I want to always be true to myself and become the best that I can be.  I don’t want to become a person that I am ashamed of being.   I don’t want to be on my deathbed and think, “I wish I wasn’t the person I turned out to be.”

     2.) I want to save someone.  I’m not expecting to save them from a burning building or anything.  I would like to be the person who smiles at the right time or helps people when they have lost hope in the world.  I want to help them save themselves.  There is no greater accomplishment in life than helping others.

    3.) I want to create something that makes people happy and think.  I want to build something- a story, video, game, art piece, or maybe an organization- that makes people want to make something themselves.  Things others have made have inspired me, and I want to inspire others similarly.

     4.) I want to write a novel and get it published.  Writing has become a huge part of my life for some time now.  I love to write stories and I want others to find joy in them too.   

     5.) I want to find a sweetheart of my very own.  I don’t want to go through this life all by myself. 

     These are the top five things on my bucket list. 

Corbitt, Joshua: Bucket List

We all have achievements that we want to fulfill before we die.  Some people may share your desires while others could care less about them.  That’s just how it is, we all care for different things.  Here are the achievements that I care the most about.

I have always enjoyed fishing, ever since I caught my first brim.  After many years of fishing for bass, I developed a goal for myself that is not so easily reached.  I want to catch a ten pound bass.  Anything in the double digits will do, but a ten pounder is my minimum requirement.

One of my greatest desires is to have a house on a lake.  Whether fishing from a boat or swimming in the lake, there is always something fun to do.  If I had a house on a lake, then I would always be having fun.

I want to pursue my college education until I obtain my master’s degree.  Being the first person in my family to attend college, I believe that this would clear a nice path for the next generations of my family.  I hope to stir up a desire in them for a college education.   

In my future career, I hope to earn my own lab.  That will be ideal; with so many machines and chemicals at my disposal, I could demonstrate countless experiments.  

Getting married and having a family has always been important to me.  It is something that has always been in the back of my mind.  Finding a great woman, passing on what I know to my kids, and giving them every opportunity on the way is what I hope to achieve.

Mashburn, Cody: Bucket List

A day will arrive unheralded and shall wipe our individual existence eternally. Until the day, however, there are things in which I foreknow I must accomplish. I have made it my objective to actively seek out adventures and memories before the inevitable shall fall upon me. Live free as a bird and die with no regrets, that is my philosophy. 

            The most vital subject on my bucket list is something I will leave behind far after I am gone. Leaving behind a legacy is my utmost importance of my bucket list. I do not want to be someone who has a funeral and is only talked about by family afterwards. No, I want to be more. Not only do I want my family members to remember me as I was, but I want the whole nation to remember me for ages. I want my life and death to be as timeless as time itself. After all, it’s not what you take when you leave this world; it’s what you leave behind when you go.

            Another subject on my bucket list is skydiving. When I ponder about what it would be like jumping out of a helicopter and reaching maximum velocity, I conceive that it would be the ultimate adrenaline rush. That would be something I would look back on and remember for decades.

            The final subject on my bucket list is saving someone. I would like to be a hero, well at least for a minute! Whether it’s in the law field or on the battle field, saving someone’s life could definitely change mine!

            If someone asked, “What do you want to do before you die?” I will only respond with two words, carpe diem. Why? In life, seizing the day is what solely matters in the end.

Wilson, Taylyn: Bucket List

There are so many activities for a person to experience in their lifetime that if one did something new everyday for his or her entire life, that person would not put a dent in the list. Most people select a  few of the activities they want to do before they die and create a bucket list. Mine, for now, consists of swimming with sharks, learning to play piano, riding in a hot air balloon, visiting every country in the world, and running a marathon.


    My entire life I have avoided doing anything dangerous, so swimming with sharks would give me an opportunity to change that. Of course, I would be in a cage or controlled environment so it would not be stupidly dangerous.


    I took dance for thirteen years and never had the chance to find another talent. I have always envied people who were musically inclined and would like to see if I have some talent in that area. Any instrument would be nice to learn but I have always loved piano music.


    In my opinion hot air balloons are pretty and would be a neat way to see the world. The view and experience seems it would be better than an airplane or helicopter ride.


    This is probably on every bucket list made, but visiting all the countries in the world would be a great way to use my time in life. It would be interesting to get to visit and interact with each culture.
    The final event on my list is to run a marathon. It is something I have always wanted to achieve since  I can barely run a mile now. To be able to run a complete marathon would take extensive training and discipline but to push myself to that level of endurance would be rewarding in the end.

Taylor, Austin: Bucket List

Life is a journey and I have been traveling this road for 18 years. As I continue on this road there are a few stops I would like to make and a few places I must go before the end of my journey. These stops and these places are my bucket list. 

One of the first things on my bucket list is to record an album. I listen to a lot of music and I truly enjoy music of different genres. To one day be able to express my love for music with an actual album or mixtape would be a wonderful experience. My music would not have to sell or be extremely popular, it would simply be a means of satisfying my love for music and scratching one more thing off of my bucket list.

Another interesting thing I’d like to do before I die is to preach a sermon. This may seem weird to some and out of the blue. But, since I was a kid I secretly thought it would be cool to preach at least once. I’d like to impress the people of my church with some of the wisdom I’ve garnered in my 18 years of life.

The most important thing I want to do is raise a son. Raising children is important and to me it necessary to keep one’s family line going. I really want that photo of my dad in old age with me holding my son symbolizing three generations of Taylor manhood!

One of the dreams I have had the longest since a child is to visit Japan. Ever since I was young I have enjoyed the Japanese culture. I even taught myself a little bit of Japanese when I was about 11. I would absolutely love to one day satisfy my desire to experience their culture first hand by going to Tokyo before I die.

Davis, Amy: Bucket List

As humans, we are always striving to meet a goal: to graduate, to get a job, to save enough money for something, to win an award or election. Beyond these immediate aspirations, we envision the things we hope to experience or accomplish before we die, or, to put it more crudely, “kick the bucket.” This is most commonly referred to as our bucket list. This list is often a truer representation of a person’s character than their more practical ambitions. 

                  The first item on my personal bucket list is to travel the world. I have never traveled outside the United States, and I have visited only a few states close to mine. Relative to the size of the entire planet, I have explored but a pinprick of everything available for my senses to devour. Modern technology that makes traveling much more accessible to the common person; it would be a waste to pass up the opportunity to grow and learn through experiencing all the world has to offer through travel.

                  While it seems trivial, I also want to learn to swim before I die. In fact, learning this skill might even save or prolong my life. I enjoy water sports immensely, but my participation in them is severely limited without knowing how to swim.

                  The final thing I hope to accomplish is opening a charitable animal shelter. I have always had a soft spot for animals, and seeing them abused or neglected is heartbreaking. Shelters are so full that they often have no choice but to euthanize some of their animals. I want to aid in this epidemic. If I am able to accomplish everything on this list, I will have attained personal success.

Deese, Kate: Bucket List

While the saying “go big or go home” is often linked to the creation of a bucket list, my feelings toward the subject have always been slightly different. Skydiving in New Zealand and curing world hunger are undoubtedly awe-inspiring goals, but these societal clichés have never appealed to my personal tastes. The list of things I wish to do before I die contains a rather safe collection of plans, yet the completion of these items will allow me to leave this world satisfied. 

                  The first item on my list would have to be an extended vacation to Scotland. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places on the planet, but it also serves as the birthplace of my ancestors. I have always been curious about the unique customs and traditions associated with the Scottish culture, and being able to spend any length of time exploring my family roots would certainly be a rewarding experience. Despite my present lack of athletic ability, the second item I plan on conquering happens to be running a marathon. It requires an abundant amount of time and dedication to train for such an event, and I can’t imagine a more fulfilling accomplishment. 

                  The dolphin has been my favorite animal for as long as I can remember. While my third objective may seem a bit unoriginal, I look forward to the day when I’m able to swim with a dolphin for the first time. The peace and beauty associated with that experience captivates me, and the “dolphin kissing” picture each customer receives at the end of his session would definitely make the trip worthwhile. The fourth item on my list would be improving my skills in the art of ballroom dancing. I have taken dance lessons for over 15 years, but that particular type of dancing has always been quite foreign to me which makes the challenge much more intriguing. 

                  The fifth and final action I hope to accomplish before kicking the bucket happens to be the timeless “kiss in the rain.” Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Notebook, and Spiderman all include this romantic cinematic moment. Viewing these movies has undoubtedly contributed to my aspirations of experiencing such an event, given appropriate timing and circumstance. Though this collection of items contains only a portion of the things I wish to do before I die, I genuinely look forward to their completion.

Connelley, Cole: Bucket List

My name is Cole Connelley, and I was born on July 22, 1995, in Little Rock, Arkansas. I have a mom, dad, and one younger sister and currently live in the average-size town of Monticello, Arkansas. I love to hunt and fish and enjoy wakeboarding on the weekends with my friends. Playing college baseball has always been my dream and I am currently a middle infielder/outfielder for the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders. I give all the glory to God because I am a proud Christian in faith. There are a handful of activities I would like to experience in my life, and I hope I get the chance to do them. 

            To begin with, sky diving has always been on my top priority list. I want to experience the rush of jumping out of a moving plane and free-falling towards the ground underneath. I understand it is extremely dangerous and risky, but I will do it eventually one day. My next item on the list I would appreciate checking off would have to be scuba diving with sharks. I have been scuba diving plenty of times before but never with sharks nearby. This would also be another one of those dangerous desires with a high adrenaline rush, but that is what interests me and makes it more memorable. Thirdly, I would really love to visit a foreign country such as Italy or France. I believe there is so much to see in this world and those are two very unique places to go. Next, playing major league baseball would absolutely be a dream come true for me. I have always desired to play with the pros and have worked extremely hard to make my chances of getting there higher. Lastly, I think it would be amazing to play the guitar. I have always wanted to learn but have never had the time or chance to. It would always be something I could enjoy doing when I get older. 

            As you can see, I have a few desires to check off my list throughout the period of my life. I want to see everything life has to offer but sky diving, scuba diving with sharks, visiting a foreign country, playing major league baseball, and learning how to play the guitar are some of the things I would appreciate most. I hope the Lord will bless me with a long life so I may have a chance to live these awesome experiences.

Deaton, Heather: Bucket List

Though I am only 18 years old, I am completely confident that Disney will continue to have a huge impact on my life.  My love of Disney introduced me to some of the lesser-known wonders of the Disney Parks. Since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, I have been watching, listening, sleeping, and dreaming of that mouse with the big ears and the man who created him.  Beyond the countless hours I hope to spend in all of the parks, I hope to explore these hidden gems before I kick the bucket.

            Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World contains a suite originally designed for Walt Disney’s family to use while they were visiting the parks.  The suite was actually built long after his death and currently contest winners, celebrities, and prominent business people find it home.  One day (or one night, rather) I will sleep in this hidden castle hotel.  

            Disneyland is home to its own highly sought after treasure, Club 33. The New Orleans Square section of the park hides this private club quite effectively.  To gain access to this club requires an exclusive membership highly sought after and sometimes considered impossible to attain. With my determination and love for Disney, this dream of entering past the iconic “33” address plate on the entrance door will become a reality.

Reed, Michael: Bucket List

A bucket list, whether written as an assignment or in fun, seems a somber task at first glance. However, with the time to contemplate one's demise and the life before its end, a bucket list becomes somewhat of a necessity. Faced with four life-fulfilling moments left in a relatively insignificant story, I would turn to the things that could leave a mark.

            My first mark would be just that, a mark. I would strive under great duress, with my time ticking away, to compose a piece of art. Art is unending and undeniable in its greatest form. To have a work of mine set in stone alongside those of the greatest minds of years past would be an honor rivaled by few others. 

            The second step in my farewell to life would be an appeal for peace to the greatest powers of the world. Perhaps words are inconsequential. However, maybe an appeal could cause just one person to feel guilty enough to change something. This second step is merely for personal pride and wouldn't be intended for history books.

            My third item is far-fetched and follows a personal ambition of mine. I would like to create a new sport, a sport comparative to BASEketball from the popular film of the same name. The world needs a past time for all shapes and sizes. Upon further research, “43-man squamish” popularized in MAD Magizine, while a bit satirically conceived, may be the most logical idea.

            My last and most ambitious task would be to glorify the name of God. With my last breath escaping my lips, I want to speak one name. If judgment shall come to me in the afterlife, God would hopefully look upon me as His disciple.

Atchison, Joseph: Bucket List

Sitting on my front porch, in the later years of my life, rocking on my old wooden chair, reflecting on my life, I hope to look back and see my younger self successfully undertaking the various activities I placed on my bucket list for Honors Seminar. I hope to have accomplished my greatest of dreams: traveling America, living on the beach and learning to surf, and getting my masters certification to dive the world’s most famous deep holes.

            To witness the multitude of monuments and cultures spread over our beautiful country would be a life changing experience. Traveling the country, seeing it all in person, and interacting with the diversity of people and cultures found throughout would greatly affect my outlook on the world around us.

            The beach will forever be a sentimental place for me because my mother loved it. She instilled in me this love for the beach and it is because of her that I hope to one day live on the oceanfront. Seeing the surfers glide through the Pacific was completely fascinating as a child. I promised myself that eventually I would be there, gracefully riding waves and enjoying the place I love most. Being able to surf right in my “front yard” would be fulfilling a childhood dream of mine.

            Combining my love for the beach and traveling leads to the third item on my bucket list: to get my masters certification and travel the world to dive the most famous holes. I’m already in the beginning stages of completing this dream of mine, as I am taking scuba diving to get my beginner’s certification this fall. 

Although my list is not the most daring or most challenging, it is significant to me. To accomplish these things would make me feel as though I have successfully fulfilled dreams of mine by doing the things I love. Successfully making my dreams a reality would make those times as an old man that I reflect on my life that much more wonderful.