My family and I spend quality time around the kitchen table.
My parents are constantly asking us to pick up around the house, and that rarely happens. Our house has character I guess. :)
Sunday, September 25, 2011
My Community
Our beautiful courthouse located in the middle of the downtown square.
The Plainsman Museum and the Edgerton Center.
My State
This is the logo of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
We have many cornfields throughout our state.
Where Am I?
Some people spend their childhood in one place. Others move so often they can’t even count how many different schools they’ve been to. I guess that puts me somewhere in the middle. I was born in O’Neill, Nebraska and we lived in the country near the small community of Chambers. I grew up in an old school house that we remodeled just the way we wanted it. I thought that place was the coolest. We even had a water fountain in the basement! The backyard was lined with evergreen trees and it was so spacious. I made a ton of memories with my family in the old house and I really miss it. It will always have a special place in my heart, even though it looks completely different now and was converted into a horse ranch. Whenever we go back up north to visit, it makes me cringe to see how different our house looks now. It’s nice to remember the memories there though. No matter how much things change we can always remember how they were, which is comforting.
Chambers is a very small town, with a population of around 350. I loved growing up in that atmosphere though. Even when I was younger I knew most of the people in the community and there were definitely no secrets kept. When you live in a town of that size, news travels extremely fast! I lived in Chambers up until the end of third grade. When our parents told us that we had to move because our dad was given a job in Grand Island, we were devastated. The thought of having to make new friends, and leave this life that we have just started to form was a frightening one. I feel that the move was good for our family though.
The first day of fourth grade at Aurora Elementary was a little intimidating for me. I had met a few people at the basketball and volleyball camps during the summer, but hadn’t really gotten to know anyone that well yet. I am so thankful that my parents chose to live and send us to the Aurora Schools though. Everyone was very welcoming, and even though the school system was a lot larger than what I was used to, it felt very much like home.
Aurora has been the place I call home ever since then. I have learned to really appreciate this town. Sure, it might get a little boring at times, but that’s alright. When my friends and I can’t find anything to occupy our time with we just have to get a little creative and think outside-the-box. Luckily, that doesn’t happen too often because our town has a lot to offer. We have an adequate number of fast food places, cute little shops around the square, and many other hang out locations. It’s a good combination for people both young and old. Aurora is very family-friendly, and I feel that it is a safe place to live. It is not perfect don’t get me wrong, but it is a place that I am proud to call my home.
Our school system is one of the best. Our administrators and teachers go the extra mile to make sure we are giving our best effort and doing all that we can do to be successful. There are many teachers that have been here for quite awhile and some that have just started, filling the places of those that have recently retired. Not only does our school have an amazing faculty, we also have great activities and organizations. There is a large variety of groups you can choose to be involved in. Whether it’s band or the cross-country team, FFA or speech, you can do it all. I know I’m not alone when I say that we have many students who are highly involved. Many early mornings and late nights go into this commitment, but I feel that it makes an individual very well rounded. It’s so nice knowing that our school stands behind us with much support in all of our extra-curricular activities we pursue.
Living in Aurora has taught me many things. One thing is that I need to respect and be proud of the place I call home. Even if I wasn’t so sure about coming here when I was a fourth-grader-to-be, I now understand that this is how it was supposed to be. It was all part of God’s plan to open up new doors, and create new friendships for my family and I. I feel honored and blessed to live in such a great community that has such tradition and pride. The way I see it, if you don’t appreciate where you are from, how can you expect to love where you end up?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Who Am I?
I’m sure we have all been asked the big question at least once in our lives. Who are you? At first thought, it might seem very easy to describe who you are to others but it takes awhile to really look inside yourself and talk about who you are. What makes you special? What sets you apart from others?
I am Kori Rae Hixson. Born to Willie and Lois Hixson on May 2nd, 1994, at approximately 10:02 p.m. I grew up in the itty-bitty, everybody knows everybody town of Chambers, Nebraska. I have always been surrounded by supportive family and friends and I am so thankful for that. From a young age my parents taught me that kindness matters and if you don’t have anything nice to say, then you shouldn’t say anything at all. I’ve always looked up to my parents. They amaze me with their words of wisdom and the way they can make any bad situation better. I know that I don’t thank them enough for all they do, but I am so grateful for them. They have helped shape me into the person I am currently, and the woman I will be in the future.
Family is so important to me. I would be nothing without them! My sisters and I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but that’s the best part of sisterhood. You have to disagree at times to really understand how much you have in common. It may seem like we hate each other at times, but deep down we secretly like each other. Okay, so we love each other. They have always had my back and can always cheer me up when I’m feeling sad. They’re the greatest and I’m so glad I have them in my life. I am the monkey in the middle of us three girls so I’m used to being the mediator when arguments arise. I like to think of myself as the peacemaker. When we were younger I would always be the witness when the parentals asked what REALLY happened. There were some ups and down growing up, but the memorable moments will stick with me forever. My family is amazing and I love them all very much.
Athletics are a key part of my life as well. I have been around the sport of volleyball ever since I can remember. My mom was actually pregnant with me while she was coaching volleyball in Chambers. I’m not sure if I somehow gained my love for this sport in the womb or if constantly being around it is the reason why, but either way I love the game. I am also involved in basketball. I love to shoot around and play pick up games with friends and family. It’s something that we always did together and I’ve shared some great memories with my family, especially with my sisters and my dad. Whenever we would play together I would always learn more than just basketball skills. My dad would always tie in stories of the “good old days” or some random life lessons I didn’t ever care about. I’m very thankful for those times though, because I realize now he was just looking out for me. He wanted me to be the best I could be, always.
I’m one of those people that always has a song in my head. No matter what. Whether it’s an overplayed, annoying pop song, a church hymn, or one of our rhapsody songs you can always guarantee that there’s a melody flowing through my head. Music is something that I have grown to love overtime. I wasn’t always so fond of it though. I remember my mother forcing me to go to piano lessons, practice, practice, and oh wait. Practice again. I dreaded sitting on that wooden bench. The funny thing is that now I wish I would have stuck with it. I am very appreciative of my mother for putting me in lessons after all these years. She was the main influence behind my love of music now. Music has always been there for me, just like my family and friends. It seems like you can always find a song that perfectly fits the mood you’re in, good or bad. It's a great way to forget about the world and just relax.
I love shopping, hanging out with my friends, baking, singing, and anything that involves food. I have many interests, am involved in quite a few activities, but my family and friends always seem to see me through the rough patches of my life. I am grateful for every single one of them. They have always been there and the experiences I have shared with them have helped shape me into the young lady I am today. Whenever I am asked the “Who are you” question, I know that I can confidently answer it. I am like a puzzle. The pieces might be a little jumbled and scattered out, but when you put them all together, it’s who I am.
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