Icebreaker Questions

@DamonRocks123

• I'm a 32-year-old college professor and I still don't feel grown up. I'll have to get back to you. Honestly, though, I don't think I feel like an "adult" most of the time. At least, not what I presumed adulthood was like as a child. But there have been specific moments, like signing the lease on my first apartment, buying my first car, earning my Ph.D., starting my first teaching gig, that have made me feel accomplished. But then, I ate cereal for dinner while watching cartoons last night, so I don't know what that says.
• A big reason that I'm here is that I've been struggling with motivation lately. But on my good days, it's just the idea that I like to experience new things and I can't get to the next experience without completing the last one. I also really enjoy doing things for others and helping people. I'm much more motivated when it's for someone else.
• So, I'm going through a divorce, which has actually been relatively easy. It's a year out, we've maintained a friendship, and ironing everything out has been fairly simple. However, the thing that's been nailing me lately has been hearing certain songs that bring up specific memories. They're good memories but it's hard to think about them right now because of how much things have changed. On top of that, there are certain movies that make me cry, like the endings of Coco, The Iron Giant, The Lion King, and The Lord of the Rings.
• Yes, because I love teaching and I love research. I think I'd actually be a lot better at both if I didn't have to worry about budget or deadline constraints.
• Travel and volunteer. And read. But I'm quite a few decades away.
• Just hang out with all my closest friends and family. Throw a party. Give all my stuff away.

@DamonRocks123

Hi Damon, I hope you are doing well.

• I’m pretty certain that I haven’t grown up yet. I’m a 20 yr old college student. I have never lived away from home, but I’m planning to starting in the fall. I don’t really feel like I’ve grown up because there is still so much that I don’t know. I had a job for a little over a year in retail, but I just quit today. But other than that I still feel like a kid. I don’t know how to live by myself because I’ve never had to (which is something that my mom constantly brings up and makes me feel bad about), I’ve never been in a relationship, and I’m socially awkward and cannot handle social situations. All of this makes me feel like I’ve missed important information that I need in order to ‘grow up.’ I feel like I’ve missed the training of a grown up or something like that..
• This may come across as odd, but success is what motivates me to get things done. Since I was a kid, the feeling of success is what has motivated me. I like knowing that I’ve done a good job, and so I work to find that feeling. I guess besides that idea, my ‘dream’ motivates me to get things done. I’m going to school to become a teacher. More than anything I want to move away from my home province (which I’m beginning to realize will probably never happen but still..)
• Children always make me emotional. They have their whole lives ahead of them, and they’re so curious. They don’t have any big problems, and the possibilities for them are endless.
• Even if I had all the time/ money/ resources in the world, I would still work. I just left my retail job, but I enjoyed being able to have a ‘purpose’ (in a shallow sense). I liked being in charge of something and being able to complete something well. Besides a few coworkers/ a manager, I had a very good experience working. Although, if money (etc) wasn’t a consideration, I think I’d like volunteering more than working. I’ve volunteered for years and have always loved being able to help out. It’s so fulfilling.
• Hm, obviously retirement is very far away for me,, but I’d like to travel a lot. I was to see Europe, and I’d like to go back to Japan. I’d also like to read more books that I actually like. I’m an English major, so a majority of the books I read are ones that I’m assigned.. I’d like to read for fun more.
• Thinking about death freaks me out,, so I’m going to skip the last question.

@DamonRocks123
* when I knew I was grown, I had to be in my senior year of high school. I had to take care of my mother who was very sick and almost lost her leg.
* if I know things have to get done, I'll imagine how happy I'll be when I'm done doing chores and then having the time to go see others.
* my boyfriend
* I would always work. I never would stop because I have to stay busy.
* when I stop working, I think I just wanna be with (hopefully) my boyfriend who by that time is my husband and perhaps travel with him.
* in my final hour, I would want the people I love dearly to be with me and I want to hold my boyfriends hand and tell him that I love him and how I will never forget him. Especially when he had saved me (before we dated) from doing something stupid. He was there to comfort me even when he had no idea that it was happening.

@DamonRocks123
Hi Damon! I'm Angie. Nice to meet you. : )
1) When I was only seventeen I started realizing that I was growing up. I was very excited, and had a whole birthday planned. I had a rather harsh introduction to impending adulthood, though. Two days before my birthday my house caught on fire and burnt down due to faulty electrical. I spent my birthday in a hotel room babysitting my six dogs, two guinea pigs, and my baby brother while my parents were out sifting through the remains of what was our home only a day or two earlier. I don't think I've necessarily ever felt like much of an adult. because I constantly feel like I am growing and working towards being a better version of myself, and therefore a better human. That's what I work towards every day. I'm always a little lost, and a little scared, a lot like I was all throughout High School and the majority of my college experience.
2) I think what motivates me to get things done is wanting to be successful! I work very hard with complete determination in order to perservere and be extraordinary. I'm studying environmental law right now so that I can eventually move to New York and help save our planet, just in my own way.
3) Disney movies! Or perhaps sunsets. Perhaps seeing people (if I know them or not) live out their dreams with such ferocity. My dog, a little brown chihuahua who's already 8 years old. Thinking about my childhood, and how my dad is getting older with every passing second. Candles that smell lke fall or winter. Christmas music. Songs that make me feel nostalgic because they're tied to certain memories. City lights! Bubblegum icecream. SO much music! A lot of things make me emotional because I think that the most beautiful part of living *are* the emotional parts.
4) I would definitely still work if I had infinite time, money, and resources. Just because I'm a busybody and enjoy what it feels like to focus on miniscule, or large, tasks. Perhaps I wouldn't go for the career path I'm going down at the moment, I think I'd find something small with flexible hours like opening up an online shop filled with things that I really love!
5) I don't plan to retire. I feel like I'd be miserable eventually, just because travelling can only take up so much time and I want to build an empire for my future children so they never have to worry about money or college debt.
6) If I had one hour to live I'd spend it at my favorite beach, watching the sun go down with my dad and my dog. I would meet a peaceful end, excited for whatever adventure awaits me. : )

• At what point in your life you realized that you grew up? recently, i'm moving out for the first time
• What motivates you to get things done? fear of failure
• What never fails to make you feel emotional? thinking about my past and worrying about the future
• If you had all the time, money, and resources, would you still work? yes
• What would you like to do when you retire? travel
• You have 1 hour to live. What do you do in your final hour? hug my s.o.