New Year, New Project, LET'S GO

First class! There’s always something nerve-wracking, yet exciting on the first day of class. I’ve heard of the crazy amount, yet meaningful work that takes place in New World from my friends in last year’s M-School classes. And now it’s my turn.

What scared me the most from my friends’ experiences was how much creative control they had to make a difference. I wanted to think of an inspiring cause and solution with my future New World team where we could make a real difference. Knowing how much work, time, effort, and money go into the project, I wanted it to be perfect from before the class began. So I was surprised and weary, yet a little relieved to find out that beginning this year, we have a client. However, after learning more about our client, I am even more excited to start. This project has potential to make a real difference.

Dogs are my favorite animals; even my M-School application video was how if I were to be an animal, I would be a dog. Specifically, a golden retriever.

I knew the human-animal connection was a special one, but did know until Professor Strauss’ presentation of how deep it can go. Pets have a significant, positive effect on human emotional and physical health. And they love us back, too. Both the owner and pet release oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone" as they fall in love with each other. This bond between human & animal is undeniable.

On a sadder note, my family put my last childhood dog down this summer. Buzz and Woody were truly part of our family. It makes me so happy to learn that they had the same chemical reaction in their brains of falling in love with us. They were not just using us for food and shelter, they believed they were part of our pack. Upon reflecting on their lives, Buzz and Woody made positive changes in my life over the last 13 and 9 years respectively. They would get me outside by running around with them in our yard improving my exercise habits. I remember I was scared of big dogs until we got them in middle school, therefore making me braver and giving me confidence from a young age to face my fears. I learned to share by sneaking them snacks at dinner. They sensed when I was sad and would let me hug them as I cried.

Buzz with me on my high school graduation - June 9, 2016

These are all little things that positively affected how I grew up. This got my group and I

thinking that if pets can help healthy young children, they can significantly help people struggling with emotional and physical health. While brainstorming different groups of people we could focus our project on, we started talking about our veterans. So many struggle with mental issues like PTSD and depression, as well as long-lasting physical injuries. Pets are being used to help them, but not to the extent they could be. Our ideas are still forming and changing, but I would love to improve their quality of life and/or lifespan starting with this project.