21st+Century+Skills+for+Success

**Hey guys, my name are Connor Thomsen (as you can see from above). I am a senior at Papillion LaVista South High School and the Papillion LaVista Zoo Academy. I have had many great opportunities being at the Zoo Academy. I have worked with animals, hands on in the workplace and environment. I shadowed with the Marketing department and the Wild Kingdom Pavilion Zoo Keepers. I have worked both maintenance and business type job experiences. I feel that these will greatly help me to understand those types of settings and will further my knowledge of the work place. After high school I plan on attending college at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. There I will earn my degree in Mathematics and join UNO's ROTC so I can get my commission and join the Air Force after four years there. Once in the Air Force I would like to become a pilot, navigator, or work with intelligence. I know the road ahead of me is not going to be an easy one, but I will work as hard as I can, and will not ever give up on me or anyone else. I believe in myself and if I work hard, it will pay off. I will achieve the dream. **
 * Connor Thomsen's 21st Century Skills for Success **

**Now that you know a little about me. let me show you some of my traits and characteristics **

1. Determination 2. Dedication 3. Commitment 4. Creativity 5. Listening skills 6. Empathy 7. Trustworthy 8. Musically Inclined 9. Humorous 10. Perfectionist

I am going to be connecting these traits to an academic achievement or personal story in life to express the following

**Determination ** I have always had a strong sense of determination in me. It gives me my drive and stimulates me to get the job done. Being at the Zoo Academy shows a great deal of determination. Despite having to drive to the zoo everyday from winter to spring, I was not going to give in. I took the risk going into the Academy. I got accepted into the Academy the first year it came about at my school. I could have just said no to it. But, no I stood firm and went into this thing strong and willing.

**Dedication** Dedication is very important. It's what takes you places in life. My dedication is to my future goals and dreams. Right now I know they are just images. I see them playing out in my head. What I want to be, who I want to be, what I’ll do, what I want most. The dedication I have for these ambitions cannot be measure by any means. Only by attaining these goals will I show how strong my dedication is. The Military is where I want to go. I will go there. Nothing is going to stop me.

**Commitment** Commitment is very much like dedication. They go hand in hand. I am committed to my schools track team and also with the Ralston’s Soccer Club. Track is not a sport you become good at immediately and neither is soccer, it takes time and patience (Nice, a new quality I learned about myself). It took me a good six months to get where I am now in track. With Soccer the same applies. You have to be committed if you ever want anything in life. These sports are teaching me some very important lessons.



<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">**Creativity** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I have always had skill for having a creative mind. In Psychology class I had to make a book about myself from beginning to now. At first it just another assignment and as I started to work on it I found it very unique. This book was made entirely by me. You can tell just by looking at it that it's who I am and I have a distinctive way of expressing myself. You know what they say; the creative mind cannot be stopped.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">**Listening Skills**

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Listening is often something you pick up after experience. I pay attention to detail when I listen and often pick up on things others normally don't. I like to plan ahead, get ahead of the game. This is an essay I had to write in 21st Century reading and writing. This essay had to be very detailed and meet certain requirements. I spent at least two day on this.



<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">**Empathy** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">You could say that this is one of my more defining traits. When someone I know is upset or sad about something, I want to help them out the best I can. I feel for them and want to stop what is bothering them. I do this almost anytime someone I know is hurting. I'm there for them and by doing this I can better understand friends and new people I will meet in college.



**Musically Inclined**

I have always loved music, it's something I have been fond of. I have played the trumpet and still play the piano. I have been taking piano lessons for three years and am very good at sight reading. When i play the piano I feel the music flowing through me. Every measure, every beat, every note is played with an essence. Music takes time to learn and to play takes a lot of practice. Playing music has taught me to not rush things as well as to take my time when perfecting my work.

**Trustworthy** I am very trustworthy, always have been, always will be. I currently work at a doctor’s office and handle patient files. They contain very confidential records and files. They trust me not to look at. It's my job to be trustworthy. If people trust you, you will get far with whatever career path you choose.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">**Humorous** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">There is nothing I like to her more than the sound of laughter. I love to make people laugh; it gives me a lift and brightens not only my day, but their day too. This is a fairy tale I wrote about the Coca Cola Company when doing a personal narrative on them. It kind of gives a brief history of the company through a funny tale. I hope you like it.



<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">**Perfectionist (so to speak)** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I like to make my work the best. I put a great deal of effort into what I do. This is a PowerPoint I worked on very meticulously to make the best. Obviously no one is perfect, not even me (I know its shocker). But, here and now I will say that I’m not perfect nor will I ever be. It's one thing to try to be perfect, it's another to admit your not



<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">My Awesome Skills
<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Now that you know my traits you can see I how I use them in action

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">These are the following organizations, skills, and experiences I have been involved with that will prepare me for my future.


 * 1) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">NJROTC (Navel Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp)
 * 2) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Shadowing at the Zoo
 * 3) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Leo Club
 * 4) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Memory
 * 5) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Being on task
 * 6) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Following through with things
 * 7) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Time wise
 * 8) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Planning ahead
 * 9) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Math
 * 10) <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; tabstops: list .5in;">Common Knowledge

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">**NJROTC (Navel Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp)** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I have been in the NJROTC for four years from freshman to senior year. In that time I have learned discipline, manners, and many other things. We do tons of community service events and participate in various things around the city. I have been a squad leader, which means that I have a squad that I must look after and teach military bearing to. It is my duty to teach the freshman what they need to know in order to succeed long after I’m gone. I will definitely remember these moments.



**Job Shadowing**

While at the Zoo Academy I have shadowed with the marketing department and the Wild Kingdom Pavilion while at the Henry Doorly Zoo. I met some great people and had a great time with the job shadowing. It is a unique and very select opportunity. Not too many people can say that they have worked with animals from Africa and Asia. I enjoy every second of it.



**Leo Club** I was in Leo Club for both junior high and high school. I was always participating in events that they held. For this one event we were raising money for the International Association for Hearing Dogs. They train dogs so they can assist the visual and hearing impaired. I raised over $250 over two years. I really contributed and it felt good knowing I helped someone. **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Memory ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">I have a great memory. I remember even the most miniscule thing. I'm like an elephant. It comes in handy when remembering I have to study or work on something. I love it so much.

**Being on Task** Procrastination is a very bad thing, especially in college. Lucky for me I don't procrastinate (that much). I finish what I start and don't stop until it's done. That’s one of my many mottos. If I do get off task I get right back on it, no problem.

**Following Through with Things** If you were to bake a pie that would take three hours to make would you work on it one our then take a break? Well, I would bake it all through the three hours it would take, even longer if necessary. I follow what I am told to do to the very end. I'm not a quitter (especially if it's pie)

**Time Management** Time is one of those things you can never have enough of. You always want more of it. I know with college and all I will be having to split up a job with studying and I know I can do that. I set times for myself and hit them. It's a skill that is very good to have. No doubt.

**Planning ahead** I prefer to get things done without constantly being asked to. I look to the future on events and assignments in class. I plan how long it will take as well has which days to work on it. Not only does this show future planning, it shows integrity. Another good trait to have (eleven as of now). This is a Psychology project I planned for a while and got done on time. It deals with Classical Conditioning that i experimented on my cat.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">**Math** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">I have always like math. I've been so interested on how it all works. It clicks with me and I plan to use these math skills to get me a degree in mathematics. That way I can get one step closer to becoming a pilot or navigator. This is a project I did with my geometry group last year. It involves getting to the newest attraction at the zoo (which was the Madagascar House) and putting geometry to it.



<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Common Knowledge** Common knowledge is always good to have. It makes you more suitable for the unexpected. They more you know, the more it helps you. I know what's right from what's and that’s good judgment. I expect nothing more than the best I can give. That’s what separates me from everyone else.