1. CARLYNS BUCKET LIST (NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER) 2. 10. SKYDIVE Skydiving on a bucket list? Clich I know, but skydiving has always been something Ive wanted to try. Even though I am extremely afraid of heights there's something about taking a risk by jumping out of a plane thousands of feet above ground that appeals to me. Every once in a while I enjoy taking a walk on the wild side and this is definitely something the adventurous side of me wants to try in the future. 3. 9. BACKPACK ACROSS AUSTRALIA Throughout my life Ive had the opportunity to travel a lot. Whether it was surprise vacations my parents used to organize or moving states with my family Ive spent a great deal of time in various airports. Traveling is one of my favorite activities of life; from road trips to leaving the country I love being on the go. I also have had a huge interest in the Australian culture so I decided to combine my two loves into one. One of my friends took a year off before entering college and backpacked across Australia and the stories and experiences she told me about were incredible. I hope that one day I can experience the things she did simultaneously while gaining knowledge about the world beyond the bubble I currently live in. 4. 8. RUN IN THE DRAKE RELAYS videoIn high school I was a runner; both cross country and track. I ran in individual events as well as on relay teams. Running on the big blue track in the Drake Relays for a runner is like a college football player playing in a bowl game or a professional baseball player in the World Seriesits a BIG deal. Teams must qualify to run in this meetand the invitation is extended to high schools and colleges all over the country. In addition, there are a number of professional races that take place. I was fortunate enough to run my junior and senior year of high school as a member of the Valley track team. The experience was surreal and extremely intimidating because this is when youre running against the best of the best. Overall though, I loved every minute of it and it is an experience I will never forget! 5. 7. MEET JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE Justin Timberlake has been my celebrity crush since the early 90s when he stepped into the spot light a part of the dream team also known as *NSYNC. Ive grown up watching him mature as not only a singer and dancer but completing his triple threat abilities as an actor (a hilarious one at that!). I was beyond excited after he made his decision to go on back on tour and have my fingers crossed that JT concert tickets will be in my stocking this Christmas. I will always and forever love Justin Timberlake, and meeting him in real life would make me one exceptionally happy camper. 6. 6. DO NEW YEARS EVE IN NYC Even though I was lucky enough to reside in one of coolest states for 7 yearsI never had the opportunity to experience one of the coolest things it has to offer: watching the ball drop on NYE! This is on my list because its something realistic that I have always wanted to experience. New Years is actually my favorite holiday because I like the idea of change and the introduction of new things which is what the New Year tends to bring. I feel like its one thing to celebrate watching the program on television and actually being present in the city and soaking up all the energy and excitement!!video 7. 5. WRITE A BOOK At the age of 7 I decided I was destined to be a childhood author/illustrator. I spent most of my free time creating mini picture books about a girl named Kristina. The stories were adventures my fictional character embarked on with her family and her friends. As Ive grown up Ive kept journals of personal experiences. I was always the nerdy girl who enjoyed writing papers for classes because people told me I have a way with words. I feel a deep connection when I write about things Ive been through because its a way for me to almost relive it. I hope one day I can write a book about the journey Ive taken growing up into the person I amand the person I will be in the future. 8. 4. WIN THE LOTTERYSo heres another clich item to have on a bucket list, but who doesnt want to win the lottery?! Winning the lottery would mean a lot of different things for me. I would do some of the obvious things with the winnings such as pay off my college loans as well as splurge a little on myself and my family. BUT I would also donate a large portion of it to the Best Buddies organization. In high school I was a member and a part of the Iowa State board for this organization and its something I will always hold very dear to my heart. Donating money to help this organization grow is something that means a lot to me because they are making a difference in lives world wide each and every day. 9. 3. BE A SEAT FILLER AT THE OSCARS/GRAMMYS The day my Mom informed me that when people at award shows such as the Oscars or the Grammys have to use the bathroom they have people temporarily fill their spots as a job, I knew wanted to do it. Not only do these people get to see the glamorous side of the red carpet and be involved with that but they get paid to sit and watch an awesome award show live while the celebrities go to the bathroom. This would be fitting for me since I regularly watch these award shows but from the comfort of my home on my couch. Having a job like this where I would be paid to do something I normally do plus dress up and actually attend a show would be unreal! 10. 2. BE ON AN EPISODE OF MODERN FAMILYSince its premiere in 2009 I have always been a huge fan of the show Modern Family. The 3 families featured are all completely different and have all sorts of chaos occur in their daily lives that continue to make me laugh until I cry while watching each episode. I love that from the surface they seem so different, because in reality modern families of today encompass that same uniqueness. The show allows each of the families to tell their stories from their points of view which makes it feel more real than most shows I watch. The characters are goofy and the situations they get themselves into are entertaining; guest staring on this show would be quiet the experience! 11. 1. HAVE AN INTERNSHIP FOR UNICEF Every day, 18,000 children under the age of five die from things we can prevent. They die of things most people in the U.S. rarely worry about. Malnutrition. Unsafe drinking water. The lack of an affordable vaccine. UNICEF is doing whatever it takes to reach a day when the number of children dying from preventable causes is not 18,000it is ZERO (UNICEF). I dont know very much about what I want to do in the future or how I want to spend the rest of my life but I do know one thing for sure and that is my love for helping others. UNICEFs main goal is to save lives lost due to causes that are completely preventable. Ive worked with children in various environments and they amaze methey are the future presidents, lawyers, doctors, teachers and neighbors that will rule our world. I feel it is in our best interest to give them everything we can so they can be successful. A problem exists today because some children across the world are not even given a fair chance for survival because they dont have access to safe drinking water which needs to change. UNICEF does a number of services to fight against this struggle. Having an internship with this organization would allow me to focus my energy on something I feel strongly about while impacting others lives at the same time!