Carlyn has created a bucket list of dreams and goals she hopes to achieve in her lifetime. Some of the top items on her list include having an internship with UNICEF to help children in need, being a guest star on the TV show Modern Family, and seeing the ball drop in New York City on New Year's Eve. She also hopes to try skydiving, backpack across Australia, write a book, and meet her celebrity crush Justin Timberlake. Carlyn's list shows her interests in travel, helping others, and participating in memorable experiences.

1. CARLYN’S BUCKET LIST
(NOT IN ANY PARTICULAR ORDER)

2. 10. SKYDIVE
Skydiving on a bucket list?
Cliché I know, but skydiving
has always been something
I‟ve 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 I‟ve had the opportunity to travel a lot. Whether it was “surprise vacations”
my parents used to organize or moving states with my family I‟ve 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
video
In 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 Series…it‟s a BIG deal. Teams must qualify to run in this
meet—and 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 you‟re 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 90‟s when he
stepped into the spot light a part of the
dream team also known as *NSYNC. I‟ve
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 YEAR‟S EVE IN NYC
Even though I was lucky enough to reside in one of coolest states for 7
years…I 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 it‟s
something realistic that I have always wanted to experience. New Year‟s 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
it‟s 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 I‟ve grown up I‟ve 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 I‟ve been through
because it‟s a way for me to almost relive it. I
hope one day I can write a book about the
journey I‟ve taken growing up into the person
I am…and the person I will be in the future.

8. 4. WIN THE LOTTERY
So here‟s another cliché item to have on a bucket list, but who doesn‟t 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 it‟s 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
OSCAR‟S/GRAMMY‟S
The day my Mom informed me that when people at
award shows such as the Oscar‟s or the Grammy‟s
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 FAMILY
Since 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 18,000—it is ZERO” (UNICEF).
I don‟t 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.
UNICEF‟s main goal is to save lives lost due to causes that are completely preventable.
I‟ve worked with children in various environments and they amaze me—they 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 don‟t 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!