For the perceptual process it can deal with first impressions. We've all been judged for things we didn't do and vice versa.  Like the girl breaking into the car most likely we all thought we knew where this story was going and it completely turned around.  The jumping to conclusion is normal sadly because of past experiences or stories we have heard.  I met someone that was traveling from Germany and he told me how he was staying at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas in between the time of him leaving his car and checking into his room someone broke into his car and stole all of his clothes. They left his response was "he left my 1000$ bike and bottle of Jack so he needed those clothes more than me" which made me think how awesome that guy was for being kind.  So of course I jumped to the idea of her stealing because of that mans story. I have to admit I do jump to conclusions and stereotype more than I would like. I started thinking about it on my way home from class yesterday and it came to mind that  I stereotype every day at work! I am a server and I have been for two years now.  I stereotype at work multiple ways. Walking up to a table I've learned over the years who to offer beer/wine too, who to offer an eight dollar appetizer too, lastly who might not tip me.  It sounds crazy I know, but I work six days a week and over the last two years I can honestly say I am pretty good at knowing what to expect from people.  Of course, sometimes I am wrong. For example, when I see teenagers come in I  sometimes think damn I just got a table of six and all of them are under the age of eighteen chances are I wont be getting a tip. It is judgmental but from previous times teenagers have gotten that in my head. But sometimes they actually tip great, after that happens I feel terrible for thinking they wont tip. I don't think young adults understand us servers get paid 2.13 an hour and after taxes my paycheck is five bucks at most, we get paid by the experience you have at our restaurant.  As cheesy as this sounds I do give my best service to everyone even if in the back of my head I'm wondering if they will leave me anything.  Because of course they do sometimes and if I didn't try my best and they left me something I would feel bad.  If people are kind and not bossy and I take care of their needs while they eat dinner  I know they wont leave me with nothing, because it has never happened.  People that come in and you cant introduce yourself because they are already telling you to grab them a diet coke, you know you cant mess up or you're in trouble.  Once again I'm not saying every single time this happens but I have a pretty good understanding with whom to expect it from on both sides. You can just tell by interacting with costumers how fun they really are, I like that part of my job the most is the interacting. This blog might sound crazy and judgmental but I use it in a positive way MOST of the time. I love serving and while going to college I think it is a great job, it has taught me so much about people and myself.

Since I gave such a brief overview with my introduction I am going to talk more about myself and how I have become the person I am today.   I grew up in a small town near Bear Lake Utah,  my dad and his family run a ranch there. My dad taught me what hard work was like when I was still in diapers. At a very young age my parents got a divorce and I moved to Ogden Utah with my mom and two older sisters. My oldest sisters name is Lacey she is ten years older than me, my other sisters name is Kendra she is five years older. The divorce did not affect me like it did my older sister Kendra.  It took years for Kendra to grasp the change in our lives. I looked at the situation differently even though I was so young I recognized my parents were both in happier places. Growing up in Ogden my mom dated but never remarried, she is the most independent woman I've ever met.  And I know that is one thing about me I got from her growing up is to learn to be happy with myself. knowing  I don't need another person to "complete me". Not saying I am against relationships but she has raised me to be independent.  My junior year of high school I was having a lot of problems with my mom we could not agree on anything so I moved back to bear lake with my dad. My junior and senior year of high school is when I changed the most.  My mom and my dad had complete opposite ways of raising a teenager. My mom made me be home by 11 every night and my dad never gave me a curfew. So at first I did whatever I wanted because it was new to me. In those two years I maturated a lot because of all the freedom my dad gave me. I could do whatever but I learned after a couple months it was  not that great running free. I just wanted to be around to help my dad and take the time to spend with him instead of partying every weekend. He taught me my work ethic and how to be smart with all my freedom and not disappoint him. Still to this day I think back what I would have been like my first year here at Dixie Sate if I lived with my mom my junior and senior year, I would have went crazy having no rules. Not saying my first year at Dixie wasn't wild, it was amazing!  Dixie has been so much fun I wouldn't change one thing.  My mom moved to St. George in November and we are so close now I love that lady. Our time apart was needed during high school, I was a brat back then and she didn't need to put up with it.  Now I appreciate her so much.  Moving to my dads was such a blessing in so many ways. Everyday I am thankful for my parents raising me and being there for me. This class makes me think deeper with how the events in my life shape me. I hope that explains a little bit more of my authentic self. 

Here is a pictures of my mom and I at her wedding December 2014

My dad and I working on his ranch 

Hi my name is Hannah Hoffman, I am from northern Utah and I moved to St. George three years ago. I have loved every second of it. While living here I have meet so many great people and have made many memories, that I will never forget. I'm going into the dental hygiene program at Weber State University. Learning new things and going to school is something important to me. I enjoy hiking, snowboarding, boating, camping, and going to concerts. I love the outdoors and adventure. I am very close to my family and have a few amazing friends in my life. I come across shy, but once you get to know me I can talk for hours about anything.