“I am finding now that I can make almost any situation the best situation I’ve ever been in.”
Austin said she was inspired to start dancing after meeting a group of breakdancers.
“They were very kind, genuine people and their individual philosophies, styles and uniqueness resonated with me,” Austin said.
Austin heard about KSU’s dance program from her high school dance teacher while studying psychology at Georgia Southern University.
“I figured I could do both and it was the best decision I made as far
as college goes,” Austin said.
Her paper titled “Artistic Flow Experience as an Enhancement to Movement Therapy Practice” won best original manuscript in the undergraduate category.
The focus of her essay was the concept of flow, and the connection between skill, motivation and spiritual connectivity in one’s environment.
“The subject changed my life and I’m mostly happy that I could do the subject justice enough for it to be considered good literature by other academics,” Austin said.
Austen said winning the award has inspired her to pursue more writing in academia, and she is currently working on a novella based on philosophy.
“Anyone can reach the flow state with mindful training,” Austin said.
If you’ve ever started a task believing it took you only a few moments and then saw that it took you hours then you have reached the state of flow.
“I am finding now that I can make almost any situation the best situation I’ve ever been in. You can imagine how much better that makes life. No problem is a downfall or wall
to beat down, its only a riddle for which you have to creatively
find a solution. Life is more fun,” Austin said.
