So, I know this is a little late, considering I experienced the Tunnel before Thanksgiving break. But being caught up in a thousand different things takes a toll on a now-nineteen year old, and so my poor blog fell to the wayside for a week, quite unfortunately. But, moving on to the important stuff!
The Tunnel was definitely an experience that I urged people to attend after I left. It was very impacting, and it absolutely provoked some very large thoughts in my mind, as well as in the minds of the other girls I went through with.
My two favorite rooms, without a doubt, were the "Picture Room" as everyone referred to it, which was the room that was covered in pictures of issues that affect girls and women in society today, and the "Glass Ceiling Room" which our very own peer mentor, Casey, worked diligently on (and did a fabulous job, if I may say so myself!). These two rooms were the favorites of everyone in my group I think, but that just might be coincidental, since all the girls in my group were all in this Women in Leadership class with me, and so everything kind of hit us a little harder, and everything held a little more meaning to us. At least in those two rooms.
Next year, I absolutely plan on being involved in this great project. It is eye-opening, and afterward, Amritha, Bailey and I determined that we are going to change the world, and host world summits to discuss these issues, and find resolutions to these problems. You left the Tunnel feeling empowered. You want to change the world, you want to make a conscious, verbal, and physical effort to be the change you want to see in the world.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Now Do More.
Alright. So. We're in week eleven. Which is almost crazy for me to think about, because professors are starting to talk about finals week already, and the ending of our very first round of college classes on semesters. I mean... that went really fast, didn't it? I'm not the only one who thinks this, right? My high school friends back home are telling me "Hey, the first quarter is over already," and I'm like "Hah. We're almost halfway through the year here." It's such a contrast, but I love it. Throughout these eleven weeks, I have learned so much, especially about myself as a student, a person, and a woman. My FYS Women in Leadership class has been immensely beneficial for me, and I could not be more grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of this experience.
Leadership is such a big, important term to me. It always has been. All through high school, I held numerous leadership positions. President of Student Council and our chapter of National Honor Society, captain of the varsity softball team, section and squad leader in concert and marching band, section leader in concert and show choir. These positions were always equally important to me. It was my responsibility to lead those in whatever organization or activity it was, and I felt as though I accomplished that exceptionally well for myself. I worked hard to not be bossy, or condescending. I tried to include everyone in everything an organization was doing, and I tried to trump negative remarks or rumors before they even had the chance to start. The experience I gained in these positions really helped me take this Women in Leadership course to its fullest extent of vitality to me. The prior experience I've had up to this point is what has helped me excel here at Otterbein, both in and out of class.
We have had some phenomenal speakers. Just tonight, Justice McGee Brown spoke to us about a range of topics that all tied together to give us (or me, at least) one general notion. BE YOURSELF. The best thing she told us tonight was to not worry about the guys right now. Worry about developing yourself as a person, as a woman, as an intellectual person. The guys will come along when they're developing themselves and looking for a woman who knows what she wants, who she is, and what she is going to do in the world. I loved that! I mean, I've always been a very goal-oriented person. And I've always kept my priorities straight. My education, academia, and my work have always come first in my life. Without fail. That still holds true today, and that practice has gotten me pretty far here at Otterbein as a freshman. I mean... as a freshman, I'm holding two jobs on campus, maintaining a high GPA, managing all of my classes wonderfully for myself. I'm taking advantage of so many new opportunities that are coming my way because I know they will push me forward in my career and in my life.
This Women in Leadership class has continually been reinforcing the knowledge that I am doing exactly what I should be. Am I overwhelmed sometimes? Of course I am, but that doesn't mean I drop everything and break down. I am just made stronger through everything I handle. The morals and standards to which I hold myself are extremely high and valued to me. These speakers who discuss things with us, these sessions every Wednesday night that we have, they make me feel good about how I am carrying myself. I feel more confident every day, because I know that what I'm doing is going to be a good thing for me in the long run. This feeling... it truly is priceless. And I do not believe for a minute that I would have this feeling had I not been a part of this remarkable class filled with women leaders.
Leadership is such a big, important term to me. It always has been. All through high school, I held numerous leadership positions. President of Student Council and our chapter of National Honor Society, captain of the varsity softball team, section and squad leader in concert and marching band, section leader in concert and show choir. These positions were always equally important to me. It was my responsibility to lead those in whatever organization or activity it was, and I felt as though I accomplished that exceptionally well for myself. I worked hard to not be bossy, or condescending. I tried to include everyone in everything an organization was doing, and I tried to trump negative remarks or rumors before they even had the chance to start. The experience I gained in these positions really helped me take this Women in Leadership course to its fullest extent of vitality to me. The prior experience I've had up to this point is what has helped me excel here at Otterbein, both in and out of class.
We have had some phenomenal speakers. Just tonight, Justice McGee Brown spoke to us about a range of topics that all tied together to give us (or me, at least) one general notion. BE YOURSELF. The best thing she told us tonight was to not worry about the guys right now. Worry about developing yourself as a person, as a woman, as an intellectual person. The guys will come along when they're developing themselves and looking for a woman who knows what she wants, who she is, and what she is going to do in the world. I loved that! I mean, I've always been a very goal-oriented person. And I've always kept my priorities straight. My education, academia, and my work have always come first in my life. Without fail. That still holds true today, and that practice has gotten me pretty far here at Otterbein as a freshman. I mean... as a freshman, I'm holding two jobs on campus, maintaining a high GPA, managing all of my classes wonderfully for myself. I'm taking advantage of so many new opportunities that are coming my way because I know they will push me forward in my career and in my life.
This Women in Leadership class has continually been reinforcing the knowledge that I am doing exactly what I should be. Am I overwhelmed sometimes? Of course I am, but that doesn't mean I drop everything and break down. I am just made stronger through everything I handle. The morals and standards to which I hold myself are extremely high and valued to me. These speakers who discuss things with us, these sessions every Wednesday night that we have, they make me feel good about how I am carrying myself. I feel more confident every day, because I know that what I'm doing is going to be a good thing for me in the long run. This feeling... it truly is priceless. And I do not believe for a minute that I would have this feeling had I not been a part of this remarkable class filled with women leaders.
Cookies with the President... Yes, it Happened!
Who else can honestly tell their friends "Oh, yeah by the way, I've had cookies at the president's house?" I mean, really? I have friends at Bowling Green State University, the University of Toledo, and The Ohio State University, and NONE of them have even come close do doing something like that with their president, let alone as freshmen. I am one lucky duck. Rather, I am one extremely blessed individual, being able to have experiences exactly like this one as a freshman here at Otterbein. Just one more reason that confirms my knowledge that being at this university is absolutely the best place I could possibly be in order to receive a collegiate education.
The entire FYS class really did meet at President Krendl's home for cookies and cider last week for our session. There was a fireplace and big, comfy white chairs and everything in the living room where we were all gathered for a majority of the evening. The panel who came to chat with us was great as well, and they fit right in with all of us. The discussion that evening was diversity - dealing with it, accepting it, loving it, being proud of it, and embracing it all day, every day, in every situation, with every single person around you. It was such a fun discussion! Definitely the most fun discussion that we've had as a class since the FYS experience has started at the beginning of the semester. The three speakers (for the life of me, I cannot remember their names, which is very disappointing. I could look at the syllabus, but it is 3:12am... and that is an explanation in itself) were stellar. They were loud, energetic, happy, and they connected really well with all of us in that room last week. I really think they helped all of us - every single one of us - connect with ourselves as individuals, as well as with each other as women, as students, as "foot soldiers" as we were called. As with a couple other sessions, we left class last Wednesday feeling energized, and empowered as a collective group, and as individuals. It was absolutely a memorable experience... a night that I will never forget.
Although... that might just be because President Krendl bakes really outrageously delicious chocolate chip cookies, and iced brownies. [Insert winky face here...haha]
The entire FYS class really did meet at President Krendl's home for cookies and cider last week for our session. There was a fireplace and big, comfy white chairs and everything in the living room where we were all gathered for a majority of the evening. The panel who came to chat with us was great as well, and they fit right in with all of us. The discussion that evening was diversity - dealing with it, accepting it, loving it, being proud of it, and embracing it all day, every day, in every situation, with every single person around you. It was such a fun discussion! Definitely the most fun discussion that we've had as a class since the FYS experience has started at the beginning of the semester. The three speakers (for the life of me, I cannot remember their names, which is very disappointing. I could look at the syllabus, but it is 3:12am... and that is an explanation in itself) were stellar. They were loud, energetic, happy, and they connected really well with all of us in that room last week. I really think they helped all of us - every single one of us - connect with ourselves as individuals, as well as with each other as women, as students, as "foot soldiers" as we were called. As with a couple other sessions, we left class last Wednesday feeling energized, and empowered as a collective group, and as individuals. It was absolutely a memorable experience... a night that I will never forget.
Although... that might just be because President Krendl bakes really outrageously delicious chocolate chip cookies, and iced brownies. [Insert winky face here...haha]
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Super Woman.
It is 1:04 a.m., and I have finally settled into my room after my very first production night as a new copy editor of the Tan and Cardinal newspaper. Today was a VERY busy day, to say the least, but I conquered it with flying colors. I am very proud of myself, and I feel that should be blog-worthy!
The real reason I find this blog-worthy, is because throughout my entire day filled with chaos - from waking up at 6:30, to mentoring eighth grade girls, to my classes, and to two jobs, one of which lasted from 4 p.m. to just about now, I felt so powerful. As a young woman who has a lot on her plate, I know that sometimes (many times) I can feel overwhelmed or stressed out with everything I have to do in one day. Today, however, was very different. I was running around campus all day to get everything done, and I just felt invigorated. I loved it! Why can't I feel that way every day, when my schedule is packed to the margins in my organizer? I was pondering this exact thought on my walk to the Comm building for my T&C production night. And that's when something else sparked my interest.
The book that I am reading for my FYS book review - Dee Dee Myers' "Why Women Should Rule the World" - discusses similar situations. Dee Dee talks about being the first female press secretary to the president. In this role, she has numerous tasks to accomplish in a day. Reading everything she had to do in a single day, from the press releases to the notes, to dealing with the media... it was great to read. I felt like, okay, here is a woman who has done it, and who is still doing it. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of other women in the country and across the globe who are juggling twenty-six thousand tasks at one time in a day. Women today... I mean, we're awesome! I know that isn't the most formal way to describe us, ladies, but this is a blog so informality is just fine by me. We are awesome, truly. And today, I really felt like that. Just purely awesome.
The real reason I find this blog-worthy, is because throughout my entire day filled with chaos - from waking up at 6:30, to mentoring eighth grade girls, to my classes, and to two jobs, one of which lasted from 4 p.m. to just about now, I felt so powerful. As a young woman who has a lot on her plate, I know that sometimes (many times) I can feel overwhelmed or stressed out with everything I have to do in one day. Today, however, was very different. I was running around campus all day to get everything done, and I just felt invigorated. I loved it! Why can't I feel that way every day, when my schedule is packed to the margins in my organizer? I was pondering this exact thought on my walk to the Comm building for my T&C production night. And that's when something else sparked my interest.
The book that I am reading for my FYS book review - Dee Dee Myers' "Why Women Should Rule the World" - discusses similar situations. Dee Dee talks about being the first female press secretary to the president. In this role, she has numerous tasks to accomplish in a day. Reading everything she had to do in a single day, from the press releases to the notes, to dealing with the media... it was great to read. I felt like, okay, here is a woman who has done it, and who is still doing it. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of other women in the country and across the globe who are juggling twenty-six thousand tasks at one time in a day. Women today... I mean, we're awesome! I know that isn't the most formal way to describe us, ladies, but this is a blog so informality is just fine by me. We are awesome, truly. And today, I really felt like that. Just purely awesome.
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