I'm on to reporting day two, before I forgot all that I learned!
Saturday began around eight and had one purpose: go through the entire selection process (minus the written multiple choice test) in one day. And let me be the first to tell you- it was pretty grueling! But now that I've done it all in one day, doing it in a week feels like a cinch!
So we started with the One-on-One Interviews: nine separate interviews, one after the other, five questions and ten minutes a piece. An hour and a half of straight interviewing is pretty intense, guys! I think it did pretty well. It's obvious doing just a brief look over my feedback that I need to work on the competencies of "teamwork," "team before self," and "adaptability and flexibility," as well as I'm sure, others. And I just need to work on being myself, smiling, joking, and not burning out after 6 or 7 interviews. Jessie (Geib) Vanderpoel, a former National Officer, told me to smile again and again. She said that I looked like a National Officer when I smiled, which was awesome. She also said she didn't believe that I did comedy improv...bummer! I need to make sure that I am not too nervous and let my personality come out. I also need to work on compiling a good story arsenal and practicing my stories- a lot.
Next up-SAE writing. I haven't gotten my results from this yet, so I'm really not sure how I did. I felt good about what I did, but I'm not sure at all what the format was supposed to be. But it was good to have an idea of what it would be like at Nationals. I don't think SAE writing is worth many points anyhow.
I was pretty nervous for Stand and Deliver, but I feel that I did well! The topic was program affiliation, given to Minnesota ag teachers, and I was psyched about that, since I'd just given a program affiliation speech to Jimmy and felt that I had done really well on it. Thank goodness one of my strengths is command- I got the comment that I was a good speaker. Awesome, I don't have to work so hard on that then! But I still do need to work on smiling so that I don't look like an Ice Queen. I need to be approachable and most of all, myself. I also discovered that it's alright to end my speech early- at 4:30 or 4:40, rather than stretching it, which is great news, because that's where I usually end! So I learned a lot but felt good about Stand and Deliver.
We had a quick break for lunch and then delved into the next section. I started with the Writing Exercise. I don't have my scores for this either, so I really don't know how I did. I felt I wrote well, but I wasn't sure of the format and I also ended pretty early...so I don't know if I demonstrated my knowledge very well. The prompt was also kind of a mixture of two hot topics, which threw me off. So I'll have to wait and see my comments on that.
I had a short break to ponder how unprepared I felt for the next round, and then I entered a room to start my prep for faciliation. This was one of my weakest rounds, but I'm glad I've had practice so that I am more comfortable now in what I need to spend my preparation hour on (hem hem, making better flip charts!) The topic for the workshop was mentoring for chapter officers. I started with a stupid puzzle piece activity. It actually wasn't a bad activity, it made a good point, but it took me FOREVER to put the puzzle outline together, and then we couldn't find one of the pieces, which was frustrating and took up a lot of time. The one thing I was really pleased with was my support activity, everyone seemed to really enjoy it. My point needed work. I was so concerned about finishing my workshop on time that I started telling students what I wanted them to know instead of asking questions, and I know I'm not supposed to do that! Then I began introducing my application, "Mentor Man," which would have been awesome, and....they called time. I could not believe it, I felt like I had to scrape my jaw off the floor. I was really disappointed, but after the feedback I felt a little better. Jessie said to have way more material than you need, and not to allow your content to get in the way of your interaction with the students, which is what they want to see! So now I know how to change, and I have next week to test it out on Alpha Tau Alpha!
After facilitation came Round Robin Conversations. Oh, how I hate you, Round Robin Conversations! They're so unreal, I don't like role-playing because it makes me feel fake, and oh yeah! I don't know as much about agricultural issues as I would like to! There are three conversations: Ag Issues, Ag Ed/American Ed Issues, and FFA Issues. I did them in that order. My Ag Issues conversation was decent, like a 4 or 5 out of 10. I wasn't really happy with it, but I felt now that I had some experience with it I would do better. My Ag Ed conversation on the other hand....a 0. Or maybe a 1. Guess who's doing some research on the Perkin's Technical Skills Attainment test today? But my FFA Issues Conversation- dang! Somehow that was a 9! I spent my ten minute break in the hallway jumping up and down to try to stop being so nervous, and I think maybe it worked. I felt awesome about that one.
Finally, we ended the day with the Personal Round. This round is like the one-on-one round, but it's more...personal. They ask you the crazy, tear your heart strings type questions, such as, "Why are you running for office?" "Tell me about a time when someone questioned your character?" and "What are three of your life's goals?" Also, it's you and all nine nominating committee members. I can't really say anything about this round- I felt that it went fantastically well. If I could do every round at Nationals like I did that last one, I feel like they'd have to elect me!
After the personal round we said goodbye and headed back to the Twin Cities for the night, to fly out the next morning. I was so glad that I decided to go this camp- it really, really helped! I feel 100 times more ready now than I was before, and I know precisely what I need to work on:
- Being more personable in interviews- joking, laughing, smiling, being someone who is approachable.
- Smiling during my speeches!
- Ending strong on my speeches!
- Knowing more (including statistics) about Agricultural Issues!
- Directing the conversation during Round Robins
- Focusing on students (rather than content) during facilitation and not worrying about the time.
- Knowing more about agricultural education and American education.
- Doing a better job of telling my stories in my one-on-one interviews.
- Stressing teamwork and adaptability in my one-on-one interviews.
- Being excited to tell the Nominating Committee about myself.
I'm so grateful to the volunteers who made this training weekend a success! I'm also psyched, because Mr. Sawatzke said that his 40+ kids would be our cheering section if any of us were elected. I told him that would more than double my cheering section. :)
I'm also really grateful that for the past week or so...I've felt so calm! I feel like I could conquer the world, no anxiety for me! I'm still nervous, I'll always be, but I know that I can do this. Whether or not they elect me, I'm completely capable of being a National Officer. Come what may, I'm ready.
Rachel
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