An Update

Hey everyone,
I'm having technical issues, so I can't put the pictures up right now.  But I will eventually.

I just wanted to write and give you all an update on what I've been up to.  Last weekend, I felt extremely overwhelmed.  If I had blogged, it would have been depressing, so be glad I didn't.

Today, I feel awesome.  I'm typing as fast as I can trying to get things done. I'm speaking at the South Anchorage Rotary (per special request of someone who saw my speech at the Palmer Rotary- woohoo!) a week from Thursday, so I'm trying to revise my speech according to what we noticed from the recording of it.  That's going kind of slow, I'm just so scattered I need to organize myself.  But other than that I'm getting a lot done in the areas of self-improvement, FFA info. study, and practice interview questions.  Go me!

One of the reasons I feel so on fire today is a chapter I read in the book "The 17 Essential Qualities of Team Player," by John C. Maxwell.  The chapter is all about discipline, and here are a few of the quotes I loved:

"Discipline is doing what you really don't want to do so that you can do what you really want to do."  

"A person lacking discipline is in a prison without bars." 

"Discipline means doing the reight things at the right time for the right reason."

And Maxwell also included a quote by Thomas Huxley, which I really liked:

"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like or not, it is the first lesson that ought to be learned, and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly." 

This whole chapter made me think.  I've always prided myself on my discipline.  One of my favorite things in the world is to tackle a long a difficult piano piece and work at it slowly but surely until I've memorized it and performed it.  I take many things in my life very seriously and have to be disciplined with my time in order to achieve all I set out to do.

But lately, I haven't been very disciplined in my actions.  I find myself watching TV instead of fulfilling my goal of exercising, and putting off practicing piano in favor of reading, until it's too late to practice anymore.  Even my preparation for National Office, which admittedly I have been doing more than at college, is still lacking discipline.  But that chapter has inspired me, and I am excited to take over my thoughts, emotions and actions once more.

Last post I told you I was trying to decide on a goal for the month of June, and now I have.  It's a huge one, one I'm sure that I'll work on for the rest of my life, but this week I'm focusing on loving people better.  There are many people who I know that are trying to change and do right things, but it's hard for me to allow them to change.  I have a really difficult time letting go of grudges and I need to spend time trying to see the good in everyone and truly love them.  I'm guided by this awesome anecdote about Clara Barton (which, incidentally, can be found in "Developing the Leader Within You," by John C. Maxwell):

Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, understood the importance of choosing a right attitude even in wrong situations.  She was never known to hold a grudge against anyone.  On time a friend recalled to her a cruel thing that had happened to her some years previously, but Clara seemed not to remember the incident.

"Don't you remember the wrong that was done to you?" the friend asked.

 "No," Clara answered calmly, "I distinctly remember forgetting that."

Have an awesome Tuesday,
Rachel

Changes in leadership and last names

I saw some big news on the FFA website today.  I feel both happy and sad.

First: Dr. Larry Case is retiring in January.

Dr. Case has been the FFA advisor for 26 years- longer than I have been alive.  He is an icon for FFA members, he's the Big Owl!  I've never, ever thought about him retiring.

Here's the press release, if you're interested. 

Dr. Case was my first FFA idol.  I remember traveling to SPC with Taylor in July of 2008.  As we rode our taxi to the hotel at 2 AM, we started wondering if anyone would be awake to welcome us.  Jokingly, I said, "Oh, I'm sure all the National Officers will be waiting in the lobby, and Dr. Case will give us a huge hug."  Then we laughed, and Taylor said, "Unlikely...but that would be awesome!"

We were not greeted by Larry Case in the lobby at 2 AM, but the next day he joined us for the opening session.  I was astonished!  This is a man whose name I memorized my sophomore year for the FFA info test.  This is a man who knows more about agricultural education than most people would learn in two lifetimes.  He is a legend.  I so enjoyed getting to know him, even if it was just a little bit.

The wise old owl himself, and me.  He told me when I showed this picture to anyone to also add the disclaimer that he had been flying all day and he wasn't as young as he used to be and so you have to forgive him for his disheveled appearance.  I think he looks fine.  Much better than I do when I fly (remember?)

State Officers listen earnestly to Dr. Case

Dr. Case's awesome cardboard cut-outs

[I know you're supposed to grow out of being excited to meet prominent FFA members and leaders.  So I try to act like I don't get chills when I see a National Officer's jacket, even though I do.  And I tried to control my excitement when I met Dr. Case.  Unfortunately, I couldn't quite keep my composure when I got to meet the former FFA Executive Secretary, C. Coleman Harris.  When he tried to introduce himself, I just blurted out, "Sir, I know who you are!"  Luckily, that doesn't happen with Dr. Steve Brown.  He just always talks about eating moose stew at my house with my parents. We're tight. :) ]

I'm sad that Dr. Case is leaving us, but I'm sure his replacement will do a fantastic job.  I'm looking forward to finding out who it will be!

Second: Angela Mayfield is one of the keynote speakers at the 2010 National Convention

I did a little research when I saw a picture of this woman, and felt like I recognized her.  Sure enough, Angela Mayfield served as the 2000-2001 National Western Region Vice President- only back then her name was Angela Browning.  Now, Angela Browning is not an FFA celebrity that I have met personally, but I feel like I know her because she taught me how to speak in public.  

At my very first State Officer training event, Blast-Off, in May 2008, our trainer Marlene showed us the video of Angela Browning's retiring address.  I'm not sure if that is the approved speech that all Blast-Off trainers are supposed to show, but that's the one Marlene showed us.  I watched the whole thing in complete awe, inspired and impressed.  When the video was over, Marlene said, "What if I told you that you could give a speech just as good as Angela's?" Then she taught us the "magic formula" and the rest, as they say, is history.

I also got my favorite quote from that speech, "Until you stop comparing, you will never grow."  I even used that quote in my speech at graduation.

I'm looking forward to seeing Angela speak again, this time in person.  You can see her fantastic retiring address on youtube in two parts: here, and here.

Speaking of speaking...I've got some good ideas for the Rotary speech, but I need to start writing them down and organizing them.  Have a great evening!

Rachel

What Do I Do If It Doesn't Happen?

In October, I got to go to the National Convention and compete in Job Interview.  I'm so grateful I had that opportunity.  At that time, I had begun seriously considering running for National Office and I decided that I would think about it at National Convention and make my decision by the time I got back to Logan.

When I got back to my dorm, I called Rayne and said, "I want to do it.  I want to do all of it."  And the rest, as they say is history.

The facts are, I made my decision before I got back to Logan, I made my decision about halfway through the convention.  So after I decided, I payed really close attention to the National Officer Candidates: how they presented themselves on stage, who had made the cut, what they did in their spare time, etc.  It helped that a lot of them were friends of mine from SPC and NLCSO. :)

At the closing session, my chapter (well I guess, my association? most of Alaska, anyhow) showed up to the Fieldhouse over an hour early to get seats.  we ended up sitting on the right side (looking from the stage) on the wing nearest to the floor.  They weren't delegate seats (oh how I miss those!) but they were still really good, and they happened to be just across the aisle from the National Officer Candidates.

When the time finally came to announce the 2009-2010 team, I watched the candidates intently.  I said to myself, "These are the best seats ever!"  I felt like I was part of the action, watching first-hand the thrilled new officers run to their posts.  And I thought the whole time, "This could be me next year."

Then, they were all up on stage.  The wrapping up began and everyone sat down again.  Then I made the mistake of looking over at the National Officer Candidates section.

I had just witnessed six of the happiest people I had ever seen run on stage, and when I looked over at the NOC section, I saw at least ten of the saddest people I had ever seen.  I guess I had forgotten that the people who made the first cut really didn't know who was going to make it- and I expect coming so far just to be cut was a devastating blow.  Looking over, I saw people who had worked really, really, hard, and everything they had worked for had just been whisked away.  They were crushed.

I immediately wished I had not sat so close.

Luckily, loved ones and coaches came to support them and I'm sure everyone was okay after a while.  But it was a weird part of the national officer selection process that most people don't get to see.

This really bothered me, because I had just made up my mind that I was going to commit myself for the next year to prepare to run- but what if it didn't happen for me?  I didn't want to be crushed, or to feel like preparing was a waste of time, or that I didn't have anything to look forward to.  It was a dilemma.

When I got back to Logan, I told my brother I was going to run, and his response was, "Just don't cry if you don't make it."  I said I couldn't guarantee anything.

Then, a few months ago, I got a questionnaire response from 2008-2009 National Central Region VP Morgan Parker (thanks again!)  He said something that really made me think:

"You also have to have a backup plan. If I wasn't elected, I knew exactly what I was going to do. And I wasn't going to be heart broken about it. Contrary to popular belief, there is life beyond the blue jacket."

 So yes, I am committing myself fully to preparing to be a National Officer.  But if it doesn't happen, I'm not going to be crushed.  Yes, being a National Officer would be fantastic, and a dream come true.  But if I'm not a National Officer, I'll be able to do a lot of other things I otherwise wouldn't be able to do.  And here's a list of them I've been brainstorming.

See Micah as soon as he comes home in July 2011.

Do a semester abroad.

Do more improv.

Try something new here at school I've wanted to do, like the Swing Dancing Club or Latter-Day Voices.

Improve my piano skills.

Cut my hair however I want (if I don't make it I think I'll cut it all off just for fun)

Hang out with my friends.

Wear big earrings whenever I want.
Possibly go on a mission.
Be in a play or musical again. 

Take an animal production class in the spring.

Go to church every week.

Get a cool internship for next summer (like in D.C. or something!)

Spend time with my family (more than I would if I was a National Officer)

This picture was taken in 2007.  We hang out more than every 3 years, I promise, we just don't ever take pictures!

Eat a pizza (Rayne promised he'd buy me one if I didn't make it- any size, any toppings.  He has a lot of confidence I'll make it, 'cuz I don't think he goes around buying pizza for people very often. :)  Still though, it's a win-win: I become a National Officer, or I get a pizza!)

I'm sure there are more things that I could add to this list.  And don't worry- I have a list of great things about being a National Officer too...obviously I think it's a cool thing, or I wouldn't be devoting so much time to it.

The point is: I used to think I had to be National Officer.  I used to look at the National Officers in New Horizons magazine and think "That's going to be me...I want it SO bad...it has to happen!" and feel a little sick to my stomach (true story).  I used think I probably would cry if I didn't make it, and I didn't want to think about it because I knew how distraught I would be.

Now, I'm sure I'll be sad.  I wouldn't be being realistic if I told you I'll bounce back right away if it doesn't happen for me.  But I'll just look at this list, eat my pizza, and remind myself that it will all be okay. :)

Presenting With Pizzazz: Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Tell It With Stories

I love telling stories.  Communication is one of my strengths, and I see it in story telling.  I live a rather awkward life, so I have a lot of funny experiences to talk about.  But let me just quote from the book:

"Your story needs to be your own.  When you speak from your own experience, you speak with passion and the story carries more fire and feeling."

"What is most personal is most universal."

"If you do quote someone else's story be sure to give that person full credit for it- always!  It really is wiser- and a much better learning experience- to use your own stories from your own life experiences."

"Go ahead and ham your stories up.  Using your voice, your body, and your face as instruments to tell the stories will help keep your audiences entertained.  More importantly, your audiences will remember your stories- and the important information you're illustrating- far longer with a little dramatization."

At the end of the chapter it suggests brainstorming interesting, crazy, poignant, or funny things that have happened in your life and writing them down.  I've been making a list of these for a while, and what points I could make about them, and I'm going to add them to the blog as I write them down.

Peace,
Rachel

Presenting With Pizzazz: Chapter Two

Chapter Two: The Person Doing the Most Talking is Doing the Most Learning

When we as presenters talk, move around, and write down points, we are learning.  But when we let the audience members do it, they  are learning.

One of my favorite tips from this chapter was, "If you ask a question, be sure to wait at least a slow five seconds before speaking again."

I used to have a teacher in Sunday School who was the master of this technique.  My other teachers always asked a question, waited a few seconds, and then told you the answer they wanted to hear.  This was good for all of us students, because we knew if we just waited a few seconds, we wouldn't have to guess at the answer, because the teacher would just tell us.

But it wasn't that way with Sister Logan.  She would ask a question and then let the room sit in silence as long as it took...and sometimes it was a long time!  We knew  that she wouldn't move on until she got input, so we all started thinking hard as soon as she asked the question.  Of course, I didn't always have an answer- but someone would.  We all got a lot more out of the lessons because we had to be involved.

Unfortunately, it's very hard to let the room sit in silence.  But I'm going to work on that.

At the end of every chapter of Presenting With Pizzazz, there is a "Your Turn" section, where the book bosses me around and tells me what to do after I read each chapter.  Don't worry- I like it.  It forces me to put into practice what I've read.  So, I hate letters in blogs- whether to myself, to others, or to inanimate objects.  And I wouldn't write this if the book didn't direct me to do it.  Here's my commitment letter:

Dear Rachel,

During my next presentation, I promise I'll do the following:

-- Use volunteer scribes to record information
-- Encourage participants to doodle and take notes
-- Tell participants to take a minute to tell someone else what they learned during breaks
-- Use silence after questions to encourage participation.

It'll be exciting and enjoyable to watch my audience get into the act.

Commitedly yours,

Rachel

(Psst...Hey, Presenting With Pizzazz...apparently, "commitedly" is not a word. :)  )

Have an awesome Wednesday!

Rachel

A New Jacket

Hey everyone,

In one of our video conferences a few weeks ago, Rayne asked me what the Blue Jacket means to me.  So let me tell you what I told him.

I was not the kind of person who was immediately inspired to join the FFA when I saw the blue corduroy blazers.  I know that to die-hard FFA members, blue corduroy is the coolest thing ever, but let's be honest...corduroy?  Who wears that anymore?  Especially in blue!?

When I first joined the FFA, I didn't have a jacket of my own, I wore a cast-off from an older sibling whose first name had been removed- so that it only said "Kenley."  This prompted the FFA Chapter President of the time to call me "Kelly" for over a year- and that was one of the reasons I generally avoided FFA.

After I went to my first state convention, things changed...at least a little.  I really wanted my own FFA jacket...but mostly because I wanted people to stop calling me "Kelly."  I was pretty excited to see my jacket when it arrived at National Convention that year though, with my own name and "Chapter President, 2007-2008" on it.  But even after I had a jacket, I really only wore it when I had to and I'd wear it with black slacks instead of a skirt if I could get away with it.

My year as a state officer completely changed that. I ordered my jacket the day after I was elected. I loved my jacket and if I went a week without wearing my official dress, it was too long.  I always had crevats and black nylons in abundance, and by the end of my year of service, my shoes looked like they'd been through a grain grinder.  

My jacket, unfortunately, also shows signs of a year well-served.  The elbows are worn down, and a small spot on my sleeve reminds me to always take off my jacket before eating- because apparently dry cleaning doesn't wash out enchiladas.  That jacket has been dry cleaned so many times that the fantastic bright blue has faded to a less impressive light blue.

I love that jacket dearly, but when I really made up my mind to run for National Office, I wanted a new one.  One that would say to the world, "2010 National Officer Candidate," right under my name.  I thought, "Even if I don't make it, it'll be nice to have this jacket to remember everything I did to prepare."

Then, I went on the website and remembered that jackets cost $60.  For a college student, that's a lot of money, especially for a jacket I'll wear only until October...so I decided just to wear my old jacket.  I was disappointed, but I knew it was just a....stupid...jacket, right?

Oddly enough, I was thinking about my old, worn out State Officer jacket yesterday morning, before I called to chat with my mom.  I'd been feeling homesick, and I was dying to hear about the State Convention.  Hearing about it was hard though, because it reminded me that I wasn't there, and I wish I had been.

Then, out of the blue, my mom said, "Do you remember who Jason Miller is?  He was the State President before Lori, and he always helps out at convention.  When he found out you were running for National Office, he gave us $70 and said to use it to buy you a new jacket."

Right then, at that moment, I felt like I was going to cry.  (And right now, in this moment, I am).  I know who Jason Miller is but I don't know him very well, and I didn't know he knew who I was at all.  What a simple gesture, but what a sweet donation.  I don't know if he knew how much a knew jacket would mean to me....but it means the world.  And now that I can actually get one, I realize how much I really wanted one all along.  

I'm so grateful for Jason, and my family, and Rayne, and everyone who is in any small way helping me with this process.  Sometimes I get so busy and frustrated that I feel like quitting, but I can feel your support behind me.   Even something so simple as a new jacket that I so desperately wanted and am so incredibly thankful for makes a tremendous difference.  I am just in awe of what everyone I know does to support me, by reading my blog, asking me interview questions, listening to me rehearse stories, helping me schedule classes, talking to people who might be able to help me out...or just buying me a new jacket.  I have such wonderful people surrounding me while I make this big effort.  I love you all.  I can't thank you enough.

And I'm stoked to order my new jacket the minute I get home! :)  But after I wear that one, you know what would be even better?  A brand new jacket that only had this on the back:

Man, if I could put on a jacket like that, it would be fantastic.

Rachel

Frustration and Facilitation

Hey guys,
It's a beautiful sunny day outside and I should be happy.  But I feel upset and discouraged.  In bullet form here's why:

• Yesterday I spent a loooong time trying to make my video for state convention in Alaska- which starts tomorrow.  After burning my ankle with my overheated laptop (seriously!) I finally figured out what I wanted to say and how, and got a good recording, but the audio doesn't sync up with the video, and for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get it to.  Unless anyone has any tech-knowledge I don't, I won't have a video for convention. :(
• I thought I had my class schedule all worked out yesterday, only to find out today that I can't take one of the classes I wanted to, so it's back to the drawing board.  Registering for classes is made infinitely more difficult when I have to check with each teacher and ask, "Would it be okay if I had to drop out of your class three weeks early?"  I abhor it.  And I wonder if I really am making the right choice by taking an easy semester.
• Today I volunteered to help judge the Agricultural Communications CDE.  It took over an hour longer than it was supposed to, and because I was 2 seconds too late for Media Smarts, I missed class and a quiz.  And my project due Thursday is not even close to being done!
• Buying new make up doesn't make me any better at putting it on.

...and other things.  But hey, I know from experience that dwelling on what gets me down never does anything to help me get back down.  I know this is just the first of many times I will doubt what I'm doing, feel down on myself, even consider quitting.  But I'm not quitting.  This is what I want and hard times only make success sweeter...right?

So let's talk about something else.  In Society and Disability class today (I did get to go to that one) we watched a video about teaching children with learning disabilities, and it made me think a lot about facilitation.  I don't blog much about facilitation right now, because I'm not doing very much of it, but that will hopefully change when I get home for the summer.

I got to present a workshop at the Utah Leadership Conference in December, before I started this blog, that helped me improve my skills quite a bit.  One thing I remember is talking with the other workshop presenters afterwards about how their workshops went, and we all had picked out the kids that were problems.  They weren't really "problems," of course, but they went against the grain- didn't play along with the games, asked too many questions, gave input that really didn't help establish the point, or what have you.  As a workshop presenter, these kids can be hard to work with, and sometimes you wish they'd just act like the others.

A leadership book I read earlier this year (and the title escapes me right now...I think it was by John C. Maxwell) presented something called the 80/20 principle, which says you should pour 80 percent of your energy into your top twenty employees/students/people.  

I usually agree with leadership books, but this principle really bothered me.  I think I'm more of a 20/80 principle type of a person.  High school kids who are juggle four after school activities, a part time job, and a 4.0 GPA don't really need me.  Of course I am going to give them as much attention as I can, but I really think my job as an FFA facilitator is to focus on those who I could really help to make important changes in their lives.

But how does that apply to facilitation?  Because like I said, those students who need the most help are typically those who "ruin" the workshop.  I keep thinking about ULC and I remember that there was an attendee there with an obvious mental disability.  I should have reached out to her, but I just ignored her.  That was so wrong.

But back to the video we watched.  It was about teaching- not facilitation.  When I was younger, I really wanted to be a teacher.  The glitter has worn off a little now, I don't think I want  a full-time career as a teacher, but I still have an interest in it.  I think that's why I was so drawn to state, and now national office- because I get to be a teacher to students without doing it full time.

I heard somewhere that a lot of kids want to be teachers when they grow up because that's the only occupation they've really been exposed to.  I also think it's because teachers have a lot of influence over their students during the year or two they have them in their care.  That's obvious for me because I picked Mr. Geisler as one of the people who has had the most influence in my life.

Teachers can do a lot of good, and a lot of harm, to their students.  I remember Mr. Geisler and all the great things he did for me, but the two other very vivid memories I have from middle school are from 6th and 8th grade, when two very well-meaning and good teachers hurt my feelings and made me cry because of some faulty teaching techniques.  

I don't blame those teachers at all, it was honest mistake and I still hold them in the highest regard.  But what I remember is not all the days of excellent teaching- but the one day of utter humiliation and embarrassment.  I think sometimes teachers don't realize how their teaching tactics really effect students, which is what the movie focused on.  The "teacher" in the video illustrated some things that teachers typically do that don't make sense, such as punishing or bribing students to answer questions they honestly cannot answer.  

What I got from this is that you can't beat a dead horse.  If I'm trying to make a point in a workshop, and it isn't working, I'll just have to switch tacts and be adaptable.  I'm not perfect- I certainly don't claim to be.  I had a few moments at ULC where I felt like I really got through to the students and did some last minute changes to my workshop which really worked well.  Other moments, I ended up looking like an idiot.

To wrap up, my philosophy on workshops is to be adaptable.  I'm going to focus on trying to reach all the students, not just the high achievers.  I'm going to try to always uplift and never degrade, because I certainly don't want student's only experience with me to be one they remember because I was mean to them.

I hope the rest of your Tuesday is great, and here's hoping mine gets a little better too,

Rachel