Lately, I've been doing a lot of thinking about how I've been so blessed to serve as a State FFA Officer. My teammates and I had to record member and parent thank you's this past week during convention work days. As I was thinking about what to say to my family, I couldn't help but think that I may have never joined FFA. Ultimately, there were two reasons I joined FFA as a freshman. First, it was the only organization or club in school that I could do something with my horses. Growing up, all I ever wanted was horses. My dream came true when I was in eighth grade. My dad literally turned his back yard into a horse pasture--for me. Second, my older brother participated in my chapter's Food For America program. When I saw him getting involved, I wanted to follow in his footsteps.
Now do I think that if I would have not gotten horses and that my older brother would not have gotten involved that I would not have? No. But it amazes me on how certain events can play a role on your life. Maybe if those things would not have happened, I would not have gotten as involved as I did. Who knows!?
I used to always think that I didn't know who I was or where I was going with my life, but FFA has provided such a direction for me. I know who I am; I know what I want to do; I'm proud of the person FFA has made me in to. When all is said and done, what I do know is this: sometimes we don't know what role something we do or someone we meet may play on our life until later on. That's why we need to make the most of each and every opportunity we have because who knows what it could bring for us. We need to appreciate that things go on in life for a reason even though we never know what that reason is right away.
I'm so thankful I found the FFA. It's done nothing but benefit me. I have so many fond memories and so many amazing friends because of it. I'm glad I was smart enough to give FFA a chance because I love what my life has become because of it. It's so important to take on every opportunity because you never know how great something can turn out to be.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sincere Appreciation
When I was a senior in high school, my FFA advisor presented me with an opportunity to take a Dale Carnegie Training Course. I leaped at the opportunity because students who had taken it in previous years found it to be very enjoyable. I loved this class; in fact, I looked forward to it every week because I liked the people who were in the class with me and the concepts we learned in it have proved to be invaluable time and time again.
My favorite thing of all that I will never forget from the class is how to show sincere appreciation. When the activity was introduced, we all had time to write a thank you to someone who had made a difference in our lives. Then we practiced giving sincere compliments to our classmates. This was our week 8 class, and it was by far my most memorable class. It amazes me how quickly you can pick up good qualities in a person that you've literally only seen 7 times prior--in fact that's why I think this was even so much more powerful to do at that point in time. Giving a sincere compliment involved 1) looking the person in the eye; 2) giving them a 30 second compliment; 3) coming up with something that no one else had pointed out. We did this in groups of 4. To my surprise, I found it more challenging to receive the compliment than to give it. I'm naturally a person who gives a lot of compliments so maybe that's one reason why I found it easy. Another reason I found it easy was because it felt so natural to tell people how amazing they are as an individual.
This year, while serving as a state officer, I cannot even count how many thank you notes I've written. And to be honest, I'm glad I can't count. To me, a thank you note speaks volumes and when it only takes 2 minutes of your day, it's worth it to go that extra mile. I wish more people truly saw a value in showing sincere appreciation. Think of the "feel good moment" you have when you receive a thank you note that compliments you...or think of a time that someone tells you that your clothes are cute, that you smell good, or that you're having a good hair day. Even the simplest of compliments can go far. Next time you give a compliment, go the extra mile to give a sincere compliment. And always, when someone does something to help you, always show them that you sincerely appreciate it. Your actions speak louder than words.
I want to quick talk about my latest "feel good moment." I was at a chapter banquet on Friday night. At the end of the night, I had a chance to talk with the officer team and tell them what a great job they had done. The chapter president, Joy, pulled me aside and said it meant so much that I had come and how my speech had such a good message. Then she kept talking about how much of an inspiration I had been to her over the past year. She told me that many officers in the past had seemed fake to her, but she thought of me as very real and genuine. I was already smiling big time by this point because she was making me feel so good about myself. Then she told me that she always is thinking of how she could be like me and how she strives to be like me. Wow, what an amazing thing to have a person tell you. I'm still on a high from the things she told me that night. It only took her a few short seconds to tell me those things, but the impact of those seconds will last a lifetime for me.
My favorite thing of all that I will never forget from the class is how to show sincere appreciation. When the activity was introduced, we all had time to write a thank you to someone who had made a difference in our lives. Then we practiced giving sincere compliments to our classmates. This was our week 8 class, and it was by far my most memorable class. It amazes me how quickly you can pick up good qualities in a person that you've literally only seen 7 times prior--in fact that's why I think this was even so much more powerful to do at that point in time. Giving a sincere compliment involved 1) looking the person in the eye; 2) giving them a 30 second compliment; 3) coming up with something that no one else had pointed out. We did this in groups of 4. To my surprise, I found it more challenging to receive the compliment than to give it. I'm naturally a person who gives a lot of compliments so maybe that's one reason why I found it easy. Another reason I found it easy was because it felt so natural to tell people how amazing they are as an individual.
This year, while serving as a state officer, I cannot even count how many thank you notes I've written. And to be honest, I'm glad I can't count. To me, a thank you note speaks volumes and when it only takes 2 minutes of your day, it's worth it to go that extra mile. I wish more people truly saw a value in showing sincere appreciation. Think of the "feel good moment" you have when you receive a thank you note that compliments you...or think of a time that someone tells you that your clothes are cute, that you smell good, or that you're having a good hair day. Even the simplest of compliments can go far. Next time you give a compliment, go the extra mile to give a sincere compliment. And always, when someone does something to help you, always show them that you sincerely appreciate it. Your actions speak louder than words.
I want to quick talk about my latest "feel good moment." I was at a chapter banquet on Friday night. At the end of the night, I had a chance to talk with the officer team and tell them what a great job they had done. The chapter president, Joy, pulled me aside and said it meant so much that I had come and how my speech had such a good message. Then she kept talking about how much of an inspiration I had been to her over the past year. She told me that many officers in the past had seemed fake to her, but she thought of me as very real and genuine. I was already smiling big time by this point because she was making me feel so good about myself. Then she told me that she always is thinking of how she could be like me and how she strives to be like me. Wow, what an amazing thing to have a person tell you. I'm still on a high from the things she told me that night. It only took her a few short seconds to tell me those things, but the impact of those seconds will last a lifetime for me.
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