There is an apartment of 6 guys: James, David, Bailey, Ty, Andrew, and Ian. Each of these fine gentlemen love to eat chips and salsa. They go through 3 bags of Juanitas and 1 large bottle of salsa just about every week. If they are lucky their salsa will last about two weeks, but that is if they are lucky.
In their apartment they share ALL their food. Ian may buy the groceries one we week and then they split it. Then maybe the next week James will go get the groceries and they all split it. It creates a unity in their apartment, but there is always a debate who should go get groceries. The greater debate though comes into the picture when they run out of chips and salsa before they need to get groceries again.
STORY TIME A week agoAndrew went to go buy groceries. When he went he bought all the favorite foods, most importantly he bought two bags of chips, but no salsa because there was plenty when he left. Ty and Bailey just got home from a long hard day at school. It's about 3:00 p.m. and they are famished and all they want are chips and salsa. They look through the cupboards and the fridge. They realize that there is not enough chips and salsa for the both of them. There is only about a small bowl of chips left, mainly crumbs and MAYBE a half bowl of salsa left. Bailey says he will let Ty have the chips and salsa. Very grateful, Ty accepts. Ty finishes the chips and salsa and Bailey eats a sandwich. As they eat they get to talking about where all the chips and salsa went. Ian and James ate chips and salsa last night during a movie. They ate plentifully (Leaving nothing for the next person)! They also remember David went to visit his family last night and said on the way back he would go to the grocery store on the way home to get some things they NEEDED. David came back with milk and bread, but no chips and salsa. Who is to blame? Who is the cause for the lack of chips and salsa? Who should go to the store to buy more chips and salsa?
Andrew-He could have bought more in the first place Bailey-He let Ty eat the chips and salsa, therefore he forced the responsibility on Ty. He couldn't have had a sandwich if David didn't buy the bread Ty-He accepted Bailey's offer and He finished the chips Ian and James- worked together to leave absolutely nothing for the next person. Do you like it when you are left with the crumbs David-He said he was going to the store knowing that chips and salsa were low
Do you believe that every one has something good inside? I do. Sometimes it may seem harder to find in some people rather than others. As children of God we all have great potential to shine bright and to do good. We don't know everything that people are going through or where they may have been in their lives. I know I have had my share of tough days and weeks and may have been cranky. If you met me for the first time that day you may think, "What a jerk!" You might actually be right, but my mom would beg to differ. She has been around me since day one. She has seen my jerk side and my good side and she still loves me. That motherly love is what we need to practice in day to day living. We meet new people everyday and we judge from the get go. What if we started out by giving someone the benefit of the doubt and second chances from the start? What if we started to see others as they may become?
Whitney
Funny, facebook fanatic, great smile, Confident, spunky, Fun, Makes people feel comfortable, Outgoing, friendly, Thoughtful, Scottish and awesome accent
Today we decided to share how much we care about each other. It's important to know how good we really are. We sometimes beat ourselves up in the process of becoming. We see all of our flaws and compare them to the greatness of others. If we can look at ourselves for who we are now, especially in the light that we are children of God blessed and destined for greatness, then we will be ever more motivated and guided in our journey of becoming. Elder Richard G. Scott said , "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." If we see ourselves in the good we are "being" think about how much greater and more consistent our journey of becoming will be.
Jessica Stunning, Happy, Motivated, Bright, Personality, Inspiring and Devoted, Smiles a lot, Passionate, Committed Friendly, Optimistic
Mickenzie Beautiful, Happy, Thoughtful, NEVER Negative, Sweet-makes everyone feel comfortable, Bright, Sooooo Friendly, Very Welcoming, Happy
Daniel Outgoing, Hard-working, Motivated, easy going, wise, dedicated, Responsible
Kory Chill, Hard Working, passionate, Impressive, Trendy, dedicated, super nice, Driven, Cute
This last week I sent out the question for the blog to my class. I told them that Tamara Gray, our speaker this week, has left a huge impact on my life. Especially when talking about time management. Tamara doesn't see time management as a way of "making, finding, buying more time". She stresses the importance of slowing down, not over scheduling, and not multitasking.
I love this perspective. Ever since I have been home from my mission I haven't really been a huge fan of multitasking. The closest I get to multitasking is listening to music or a book while I'm driving, cooking, doing more relax homework.
I hope this doesn't become a soap box, but I have a really hard time with the invitation to slow down. I think it is the best invitation that can be given in this time and age (as you will see from President Uchtdorf), but those who receive the invitation believe it is just a far off dream that they can never reach or obtain. People feel like they are in so deep with whatever they are doing (work, school, or hobbies) that they are so convinced that they can't get out.
As I have been talking with and observing fellow college students, I have seen that there is no humanly possible way to accomplish everything at school and still live LIFE. Let's make a pile of to-dos and responsibilities that come with being a student at BYU. There is tuition (one of the cheapest-I can't imagine this process for another student at another university). If there is tuition then there must be a means by which it is payed. It could be through a scholarship which gives a learner full time to focus attentions on school. Seeing how a small percentage of college students receive a scholarship we must move to grants and loans.Those help, but sometimes they are not enough and as for loans they must be paid off. Most people in this situation are working a part-time, if not full time job. In that job there are responsibilities that must be met. If those responsibilities aren't met, then you are looking at being fired or feeling guilty for not being able to give it all you have. If a student is working, they must be willing to sacrifice some of the time that is necessary for effective study and preparing for classes. Each class has a syllabus full of to-dos. Depending on your classes, you are either bombarded with daily homework assignments or you are given assigned reading for class. Which if you look at the majority of my readings and at the pace I read it would easily take me 2-4 hours just for a fast pace reading a lone. There are a few more things that some classes may throw at you during the semester just to make it more interesting. Now wait, if you are a BYU student you most likely have a calling. A calling that does ask for attention. That could range from preparing programs, teaching a class, or at least home and visiting teaching for everyone. And if you attend the same services and programs I do, you may receive a strong admonition to date. If you can keep up at this pace you might find yourself in a relationship that will now not only demand time, but honestly some emotional stress as well. But that's OK, if you skip the dating scene then you have plenty of activities to choose from: ward, apartment, campus activities, campus games and events, movies, community events, the list can go on! This doesn't even include the time we spend on YouTube, Facebook, and Netflix just to stay sane or the time you spend eating.
Homework: EASY-5 hours (when done all the way/don't forget the all the TA help you can receive too!)
Callings:1-3 hrs a week (can be more)
Social life: 1-2 hrs daily (depends on the status of the relationship can go up or down)
Activities: Limitless opportunities!
Sane: 1-2 hrs daily.
Eating:1-2 hrs daily.
None of the numbers are hard or solid evidence, put a guest-amation of what I picture the reality of college life. It is apparent that something is left out of the many options of what is asked or even sometimes demanded from us.
Now, I want to make one thing clear. I am very grateful for the blessing and opportunity I have been given to be at a great college where I can be pushed to become better and "smarter". I believe that God has had his hand in me being here so that I can make it through "the system" that exist today, but we are blind if we don't see the problem that exist. We are insane if we don't do anything about it. I simply say I'm going to start by taking control of my life first. President Utchdorf, in his video, pointed to the Savior as the example. I ask what he asked, "[Can you] imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished[?] I can't see it. Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day. When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved. He knew the infinite value of the people He met. He blessed them, ministered to them. He lifted them up, healed them. He gave them the precious gift of His time."
I'm so happy to share that I am going around the leadership class again. This time though, I am privileged to be the Teaching Assistant. That means I get to plan the lab for our class and observe the progress of the great students in the class!
I've been a little nervous because last semester the class was mainly freshman and I was the oldest one in the class, but this time I am one of the youngest and I'm supposed to try to "teach" them principles of leadership. This is the great thing about REAL LEARNING. There are two principles we learn in Doctrine and Covenants about teaching and learning:
1) D&C 88:122-Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privellege.
Simply put, I'm not in charge of the class nor am I qualified by any credentials to tell anyone in my class what to do or how to be a leader. What I do know is I have been "appointed" as a teacher. A teacher creates an environment to learn and where all can speak.
2) D&C 50:22-Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.
I don't have to be the "talking head" at the front of the class room. I can be and will be one that learns from my students so that we can be edified and rejoice together.
Since two weeks before the new year I've been working on establishing a vision. I haven't established a vision or a mission statement yet that has been motivating. I have though been seeking earnestly. That may be what you call my mission: To seek earnestly and find what direction I need to go in my life. Why am I taking so much time in seeking. I honestly believe that God has a plan for me and I want to follow it (vision-why).
I have kept close to me, as well, advice my Dad gave me, "Make sure you do what you love. Find something you are passionate about and do that for a living." That's just what I'm going to do.
To be honest I have been trying to find what I love and what I want. I'm confident I will find it. I'm willing to take all year pursuing what I love and what I want. Then I will know, come next year, I will know where I'm going.
In pursuit I have already spoken to an academic counselor. He advised me to go to some classes just to get a feel for some potential interests I may have. He also advised me to go and interview some professors. I have created a list. I feel like I need to add a few more. Then I will make the appointments. By the end of next week Feb 10 I will have the classes planned to go to and the professors scheduled to meet.
We had the privilege to be instructed by the BYU Athletic Director, Tom Holmoe. He spoke about relationships. He said there are two kinds of people, fire fighters or fire lighters. You normally associate fire fighters as heroes. They are the ones who go out in the fires and save people. In this scenario, a fire is the thing that inspires us. If you are a fire fighter you are just putting people down. We want to be fire lighters, inspirers, people that light it up.
See if you can find the fire lighters and fire fighters. What is the difference?
I want to be someone who is willing to give it all to those who I know so that they will want to do the best they can. There are a few relationships that I could work on to really improve on this aspect of my life.
1) My Dad-Last time I was home my Dad and I talked about starting a business together! Sounds fun huh. We really want to bring something new to good’ol Arkansas. We have a few ideas up in the air. It’s not the business I’m worried about, but as me and my Dad work on this together we will get closer. It’s been hard keeping in touch with him since being home from my mission. This is a great way to not only to stay in touch, but to build something more than a business, our father-son relationship.
2) My Mom-My mom is a very inspiring person. She definitely is definitely a fire lighter. I need her more. I miss my mom, because she is often my source of strength. I have struggles and disappointments that come rather often. She was the one that helped me through them. Now it’s tougher because I don’t see her every day and don’t get to tell her what’s going on. I have the great chance to go home and be with her over Christmas. I want to take all that time with her to tell her about what is going on and then just listen to her.
3) My brother-in-law- I really like my brother-in-law. I did miss him meeting my sister, dating my sister, becoming engaged, and in the end marring my sister. Am I mad at him for that? Absolutely not. But I don’t feel like I have a real good relationship with him. I want to be able to see him like a brother. Someone I can hang out with. Someone I can ask advice from. I know it’s going to take a lot longer than just one sit down, but this week I will be going over to my sister’s house to watch a movie. I normally talk to my sister and he does homework. I will try to talk to him more this time.
I actually went to visit Tom Holmoe a few days later, Friday November 30. He gave me about 20 minutes. In those 20 minutes I just asked him about some thoughts I was having about my career. He was a great help. What I noticed about him was his ability to connect. I got in there and he was so helpful. He probably has a lot bigger and more important things to do than sit down and answer a few of my goofy little questions. Because he is a fire lighter he not only gave me the time, but he gave me direction to the questions I had.
This is the last post I have for class. I have really enjoyed this class. It was my favorite class this semester. It’s not about trying to learn facts or just pattern life after the great ones. I have been able to adventure my thoughts in this class. That’s real learning. I could take my life and apply the leadership principles I learned to progress my life rather than feel burdened down with homework. I have enjoyed all my assignments. I may not be writing again for this class, but don’t be surprised if I but another post up in the future.
What a deja vu experience today! I had my old public speaking teacher come and teach our class. I think his main goal was to prepare us for our book presentations, but I was sent back to some good memories. His class is still my favorite class that I have taken at BYU thus far. It’s real! It’s a class that teaches you real skills and then you put them to work and practice on them. His class made a HUGE impact on my mission and my life. I can’t even thank Professor Mortensen enough.
I remembered a lot of the things he taught today form his class. It was basically a quick version of his first class period, the basics of public speaking. What stuck out to me this time in class is how similar public speaking is to leadership. They have the same principles. These three principles of speaking stood out to me today:
Keeping the hands moving
1) Passion-If you want to be a powerful speaker or an influential leader you have to have passion. Passion is the foundation of why you lead or why you speak. Knowing your purpose is very important.
2) Persuasive-A leader wants to help people to become better. A speaker wants his audience to take action. In both instances the focal point is the people. You know what you want them to do, but if it is for you, then you can forget any bit of success. The success is directing people to act because it will help them. If people can trust you as a leader or a speaker they will follow and they will act.
Yes we are prepared
3) Mistakes-This is a principle that has come up probably 1,000 times this semester; or maybe just 3 or 4 times. Professor Mortensen gave a few examples of his bigger speaking mistakes, but he said you are going to make a mistake every time you speak. I know that is my biggest fear. My fear is to fail or do something wrong. My pessimistic side says, “Why try if you aren’t going to do it right or the way you expect.” I have fought this mentality for a long time. I feel like I’m 50-50 on this. My desire is to do better at having a better attitude or mentality. I want to be able to not be afraid of success.
Presentation Goal/Statement: I will help my audience have a desire to read “Toy Box Leadership”. I will do so by using testimony, examples, stats, and a story. I will speak from my heart. My audience will feel the impact the book had on me. I will speak without focusing on mistakes. I will be done in 6 minutes.
