My Recent Endeavor.

I recently became the new youth choir director at my church, Airline Baptist Church. With starting my mentorship this week at Airline, I've already learned quite a bit just from planning and sorting things for youth choir. I've learned to compromise, organize, and be on task and take a stand. I had to quickly learn what's the best way to set up MY particular choir and how we should go about practice (times, procedures, etc). Overall, I am overjoyed with excitement with my new role. In my preparation for starting choir this week, I arranged a song using noteflight.com for us to start singing in the near future. The minister of music at Airline (aka my boss and uncle) and his wife (aka my aunt and his assistant that keeps him on track) have helped me set up and start this glorious opportunity. Working with them is going to be a joy and exciting as I get to learn new things with Mike and Janice.

And on to college. I have a tiny, fantastically wonderful story to tell about a college I visited last Thursday. I got to sit down with people at the Winshape Foundation, the admissions office, and the music staff at Berry College. It was an awesome opportunity to express my interest in attending Berry in my future. I've been looking at this particular college for a while now and it is nothing but awesome. I fear applying, as the competition is fierce but I am fully confident and know that I am capable of achieving greatness whether or not I get to attend Berry in particular. Applying can be quite stressful but it's unique and an awesome way to see your own life unfold.

This Money Mess.

"Money makes the world go round." -Sue, Cheating Death

Unfortunately, one of the many problems we as humans face in life is money. Sure, it is a difficult subject to handle and not so easy to manage at times, but should it really be what keeps us in a bind? Of course, many times we cannot get around the money factor when planning a project or proceeding. It ultimately, in our time, manages us (as Dave Ramsey said). However when it comes to me, my goals, and what God has set out for me, I know that no matter what the money issue may be, He has it all figured out. He [should] be our head money manager. Money factors into what college I may go to, but not when it comes to serving the Lord. There will always be a financial struggle and it will never come easy, but with God on my side I am not afraid of what may happen in the future (in any aspect) because I know I am in His hands. 

To You Be The Glory.

-Get closer to God every day.

-Make a difference in the world and never turn down or miss an opportunity.

-Follow God’s will for my life and do my best to please Him.

-Show love, care, and compassion to all.

-Be myself and use my talents for the Lord.

-Give God the glory.

During my mentorship, wherever it may be, I hope to gain the knowledge and experience I need before college. I hope that this class will open my eyes and show me things and aid me in the future. I plan to go into my “job” open to anything new or different. This will put me a step ahead into my future, already gaining experience and knowledge pertaining to my future life.

Attacking Acrophobia.

The Lapdog retreat was a very unique experience for me and I’m sure for many others. I dealt with leadership well and learned to share the leadership throughout the group. Obviously, not everyone could lead or we’d have chaos. It taught me that I should always be active and helpful, but not to get in the way when I’m not needed. It helped to cope with being given directions whereas typically, most of us like to give them. I want to improve with speaking out and at least giving suggestions when the opportunity arises.

I found it difficult both trusting myself and others during the retreat. I was confident and not afraid, but the fact of being eighty feet in the air in a group of seven was slightly discomforting. I knew I could do it but as soon as our guide said we couldn’t use our harness and rope as support, I panicked. We had to be alert at all times or someone or something would have failed. Even though I felt insecure at times, I felt that being trusted was much easier than putting my trust in someone else. It gives you a better sense of security.

I loved the course when our guide blindfolded two members of our team. It really tested our focus and taught us how to give good directions.

Acher’s Five Habits to Improve Optimism:

1.      Write down three new things you’re grateful for each day.

2.      Write 2 minutes a day describing one positive experience you had in the past day.

3.      Exercise for 10 minutes a day.

4.      Meditate for 2 minutes.

5.      Write a short email first thing in the morning thanking a member of your team.

Acher’s video was awesome. I’d definitely be willing to try out his challenge.

"A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths." -Steven Wright

Let's Get This Party Started.

Thank goodness we were assigned this particular task. Not that I’m underprepared but I’m almost positive a majority of things we need to do I would have done wrong. Going into this new mentorship, I have trained myself to answer all the questions and predict what will be asked. But little did I know I needed to walk in with questions. The handout gave us many topics to talk about and it showed me that one goal is to create and continue conversation. And from that, I learned that I don’t need to go in expecting to gain something, but to give something. Rewards come with a giving mindset, right?

The podcast could not stress enough our job as listeners. Not only listening, but comprehending. Just like we all learned from our dreadful driving courses, “our reaction time has to be quick.” We all tend to get sidetracked, but in our new jobs we have to be focused (but have fun with whatever you do).

The podcast also gave us an excellent guideline for our first task: understanding our job as a mentor. Which seems drastically important if you ask me. Asking questions, researching our job, attending orientations are all fantastic ways to learn our whereabouts.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS! FIRST IMPRESSIONS! FIRST IMPRESSIONS! Another thing that could not be stressed enough. As I was listening to the podcast, I found four things I hope and plan to do as I go into my job: (1) Be positive and enthusiastic; (2) Dress professionally; (3) Speak up; and (4) learn names (which will probably be the hardest).

Overall, I am so thankful for the opportunity that's being handed to me and I cannot wait to explore this new year with Honors Mentorship. Let's do this!