Tag Archives: Forward Thinking

Connections Conference

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Connections was an experience far different than I had expected. I truthfully had many mixed emotions about going. It was a very difficult time in the semester where I was losing motivation, we had just recently switched to a new/harder training cycle on the track, and I felt distant from my people in LAS. This event took place at the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. The only thing that made me at ease going into this excursion was that one of my fifth year teammates (Shane Moffo) had committed to going as well. IMG_8803

When I had arrived to Powers to get on the bus, my perspective had already completely changed. Addam Claes and Mike Torres were so welcoming of me and it was very fun. Unfortunately after we got off the bus we found out we weren’t rooming together, but very fortunately I found out that I was rooming with Nolan! Nolan is a person that makes everyone feel welcomed into the group. Before I knew it, things were back to normal and I was comfortable with my LAS people. I was very excited to spend time with them at meals and during free-time at the water park, and late night. This experience was like no other when I say I was able to meet so many new people and make so many new connections. Everything we did, I felt like I was able to get closer to more and more people, which I am very thankful for. T.O. and I having previously knowing each other because we’re both from Muskegon also made me feel very comfortable, was very inviting, and helped me to meet many new people.IMG_8805

My favorite part of the conference was listening to the different speakers. They open your eyes to many new things that you might never have thought of on your own. For example, in Steely’s message about Disney characters that show leadership qualities, those are things as a kid you never think of but when someone shows you you connect yourself to them more and want to lead in ways like them. An example of this is Mulan. Mulan was a movie I enjoyed a lot growing up but I never knew why. After the session with Steely, I understood it was because Mulan and I both are very similar. Stubborn, optimistic, and willing to do whatever it takes to stand up for what is right. This session helped me remind myself of some of my core values. Faith: Mulan trusted her ancestors with a confidence that I have for my God. Vulnerability: She put herself out there even when people were against her. Lastly, grit: she was determined to do what was right no matter if the people were with her or against her. This was just a reminder to myself of how I am to be leading those around me and how to stay composed in times of difficulty. This experience really helped me finish my semester in a very strong way that I might not have been able to do without it.IMG_8807

Spark Leadership

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Spark was an event that I was very excited to participate in because AJ had not yet done it and I knew a lot of other people that were participating and I knew a lot of the people who facilitated the event. When we arrived the first of the three Wednesday nights, we were assigned a booklet with a number on it with a group number on it. At first I didn’t know anyone on my team but that was quick to change. I was the only guy that was on my team and the girls were very upset to find out that I was a cat person and very anti-dog when we did the five finger game. (I was voted off the island almost instantly.) My outgoing personality helped me to make quick connections to people within my group and others around us.

I was very comfortable in the space since the first two sessions were conducted in a familiar room, the Power’s Ballroom. My favorite activity that we did throughout Spark was on the first night when we figured out what color our personalities were. It was very exciting because we got to connect with other people that were the same color as us. (I was an orange.) Our group had a very hard time getting things done at first because we all wanted to talk and meet new people, hence the true orange coming out of us.  Ellen, a junior in LAS, was my group facilitator and we had a very great time messing with and getting to know each other. She was not surprised to see that I was an orange because of how crazy of a person I am. Although I don’t like dogs, I had a good time on the last night, in the Rotunda, making dog toys for dogs within the humane society because I like to make people and knowing that I put a smile maybe not on a human’s face but somethings face, made me happy.

This event made me feel very inspired to make an impact here on campus after we listened to the panel speak on the last night. The panel was comprised of wonderful people here on campus that are involved and play big roles here on campus and have the ability to change people’s lives, which they do. This inspired me to do the same. How exactly, I am not yet sure, but I know it starts with being myself and making others feel welcomed, included, and loved the way those leaders on the panel do.

Mentor/Mentee Retreat

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Truthfully, I had no expectations going into the Mentor/Mentee Retreat whatsoever. I was fully confident since I already had a strong relationship with my mentor going into it. Also, my extraverted and woo like personality makes it very easy for me to make friends and connections to knew people. I was actually very excited to go on the retreat actually , to meet and get to know the people in my cohort more (since I don’t get to live with them…) and in the cohort above me. The only time I truly get to see the other people in my cohort is during class or randomly around campus.IMG_8390

 

My mentor, Aaron Jay Frens, but most of you beautiful people most likely know him as AJ, were very enthused to get away from campus for a weekend and spend some quality time together, even though we were already very close. Funny story, actually, when we arrived to Eagle Village I started crying when I was told we had to walk to our cabins because that week was a very hard training week and my legs were so dead that I didn’t think I was going to make it there. Don’t worry, I was able to get over myself after AJ
laughed at me. For the rest of the weekend, we were granted free

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access to meet and connect with new people in many different ways, whether it was at meals, during leadership building activities, free-time, the campfire, or the high-ropes course. Again, since AJ and I don’t have the opportunity to live with our cohorts, this time that we get to spend with the others is very special to us. Honestly though, on a real note, I’d be willing to argue that AJ and I are the closest Mentee/Mentor match up out of anyone in LAS.

This trip made me actually feel connected to more people within the group because before it I had only known about five or six people. Leaving this trip, I felt confident enough to come back to campus and actually say hi to these people and converse with them when I saw them around campus or in class. Even though AJ and I were already very close before the Retreat but it was pretty cool because we got to have some cool one-on-one talks where we don’t get to as much on campus because we are with our other teammates a good portion of the time as well. But outside of AJ I was also very grateful to go because I was able to get to know the others in my cohort.IMG_8389