What does family mean to you? The actual word, family – what is it? Who is your family?
We don’t get to choose our biological families (and sometimes we are faced with the non-choice of blended families, as well). Hopefully everyone was blessed with a really amazing biological family – though my guess is that not everyone was. For the sake of the rest of this blog, I will not use the term “family” to represent our biological families exclusively (though they certainly can be included, if you wish).
When you graduated from high school and moved out/moved away/went to college/got a job/or/or/or, what did you notice about the dynamics of the “family” you began to create? What did family begin to look like for you?
One thing I have noticed over the years is that the family I have created in each place I’ve lived has shared meals together. It is clearly something that is important to me – a time to unwind from a busy/stressful/fun/awful/amazing day, talk about the goods and bads, make fun plans for our time off from work/school, throw food at each other (haha . . . only kidding . . . sort of). My greatest roommate (family) experience was in my last year of college. We ate breakfast together almost every morning (we typically ate dinner together, too). Granted, our schedules were nearly identical (same major + similar part time jobs), so we didn’t have to try too hard to make it to the breakfast/dinner table. Still, we were able to share great mornings together – check in, share our hopes for the day, make coffee, rush out the door, run back inside because we forgot our coffee, and off to work/school. These were wonderful mornings because we were able to build a relationship based on honesty and accountability – two essentials in any family of mine. We knew each other and went beyond the surface-level b.s. that shallow friendships are often consumed by. We created a family.
I know that, although my sister has chosen to stay at home and attend a (great) school near our parents’ house, she has also begun to create her little family. They do all sorts of things together, and I believe they have delved deeper than the b.s. as well. My point in mentioning that is to note how important this new family is, regardless of where you are geographically.
No matter what it looks like for you, creating this family is an essential part of being in this stage of life. I have learned a lot about what I appreciated from my childhood, as well as what will be important to me when I have children of my own. In the in-between, I’ll focus my time on friendly chats and food fights.
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Showing posts with label college. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
My return to school
I am in the process of applying to graduate school/teaching credential programs. I graduated almost two years ago with my BA so I feel like I’m out of the “school application” phase of my life. I wasn’t sure if I had graduated from this realm until, while filling out the online application, I kept uttering the words, “What?” “Seriously?” “What kind of question is this?” A friend of mine, who is still completing his undergraduate studies, just said to me, “What did you expect?” Clearly I have forgotten what it’s like to be a student.
There is so much confusion around going back to school. Is this the right choice for me? Is this really what I want to do? Is this the right school? The right program? Can I afford this? Does it matter? Will I be able to get a job teaching once I’m done? Believe me, the list goes on. But, in all of this I need to remember to go back to what I stand for. What kind of difference do I want to make in the world, and what do I need to do to make it happen? Thinking about this is the first step, and it’s an important – nay, indispensable – step, but the other (and more important) step is the DO part. I can sit here and drink my delicious coffee all morning (all my life, really) and THINK about what I want to do and what I stand for. The truth is, though, that I will never feel fulfilled until I start doing those things. What is standing in my way of getting in action? What stands in your way when you try to do the same?
There is so much confusion around going back to school. Is this the right choice for me? Is this really what I want to do? Is this the right school? The right program? Can I afford this? Does it matter? Will I be able to get a job teaching once I’m done? Believe me, the list goes on. But, in all of this I need to remember to go back to what I stand for. What kind of difference do I want to make in the world, and what do I need to do to make it happen? Thinking about this is the first step, and it’s an important – nay, indispensable – step, but the other (and more important) step is the DO part. I can sit here and drink my delicious coffee all morning (all my life, really) and THINK about what I want to do and what I stand for. The truth is, though, that I will never feel fulfilled until I start doing those things. What is standing in my way of getting in action? What stands in your way when you try to do the same?
Monday, March 9, 2009
awesome students
I got to spend time with engaged, inspired, involved student leaders last weekend.
When I first entered the room I was really nervous and uncertain. In the hall there was the laughter and playfulness of a group of friends. It was such a familiar feeling. Wanting to be a part of the group. Being intimidated by the energy.
I always wonder if I belong. I always wonder if my message and ideas will be accepted. You all seem so cool. And I feel so uncool – welcome back to that feeling from my younger years…yuck.
It feels like I am standing on the edge of a raging river of nervousness and uncertainty.
But it never fails that as soon as I put one foot in the water you are there to help get across. That is who you are. In this case you were student leaders of college orientation programs. You are trained to be welcoming and engaging. But more importantly you are a young person who is energetic and engaged. It is awesome.
I admire you. Envy you. You are the ones who are courageous and who are looking to make a difference. The reasons you do what you do are many. Some of you had a person reach out you when you first arrived on campus so you want to give back that experience to someone else. Some are interested in leadership. Some love interacting with people. Some realize that it is a great way to meet people like yourself.
Here is one of my favorite stories from my experience:
On Friday night Dean Taylor gave a talk. He was a member of his middle school optimists club (years ago). He became the president. In his talk he acknowledged all the people working in orientation as essential in the work of optimism and possibility for students. These people, he said, take on a vital role in making a difference.
He wanted to pass along the presidency of the Optimists club and the way he did it was by giving someone overalls (the kind you wear). Not sure exactly why that symbolized the optimists club. But he gave them to Qasim from University of Alberta. And asked that he take on the leadership by wearing the overalls.
Now, most young people would flinch, hesitate, be embarrassed, and never put them on. But Saturday morning there was Qasim, overalls on taking on his symbolic role.
And this is the kind of young person that gives me hope. You care a great deal. You are learning. You want to make a difference and are willing to courageously put yourself out there in the world to figure out how to make it happen.
Thanks y’all. You (again) gave me hope and inspired me to keep forging ahead trying to find paths for you to thrive on.
When I first entered the room I was really nervous and uncertain. In the hall there was the laughter and playfulness of a group of friends. It was such a familiar feeling. Wanting to be a part of the group. Being intimidated by the energy.
I always wonder if I belong. I always wonder if my message and ideas will be accepted. You all seem so cool. And I feel so uncool – welcome back to that feeling from my younger years…yuck.
It feels like I am standing on the edge of a raging river of nervousness and uncertainty.
But it never fails that as soon as I put one foot in the water you are there to help get across. That is who you are. In this case you were student leaders of college orientation programs. You are trained to be welcoming and engaging. But more importantly you are a young person who is energetic and engaged. It is awesome.
I admire you. Envy you. You are the ones who are courageous and who are looking to make a difference. The reasons you do what you do are many. Some of you had a person reach out you when you first arrived on campus so you want to give back that experience to someone else. Some are interested in leadership. Some love interacting with people. Some realize that it is a great way to meet people like yourself.
Here is one of my favorite stories from my experience:
On Friday night Dean Taylor gave a talk. He was a member of his middle school optimists club (years ago). He became the president. In his talk he acknowledged all the people working in orientation as essential in the work of optimism and possibility for students. These people, he said, take on a vital role in making a difference.
He wanted to pass along the presidency of the Optimists club and the way he did it was by giving someone overalls (the kind you wear). Not sure exactly why that symbolized the optimists club. But he gave them to Qasim from University of Alberta. And asked that he take on the leadership by wearing the overalls.
Now, most young people would flinch, hesitate, be embarrassed, and never put them on. But Saturday morning there was Qasim, overalls on taking on his symbolic role.
And this is the kind of young person that gives me hope. You care a great deal. You are learning. You want to make a difference and are willing to courageously put yourself out there in the world to figure out how to make it happen.
Thanks y’all. You (again) gave me hope and inspired me to keep forging ahead trying to find paths for you to thrive on.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
2009 Grads...Yikes!
College seniors are scared. Worried. Uncertain. Even depressed.
The bad economy and lack of jobs comes on top of worries they have about the health of the environment and the lack of morality in our world today.
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1882979,00.html?cnn=yes
They are thinking.
• Will I be able to get and find a job?
• Will I make enough money to survive?
• How am I going to pay off my student loans?
Along with
• Will my kids have a healthy world to live in?
• What about my dreams? Do I have to give them up?
If they are watching the mainstream media, they are getting barraged with all the stories of difficulty and ugliness. But there is another side of the challenges.
There is hope. There are possibilities. There are people doing amazing work in the world – more and more every day. Ironically, in this day and age when communication and access to information is exploding, it is hard to find them.
But people with ideas and a positive perspective are out there. Dan Pink is an example of the kind of thinker who can really help. Listen to this:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BiznikLive/2009/02/25/Interview-with-Dan-Pink-A-Whole-New-Mind-Why-Right-Brainers-Will-Rule-the-Future
When you begin to fill your brain with information that talks about what is possible instead of what is wrong or how bleak things are, amazing possibilities open up.
For more access to good stuff going on check out:
www.odemagazine.com
www.yesmagazine.org
The kind of people who will be successful in the future are the ones who are able to be in hard times and keep themselves moving forward. If you get swept up in the difficulty and give up it makes you even less appealing to a potential employer. In order to get hired (and then to stay employed) you will have to be ready to learn. You will have to be accountable, responsible, and creative. And probably most of all you will need to be an excellent listener. When you treat people with dignity and respect you will differentiate yourself from others.
The bad economy and lack of jobs comes on top of worries they have about the health of the environment and the lack of morality in our world today.
http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1882979,00.html?cnn=yes
They are thinking.
• Will I be able to get and find a job?
• Will I make enough money to survive?
• How am I going to pay off my student loans?
Along with
• Will my kids have a healthy world to live in?
• What about my dreams? Do I have to give them up?
If they are watching the mainstream media, they are getting barraged with all the stories of difficulty and ugliness. But there is another side of the challenges.
There is hope. There are possibilities. There are people doing amazing work in the world – more and more every day. Ironically, in this day and age when communication and access to information is exploding, it is hard to find them.
But people with ideas and a positive perspective are out there. Dan Pink is an example of the kind of thinker who can really help. Listen to this:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BiznikLive/2009/02/25/Interview-with-Dan-Pink-A-Whole-New-Mind-Why-Right-Brainers-Will-Rule-the-Future
When you begin to fill your brain with information that talks about what is possible instead of what is wrong or how bleak things are, amazing possibilities open up.
For more access to good stuff going on check out:
www.odemagazine.com
www.yesmagazine.org
The kind of people who will be successful in the future are the ones who are able to be in hard times and keep themselves moving forward. If you get swept up in the difficulty and give up it makes you even less appealing to a potential employer. In order to get hired (and then to stay employed) you will have to be ready to learn. You will have to be accountable, responsible, and creative. And probably most of all you will need to be an excellent listener. When you treat people with dignity and respect you will differentiate yourself from others.
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