Wrapping Things Up!!

Don't be afraid of what you really want.

I'm pretty amazed that I got through this class. I've had so meltdowns through the whole journey. I think learned alot about myself and what I really want out of my life. The road to that place is still very scary for me though. The scariest realization is the fact that future is not some time in the far future but very close and quickly approaching. I'm still worried that I won't be prepared to survive out in the real world. Right now I'm just trying to finish the semester strong and make big plans for over the summer. I'll keep you guys posted on the progress.

1. How you have grown this semester?

I learned what I really wanted out of my life and not to allow others (especially my family) dictate what I should do with my future.

2. How has your thinking changed (about yourself, your future, what’s possible in the world, etc…)?

I realized that I NEED TO PLAN!!! Things are not always going to fall into place. Sometimes you need to make plans and preparations for the future. Networking is so important and still something I really need to work on.

3. What activities and behaviors have you engaged in for the first time?

Reaching out to people I don't know and asking for help and advice.

4. What are the 3 things you liked best about Leadership for Change?

I really liked the fact that we got the chance to really think about what we wanted, the inspiration films we watched and the blogs.

5. What are the 3 things you liked least about Leadership for Change?

I couldn't stand those support teams but did like it when they were mixed up toward the end. The Komives book. That's it.

6. What 3 things would you suggest to improve Leadership for Change next semester?

I would encourage more blogging, an additional panel and replacing the Komives book.

I really enjoyed the class and would encourage anyone a little lost about their future to take it. Thanks for another great class

Still moving forward....

Exercise #1: First Steps (Pick one of your first steps, complete it, and blog about it)
I’m still contacting people for advice and inspiration. I just received an email the director of a community program contact me over the weekend after a month. He said he never checks his email….. I haven’t completely given up on my interviews.

Exercise #3: Sunday Meeting (Hold a Sunday Night Planning Meeting (with yourself) and blog about it)
This week is so crazy packed with papers and projects. I’m so ready for all to be over.

1. Finishing SOC 300 Project (we killed it!!!)
2. Writing and completing my SOC 385 Essay
3. Making some serious progress on my lynching paper
4. Volunteer with Glass Slipper Project on Saturday (so excited!!!!)
5. Continuing stackin’ paper
6. Begin packing up my dorm


My main goal for right now is just finishing the semester strong and brings home some good grades.

Exercise #2: Business Meeting (Hold your next Weekly Business Meeting with your buddy and blog about it)
I chose Sherronda as my buddy for three reasons:
1. She’s a pretty good friend
2. She knows my goal, dreams and fears
3. She is in the class with me

Our meeting was pretty short because we were both busy, tired and had papers to write that are do this week.
1. Discussed projects and papers that were due at the end of semester
2. Making contact with people for interviews or internships
3. Discussing summer plans and projects
4. Planning interior design ideas for our places next year


Granny Update:
Granny is doing just fine. The procedure went well but they weren’t able to do everything they need to do so she’ll have to go back in June. She’s a real fighter. Thanks for all the prayers.

Hard Times and Stress……

I’ve been going through some family issues for the last week or so. I’ve had two grandparents in the hospital within the last week. My granny had surgery today and I’m completely stressed out. My mother is stress out about her father, my grandfather, who physically disabled and blind. He was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday. A few days before that I found my paternal grandmother had to have surgery to unclog an artery in her leg. Its just been a really stressful few days and I’ve been feeling really down about a few things. But before the weekend I did manage to get a couple of things done:
• Went to the Co-Op Office to ask about an internship for the summer or fall
• Planned a couple of volunteer projects for this weekend
• Met the director of the Black Star Project on Wednesday at the Jazz Showcase
• Sent my resume for a couple of internships through idealists.com

Just pray for me and my family…

Working Past My Fears.....

With my goal being to start my own nonprofit foundation and opening community center, I think its interact and volunteer with other organizations. I think volunteering with existing organizations whose main focus is to have personal interaction with the community and giving all they can. I always believed that volunteering is an fulfilling and rewarding experience that is somewhat priceless. I volunteer with several organizations since high school and these are just a few of my favorites:
• Habitat for Humanity
• The Black Star project
• The Glass Slipper Project
• Chicago Cares
• M. G. R. foundation's CareTeams
• One Brick
• And a few others that I can't remember it now

Recently I have reached out to move the directors of these programs for interviews but without receive any responses it. Yet! So sad.... but that doesn't discourage me from working with them and contributing to my community and city.

Fear. I have let fear deter me from so many things in my life back as far as I can remember. I'm always had a fear of public speaking and it would drive me into full-on panic attack, hyperventilating and all. Usually a good freak out would get me out of presenting a paper or project but rarely would I suck it up and just go for it. I would take the lower grade if it meant that I didn't have stand in front of my class. It wasn’t because I wasn’t prepared or didn’t know what I was talking about. I was the fear of judgment or ridicule that would make me just give up time and time again. I also flunked high school Speech because of it. Thankfully my stage fright has improved over the years and I have been able to push past the panicking. I believe my shyness had a lot to do with it. I know most people wouldn't believe that I was a terribly shy child but I was. I’m still working past public speaking issues because I know that it will hinder me professionally if I don’t get past them. Work in progress….

Pushing Forward.....

So I finally got a couple of my interviews out of the way…..

I’ve been avoiding these interviews for a number of reasons. Mostly fear. Part frustration. Because I change goal, I had no direction and just ready to give up on everything this class was trying to push us to do. After talking to Prof. Rock and getting to the guts to put myself out there, I believe I was relatively successful. I interviewed to interesting and remarkable professionals and here’s what they had to say:

First I interviewed Shelly A. Butler, the Executive Director of the South Chicago YMCA, and it was a relatively short phone interview. She is originally from Georgia and attended undergraduate and graduate school down there and focusing her studies on education and business management. She didn’t have specific reasons for apply to employment at the YMCA but feel fulfills in her work. We discussed the programs and the struggles of her work. She stated something very interesting to me: she says it wasn’t so much about your educational background when it comes to nonprofit work but about your character. You must understand the people’s socioeconomic status and emphatic to their individual situation. She stated that many of her previous interns were unable to grasp that concept. She invited me to come down, take a tour and talk more with her.

Second interview was with Tio Hardiman, who works with The Chicago Project for Violence Prevention. He’s an amazing man with an amazing story. We discussed things he went through in his childhood and they affected him overall. Discussed his educational background. I was most interested in his M.A. in Inner City Studies from Northeastern University. His work in several organizations around the city and what he found rewarding from each of them. I was so into his life story I didn’t take great notes. Our conversation was brief but dense. He invited me to contact him anytime to discuss anything I had a question about.

I also have a interview for next week with Cherita Ellens, Executive Director of the South Side and Wabash YMCAs