Cassie Is...

A Warrior Within

2012-02-17T11:05:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, a phenomenal friend walks into our lives. I have been fortunate enough to have gained and kept many of such friends throughout my life, but one individual truly inspired me earlier this year.

Her name is Chelsea, and as a Minnesota State FFA Officer, this wonderful person I not only call a friend, but a sister, had the opportunity to travel to China as a part of the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers (ILSSO) as put on by the FFA. Chelsea and I have been close for some time, but when she returned to school in January, I was not expecting the wonderful surprise she had in store for me.

Chelsea had told me she had a gift for me. When most people get back from a trip, you may be expecting a dinky trinket, a shirt that says something about a special person buying you the shirt when the went where they just returned from, or something that says "I ♥ ______". I knew she was one of the most thoughtful and kind-hearted individuals I've ever met, but I was not expecting the gift she gave me.

Above is Beijing's Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang. The emperor had set these nearly 8,000 soldiers in front of his tomb in order to protect him in the afterlife.These soldiers are considered "silent warriors" and were considered to be passionate, which is why Qin Shi Huang had used them for his protection. Ironically, the exact location of his tomb has yet to be excavated as it has not been entirely located. It's very possible that the terracotta warriors are doing the very job Emperor Huang had assigned them to do.

When I met with my dear friend to get the gift she was very eager to give me, I was confused when she revealed a replica of these warriors. Fitting in the palm of my hand, I felt the gritty terracotta as I rubbed the warriors face and armor. Chelsea explained to me that she was giving me this warrior as a sign of my leadership, passion, and drive. She considered me close enough to be a protector, and this warrior was a sign of friendship.

I have never been so moved.

Friendship is something we all experience. Being there when we have a bad day, praising us when we've done good, and protecting us when we're in danger are just a few of the unwritten tasks our friends do for us overtime. They are fearless, devoted, and strong. Friends are there when you need them, and when you least expect it, they move you to greatness.

I got to thinking about these warriors, and what they really symbolize. Like I said, we all have friends and all experience friendship, but who are the real warriors in our lives? I am well aware of the warriors in my life, and what they have done for me. The warriors in my life are passionate about life, devoted to greatness, and inspired to do more than what is asked of them. My warriors are smart, brave, kind, and loving.

Chelsea considers me a warrior in her life, and she is likewise one in mine. The gift she gave me was one with great meaning and something I will cherish for years to come. Who is a warrior to you? Do they know it? How do you show them?

A true warrior lives inside each of us.

How will you show your warrior?

Until then,

Cassie

#jabs

2012-01-04T19:58:00.000-08:00

For many of you who read my blog, life is at the tips of your fingers. You've tasted the sweet successes of previous experiences, and the only place you have to go from here is wherever your heart desires. Your future is in your hands.

But what would happen if everything you'd ever known, dreamed of, and thought you would be

DISAPPEARED?

If you have been paying attention to the news recently, you may have heard the tragic story of Jack Jablonski, a Minnesota Benilde-St. Margaret's high school hockey player, who became paralyzed after a run into the end boards in the Holiday Hockey Classic.

A friend of mine urged me to investigate the story more. I scrolled through news articles and YouTube videos until I found something that moved me more emotionally. A video from a news station showed Jack's mother, a fully-composed, clearly confident woman saying what she believed for her son:

"He will [stay] with the sport, one way or another. Wither it's on skates, or he becomes a hockey broadcaster...he is never [going to] give up; he'll never let go of this."

This statement made a connection for me with a recent book I just finished reading by Todd Burpo, entitled "Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back". This book became one of my all-time favorite reads while telling the amazing story of a four-year-old's religious experience. The story is told by Todd Burpo, the boy's father, who is a pastor. Can you believe that, even based on his profession, this pastor loses faith in God after a series of unfortunate medical events?

He is human, after all.

Life will bring forward events we never expected ("Expect the unexpected", right?) that will alter our lives forever. Dreams will change with these events, and life will continue. It is when we are most vulnerable, weak, and helpless we must not only have faith in ourselves, but faith that someone, somewhere, believes in us. This someone could be a higher power, relative, friend, or a figure you look up to. Believing in ourselves is believing we're believed in. That's a LOT of believing.

My heart goes out to the family, friends, and fans of Jack Jablonski. His story has truly impacted me, and I had never heard of him before hand. When a 16-year-old young man can face the challenges he is facing, and believe in himself that he will always love and be apart of the sport of hockey, who says that anything will stop us in our goals and dreams not yet achieved?

Believe in yourself, and face the challenge anew.

#PrayForJabs

Until then,
Cassie

Resolving While Revolving!

2012-01-01T19:30:00.000-08:00

Congratulations!

Little did you know, but you successfully survived another year on the earth! That's right: not only did the earth revolve around the sun one more time, but you made the journey, too! Out with 2011, and in with 2012! It's time to celebrate and...

[change].

res·o·lu·tion [rez-uh-loo-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

the mental state or quality of being resolved or resolute;firmness of purpose.

When it comes to the standard "New Year's Resolutions", we've all been there: December 31st, 11:15pm, sitting around the living room watching "Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve" with family and friends, saying "What is my resolution?"

A resolution, as defined above, means making the mental commitment to resolve by a force of action. "Firmness of purpose". No matter how you define it, making a resolution is seeing what you can do for yourself and going after it.

But where does that lead us? Many of us make the decision we will lose weight, stop biting our nails, or stop creeping on Facebook so much... Unused gym memberships, countless bottles of nail polish, and hours of "F-reeping" later, we're back to where we started on January 7th, with no intention to follow through. It doesn't make us bad people, it doesn't even make us quitters, it just makes us human.

This year I made myself a different resolution:

I resolved to not resolve, but rather strive.

I don't want to change myself to be someone I'm not, but I want to spend 2012 striving to better who I am.

"I ~~resolve~~ [will strive] to be more determined, hardworking, and successful than ever before. I [will strive] to make this year better than any before."

When you strive to better who you already, any failure will just leave you with... well, you! You are left with the person who started, and that's the unique, classic, standard person who you have always been. But, let's just say we all are successful and stay on track with our so-called "resolution". What are we left with?

A one-of-a-kind,

classy, crazy,

original, true-to-self,

honest, caring, thoughtful

YOU!

And no resolution can change that. :)

Until then,

Cassie

Full of Faith

2011-10-22T19:39:00.001-07:00

Fifteen WI FFA delegates, seven days, one amazing journey. Words cannot describe the rush of emotions I have experienced since representing the Wisconsin FFA Association at the 84^th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana as a national voting delegate. Along with three other elected delegates and the eleven-member Wisconsin FFA Officer team, I was fortunate to experience the ins and outs of convention, and be apart of the process in which it was originally implemented for.

Between inspiring speeches by the 2010-11 National Officer teams, seeing painting set to music, going behind the scenes of the Honorary American Degree ceremony, hearing Blake Shelton live, and everything in between, I was…

Inspired.

You may be laughing, realizing that inspiration is the basis of my blog, but to me, this is so much more than that. As stated in a previous post in June, I had planned to run for National Delegate three years ago after my past state officer, Emily, recommended for me to apply. After thinking deeply about the process, I decided I would wait until I felt both mature enough as well as able to soak up every opportunity possible to submit my application.

This May, my plans were put into action, and in June, my name was called and I ran up onto stage as one of four elected delegates.

I mention this story yet again after hearing 2010-11 National FFA Secretary, Landan Schaffert, deliver his speech entitled “How I See It”. Landan’s inspiring message highlighted the challenges of living a fast paced life through the eyes of a legally blind individual. Yes, that’s right… Landon is blind.

Landan faces fear every day with the relentless possibility of falling off of a stairway, walking the wrong way to find a building, or even entering the wrong bathroom. As stated in his speech, Landan hasn’t even seen the stars. “I know they are there,” said Landan, “And I know they are beautiful. My faith allows me to see.”

Being the emotional individual I am, it was at this point Landan put me to tears. I sat back in my seat on the floor in front of the stage, and thoughts poured into my mind. Landan had ten times the mental faith and concentration I have ever had, and he has it every single day. Faith in the world around him. Faith in every situation he walks into. Faith…. In himself.

Faith, wither we find it within ourselves or the comfort of a higher being, has the power to move mountains, achieve the impossible, and conquer any obstacle. Faith has the determination of a thousand soldiers, and the individuality of a fingerprint. Faith can be found in many shapes, sizes, and forms…

I sat back in my seat, thinking of what Landan had said. He had the faith to speak in front of 53,000 FFA members, travel across the country, and do such activities that we all take for granted, all with the lack of sight. If Landan has the faith to do these things every single day, what is holding me back from achieving all I want to achieve and more?

We all have our reasons for holding back on things that mean the most to us. For some, it’s the fear of failure, and for others it’s the frustration of the processes it takes to even attempt overcoming the obstacle. Our reasons, or rather our insecurities, are these tiny little demons intimidating our inner happiness and self-worth. Insecurity is holding us back.

How many times have I avoided communication with someone new in fear of making a poor first impression? Why didn’t I ever stand up for the things that have upset me instead of being walked over? Why haven’t I had faith in myself?

The answers are numerous, but the reasons are just excuses.

You can do anything you put your full heart and mind into. You can become more than another face in the crowd. You can be the difference and make an impact in the lives of others around you.

This year’s national theme is “I Believe”. They are the words that start our creed and is the phrase that drives the hearts of each member displaying the FFA jacket, but they are so much more than that. The words “I Believe” represent the faith we have in the agricultural pursuits of our organization, the faith we have within one another, and most importantly, the faith we have for ourselves. Without faith, we are nothing. Without faith, we do nothing. Without faith, we become nothing.

“I Believe.”

Faith.

I believe in the faith I have for myself, and the faith I have in each and every FFA member I have met. I believe faith is the most powerful emotion we can have. I believe that if we have faith, we have the world. With faith, all things are possible.

Believe in your faith.

-Cassie

Winding Down

2011-08-24T15:45:00.000-07:00

{all good things come to an end}

Listen to this while you read!

This may very well be true, but I've come to realize:

Do good things really end?

Have you ever participated in a community service activity that, long after the task was done, you looked back and saw the difference you had made? Community service has become somewhat of a hobby for me; more than doing it because it looks good on a resume, I have experienced that community service is a gift that keeps on giving, for the volunteer and the service recipient.

At the FFA's Washington Leadership Conference in 2010, I had the opportunity to take part in a community service activity that, in hindsight, I know made a difference to many people.

My small group, lovingly named the "Free Masons" as we were in Washington D.C., hit the road to a small, organic farm in Maryland, several miles outside of the city. As it was an organic farm, I was quite skeptical, coming from a traditional background. I wasn't that excited about where I was, but it was what I was doing that made me realize how it much it meant to both the farm owner and, as I discovered, myself:

This farmhand by the name of Elizabeth was assisting my group in our task. She led us literally over the river and through the woods to a small field. I looked at it and was so confused cause this field of what was supposed to be kale, a collard green related to cabbage, looked like a field of weeds. We had four hours, fifteen kids, and a field of kale to clean out of the unnecessary plant growth that looked like it stretched forever!

I got to talking by Elizabeth as we dug apart the weeds surrounding the kale. She was so ecstatic that we were there, and absolutely proud of her job. She told us about how she valued selling locally grown produce to individuals, and honored she was to have a job in an economy suffering a downfall. It was during this conversation, and after seeing Elizabeth's face when we finished, that I realized no matter how unmeasurable the task looked to begin with, the warmth and sense of accomplishment I felt afterwards, as well as the benefit of making someone's day just that much better, made it so worth every drop of sweat, dose of energy, and callus on our hands!

At the end of my WLC experience, I was really down, to say the least. It was an amazing experience, and I heard myself saying "All good things must come to an end." I made so many friends, learned so much about myself and made memories to last a lifetime...

Wait...

{to last a lifetime}

That's the answer! All good things must come to an end, but the memories we have of them are what make them last forever!

The time is coming down to the wire. School's gonna be starting, a new chapter in my life is about to begin, and I will be leaving everything I have been used to for eighteen years now. Just as Elizabeth probably now looks back at the service we did to assist her on the farm, we must look back at the experiences we have had with a positive outlook at what is to come. Yes, all good things must come to an end, but new beginnings are what make this the good life.

Live. Lead. Serve!

Until then,

Cassie

Reading the Glasses

2011-08-17T20:45:00.000-07:00

Look at this picture.

Take it all in. It's a glass... with some water in it. Not much to examine, right?

WRONG!

This picture, or rather, the object in the picture, has been the subject of the age-old question people ask all the time:

Half-FULL?

Half-EMPTY?

Perception takes hold of our everyday life; Wither you miss your shot at a job opportunity, get the wrong color of paper, or see a movie that is just "okay", it's all in how you take hold of the situation.

Once upon a time, in a not-so-far-away land, a sophomore in high school decided she was going to be her marching band's drum majorette. She put in the time necessary to write her application letter, talked to other members of the band about getting votes needed to secure a position, and waited patiently for the day to come for voting. Waiting patiently with the three other applicants for the results, she felt as if this was her shot to do something great in her school. She had to get the position, and she felt confident that she had gotten one of the two spots.

...that confidence didn't pay off.

As the band director posted the voting results, two applicants rejoiced as another two felt the twang of defeat. The said sophomore was of the latter. Feeling as if she had failed and had made a fool out of herself, she sulked at home, mulling over how she had lost.

Not long after, the same junior was deciding what to do with her junior year. Her plans of being a majorette had fallen through, and she felt she needed something to define her year... something that would make her forget about what she felt she had failed at before. She signed up to run for her county's queen pageant.

Her outcome was much more successful.

Throughout her junior year of high school, she was able to meet new people, gain even greater leadership and communication skills, and gain the confidence she needed to run again for drum majorette in the spring.

And yet again, she was much more successful.

As I'm sure you have realized, the girl in the story is me. Yep, at one point, I looked at this situation as a failure-rebound experience, and did not see the yet bigger picture. You see, because of this experience, I realized, I believe in the phrase

"Meant to Be"

I'll be the first to admit it's cheesy, and the phrase itself probably originated from a crappy romance movie back in it's time, but honestly... it has some truth! Think back to my personal example:

I ran for drum majorette as a sophomore, which is a very hard accomplishment to obtain; It was a long-

shot, but I decided to go for it, and I fell short of my goal. Did I do everything wrong? No. Did I not deserve it? Well, no... Was I an absolute fool for even trying? Definitely no!

It just wasn't meant to be!

I have faith that a greater power has a plan for me. I may not have gotten drum majorette at the time I had

hoped, but I got the honor to serve as my county's representative. I may not have been my FFA chapter's president as I had also hoped, but I applied in time to be drum majorette for my senior year.

At times of failure, we look back to our glass of water. It may feel like it is half-empty, but the opportunity might not be meant to be. Another opportunity and chance to discover things about yourself that you would have not otherwise known will be available to you in due time. So, pour yourself a glass of water and realize...

The glass will always be half full!

Until then,

Cassie

Stop in the Name of Milk!

2011-08-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

I... am a dairy girl.

Milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream are considered food groups in my daily life, helping out on the farm is more of a hobby than a chore for me, and showing cattle is my favorite summer activity.

This being said, seeing me at the county fair with three cows and two calves for show was nothing out of the ordinary.

For four full days, I could be seen getting splashed with a pail of water, pushed to the ground by a Guernsey cow, leading animals all day through the ring, and drinking some famous FFA chocolate shakes. Between the shows, barn duty, and chores, I got out and about in the barn, talking to the visitors as they passed by.

On Thursday evening, after hosing down my fall calf and getting ready to pack up for the night, three adults with a child I know from work walked by and asked if they could pet my calf, Mashed Potatoes. The family looked her over, gave her a good pat down, and asked me a question that made me chuckle.

"Is something wrong with her? Where are her milkers!?"

With a burst of laughter, I went about answering their question, mentioning how Mashed Potatoes wasn't developed to that level yet and that she would produce milk upon her first calving cycle. The family, who still looked slightly confused at the terms and idea that not every heifer can produce milk whenever they please, told me admittedly that they had no idea of milk production, as all they understood was that their milk came from Wal-Mart.

As an active member of the agriculture industry, this is not the only time I have heard of the many misconceptions that come with the job titles. Among other things, I have had to inform people that

not every farmer runs a factory farm,

one farmer feeds 155 people,

GMO does not stand for "Get Me Out", and

just because she's a Brown Swiss, it doesn't mean she makes chocolate milk.

To FFA & 4-H members, farmers, and agriculturalists nationwide, these questions seem silly, but the fact of the matter is...

They are real!

We laugh to ourselves, but in the end, we have no choice but to educate non-agricultural families on not only where their food comes from, but what our industry is about. With videos cycling such as "Food Inc." and with PETA, ASPCA and other organizations targeting production agriculture, educating others on the most basic of levels in absolutely vital to the success of our industry now more than ever.

Agriculture is, and always be, the forefront concern in our growing population. Without the American farmer and those who help process their products, our society will cease to prosper. Without everyday people informing others about their misconceptions in agriculture, people will no longer have faith in our industry. Without you, we will have no educators.

Questions will always arise about agriculture, and we will always have to make sure people know that food does not come from the grocery store... So what are you waiting for!?

Ag-vocate today!

Until then,

Cassie

Positively Positive!

2011-07-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

"Opposites attract."

Two words, one phrase, a whole lot of meaning.

Sure, north and south poles attract on a magnet, and relationships can form between completely different personalities, but let's examine a different form of opposites- opposite attitudes.

Having worked with kids for some time now, I have come to realize the unique qualities each child has. Some kids can light up the room with their, what I like to call, "kids-say-the-darnedest-things" moments, and others can turn your mood sour by their negative outbursts. Each situation is unique and should be handled as such, and each individual has the power to change.

The power to change goes hand-in-hand with the power of influence, which can definitely be a blessing in disguise. Influence can be your biggest friend or your biggest foe when it comes to being a leader; it's all in how you use it. Our attitudes can be good or bad, and of course they'll change as we grow, but our the way we view ourselves is how we'll influence the opinions of others.

Influence is the ability to change an individuals or group of individuals' mindsets through your words and actions. This can be approached in one of two ways- positive or negative influence.

In large groups, there are bound to be opposing viewpoints in numerous situations. The democrats and republicans may think differently on debt reform, muggles and wizards may think differently on catching Sirius Black, and heifers may think differently when it comes to following the herd. Differences will always be there. So, which side should we take?

There will always be pros and cons to "taking sides". Each side's objective will always be to influence you to their viewpoint. The only way that you can judge which side is best for you is if you know you will make a difference.

What kind of difference?

A positive difference.

Today, in my life, was what I consider a bad day. I was stressed out. I was crabby. I didn't see any way I could make it better. I sat down, relaxed a minute, and cleared my mind. When I got up off my low rock of negative thoughts, I looked back at what I could of changed. Maybe I could have asked for help instead of plowing through work, or possibly have had more patience when working with my fair calves. Situations I perceived as "bad", I could have influenced to be good.

Bad days will happen, and we will all make bad decisions at one point or another. One smile in a field of frowns can change the way the room looks upon their day. One yes in a field of no's can change the way a vote is cast. One positive person in a land of negative turmoil can change the world.

In a country where we cannot address our debt issues because of party lines, compromise over budget cuts, or find a happy medium between the Mac and PC, it can truly feel like there is no such thing as a positive attitude. But where are you? Are you going to be in a majority of unhappy people, or are you going to be the one positive attitude who influences a nation?

Positivity is the greatest infection.

Spread it.

Until then,

Cassie

Persevering the Dark Mark

2011-07-15T21:31:00.000-07:00

"Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense..."

Many have read (and will continue to read) the

opening lines to J.K. Rowling's magical universe of Harry Potter. Throughout the 4100 page, 905, 800 word series, readers have been captivated by this mystical world since 1998. I am happy to say I am one such reader, and with the release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2" on July 15th, 2011 at midnight, it's no secret I will miss the seemingly endless adventures of the boy who lived.

As the last moments of the film rolled at approximately 2 am this morning, I sat back in my cinema seat, a couple good tears rolling down my face, and thought in awe of the crazy world that now, officially, would have no continuation in my life. As I drove home, I recalled some of the crazy adventures Harry and his pals had throughout the novels...

From hippogriffs to chocolate frogs, spells to potions, and giants to goblins, the world of Harry Potter was complete with everything you could imagine, and then some. Numerous odds against him, Harry never gave up the battle of good versus evil, even when he had everything to lose. It is easy to say that Harry never stopped

persevering-present participle of per·se·vere
Verb: Continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no indication of success.

Perseverance...
In times of great lows and personal perils, we all can tend to fall into the cracks. Someone may tell us we "can't" do something, or that we will never be "great", and it is a this time we face a decision of-as The Clash put it-"Should I stay or should I go?".

Facing our fears and continuing our journeys are what make us better people and contributors to society. If Milton Hershey had given up after three times of unsuccessfully starting his own candy company, we would not have the Hershey chocolate bar. Had Rosa Parks given up her seat instead of standing up for equal rights, we may have never integrated the American society. If Albert Einstein had listened to each person who told him he would never succeed because of his dyslexia, we may never have established quantum physics. What would our world be if it wasn't for the power of perseverance?!

There will be times in every person's life where they will fall down on their knees in the face of difficulty. There will be times where we all will feel that our dreams, our goals, our very reasons for living, for that matter, are so unreachable, so unachievable, so unbelievable... that we will just give up. Don't be ashamed of it, because it will happen to all of us at one point.

Looking back at the story this post is based upon, Harry, at one pivotal point, decided to give the ultimate sacrifice to save not only his friends, but the entire magical world. Facing Voldemort, or the "Dark Lord", one last time in the Forbidden Forest, Harry prepared to die for the better of his world. He continued his course of action with no intentions of surviving. He continued to fight the battle, giving no glance to the consequences of his actions. He continued in the face of ultimate difficulty with no indication of success.

He persevered.

Now, I'm not saying we each have to die in the face of what we love the most. I'm just saying that in times of deepest failure, we have to keep going. We have to keep fighting the fight. We have to become more than a label or a title. We have to become who we want to be.

There will be times in every person's life where they will fall down on their knees in the face of difficulty. The true measure of a person is if they get back up.

Until then,
Cassie

A Kid Again!

2011-07-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

This summer I am working as an AmeriCorps VISTA at my local Boys and Girls Club. Throughout this experience, I have been uncovering a whole new world that, quite frankly, isn't that "new" at all. This world...is childhood!

From the wonders of "black magic" in the game of four square, to the dreaded cheesetouch, the excitement of finding a caterpillar on a tree, to the "no-big-deal" attitude about getting dirty, I have been realizing how much fun it is to be a kid... and how much the adult life is missing out on.

Now, don't get me wrong, driving cars, voting, making decisions, and having a job all have their perks that definitely make being a teen and adult fun, but at the end of the day today, I started noticing something.

Two boys were waiting to get picked up by their parents. They had a simple air hockey table in front of them, something that kids at the Club play with every day. Yes, any kid would love to play with such a fun game, but once you've been around it for weeks at a time, air hockey can get a little old. When boredom strikes, the old noggin comes into play.

The boys quit what they were doing, looked around the room, and found some random objects. Stacking them on the air hockey table, they created a new (and what appeared to be fun!) game of their own. I sat back and thought about how creative the kids I get to work with every day really are, trying to wrap my brain around how we let our creativity fade as we grow in age. Questions filled my mind:

When was the last time you sat down, took out a box of crayons and a blank sheet of paper and created a whole universe on one page? When did you let your mind take you where you had never gone before and places no man or woman will ever see? When did you let yourself...

CREATE?!

Yes, that six letter word that used to spark your interest by seeing a jar of Play-Doh, Crayola markers, or, in the simplest form, mud... brings back memories, eh? Well, pull that universe out of the back of your head we used to call an imagination and dust it off for a moment.

As kids, we all had our dreams, figuratively and literally: We dreamed of being the first _______, best ________, or inventor of the __________. Blanks and blanks were constantly being filled as to what we wanted to do in this gift called life, but as time went on, those blanks began to stay just that... blank.

Creativity is what drives our world. It drives the progress of nations, and development of society, but as we get older, why do we let this go?! Why do we sit back and let the fast track take us away when, in reality, we are in control of our own destiny? Think about it:

If every 5-year-old held onto their dream of being the first man to discover a new solar system, become the best newspaper writer, or inventor of the flying car... the world would grow in greater ways then just our population! Sure, not every dream can come true, and if everyone dreams the same dream, eventually someone will achieve someone else's dream, but isn't that what drives us?

Childhood is something we will all look back on sooner or later. From games to dreams, ideas are what you make them. You can either let your ideas fade, or let them become your way of life. If you're passionate about it, work to achieve. Don't let your imagination fade, and don't be afraid to be a kid again!

Until then,

Cassie

"Don't let your career define your passions; Let your passions define your career."

Climbing the Ladder!

2011-06-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

Imagine yourself on a ladder- a ladder reaching toward the sky, no limits in sight, no challenges in your way. The only place to go from here...is up!

But you are at...

the bottom.

For many of us, our ladder is something we want to achieve. No, it may not be an accolade, an accomplishment, or a trophy... it may simply be becoming a better speaker, trusting someone a little more, or overcoming a fear. Your ladder is what you make it.

Wither you are starting at the very bottom, or your climb began a long time ago, you can always become more. What does that mean, to "become more"? It's simple.

Becoming more does not mean being the best at anything. It doesn't mean that at the end of you day you can go to sleep knowing you outdid everything everyone else has ever done in the thing you love to do.

Becoming more means that you understand that:

You don't need to be the best, rather the best you can be!

You're probably thinking, "Okay, Cassie. That's cheesy, but I still don't get where this is going."

My idea for this blog sparked by a book I got in the mail a couple days ago. The book is called "Take Your Leadership to the Next Level" by Jonathan Sprinkles...and yes, that IS is last name. This witty author is actually one of my new favorite motivational speakers, who I had the pleasure of listening to at state FFA convention. If you haven't heard of his book or heard his speeches, I recommend you do a quick Google search.

This man... is extremely powerful. As I've read through this book, I've had the feeling he had been sitting across from me, talking to me casually as I read in my U of M pajamas in my bed at 12 am. He talks to you straight, in a way that you soak up eagerly. In his book, he says something about evaluating your level of excellence (pg. 21):

"Read books on leadership, customer service, fundraising, philosophy, management or anything that will teach you how to be a more dynamic leader. Leaders are readers!"

I'm one of those annoying people who likes to read books like this and highlights the crud out of them. Partially to remember the details, and partially to remember good quotes. This one was highlighted for the details, and was the spark for this blog.

Why should a leader read more to be better at what they do? Shouldn't they already be great? Yeah, I asked that question a time or two as well, but to be honest... leadership is a ladder. And I've personally began to realize that leadership is quickly becoming my ladder.

Lean your head back for a moment and think of that one important thing that makes you wanna wake up in the morning. For me, it's sharing my passions with others. That is my ladder...

I look at my ladder, and I'm somewhere that I would imagine to be the middle. I look back and I see hundreds of rungs, leading back to the ground. At the ground, there is me on the playground trying to start a club in 2nd grade... a couple rungs up, there's a blue jacket with a golden emblem in the chest... beyond that, there is my first job...only a few steps below me, becoming an AmeriCorps...and then there is right now.

Right now, I am sitting here writing a blog...hoping that someone out there reads this and is as inspired as I am with the world around me. I am sitting here, flipping through a book that is motivating me to take the next step in my leadership potential. I am sitting here... ready to climb!

Here is my ladder. Can you imagine it? If you look above where I am right now, you can see a lot of rungs... the first day of college... filling out a state officer application... teaching a class...

Now, those are rungs that I'm imagining... they may alter and change as I near them, but one thing is for sure:

There is no where to go, but up!

Where will your ladder lead?

Until then,

Cassie

Feeling the Magic

2011-06-20T14:47:00.000-07:00

Recieving the Wisconsin State FFA Degree-
June 15th, 2011

Have you ever set a goal? Something you wanted to reach for and knew it would take a multitude of determination and strength to succeed at it? How did you obtain your goal?

...Or didn't you?

These questions that we ask and use to reflect upon ourselves often time take up a great deal of our mindset. Whether your excel at sports, academics, leadership, music, or anything in between, you probably can easily think of a time you set the bar very high for yourself, and worked to your fullest potential in order to reach it.

I am naturally a goal-setter. "Challenge" is a word I seek out actively, and "to overcome" is a phrase that drives me. If it's being the first person to do something, reaching a well-sought after position, or helping to make the world a brighter place for even one individual, I'll take on the obstacles.

This spring, I remember feeling as if something I truly desired was unreachable. A dear friend of mine had told me of how much he enjoyed his experience as a national delegate at the National FFA Convention last October. I had been plugging him to apply to be a state FFA officer, and he had applied. Now, he was driving me to apply for a national delegate position. I had contemplated running for the position for the last three years, and after some friendly prodding, I decided this was the year to take on the challenge.

Now, it's no mystery as to why I waited three years to attack a goal I had set for myself. It's simple, really: Until about a year ago, I had 0 self-confidence. This was quite a personal realization for me. How could I ever be successful without self-confidence in everything I did? How could I ever reach the unreachable if I didn't believe I could stretch my arms up high? How could I ever be successful?

I remember the moment I realized all of this. It was while I was in Washington D.C. for the WLC conference. We were discussing our insecurities and how we could overcome them. That night, we had to wirte a letter to ourselves that would be mailed at a later date that would remind us of our goals and steps to achievement, as well as our experience at WLC. I realized everything in that letter. I was emotional.

I...broke...down.

I cried as I realized that, "You know what, with some determination and effort, I can do anything I put my mind to. I can go places. I... can reach the unreachable."

On that note, I feel as if I should plug in how amazing this conference was. WLC (Washington Leadership Conference) changed my life in so many ways. I now see every opportunity with a new sense of optimism, and ever goal as obtainable. It just takes effort.

Jumping to spring of 2011, I filled out that application. Among 24 other applicants, I went to Wisconsin State FFA Convention and went through the national delegate interview. The friend who has inspired me on numerous occasions and in the end drove me to apply for the position ended up becoming our state FFA officer the night before I nervously sat among the other applicants to find out who would be accompanying both him and his fellow teammates to be national delegates. I waited, nerves and adrenaline fueling me, through the morning session. And now, with pride, I can say I reached my goal. It is my honor to have been selected as one of four national delegates to accompany the Wisconsin State FFA Officer team to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana this fall to vote upon and discuss issues and business that will not only impact our state, but the entire National FFA Organization. What an honor!

2011 National Delegates from Wisconsin
and Alicia Hodnik, WI FFA President 2010-11

I want to leave you with this:
Never let anything or anyone hold you back from going for your opportunity.
Never tell yourself you can't, when you have the ability to say "I can".
Never give yourself the opportunity to regret missing something.
But always... always, always, always... set your bar high, work to your fullest potential, and believe in yourself.

And always feel the magic.

Until then,
Cassie

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.” -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

POWERED by POTENTIAL!

2011-06-14T05:18:00.000-07:00

This week is the 82nd Wisconsin FFA Convention! I hope to drop a post in the next few days, but until then, here is a little insight of what I am up to this week! Enjoy!

Ending a Journey, Beginning an Era

2011-06-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

I didn't know how to title this post. How can someone label the end of something they've actually enjoyed? There is no equivalent feeling one can have upon graduating than the feeling of accomplishment, as well as pride. The feelings of fear, excitement, and loneliness are also surely to follow, but as my hands clasped my black diploma reading "Black River Falls High School" on the front cover, and spelling out of "Cassie Marie Olson" in the middle of the document it enclosed, my face couldn't have smiled wider, and the pride in my heart couldn't have felt fuller than that moment. In order to walk across the stage in front of my friends, family, and classmates, I had quite the journey to go through to get there, and many times... it wasn't easy. The journey though, looking back, was well worth it.

I remember the first day of kindergarten as if it were yesterday. My dad was a bus driver at the time, and I rode the bus with my dad to school. I walked in, wearing a blue dress with a cartoon on it along with a plastic, pink, kitty cat backpack. I was in the "red group" kindergarten class that met every other day, and every other Friday. On days off, I was known to spend it with either my Grandma Margie, or Grandma Lillie, and my days throughout elementary school were full of adventures of all sorts- from playing "kitchen" at the big, crooked tree in the middle of the playground, being terrified of the "dungeon" of a basement at my school, obstacle courses in gym, and getting "seconds" of macaroni and cheese on my favorite lunch days. Each adventure had its own challenges, successes, ups, and downs. Challenges in elementary school seem quite minor to many people, but one challenge many have never had face is learning to walk... twice.

That is right. Twice. In kindergarten, I developed a problem in my legs. I tried to walk like everyone else, run on the playground like everyone else, and stand like everyone else, but for some reason, I was always different. I stood at a slight limp, walked with a strange waddle, and awkwardly walked on my tiptoes. I remember going through many tests, CAT scans, and exercises before landing at Gunderson Lutheran hospital at the age of 6. To make a long story short, and not to bore you with an otherwise uninteresting story, I ended up having Achilles tendon surgeries on both legs and a surgery on my hip. I was in first grade by the time I got the surgery, and the challenge of re-learning how to walk was excruciatingly difficult on many occasions. Overtime, I healed, grew, went through the therapy to get better. I essentially learned to walk again, and by the time 2nd grade hit, I was playing with everyone else again.

That was an experience that taught me the most things apart from other obstacles in my life. I didn't realize it then, but I gained the strength to overcome the little things in life, the self-motivation to take me higher, and the willingness to care for others. I learned, by other people helping me and myself wanting to overcome what was before me, who I truly was inside.

This isn't meant to be a sob-story, or even a success story for that matter. It is a challenge: A challenge for any individual who has ever had a goal, big or small, that they thought was unreachable. For some, this is making it to high school graduation. Maybe for others, it's re-learning a common or daily task. No obstacle, big or small, is impossible to reach for. No dream is to big to undertake. Wherever you go, go with dignity, honor, and the will to do great.

This past Sunday, June 5th, 2011, on the track of Tigers' Stadium, I walked across the stage, and I graduated. All of that hard work and dedication paid off, and I made it there. I'm the girl who wears her heart on her sleeve, and tears streamed from my eyes as I hugged my classmates, family, and friends in congratulations, as I will miss this journey I've been on. 13 amazing years have flown by, and the last four have been nothing short of wonderful, but on this new day in my life, I look forward with the same smile I had on the first day of kindergarten.

Today is my life's first day of kindergarten, and the beginning of my era.

Until then,
Cassie

Never Going to Say Never

2011-05-26T20:40:00.000-07:00

Both in light of me and my best friend watching Never Say Never tomorrow and the fact that the kid's lyrics have inspired me, I have buckled down to write a post inspired by the "Bieber-fever". Now, before you label me, pick on me, or diss his musical ability, I want to explain how I caught the Bieber bug.

Trust me-I was the most reluctant Bieb's fan there ever was. I did not originally like his music, nor what I percieved who he was. All of this, of course, was based on media outlooks and how I saw the scary fans reactions to him. This being said, my best friend kept daunting me with Bieber lyrics, Twitter accounts, and general information... after recommending a couple songs and telling me to tune in, I became... a "closet Bieber fan".

Okay, this post is not about my experiences in liking Justin Bieber. It's about leaving a positive message in the world. For a YouTube gone pop-culture icon such as JB, his message can be found both in his lyrics and his actions. Personally, my favorite song from Bieber is not on the radio. Nope- not "Baby", "Eenie Meenie", or "Never Say Never"...

If you haven't yet heard it, I recommend you take a listen to Justin Bieber's song "Pray". Fan or not, the lyrics and message he creates throughout the song can reach both the spiritual and non-spiritual person to the core. Here is a bit to chew on:

I just can't sleep tonight,
knowing that things ain't right.
It's in the papers, it's on the TV,
it's everywhere that I go.
Children are crying, soldiers are dying,
some people don't have a home.
But I know there's sunshine behind that rain,
I know there's good times behind that pain (hey)
Can you tell me how I can make a change?
I close my eyes, and I can see a better day,
I close my eyes and pray.

Now, this isn't a plug to get other's to explore my musical interests, and I know this can't change the minds of "anti-Bieber"... That's not my goal, anyways.

What's the point?

Community service, dedication, and inspiration are several of the countless ways one can be remembered in this world. The song "Pray" has a slightly spiritual viewpoint, but mostly is from the viewpoint of someone who wants to make a difference in the world. When I first heard it, I teared up as I thought through the different scenarios of the lyrics. But what can we do? Here is a quick, easy, 5-minute way you can make the difference in a poverty-stricken individual's life right now! Head over to http://www.freerice.com/. The task is simple: define one word correctly, and ten grains of rice will be donated. The more you define, the more rice you will donate! It's just one small way to change someone's life.

How will you be remembered?

For me, the days are numbered as to how long I have to make a difference in my hometown. Graduation is close, and in months, I'll be leaving the small town I've grown up in. Recently, I was required to look back on the time I've spent here and reflect on my experiences. I look back and can't help but wonder, What have I done to be remembered? There are multiple ways that I know I will be remembered, and I will not share them now, but it's a very good question to ask myself.

No matter where you are or what situation you find yourself in, when you are going through an experience, ask yourself from time to time: "What have I done to make a difference? Be remembered?". It will change your outlooks on certain aspects, and make the experience the tenfold more enjoyable when you find that one thing that made it special- not only for you, but others.

With that, I leave you to ponder how you will make your homes, schools, and communities better places once you leave them. How can you impact what you see going on around us? I send you off with one final quote from Justin Bieber's song "Pray":

"I pray for the broken-hearted,
I pray for the life not started.
I pray for all the ones not breathing,
I pray for all the souls that need a break,
Can you give 'em one today?"

Until later,

-Cassie

Interesting Video: "Teen Voice 2010"

2011-05-23T20:40:00.000-07:00

Whoever I Wanna Be

2011-05-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

When asked this question at the age of five, you would have gotten an unconventional answer from a kindergarten girl. I always said my answer with pride, reason, and excitement. I wanted be a firefighter.

Looking at me now, you'd laugh at the though of me in a big heavy suit and going into a blaze, as I hate the heat, and heavy, sharp equipment terrifies me. But, in the eyes of a kindergartener, bigger is better. Most kids who wanted be doctors, lawyers, or policemen wanted to be it because it was someone they idolized, someone they could look up to, and someone they wanted to become. I was no exception.

Now I can't really explain why I idolized firefighters... but I always had associated them with one word: hero. I wanted to be that- a hero. I had never experienced suriviving a fire (and thank goodness I've never been faced with one) but from seeing news stories and movies depicting them, I idolized them for their lifesaving endeavors.

I look back now, and my career path decisions have changed drastically. I want to be an agriculture teacher, as many of you know. Comparing my decisions, you're probably confused as to why? The answer is simple: I still want to be a hero!

"Cass... An ag teacher? Hero?"

Yes. A hero. You may laugh as you think back to high school ag courses, maybe that goofy instructor who was trying to push you into FFA, and you do not consider them a hero. Think about it closer.

For me, agriculture is my outlet. FFA is my passion, and sharing that desire for ag with other's...having the opportunity to change the lives of students by allowing them to discover their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success on a daily basis... that is what a true hero is, in my eyes.

What about you?

When you hear the word "hero", who do you associate with it? What profession? Individual? Organization?

Who has changed your life, not just for the present, but for your future?

A hero is someone you can look up to in a time of need, and inspires you to change the world. Someone who strikes your mind as someone who has shaped you into the person you are today. For me, this is my ag advisor, my mother & father, sister, and nephews.

No matter where you go, no matter who you become, just remember to be who you want to be, and change the world you want to live it. Make your dreams a reality through determination and hardwork, and you, too, will be the hero you aspire to be.

Until later,
Cassie

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."
- William Shakespeare

Back In Action!

2011-05-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

That's right! "Cassie Is..." is back after being put into storage for the last few months. I've changed my outlook on executing my blogging technique, updated and simplified my layout, as well as put it under a new user account. Here's my goals for this blog and for its future:

I plan to write at least once a week, if not more. I'm making it a goal for at least my summer, and I would like to continue it into my freshman year of college. Now you may be asking, what will I be writing about?

The sky's the limit! No, I do not plan to make this a daily lifestyle blog like its first attempt back in September, but rather a positive message blog on all aspects of life. Inspirational, political, fiction... wherever my mind chooses to go, so will this blog!

Why now? Why did I choose to bring it back, and why under a new profile? Well, a lot of friends have been asking me what happened to my previous blog, and when I say I froze the account, they all ask why, so here it is: a daily blog was too much, and as certain situations, relationships, and experiences developed, I felt too exposed in a public way. Sure, I use Facebook and Twitter as much as (or in my case, more than) the average high school kid, but I limit myself on what I tell. My daily blog had taken a turn for the zone I didn't want it to go, so I decided to end it in January.

So back to the question- why is it back? Like I said, everyone has urged me to continue writing, cause when my blogs were in the right direction, I could put on a positive message. Also, after taking some interesting classes this year, I realize I enjoy writing when it isn't about my personal situations. Hence, the new and improved "Cassie is..." was born! I'm hoping to make this blog all that I wanted it to be originally and more! If it goes to highlighting some of my personal life, so be it. But for now, it's all about... well, nothing!

Consider this an introduction into my new blogging lifestyle. My first "actual" post will be up shortly, maybe even this evening. See that little square button on the right? The one that says "follow"? I'd appreciate your continuation of support and some feedback on what I'm doing, so I encourage you to click follow and tell me what you think! Thanks!

Until then,
-Cassie

"Live each moment and take every opportunity, because we only have a limited time to make a difference in people's lives."- Matt Anderson