Kansas FFA President

Music Soothes the Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 22:40:00 +0000

With college in full swing, FFA events kicking off, and K-state football off to a hot start, I am very grateful for the opportunities allowing me to reach this point in my life. Every day I wake up I get to hear the voices of my some of my best friends, my fraternity brothers, arguing about the best and the worst professors. At night I get to enjoy long chats with high-school friends and the adventures they have undertaken in college. Every night I can reflect on the many positive memories of the day, and I still know that somehow the next day will be better. With a fun loving attitude, I know how to make the most out of any situation. A main contributor to this personality trait I have is the music I enjoy throughout the day.

Everyone has that certain hobby or activity that can soothe them or put them in a better mood. I know that music is a significant tool for myself; I turn to music for any situation. When I’m in a reflective or studious state I enjoy listening to classical music. When I miss home, I listen to classic rock songs such as “Fortunate Son” or “Cats in the Cradle”. These songs are the music that my dad plays all the time. Even now when I’m in college, I still reflect back on “Cats in the Cradle” to reminisce on the great memories that I had with him. My dad isn’t the only one that plays some great music, though. My mom loves Gretchen Wilson and Keith Anderson. Every time I hear a country song by these artists I always imagine my mom in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Today I listened to pump up music, I have a playlist designated with “feel good” songs so I can spread the joy to everyone I see. Music helps me get through the day, and helps me handle a variety of situations.

I believe music is important to soothe my soul. Without music I wouldn’t be the individual I am today. Everyone needs that one tool to help them get through life. Whether that be letting off steam in sports, writing poems and short stories, or simply enjoying nature by watching a beautiful Kansas sunset. My fellow officers have a variety of options in which they vent and get through the day. Dean loves to look up on livestock on his computer to get his mind off of troublesome tasks. Bailey plays with animals to help relieve her stress. All of my officers have a certain way and it is important for ourselves to find that important tool. Without these tools stress can build up and it can erupt at unwanted times. Throughout our state officer selection process I was stressed. I was becoming sick with the flu, I had extemporaneous speaking competition, and I was interviewing for the valued position in Kansas FFA. Needless to say, I was troubled and I turned to music to help. Every morning I would listen to my pump up music such as “Hall of Fame” and “Top of the World”. This helped myself start the day off on a good note. At night I would listen to reflective music to help ponder my thoughts and the decisions I made throughout that day. It helped me become less stress, and to finish the process with no regrets.

Whatever our tool is to relieve stress or get our mind off of challenging tasks, we need to make sure we stay in touch with it. Once I entered college, understandably, I increased the amount of music I listened to with the larger workload I gained. I’m able to balance everything though time management and stress relieving tasks. This helps myself get through the day and make a positive impact in individual’s lives across campus. I challenge you, Kansas FFA, to find your music that will help you face the challenging tasks throughout your year. Until next time everyone, have “Fun”, enjoy a “Good Time”, and “Don’t Stop Believin”.

Memories Made

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:21:00 +0000

With college quickly approaching, I must take some time to reflect on my past summer. I think of the memories that I have made, the friendships that I have started, but most of all, the “lasts” of my high school career. Such as the last time I will hang with my classmates of 2015 or even the last time I will participate in a conference. These are the memories that I cherish, but each one has a distinct thought provoking question behind them.

On late nights I enjoy hanging with my friends. These friends could be the ones that I have had throughout my high school career, the ones that I met through my work experiences at Pizza Hut, or the ones that made a difference in my life this past year. I have made many memories with these friends, but my favorite of all is making late night runs to IHOP. With these late nights comes great food, deep talks, and most of all a tiring morning. These are the times that I cherish because not only do I get to enjoy great pancakes, but I get to become closer with my friends. This is where the “last” comes into play. One of my best friends is heading to Tabor next year and the likeliness of both of us seeing much of each other is slim to none. Our last late night he stated to me, “Karl, I’m going to miss you. We both have great friends, but as of now if we were to get married you would be my best man.” I was shocked. How do I answer back to something like that? All I kept thinking was this is the end, this is the final time I will have that deep conversation with a trusted friend.

Could I have done anything different with my time with my friend? Of course I could of, but I wouldn’t in a heartbeat. Every memory that I made is something that I will never forget. My piece of advice is to cherish the memories that you make. Life goes by quickly and if we don’t take some time to “smell the roses” then we truly haven’t enjoyed the life that we have. I have made a lot of memories with my friends, and I have made cherished memories away from home at conferences.

I went to many conferences throughout my lifetime, such as Washington Leadership Conference (WLC), State Presidents Conference (SPC), and State Conference for Chapter Leaders (SCCL), as well as many others. I absolutely love conferences! With my outgoing personality, making friends is a must. At all of these conferences I learned important skills and made friendships that will last a lifetime. A very interesting lesson I have learned is how networking contributes to most of the individuals I see throughout my lifetime. An individual I met from Iowa at WLC, I met again at a conference this year. The friends I made at SCCL throughout my two years as a chapter officer, I still keep in touch with to this day and see throughout the regions of Kansas. Why are these conferences so important to me? The skills that I learn are many, but the networking that I achieve could help further me in my life goals.

You never know when that member at SCCL or that friend you make at WLC could be your coworker or even your boss. It is important that wherever I go I display a positive image and step out of my shell and meet new people. The more and more I meet new people, the less and less I feel uncomfortable with trying new things and starting the conversation with random strangers. As I am finishing up, I would like to share a few interesting facts about myself.

Fishing is my favorite hobby; doesn’t matter what time of day, I will always be up to fish. If you ask me, I believe I am a phenomenal cook. Although I do not cook as much as I should, when I do I am excited to see the faces of the individuals I am cooking for. I cherish my family and friend. I always put them before myself no matter what situation. Finally, I have an extreme interest in quantum physics and the M-theory, which leads to why I absolutely love science and math courses. The picture to the left is one of my proudest chemical compounds that I made in my AP chemistry class.

Merry Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 00:15:00 +0000

Around Christmastime, each family has its own traditions whether it’s decorating the Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols, baking delicious treats, or trading secret Santa gift. In my family, it’s a tradition to watch the Charlie Brown special on each holiday with our favorite being A Charlie Brown Christmas. From Lucy’s antics and the iconic Charlie Brown Christmas tree to the all-cast Christmas carol at the end, this special show warms my heart every time I watch it. One of my favorite scenes from this episode is when Linus tells Charlie Brown the true meaning of Christmas:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid, and the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, tis Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’ That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

The older I have gotten, the more I have appreciated Christmas for its true meaning as well as for the time spent with family. Giving becomes more valuable than receiving and the little things in life get a little bit bigger.

As Kris Kringle tells us in Miracle on 34^th Street, “Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind.” Around this time of year, we see the good in people emerge everywhere we go. If I could have one Christmas wish come true, it would be to see more of that kindness happen throughout the year. You never know when one small act of kindness could turn an entire day around for someone else. Try it one week. Each day, challenge yourself to do something nice for somebody else and expect nothing in return. You may just feel like the Grinch when he gets all warm and fuzzy on the inside.

Blessings to you and your family on this special day!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Are we human or are we dancer?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 01:41:00 +0000

Yes, you read that right. When I first saw the lyrics yesterday morning in my cultural anthropology class, I thought there was a typo. It should say “dancers” not “dancer,” right? Wrong. Here is an excerpt from the song by The Killers:

Pay my respects to grace and virtue

Send my condolences to good

Hear my regards to soul and romance

They always did the best they could

And so long to devotion

You taught me everything I know

Wave goodbye, wish me well

You've gotta let me go

Are we human or are we dancer?

My sign is vital, my hands are cold

And I'm on my knees looking for the answer

Are we human or are we dancer?

Many people figured it was a typo due to the artists’ poor English and just enjoyed the song, but not for its intended purpose. If we truly listen to what the entire song is saying, we will discover that the question The Killers pose is a rather deep one. Are we human or are we dancer? Are we truly experiencing life and all it has to offer or are we going through the motions like a puppet on strings?

They cause us to think about what we are doing with our day-to-day lives. What in our lives has such a control over us that we forget to enjoy life itself? Maybe it’s our goal of getting straight A’s, an obsession with sports, a high value on personal image, the want for money and power… The list could go on forever. This cycle isn’t one that is easy to break, and sometimes it is almost impossible. What we can do, though, is remember what makes us enjoy life and what we can do to remind others of those same things. This could mean going on a random Sonic run with a friend, putting true passion into our chapter service project, or just taking a moment to sit outside with Mother Nature and breathe.

I challenge you to consider, are you human or are you dancer? If you’re dancer, what are you going to do to become human? If you’re human, what are you going to do to help others be human? This task will be simple for some, but harder for others. This next week, some of us will be given the chance to be “human” while at National Convention. Members from across the nation, all with different backgrounds, will be coming together in Louisville. Let’s make the most of that opportunity as well as the ones we encounter every day!

Kansas FFA, are we human or are we dancer?

(To hear the entire song, here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4jR9P9YJGo)

Uno, Ein, Jeden, Amháin: One

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Aug 2014 00:29:00 +0000

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is all over social media sites. In this challenge, people dump ice cold buckets of water on themselves or they must donate money to support amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research. Some say it has reached the point of annoying, but there is one point that can’t be argued… the challenge has accomplished its purpose. The ALS Association reported that they have received more than $15 million in donations (in addition to ALS awareness) because of the challenge, but how did it all begin? With one person: 29 year-old ALS patient, Pete Frates. The challenge kicked off with athletes in the Boston-area and it has exploded from there. In the beginning, the act of dumping cold water on yourself might not seem very powerful but the impact can be clearly seen.

This doesn’t mean that we all need to start daring challenges to raise awareness for one of our passions. As FFA members, we are the future of agriculture and there are countless ways for us to support it. We can share pictures of how we properly care for our animals, keep ourselves up-to-date with current issues in agriculture (and then share that information!), and do our best to carry out a chapter, district, or state service project. Sometimes we feel like we can’t do much as one individual, but our actions can start a ripple effect that can reach farther than we ever dreamed.

Two of my good friends, Nicollette and Savannah, have taken something they are passionate about and made it bigger than themselves. Nicollette started an event at our high school called Trojans Helping Trojans. Southeast of Saline HS clubs and organizations donate gift packages to be put into a silent auction. The event is held in conjunction with the school play so supporters can eat a meal, bid on items, and then enjoy the work of students at the play. T-shirts can also be purchased. The funds raised from the event are given to Trojan families in need of help. Savannah teamed up with one of her friends to host the Smiles for Mija Summer Splash. The day was filled with swimming, volleyball, raffles, live music, and t-shirt sales to raise funds for Mija Stockman who was in a tragic car accident in 2013. Both events were big successes because someone did something they felt passionate about.

I challenge us all to pinpoint one of our passions and then do something it, but we must remember it doesn’t have to be the biggest feat to leave a big impact. I’ll close out this blog with one of my favorite stories:

A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean.

The young boy asks, “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?”

“Because the sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don’t throw them further in they will die,” the old man replies.

“But, old man, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can’t possibly save them all. You can’t even save one-tenth of them. In fact, even if you work all day, your efforts won’t make any difference at all.”

The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. “It made a difference to that one.”

Kansas FFA, how will you make a difference?

Opportunity

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 01:08:00 +0000

“Opportunity dances with those already on the dance floor.”

-H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

It is hard for me to believe that a month has already flown by! I feel that the quote above describes a lot of what has been going on in my life. If we aren't willing to take a risk, we will never reap the rewards of an opportunity. What an opportunity this year has already been!

State Conference for Chapter Leaders was a blast! I had a great time meeting with members and watching everyone get excited for the coming year. This year we have countless opportunities to pursue in FFA. Some opportunities will be easy for us to take while others will have to be “danced” with before we are ready. If we are willing to risk boldly to grow ourselves and our chapters, we will be able to see the benefits of those opportunities!

Just today, I had the opportunity to go on my first motorcycle ride. Flying down the interstate at 75 miles per hour was a little nerve-wracking at first, but once I got accustomed to the feeling, I was having a ball! I am glad I took the chance to try something new and get outside of my comfort zone. On a day like today, we also have the opportunity to give a special thanks to the men and women that have and continue to declare and support our nation’s freedom!

Before I close out my first-ever blog post, I want to take the opportunity to share a little bit about me:

1. I am from a family of five that I love. I have an older sister and a younger brother.

2. I love my mules, dogs, and cats. They are my babies.

3. If I can do something outdoors, I am probably doing it.

4. I can jam out to just about any music.

5. I LOVE FFA!

Thank you Kansas FFA for giving me the opportunity to serve you this coming year. I can’t wait to see what this year will bring for all members!

Kansas FFA, how will you get on the dance floor?

Thank You

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 00:58:00 +0000

Wow. Reflecting back on the 86th Kansas FFA Convention, and my year of service for that matter, all I can say is wow. So many incredible memories and moments that I will forever savor. As I think about all of these memories and moments, I can't help think that this whole year has been made possible by so many who went above and beyond. To all of those who have been a part of this past year, all I can say is thank you.

My Friends... Thank you for always being there for me- whether it was listening to tales of my travels and visits, helping me get things ready for a visit, talking to me on the phone (or even going with me!) when it looked like I was going to be getting back into Manhattan late. You have been my family away from home and I can't thank you enough.

Garden City FFA... Mr. VenJohn, Mrs. Hensley, and all of my fellow members, the past four years with you have been the best four years of my life. Thank you for being my supporters and cheerleaders, as well as some of my best friends.

My Professors... Thank you for being flexible when I had to miss class for a visit or a meeting or whatever. My experience at K-State has been second to none and it's all because of you.

My Family... You've put up with me for almost 20 years, but this one has definitely been one for the history books. Thank you for the constant texts to see if I was home yet, missing me because I wasn't home as often as all of us would have liked, and for always supporting me and encouraging me to pursue my dreams.

My Teammates... We entered this year as six acquaintances and somewhere between the road trips, jam sessions, and runs (which we all know I wasn't a fan of) we became a family. I can't think of five other individuals who would have served Kansas FFA with more heart and dedication. This year together has been such a pleasure.

Ms. Kane... Although a lot of your work is behind the scenes, you are the heartbeat of our Association and are what keeps it running. You have been one of the best mentors and friends I could have ever asked for. Kansas FFA is lucky to have you.

Kansas FFA Supporters... Whether you're a donor, a volunteer, or even the parent of a member, you are truly the glue that holds our Association together. No matter what or how much you give, you are appreciated.

Kansas FFA Advisors... Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your chapters over this past year. You are enabling your students to accomplish all of their goals by equipping them with the skills needed for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

Kansas FFA Members... You are incredible. Throughout my travels this year, I have been constantly amazed by the things you are accomplishing in your homes and communities. I came into this year hoping that I would be able to impact you, but you have impacted me far beyond my wildest expectations. You all constantly challenged me to get out of my comfort zone, work even harder, and be the best possible version of myself. I believe you can all achieve anything that you set your minds to, and I can't wait to watch you all continue to attain your dreams.

There's no way to list out everyone who has impacted me over the past year, but know that I appreciate everything that has been done for me. This past year was everything I could have ever dreamed it would be and then some. Forever blue.

Living to serve,
Lindy Bilberry

PS- I enjoyed the opportunity to blog on here so much, that I have decided to start my own personal blog. If you're interested in following it, check out itsLindyLou.wordpress.com.

The Value of a Good Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 May 2014 02:33:00 +0000

This past Monday, my teammate Chance and I found ourselves in what had the potential to be the worst day ever. We were on our way to the Southwest District Banquet in Scott City (4 hours away) when the transmission went out in Chance’s truck. Here we were, two college kids broken down on the side of I-70 outside of Hays, America—about two hours from both Manhattan and Scott City—on a balmy western Kansas day, with blustering cold 65 mph winds. Our situation had all the makings of a disaster.

In a desperate attempt to figure out what in the world we should do, Chance and I quickly gave a phone call to each of our parents. My dad reminded me that our family friend, Pete Weber, lived in Hays and told me that he would give Pete a shout. Within five minutes, Dad called me back and said that Pete was on his way. And, within ten minutes, Pete was calling me to see if he needed to bring a flatbed trailer and asking what else he could do to help us.

Pete soon got there and we quickly loaded the truck on the trailer and headed to Enterprise to pick up a vehicle to take us to Scott City. James, the manager, went above and beyond to expedite the process as we picked up Fred the Ford Fiesta. We soon were on the road and ended up making it to Scott City on time for the banquet! Thank goodness!

Our potentially horrible situation was made easier by a friend who was willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to help us out. I’ve known Pete Weber for pretty much my whole life, and this actually wasn’t the first time that he’s had to bail a Bilberry kid out of a vehicle disaster (my brother Rusty hit a deer outside of Hays a few years ago). Pete probably had tons of other things he could have been doing that afternoon, but he was willing to drop everything and brave the less-than-ideal weather to help us out. Pete is living proof of the value of a good friend.

Over the last year, I have been blessed with some wonderful people in my life. Whether it was my Louisburg gals, the great friends I’ve made here on campus, my teammates, my friends from back home, or my family, there has never been a shortage of people who have gone above and beyond when I needed help with a task, found myself in a pickle, or just needed someone to talk to.

I hope that I can be that person to others. Take a second to think—do you go above and beyond when others find themselves in a bind? A lot of times we take, take, take, but are we remembering to give, give, give? Sometimes, in order to receive, we need to remember to first let others receive. Good friends are few and far between, but if we are willing to first be a good friend, we will find good friends. Help out others when they’re in a bind, even if it’s not the most convenient. Because of our friendship, Pete changed Chance and I’s situation from bad to good just by offering a helping hand.

Kansas FFA, let’s help others change their bad to good!

Take the Time to Hit Pause

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 19:16:00 +0000

My parents are, in all honesty, the most kind and selfless people that I know. I’m sure that most people would say that about their parents, but even if my parents weren’t mine, I would still feel the same. They are the type of people who are never too busy to drop everything and take the time to listen to others.

After my dad retired from his job as a feedyard manager a few years back, my parents fulfilled their long-time dream of opening a livestock feed store that we operate from home. It’s not uncommon to walk out to our barn office to find four or five people just chilling around on some couches drinking a Coke and chatting about life. Some days, it seems like more people stop by just to visit than to buy feed—and Mom and Dad wouldn’t have it any other way. My parents are simply good at talking. But, even more important than that, my parents are great at listening.

My mom, in particular, is the kind of person that you just want to open up to. It seems like people are always stopping by or calling just to chit chat. No matter what is going on in her life, Mom is always more concerned with the needs and well-being of others. If I grow up to be half the person that she is, I’ll be doing alright. My mom understands an important concept that fewer and fewer of us seem to grasp—sometimes, people just need to talk.

Are we spending so much time talking that we can’t listen? I’ll be the first to admit that I have been guilty of this. It is easy to think that what’s going on in our lives is the most important. Maybe we won an award, have a new significant other, or had an outstanding performance in last night’s game. Don’t get me wrong, those things are awesome. But do we ever take just a second to hit pause on our voices so someone else can hit play on theirs?

A lot of times, the people who are the last to speak about themselves are the ones who need to say something the most. Communication is a two-way street, folks. If someone looks like they’re having a rough day, ask them about it. If someone has accomplished something really cool, ask them about it. Some people probably aren’t going to open up and tell you their whole life story… but, trust me, it matters to them that you asked. All that it takes is a simple “How are you today?” or “Awesome job last night!” or “How’s your family doing?”

Take the time to find out what’s up in your friends’ lives, ask the quiet girl how her day is going, tell the junior varsity basketball player that he had a nice shot at the game. Give people the chance to gush a little bit about how excited they are or vent about how upset they are or offer them a shoulder to lean on if they're struggling. Friends, it’s easy to be talkers, but it’s vital that we also be listeners. My parents are pretty special, and I just can’t help but wonder how much better our world would be if everyone tried a little harder to be just like them.

Kansas FFA, take the time to listen!

Telling the Story

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 16:57:00 +0000

Today is the last day of what, for me at least, has been a jam-packed, fun-filled month full of FFA. I’m sure that a lot of you had a blast celebrating National FFA Week last week. I want to give a warm shout-out and thank you to the chapters that hosted me—I had a blast getting to see the cool things that FFA members across our state are accomplishing. You are all truly inspiring!

During FFA Week, we do an awesome job of telling the story of FFA and agricultural education. It was so impressive to see the way that different schools go about celebrating the successes of our Organization and local chapters. There are posters all over the school, tractors in the parking lot, daily ‘Ag Trivia’ on the school announcements, and the occasional student walking proudly down the hall in their Official Dress. It’s hard not to notice FFA chapters during FFA Week.

FFA members, and those in agriculture, face some pretty hefty challenges. We’re faced with feeding an increasing population (9 billion by 2050, to be exact) with even fewer resources than before. Agriculture is facing opposition from all sides—whether it’s from so-called animal welfare groups, fast food chains that I’m choosing not to name, or uninformed consumers who do not understand how cattle standing in a feedlot become the burger sitting on their plate. As agriculturists, we are facing an uphill battle.

Again, we do an AWESOME job of telling our story during FFA Week. But, there are 51 other weeks in the year. Why don’t we focus on telling our story every week, instead of just the week that’s been designated? There are great things happening in our agricultural education classrooms and FFA Chapters all year round. On our farms, we are accomplishing things that our ancestors could not have even imagined. Did you know that today’s farmers produce 262% more food with 2% fewer inputs than farmers in 1950 did? Or that 97% of American farms are family owned?

The average American is at least two generations removed from the family farm—making it more important than ever that we inform our consumers about where their food is coming from. We have a great story to share, we just need to do it. Blogs, posters, inviting people to our farms, striking up a conversation with the person next to us in the produce section—all easy opportunities to share the story of American agriculture and the National FFA Organization. I’m just as guilty of not taking the time to do it. But, if we don’t tell our story, someone else will tell it for us.

Kansas FFA, make every week FFA Week!

The Downhill Slope

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 16:03:00 +0000

The other day it hit me… Right smack dab in the face—my time serving Kansas FFA members is over halfway done. I’m on the downhill slope, if you will. My time in the blue jacket is almost over.

This thought, in all honesty, scares me a little. Tons of thoughts rush through my head… Have I made a good use of my time? Did I make a difference? How many lives have I touched? These thoughts make me more determined than ever to make the most of my remaining time in the Kansas FFA blue corduroy. I am ready to face my ‘downhill slope’ with an uphill attitude. It’s time to appreciate all of the little things, soak it all in, work even harder.

Many of you may also find yourselves on the downhill slope.

With the end of the school year coming, it’s pretty easy to find ourselves in a rut. All we want is to not have to go to class, be done studying, and for summer to arrive. It’s easy to do the bare minimum, scrape by. I mean, we’ve been working hard since August. My challenge: work even harder until May—in FFA and in school. Finish your homework before you arrive in the class that it’s due, do that extra credit assignment that the teacher offered in the class you have a borderline grade in, practice your reasons sets, finish up this year’s record book. Face this semester with an uphill attitude.

This time last year, I was struggling with a bad case of senioritis. I was ready to be done with high school and off to college, ready for the real world. For my seniors out there feeling the same way, my challenge: slow down, enjoy every moment. Although it sounds cliché, you only get to do it once. Face your final semester in high school with an uphill attitude, even though you really are on the downhill slope. Work harder in class than you ever have before, try even harder in the CDE’s you have left, and take in every experience that you can while you’re still wearing the blue jacket.

When you find yourself chomping at the bit to get out of the small-town that you’ve called home for the last 18 or so years, my challenge: slow down, enjoy every moment. When your mom’s nagging you to pick up your room, put away your laundry, or just sit down to talk with her—enjoy the moment. When your dad says it’s your turn to do the chores or unload hay or build fence or just ‘get up and do something, by golly’—enjoy every moment. When you’re fighting with your siblings over whose turn it is to wash the dishes, help your parents, or honestly just fighting in general—enjoy every moment.

As weird as it is, I miss my mom nagging at me to put away my clothes. Truth be told, I miss her just doing my laundry in general. I miss hanging out with my dad and trying to soak in just a little of his wisdom from the life talks that we regularly have. I miss fighting with my sister, Sara, about who stole whose shirt and whose turn it is to buy lunch. And, even though he lives out on his own now, I miss my brother Rusty to death. Although I love K-State and all of my friends here, nothing is quite like home.

If we look at life like we’re on the downhill slope, it will all pass us by. I am just as guilty as anyone of getting caught up in the moment—getting caught up in just getting done. But life passes by way too fast. We should wake up everyday and ask ourselves how we can make a difference. We should wake up everyday and challenge ourselves to savor every moment.

Kansas FFA, have an uphill attitude!

What's the Reason?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 17:40:00 +0000

Without a doubt, my absolute favorite holiday movie is A Charlie Brown Christmas. In this old-school Christmas cartoon, Charlie Brown searches for the true meaning of Christmas amid the commercialization trap that all of his friends seem to have fallen into. By the time Christmas rolls around each year, I’ve watched it multiple times. (Huge shoutout to my friends, and former Louisburg FFA members, Erin, Emily, Conner, and Katheryn for finally giving in and watching it with me!) If you haven’t seen this movie, you’re missing out!

But, the more I though about it, the more that I realized that our entire lives are like that of Charlie Brown. We are constantly so caught up in what’s happening around us that we forget the real reason that we’re doing what we’re doing.

Are we in FFA to get out of school? To score a trip to Manhattan for State Convention? Are we FFA members because all of our friends are? Because it’s the thing to do?

Why are we truly in this organization?

The reasons to join FFA are endless—and so are the possibilities while we’re wearing the blue jacket. Maybe we joined FFA because our parents or older siblings were members. Maybe we’re members because we like cattle or pigs or sheep or meat or tractors or welding. Maybe we joined FFA because we believe in the future of agriculture—with a faith born not of words but of deeds. Maybe it's because we want to grow up and give our children the same upbringing that we've had. FFA can honestly take us anywhere that we will let it.

FFA members, no matter your reason for joining, I hope that we all, like Charlie Brown, can find a true reason for why we are here. I can guarantee that if we look hard enough, we will find one. It’s easy to get caught up with all of the fun activities that our chapters do, but I can guarantee that there is a reason—a purpose—for all of them. We all have a reason to be here.

Kansas FFA, find your reason to be here!

I wish you and all of your families a very Merry Christmas and an abundance of blessings in the New Year.

Contagious Enthusiasm

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 16:49:00 +0000

It seems that every time that I have my blog post about half way written, I hit a ‘writer’s block.’ I sit down time after time, and the words just don’t seem to come. But, then I have an experience that inspires me to write something a little bit different, and the words just seem to flow.

Last night I had one of those experiences. Last night I attended the K-State Choir Concert to listen to my friend and former FFA member Claire Bokelman (who has an amazing voice, I might add) and instantly realized that there was something different about this group of singers. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that it was due to their director.

This lady oozed passion. She obviously loved what she was doing, and, in turn, everyone around her loved what they were doing too. Whether it was talking to the audience between songs, singing along with her group, or clapping enthusiastically for her student conductors, her excitement for her work was contagious. Her choir, her student conductors, the audience… we all caught the ‘enthusiasm bug.’ This choir director LOVES what she does.

It was then, in the middle of that concert, that I realized I wanted to be just like her. No, I don’t mean that music or choir is my calling. (I can’t carry a tune in a ten gallon bucket.) But, I want to be so excited about what I’m doing that everyone around me can’t help but be excited as well. I want to love what I do.

In FFA, we have a lot of chances to do things that we truly love. Whether our forte is livestock, public speaking, or math, there truly is a place for all of us to find our passions within this organization. We all have the chance to love what we do. I love putting on my blue jacket; I love Kansas FFA members (like Erie FFA members pictured to the right, who I ran into at National FFA Convention); I love the relationships and skills that FFA has helped me to develop. I love FFA. I love what I do.

My hope is that we can all find something to do that we love. Our lives are happening NOW, and the time will pass by whether we want it to or not. Would we rather live our lives quietly in the background, or spreading excitement and passion like the K-State choir director? Don’t be afraid to try something new—our organization has so many opportunities to get outside of our comfort zone. We never know when we might just find that one thing that we LOVE to do.

Kansas FFA, love what you do!

The Three G's

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 02:20:00 +0000

Earlier this evening I attended a supper for recipients of a scholarship that I was awarded as a senior in high school. After congratulating us on receiving the scholarship and surviving our first few weeks of classes, the program director went on to talk about an alumni program that they were starting up to help with the transition from college to career. She told us that we were selected as scholarship recipients because we had three traits that would help us not only in college, but also in our careers and our lives—the ‘Three G’s’ if you will.

Grit. Gusto. Gratitude.

As she said these three words, I realized that these are not only traits that Ellis Scholars should have, but also traits of every good FFA member.

grit noun  courage and resolve; strength of character.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably had times when you’ve wondered if it’s all worth it. Maybe your calf died? You didn’t do so well in a CDE? Maybe you’ve stood up to give a speech and realized that you can’t remember it? I’ve definitely had a few of these—like the time my computer crashed and I lost the State Degree application I had spent hours perfecting or the time I went to the South Central District Greenhand Conference and realized that I’d left all of the Greenhand Information Tests in my Manhattan dorm room.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we all mess up. We all make mistakes; we all face hard times. We all have problems. The true test of character is how we react to them. Do we blame others? Try to cover it up? Act like it never happened? Or do we take responsibility? Do our best to amend the problem? Do we persevere? Do we push through? Kansas FFA, be tough—push through—have grit.

gusto noun enjoyment or vigor in doing something; zest.

I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes my attitude can be a little lackluster. It’s hard to be excited when you’re on that early morning bus headed to a CDE or when you’re in a chapter meeting that seems to be dragging on. But what does our attitude say about us? If we all tried a little harder to live life with a little more zest, how much more fun would the world be?

We are students in the BEST student led organization in the BEST industry in the BEST country in the world. We have a LOT to be excited about! So let’s do it. Whether it’s offering encouragement to those around us, being a little more peppy in our meetings, AGvocating for the industry we love, or working harder for that CDE, let’s live our lives with a little more gusto.

gratitude noun the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

Though this G is probably the easiest of the three, it is sometimes the one we take the most for granted. We, as FFA members, are so incredibly blessed. Our advisors are there for the early mornings, the late night practices, and the long road trips. They take time from their families, hobbies, lives to invest in us. When was the last time we told them thank you?

What about our parents, school administration, bus drivers, and chapter officers? The list of people that make our experiences possible goes on and on and on. It’s amazing what a difference a simple ‘thank you’ can have. Kansas FFA, go out there and show some gratitude.

Grit. Gusto. Gratitude. I pledge today to make these ‘Three G’s’ the story of my everyday life… the challenge is here for you too.

Kansas FFA, live a life with GRIT, GUSTO, and GRATITUDE!

Reach for the Stars

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 19:38:00 +0000

I can’t count how many times I’ve made the trek from my hometown of Garden City to Manhattan. Whether it was for State Convention, State CDE’s, K-State’s Ag Ed Speech Contest, or a campus visit—the 4 ½ hour trip never seemed to get any shorter. Now that I’m attending K-State, I’m sure that I will be making that trip more often.

Since I’ve been driving that stretch of road by myself, I’ve noticed a lot more scenery than I used to when I was reading a book or taking a nap in the backseat. A few trips back I noticed that there was a historical marker on the outskirts of a Burdett, a small town that I often passed on my expeditions back and forth. Being the history nerd that I am, I determined to stop there, but just not that day. Most of the time, I’m in a pretty big hurry to either make it home or make it to the good ole MHK.

But, on the way back to Manhattan from a Labor Day weekend spent at home with my family and friends, I decided that I had time to stop. It turns out that the historical marker honored a man named Dr. Clyde Tombaugh, a 1925 graduate of Burdett High School. While many of us may have never heard of Dr. Tombaugh, we’ve all heard of his work. Dr. Tombaugh discovered the planet Pluto in 1930, among a myriad of other things.

I was a little surprised to say the least. You mean to tell me that the guy who discovered Pluto was from Middle-of-Nowhere, Kansas? Who knew?!

Dr. Tombaugh grew up on a small farm in a small Kansas town. Sound familiar? His background probably sounds a lot like many of ours. However, he still made an incredible difference in our understanding of the universe. Dr. Tombaugh literally reached for the stars… and the found them.

Who knows what we are capable of if we constantly strive for excellence—maybe we’ll discover a new planet, develop a more efficient corn hybrid, or create a tractor that drives itself. The possibilities really are endless! It doesn’t matter where we come from, we can still leave our mark.

Kansas FFA, reach for the stars!

My Cup Overflows

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:54:00 +0000

Last week, I thought that I had my blog post figured out. It was going to be a long-winded tale of airplanes, pilots, and trust. While I am sure that that post would have turned out alright, I have decided instead to tell my story of yesterday. Yesterday, I had my attitude adjusted. Yesterday, I was inspired.

For five years, I have worked at Baker Boot Company in my hometown of Garden City. We sell and repair boots and shoes, among a myriad of other things. The owners, Bob and Jolene Baker, are truly some of the best people that I know. They would do anything for anybody, and over the last few years they have become my second family. Most days, I honestly love my job.

But, yesterday was not one of those days. A tradeshow in Dodge City, partnered with vacations by two other employees, had left the shop in the hands of just Bob and myself. A crew of two people on a regular day is a little bit of a stretch, let alone on a Friday. And, yesterday seemed to be a particularly busy Friday. Whether it was a mother buying boots for her son, a man seeking help because his feet were hurting, or someone looking to get a strap on their sandals repaired—we were busy all day long! The day was stressful to say the least.

By mid-afternoon, my patience had begun to thin, my smile had begun to fade, and I was ready for 6:00 to roll around. I’m not going to lie, I was feeling pretty sorry for myself. I have noticed in my short nineteen years of life that sometimes God has a way of sending us a reality check when we need it the most. Yesterday, He chose to do it by sending two people through the doors of Baker Boot—Mighty and Carol.

I have known Mighty for the majority of my life. He works day in and day out at a nearby feedlot, and I was sure that he was feeling the pain of the blistering Southwest Kansas heat we’ve been experiencing the last few weeks. Offhandedly, I mentioned that it was a little hot outside. He nodded in agreement, before saying that it was hot, but it could definitely be worse. Mighty then said something that I don’t think I will ever forget. He said, “Lindy, I’m sixty years old and I’m still trying to be a better person everyday. Sure, things are bad sometimes, but I just think about how much worse other people have it. Someone always has it worse. I’m sixty years old and I’m working to better my attitude everyday. How much better do you think the world would be if we all had that attitude?”

He’s right, how much better would the world be if we all had that attitude? Sure, my day wasn’t the very best day at work I’d ever had—but it could have been worse. At least I have a job. I’m working in the air conditioning, out of the heat, and for people that I absolutely love.

With a renewed spirit, the day continued. Then Carol walked through the door. Carol used to work with me at the shop, several years ago. She, without a doubt, has one of the most upbeat attitudes that I have ever seen. I don’t know if she ever quits smiling. When Bob asked her how she was, she simply replied, “My cup overflows.” Three short, powerful words. I sat there, wrestling with what exactly they meant. Then I realized, my cups overflows too. Not only do I have a job that I love, but I also have great family and friends, a roof over my head, food on my plate, and I woke up this morning.

I’m here to tell you that I’m Lindy Bilberry. I’m nineteen years old and everyday I am working to have a better attitude—to be a better person. Even on those days when it seems like nothing can go right, I am blessed. My cup truly overflows.

Kansas FFA, may your cup overflow!

More Than Random

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:10:00 +0000

One of my favorite things to do when I have time to kill before class is scanning the bulletin boards that are posted around campus. Recently while I was browsing the very interesting postings of a bulletin board outside one of my classrooms when I noticed a sign for 26 Random Acts of Kindness. It immediately caught my attention, and I began to make a mental list of a few random acts that sounded fun to try. I figured our campus could always use a little more spontaneous generosity.

As I was reading through though I began noticing that some of these random acts that were put on the list were acts that really shouldn’t be considered “random”. They were deeds that should be expected of us and are normally done on a regular basis. For example one of the acts stated “to clean up after yourself” and another that said “to Smile at others”. Shouldn’t we do these things regardless? Others ones on the list were “to thank our parents” “to be polite on the road” and “to be a friend who listens”. All of these acts CAN be performed randomly, but we can also do these deeds on a regular basis as well.

Why practice random acts of kindness occasionially when we can practice acts of kindness everyday? Take the time today to turn random acts of kindness, into every day deeds. Clean up after yourself, smile at others, finish chores without complaining, or assist a younger FFA member with filling out record books. The options are endless. Kindness is something that is often overlooked and we forget to display it in our every day lives, and then we reach the point when it becomes a random act. At some point we are all guilty of this, and it is okay to every now and then slip up. Just remember to not let kindess become a random act in our lives, but strive to include it into our daily routine.

What will you do to spread kindness today AND everyday?

Celebrating Change

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:47:00 +0000

The other day I had the opportunity to celebrate Kansas State University’s 150^th birthday at the Sesquicentennial Kick-off Celebration in Ahearn Fieldhouse. There were a variety of speakers who attended including K-State alumni such as Governor Sam Brownback as well as multiple booths representing each college and their accomplishments over the years. Of course one the main reasons for me going to the event was to taste the delicious Call Hall Ice Cream that was served and specially created for K-State’s birthday! Not to mention getting to sample the remarkably yummy cupcakes served by different businesses around Manhattan. As I was walking past the cardboard cut-outs of past mascots and happily eating my bowl of ice cream, I was amazed at how much Willie had changed over the years. It reminded me of the ways Kansas FFA has grown and changed as well.

This year Kansas FFA is celebrating 85 years of growth. Since we were first chartered in 1928 we have increased our membership to over 8,400 members! New career development events have developed such as the veterinary science CDE and new proficiency awards areas have been created. Likewise the National FFA Organization has gone through a variety of changes for example allowing women into our organization in 1969 and changing our name from the Future Farmers of America to the National FFA Organization in 1988.

While multiple changes have occurred over the years, both at Kansas State University and in Kansas FFA, each have still held true to their core values. The National FFA Organization may have changed its name in 1988 to include a broader spectrum and diversity of members, but our foundation is still based on agriculture and agricultural education. Just like the opening lines of the creed states “I believe in the future of agriculture…” we will always remain devoted to our core principle of agriculture as well as continually strive for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success.

What are a few areas in our lives that we could grow this year so that we may continue to live by our core principles? In order to not lose sight of who we are and what we stand for, list out 5 to 10 of our strongest values and beliefs. Then look at these areas in our lives to see where we could change to more closely follow these values. These changes we make don’t mean that we must completely transform ourselves to become something or someone else, but rather have a goal to work towards. It could be something as simple as listing accountability as one of your values and then making the goal to show up to class or chapter meetings on time. Writing down that you value your community could lead to you discovering unique ways to lend a helping hand to your local area through service. If you value agriculture, maybe you will decide to increase the amount of hours you dedicate to your SAE. Whatever change you plan on making, keep in mind your values and beliefs.

How will you grow today?

Glendolyn, Renee, and I snacking away on ice cream
and cupcakes. Members of K-state's band
let us hold their wonderful sign as well!

Close to Home

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 19:24:00 +0000

This past week I have been enjoying the very unusual, sunny, 55-degree days of January by spending much of my time outdoors. One day an old classmate and I decided to go on an adventure (a.k.a a walk) and what better place to begin than out at a Lake only 8 miles away from my house. I had honestly never been to the lake in the wintertime and I didn’t quite know what to expect.

As soon as we got there and began hiking along the trail my friend and I were shocked by the stunning view. Thick layers of ice floated across lake, the water was clear and blue, and the sand was perfect for doodling on. We asked ourselves “Why haven’t we ever done this before?!” We’ve lived here all of our lives and yet we have never visited the lake in the winter and have been missing out on this little paradise. Even during the summer I don't make it out to the lake as often as I should. Some people will travel miles every summer to come and visit our lake, and yet I never take advantage of that fact that I live so close. I have never truly appreciated what my community has to offer.

I always used to think that I would have to travel far away to other states and even to other countries to see and experience something amazing. What I didn’t realize was that what I had wanted has been sitting right in front of me all along. Tons of opportunities have been available to me right here in my own hometown, yet many times I ignored these chances and went out looking for something better, something more.

Take the time today to think about some of the simple things in life we forget to appreciate. Like our friends and family, the opportunities we have, and all that we have been given. Say an extra thank you to a sibling that helped us out with chores, spend more time talking with a close friend we haven’t seen much of lately, or even just sit back and enjoy the view of a sunrise on the horizon. I was able to find a new appreciation for what I have been given, a perfect spot for hiking out at the lake, and was able to reconnect with an old friend.

What will you find close to home?

Nearing the Finish

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 03:45:00 +0000

Christmas time is almost here! This time of year always brings back fond memories of steaming hot chocolate, crackling fireplaces, and my favorite - holiday music. This is also about the time when everything begins to become hectic as final exams and project deadlines sneak up. One thing that is easy to do in anticipation for the holidays is letting the holiday fever set in a little too early. We begin putting our tasks off until the last minute, not working as diligently for upcoming CDE's as we should, or not giving 100% effort in all that we do. We start shutting down before break is even here. I can think of multiple times when I have done exactly this - giving up before the finish.

I remember in Junior High during track practice I would always hear the coach yelling the words “Finish! Finish! Make it all the way to the finish line!” Too many times our coach would catch my teammates and I slowing down right before the end or stopping just inches away. Those few inches felt like miles every time I neared the finish line, so I just choose to quit. At the time I figured that none of it mattered. It was just a few inches right?

When I think back, it would have taken just a few more seconds of hard work to make it to the end. The extra work that I should have put into my running to make it to the finish was minimal, but I chose to give up anyways. It took time for me to realize that those few steps were extremely crucial my success. In any situation if we stop trying before we reach the end we are not reaching our full potential.

If Usain Bolt were to quit just inches before the
finish line he would have lost his chance at
winning an Olympic Gold Medal.

This holiday season don’t let the holiday fever set in early! I know that these last few days before break may seem like years just as those last few steps seemed like miles to me, but this is the perfect time to stay ahead of the game and make those last few inches worthwhile. Stay motivated by rewarding ourselves each time we check something off our to-do list. Hold ourselves accountable by studying with friends or asking our friends to quiz us over information for our next CDE. We could even have them listen to our speeches and the creed. Let’s make it our goal to not quit before the finish line. Then when Christmas Break finally comes we can fill it with hot chocolate, holiday music, and friends and family! Happy Holidays!

Don't Stop Believin'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 May 2012 03:08:00 +0000

The theme the National FFA Organization has proudly displayed this year is “I Believe.” How perfect is that?! This organization is all about believing! During National Convention this year, we heard the song “Don’t Stop Believin’.” Just look at those three words. The song isn’t simply called “Believin’.” It’s called “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

How easy is it to believe in something, whether that be a goal, an opportunity, or our own abilities, just as long as the path is easy? It can be much more difficult to keep believing as soon as, suddenly, we find a roadblock in our path.

Maybe we decide that this semester, we are going to achieve a perfect grade point average at school. Then, an exam sneaks up on us, we maybe do not study as much as we probably should, we take the test, our grade immediately drops, and we give up on that goal for the semester. Or, maybe we set a goal to win a Career Development Event, but experience some conflict on the team, and decide it is too difficult to keep everyone on the same page. Or, perhaps we really want to earn a proficiency award, but our schedules become hectic with all of our activities and we just give up on dedicating enough time to our Supervised Agricultural Experience program to earn it. In other words, we quit believing we can do it.

Think about how far our organization has continued to grow, simply because so many members and supporters believe in it!

The FFA started with thirty-three members in 1928, and is proudly represented by 540,379 members today.
The first official dress that was worn in 1930 later became the corduroy jacket we wear with the same kind of pride.
In 1937, the organization took action to establish an FFA camp in Washington, D.C., that we know today as the Washington Leadership Conference that thousands of members attend each year.
The Future Farmers of America Foundation was formed in 1944, and has raised more than $232 million for the organization ever since.
The organization grew to merge with the New Farmers of America and allow females to become members and continues to increase in membership each year.
The Future Farmers of America changed its name in 1988 to the National FFA Organization so that it could encompass the growing opportunities in agriculture and the organization.

The FFA experiences constant growth in so many ways. Why? Because the organization and all who are involved never stop believing it can find new and better ways to serve all members and the entire industry of agriculture.

“Don’t Stop Believin’.”

The blue jacket keeps believing… will you?

Just Add a Little Sunshine

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:19:00 +0000

Sunglasses. The ocean. Popsicles. Flip-flops. Waterslides. Green grass. Sunburns. Can you say, “Spring fever?!”

One of the aspects of the season of spring that I like the most is the feeling that comes with those days in which the sun really shines. I don’t know about you, but I just cannot help but be happy on that kind of day.

With all of the sunshine lately, my thoughts keep flooding back to a little less than a year ago, when my senior class boarded a plane bound for Orlando for our senior trip before graduation. This trip was the cause of the epitome of sunshine-derived happiness. I spent almost a week with my family of classmates. At Universal Studios, we rode countless roller coasters and other rides, and even toured Hogwarts at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Okay, so maybe there wasn’t a lot of sunshine in the castle, but it was a major cause of excitement and joy nonetheless)! At Sea World, we watched whale and dolphin shows and rode even more roller coasters. Then, we spent a day by the ocean. It was sunny every single day, and we returned home sunburnt, relaxed, and full of smiles and laughs.

Thinking back to that week made me think that the sunshine really has a way of giving us a positive attitude, doesn’t it? For example, one day last week, I had an exam in class that I was really nervous about taking. I am rather ashamed to say that normally, I probably would have been the definition of grumpy until that test was over. However, that sun was shining. For some reason, I just couldn’t help but feel as if I were having the absolute best day, just because the world around me was, well, happy.

Now, to me, that’s just silly! Why in the world should I be relying on the sun outside my window to tell me whether I would enjoy my day? If that sun had not been streaming through the windows, would my attitude have been so negative just because of an exam that I would have caused others to look at their day as gloomy as well? On senior trip, would my class have still had fun if the sun was behind the clouds all week, and even if we hadn’t had the opportunity to ride a bunch of roller coasters? Of course we would have, because we still would have spent the week with our fellow classmates who were our best friends all through high school.

For those of us who are Harry Potter fans, remember when Professor Dumbledore said, “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light?” Whether we are actually going through a rough time or whether it is just a normal day, think about how true this is. We do not have to rely on the weather to be happy; we can just add a little sunshine into our day ourselves.

Thinking about it, I know that for me, calling home to my family, taking a fifteen-minute break to run to Sonic with a couple of friends, checking off my to-do list something that I wanted to complete, Skyping with friends who do not live nearby, or going for a quick run around campus can be all the sunshine I need to make my day feel great.

Think about those things that just never seem to fail to bring a smile to your face. Maybe it’s spending time with your family or friends. Maybe it’s going for a ride on your horse or going for a run. Maybe it’s sitting down to read a good book. Whatever it is, it can be the cause of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Next time you’re feeling a little bit of gloom, don’t let it get to you! Catch a little bit of that spring fever and just add a little sunshine!

Got Cheese?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:07:00 +0000

Recently, in one of my classes at K-State, we were asked to read the book “Who Moved My Cheese?” Now, I’ll admit, I had no idea what this book would be about, and honestly didn’t expect much. However, what I found as a read through the pages was a pretty cool perspective on change and dealing with change.

The storyline looks something like this.

There were four mice, named Sniff, Scurry, Hem, and Haw. These mice spent their time in a maze, looking for their own, personal cheese, or what they believed would make them happiest. One day, the four found a corridor in the maze that provided all of their types of cheeses. They made a routine of coming to that particular corridor until it was completely depleted of cheese.

Sniff, who had a tendency to discover when things were about to change before it actually happened, was prepared. So, he and Scurry, who has a talent for reacting to change in a positive way and taking action, set out to search the maze for more cheese. However, Hem was not comfortable with change, so he chose to stay in the corridor to wait and see if more cheese appeared where it was previously. Haw remained with Hem for a while, because he had a tendency to wait and not address change until absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, Sniff and Scurry were successful in finding a new corridor with even more cheese than the first. Eventually, Haw, who was unsuccessful in changing Hem’s mind, faced his initial uncertainties and set out for more cheese. He too found the new corridor of cheese. He returned to the first corridor to invite Hem to come along, but Hem insisted that he did not want to experience any cheese that was different than that of which he was already used to.

We can learn so much from this book!

Which character are we most like? Are we like Hem, who insists on having familiarity and routine and cannot seem to adapt to change when it occurs? Or, maybe we’re like Haw, who might like the routine and familiarity, but will eventually adapt to change when necessary. Or, are we like Scurry, who reacts to the change by taking action and making the most of the situation, or Sniff, who actually sees the change coming and is prepared to make it a positive outcome long before it occurs?

What is our “cheese?” What is it that is most important to us, that motivates us to succeed the most?

Finally, how do we react when something changes? Do we give up, or continue to pursue what is most important to us?

“If you don’t like something change it; if you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.” –Mary Engelbreit

Advice for All Ages

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:16:00 +0000

It was mid-December, and approaching at an alarming rate were the most dreaded days of the semester for almost any student. In just five days, finals week was set to begin. I was sitting in the very last class for the semester for one of my courses, and the professor asked us whether we were nervous about our exams (um, yes?). Before leaving, she said she had just a few words of advice, and that the advice would be the same words she told her children every morning before they got on the school bus. She wanted us to keep these words in mind, not just during our final exams, but throughout the remainder of our time at K-State and throughout our careers. She said,

“Be nice. Do your best. Be teachable.”

It seems easy, does it not? But, how easy is it to become caught up in our day-to-day activities and forget something so easy? Often, we can follow this advice in the simplest situations.

Be Nice. This one seems to be the easiest to act upon, yet can also be the easiest to forget. However, we know that the simplest act can make the greatest impact on someone else. We can brighten another person’s day simple by being kind. Think about that moment that I’m sure many of us have experienced where we pass someone going in the opposite direction, make eye contact, and just awkwardly turn away. Well, I’m here to save us all from future awkward situations such as this with a single-word solution: smile. Smiles are contagious. Smiles can turn a person’s gloomy day into a brighter one. What about that person who seems lonely or left out? It sounds like a golden opportunity to make a new friend. And, isn’t it a nice feeling to receive help on something when we need it? Well, isn’t it an even nicer feeling to give help when someone else needs it? Sometimes, by making an effort to simply be nice to others, we make our own day just a little bit better!

Do Your Best. Let’s admit it. Sometimes, we just have a lazy day. It’s easy to do just enough to get by on some days, instead of striving to give it our 100%. Let’s say that we know we have a quiz tomorrow. We should probably dedicate at least a few minutes of our evening to studying for that quiz, shouldn’t we? So, we glance through our notes until we think we have enough of the information stored in our brains to pass the quiz. I mean, studying for a few minutes, hoping for the best, and spending the rest of the evening watching our favorite television show seems like a much more enjoyable way to end the day. However, by doing this, are we really doing the absolute best that we can do on that quiz the next day? Are we really challenging our minds to truly understand what we are taught in that class? Are we helping ourselves by doing just enough to get by? It’s all about striving to be the best we can be whenever we have the opportunity to take that extra step.

Be Teachable. The art of learning doesn’t simply involve attending class or listening to the information someone presents us. To truly learn, we must be teachable. We must be open to accept the suggestions or information coming our way. It doesn’t sound too difficult, but I will be the first to admit that personally, I can be stubborn. A few weeks ago, I was getting into my car to run a couple of errands. Now, I am still trying to learn my way around Manhattan, and do not particularly enjoy driving when I don’t know where exactly I am going. So, I turned on my trusty GPS, fondly named Lucy Lou. However, just because the GPS told me to turn one direction doesn’t mean I listened. I thought the GPS had to be wrong, and because I refused to allow the GPS to teach me how to successfully reach my destination, I drove around pointlessly for much longer than I needed to. Sometimes, it is easy to pass up the opportunity to learn by simple not allowing ourselves to be teachable.

The advice that my professor gives to her children before they go to school everyday is advice we can all take to heart everyday! Be nice. Do your best. Be teachable.

Sink, or Swim?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:51:00 +0000

Have you ever had one of those days in which you feel that you just cannot win? You know, those days in which you are late to school, slip on the ice in the parking lot, spill part of your lunch on your lap, argue with a friend over something that is completely unimportant, and receive a bad grade on a quiz? Yep, one of those days. We all have! I don’t know about you, but for me, I look back at those days and cannot help but just laugh. However, at the time, laughing just wasn’t the way I always approached those unfortunate, seemingly unlucky, often embarrassing situations. But, I wish I would have.

Last week, I had the opportunity to spend some time with a few individuals who, without meaning to, caused me to sit back and think about how I personally handle those things that just don’t go right. We are all human, and we are all guilty of what this individual called “high arrogance, low self-esteem.” In other words, we often think we need to show that we know every answer, when, in fact, we really don’t believe we do at all.

I think back to a few years ago, when a pretty intense ice storm kept many of us Kansas residents out of school for a few days. My family didn’t have electricity, so my brother and I spent a few days with our grandparents. Now, I can sum up exactly how we spent those hours in one word: Monopoly. We played that board game over, and over, and over. This seems like a great way to spend the time indoors. However, my brother never particularly enjoyed playing board games with me, because for some reason, I always thought I had to win. The reason we continually played that game wasn’t that we were having that much fun, it was that I kept insisting that we play again every time I landed on one of his hotels, which were usually conveniently located on Park Place or Boardwalk. Basically, I didn’t know how to fail.

Let’s think about that homework or quiz that perhaps we could have done a better job on than we did. Go figure, we did poorly on our work because it wasn’t explained well enough, or we didn’t receive enough sleep the night before, or we’re just having a bad day. It’s never our own fault, is it? We are all guilty of trying to place the blame on someone or something else, instead of swallowing our own pride and admitting that we could have put in a little more of our own effort.

It is instances such as these where it is up to us to decide whether we want to sink or swim. While playing Monopoly with my brother, I chose to sink. Instead of accepting the fact that my brother’s Monopoly skills were apparently at an entirely different level than mine, I insisted on ruining his day by getting more and more frustrated. I had high arrogance and low self-esteem in thinking that I just had to win.

Wouldn’t it be better if we all made an effort to reverse that attitude, so that we would have low arrogance and high self-esteem? By accepting the fact that we all have room to grow and learn and that some days, things just aren’t meant to be perfect? In fact, that’s where we can grow the most! We aren’t meant to be the best at everything the first time we try it. All that anyone can ever ask is that we view our “failures,” or those instances in which we just can’t win, as opportunities to discover our strengths and weaknesses, and to learn.

The question we must continually ask ourselves is simple.

Will we sink, or swim?