Hello, welcome to "Into the Memory Box" Week. So I keep a box filled with all kinds of keepsakes I've collected since freshman year--cards, pieces of string (yeahhh), movie ticket stubs, notes, pictures, etc.
For this week, I randomly stuck my hand inside the Memory Box and picked out seven items, all of which tell a different special story.
Today's item is a picture:
This picture was taken at Willows Restaurant one hot weekday afternoon during our sophomore year. Kendall (in the purple tie) and I (you can see the pink under my blazer) took the Leadership class taught by Mr. U and Mr. Sagawa during our second semester that year. It was one of the best decisions we've ever made.
During the third quarter, the first half of the class, we did some self-searching and learned a lot about ourselves. Learning about yourself can be fun and interesting, but it can also be embarrassing at the same time. The first step to changing for the better is, of course, admitting that you're not perfect. So while Kendall and I asked ourselves whether we preferred paperclips over staples (hard question--I'm still debating with myself, really) or whether we liked ketchup more than mustard, we also thought about the worst mistakes we've ever made, our shortcomings and the things we regret. But recognition of our flaws was only the beginning--we also had to decide which ones we could not change (like our looks) and which ones we could definitely improve. As a class, we also bonded the most during the first half of the semester as we participated in team-building activities that really made us comfortable with each other, and really brought out the true leaders in everyone. Honestly, we were a pretty BOMB class, I must say.
After learning about our strengths and weaknesses during the first half, we focused on using our abilities to give back to the community, teaching and helping others, and improving ourselves at the same time during the second half of the semester. We visited Ala Wai Elementary School right next door and did a workshop with their student council about being good leaders. I remember our Leader Ship (!!), our awesome cheer, the games we played, and, of course, our Leader Chex Mix (where each ingredient represented a valuable quality that every great leader must have)! The kids were great. We also visited sixth grade classes in Lower School and talked to them about the little things that make a difference in life. I remember the little red paperclip, the examples from Mayo clinic, Disney and Pixar, and even Coach John Wooden's lessons.
In the end, our efforts throughout the semester culminated in the Leadership Luncheon. We got to sit down and have lunch with influential leaders in the community, a true experience. We had lunch with then Governor Linda Lingle, Mr. Aloha Danny Kaleikini, Kamehameha Schools Headmaster Dr. Michael Chun, Big City Diner owner Mr. Lane Muraoka, Judge Marie Milks, and so many others. Just being in a room with these role models was so cool. The short speeches that each of them gave during the luncheon showed each and every one of us that all great leaders have two faces--one looks back while the other looks forward. They look to the past as their inspiration and their source of humility; remembering and embracing our roots is a significant part of being a great leader. At the same time, they also look forward. They look to a future that can be attained only with perseverance and hard work. They see possibilities and make them realities.
At the very end, all 12 of us only had one thing to say about the luncheon: "It was TOO SHORT."
Today......
I really loved...melted cheese.
I smiled because of...the items I pulled out of the box today.
Lyrics playing at this very moment as I type this portion of the blog:
"...Wake up everyone around you, let's rock until the clock strikes two..."
(Things We Go Through by Hawk Nelson)
Hours of sleep last night: 8 hours
Times it got COLD today: 0
Friend of the day: Hawk Nelson
--Jen :)
0 comments!:
Post a Comment