Communication is Key

I feel like communication is the most effective way to be successful. Also, you can never have too much communication unless that communication is in the form of complaints, then that is too much. 

5 Methods for Communicating to an Individual

1. Value the one on one time: Take advantage of being in a situation where you can communicate with that person directly instead of in a group and make whatever you are trying to say, personal to them. For example, if you are trying to tell the person a way they could do their job better, think of their particular emotions and how they would respond best.
2. Don't be condescending:  I am always fearful then when I am in a leadership position, I will come off as if I think I am better than everyone else. Communicating in a humble way will make the person respect you more and they will truly listen to what you are saying.
3. Be Direct: I've learned it is not best to beat around the bush and avoid saying the dreadful truth. If I have something to say that is bothering me, it is best to clear my throat and say it for the sake of my sanity. Also, I have learned that they will appreciate you being and honest and upfront, whether that be sooner or later.
4. Don't try to communicate to someone through another person: The most valuable thing I have learned coming out of high school is DON'T GOSSIP. It has serious consequences and it leaves you feeling empty and like a bad person. Talking about someone behind their back makes me look like a bad, distrustful person. Being upfront with the person about the situation is always key, or just don't open your mouth to begin with!
5. Be Yourself: If the person you are communicating with sees that you are being 100% yourself and not trying to fit some other mold, then they will truly hear you. If it is visible that what you are saying is coming from your heart, then the message will be more effectively sent. 

5 Methods for Communicating to a Group

1. Be open to differences: I have learned that because a group consists of different opinions and values, that the information can be taken in different ways so it is best to be sensitive. Not everyone will react the same way to what you are saying, so being flexible is key.
2. Keep it interesting: Because it is a larger group, more people are likely to tune you out if they think they don't need to listen. So it is best to tell the group what they want to hear and something that will interest them and their needs.
3. Still Manage One-on-One time: Just because there is a group of people, doesn't mean you can't take the time to meet with people one on one. That way if people feel cared for and individualized, then they will be more likely to put effort in.
4.Don't pick favorites: Communicate to the group as a whole, do not completely direct what you are trying to say at the leaders of the group because then everyone else will feel as if their opinions do not matter at much. Everyone is an important factor of the group and the only way they will truly listen is if they feel that way.
5. Suggestions are our friends: If someone in the group has a better idea on how to run things more effectively, do not stop that idea from being implemented just because you have the higher leadership position. All ideas are contributing ideas and for the common goal of being the must successful group one can be!

My Valentine

Sam's Valentine

I found Sam's Valentine very enriching because of the fact that the author talks about her son being inspired by a teacher. She said that everyone should have at least one teacher that he or she is inspired by.

This rings true to me because when I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher so badly. I would set up a mock classroom in my family room. TV Trays would be desks, an old whiteboard would be the classroom chalkboard, and I made worksheets on Microsoft Word to try and look like real worksheets. My brothers were the students whenever they actually listened to me, which was not that often. With me wanting to be a teacher, I always appreciated the teachers I had and looked up to them. I always thought that they never got enough appreciation for all of the tiresome work they put in outside of the classroom as well as in it.

Hearing Sam's story makes me want to hug my past teachers because there were some that completely put us, the class before all us and catered to us in order for us to learn the material. If one doesn't have an inspirational teacher, then one won't want to learn and will have no motivation. Teachers are the basis for the next generation's future.

This I Believe

When I was going up, I always gave my parents grief because I would be the sassy one of the house. I always threw fits for everything and anything I did not get or was not allowed to do. I always thought I knew better than my parents, so it was dumb that they were telling me what to do or who to not hang out with. I remember always being in constant fights with them whether it involved yelling or tears from me or just saying mean things to them. I could say that it was the typical child parent relationship, but it just felt wrong after awhile.

Then in middle school I would go to my friends' houses and see their relationship with their parents. And what I learned was that the friends who were dear and true to my heart, treated their parents with such respect that I felt shameful of the way I acted towards my parents. But, the friends who treated me rudely also treated their parents the same way. So I came to a conclusion that the relationship I had with my parents can be transferable to the way I treat other people. It's hard to keep those two things separate even if I wanted to.

So after seeing my friends' interactions with their parents over the years of middle school and high school, I realized it wasn't right what I was doing. I especially realized this is high school when I went through transitions of friend groups and boy drama and heartache. My mom became my ultimate best friend because she knew me better than anyone and she knew exactly what to say (or not to say) and when I needed her to say it. All these years I under appreciated the best friend I ever had and she was living under the same roof as me.

After undergoing all the troubles high school had to offer, my senior year I became very close to my mom. I would run to tell herself things that no one at school would understand or know how to listen like she did. Especially with college around the corner, I valued the time we spent together and held on to her a little bit tighter than normal. I valued the person she was and the way she treated me despite me being immaturely rude to her all those years. This is what made it hard to leave to come to Santa Clara because I was leaving behind the best friend that knew me best and knew how to make me feel better.

I believe that every interaction I have with my parents should be a positive one to show them how grateful I am for growing up in a blessed environment with great values. I believe the way I treated my parents in the past has made me more appreciative for them now. I believe that no matter how old we get, we never stop leaning on our parents for physical or moral support. I believe we are who we are because of who they are.

My Personal Tensions in a Shell

The Setup-

I was the girl who followed others like it was second nature. Starting in elementary school and through the beginning of high school, I never thought for myself because I was scared of what other people would think or say. I was always the quiet one at birthday parties, car rides, or school class activities. I was used to being shy and comfortable in my sparkly shell.

The What-

Being a shy girl was never easy. I would get so scared if the teacher ever randomly called on me or if a stranger talked to me for the first time. I was never the first one to strike up a conversation. As I got older, I found it easier to let people make decisions for me. They would decide who I hung out with or where I spent my time after school. I didn't want to make myself vulnerable for others to shoot me down.

Yet ironically enough, I've seen and let various people walk all over me. They would take advantage of my shyness. Friends would leave me out of after school hangouts because they were mean and that's what they did to bond I guess. I would get talked about behind my back and not do anything about it because I had no voice.

I wanted so hard to break my sparkly shell and be who I truly was. I wanted to be fearless and not care about what other people would think of my opinions.

Then, sophomore year of high school, I was chosen to go to a Leadership Seminar. There was only one person from each high school in Northern California that attended, so no one knew anyone and there were no cliques. I saw this as an opportunity to completely put myself out there with no reservations about what some stranger would think of me. Not only were the people welcoming and friendly, but they didn't use that as an opportunity to leave me out or talk bad about me. These students were the wakeup call life had been waiting to throw my way.

The So What-

My inner conflict within myself was my shyness and that ate me up for about my whole life. I was so scared about making myself a part of society because I didn't want to be judged for it. So I found it easier to let others control my actions and opinions. Yet that backfired and I ended up being more hurt because of it. But I think the real point of my inner conflict was for me to learn that I'm not a follower or a quiet soul, I'm a leader with a sassy opinion! 

The Now What-

Looking back, I can still feel the pain of friends stabbing me in the back. But that is only experiences that I can say made my skin thicker. I will not let the influence of others affect the way I perceive myself. I learned that I am a human being with my own set of values that are even stronger now and I will not give anyone the permission to treat me the way I don't want to be treated. 

Hence the sparkly shell comes into play. I believe everyone has a shell that at some point that needs to be broken. Mine however is sparkly because I am a woman with a sparkly personality that was waiting to be shared with the world. (And I just love sparkles.)

However if I didn't learn to foster this mindset then I would still be getting stabbed in the back and walked over. The world is full of people who are looking to build themselves up by tearing other people down. But it is up to us to surround ourselves with positive influences who have just as much self respect for themselves as we have for ourselves.


Sometimes, I find it easy to retreat back to my old quiet ways, but then I remember the quote that I will live by for the rest of my lifetime, "Life begins when your comfort zone ends."

My Values in a Video

"This isn't a math test, this is a completely different kind of test. One where passion has a funny way of trumping logic."

Just Do It. I am sure all of us have heard these three words been used before and are familiar with the brilliant company called Nike. Well when I think of my values I think of something that consists of my past experiences and what I am going through now in the present.

 Throughout my life so far, one of the biggest obstacles I have physically and emotionally faced is getting through what seems impossible. If I see a task or action that I think seems daunting and too big for me to conquer, I will back away slowly and get out of that situation. It seems as if I underestimate myself and do not believe in myself enough to be successful.

What I can refer all of this to is my past sport experience. I was never the athletic type and did not have the physical build of an athlete. So my attempts at ballet, soccer, gymnastics, and basketball were all a flop. Then when I got to high school, I signed up to be on the track team. Like I would have expected, I was not that good at sprints and I just kind of went through the motions without knowing how to improve. But, then I switched it up and switched to the distance team. I started running longer distances with them and began striving to hit my PR in the mile and two mile. I learned the true definition of setting a goal to physically conquer and going through all measures to get myself there. Of course anyone than runs track or cross country knows that running is demanding. People call running not a sport, but I think those people have never laced up their shoes to face the most demanding action a body can go through. Running is physical yet mostly mental. 

To endure these races and practices, I had the passion to meet my match. This video is all about having passion for a sport and using that passion to be better than the competitor. I was the underdog, never good at a specific sport. But I used that feeling of never being the best to strive for being better than I could have imagined. I am not saying I am the best runner or athlete because I am most definitely not. But, I pushed myself to PR's that I could only dream of achieving. I taught myself self discipline and drove myself to push for something greater than myself. Being the one who was never expected to excel in sports, inspires me every day to do something challenging to improve not only my times but my character. I value the challenges life throws my way, and running especially can be that challenge, but because of running I will use my mental and physical endurance to excel and be the best person I can be everyday.

As the video says, "When the race is on, all bets are off."