The City of Refuge

   As everyone knows, Tom Piazza came to Otterbein to talk to everyone and answer any questions we had about the book. I cannot speak for everyone when I said I enjoyed reading The City of Refuge but I did. Even though some parts were a little dry and hard to get through, other sections I couldn't read quick enough. The detail of what the characters felt, saw, and smelled was phenomenal. Getting to meet the author of such a heartbreaking story of Hurricane Katrina was an amazing experience. I love to read and before I came to college, I read non-stop. Now I don't have as much time to sit down and read a mystery or almost any other book but when I go home for winter break I will definitely cuddle with my dog and read a good book!

Filling the Shoes of Leaders Before Us

      The speakers who have taken time out of their busy lives to come speak to us on leadership have influenced how I now look at myself as a leader. I know that I was not a natural born leader, like some people are thought to be. I was incredibly shy until freshman year in High School. Many of the women leaders who have spoken to us found themselves in similar situations. Reading the material and listening to what these power women have to say about leadership has opened my eyes to the kind of leader I was, the kind I am now, and what kind of leader I could become. Coming to college, I took it as a challenge to come out of my shell. I make sure to talk to at least one stranger a day. I am also currently pledging a sorority which has taught me a lot about leadership these last five weeks. Communication has been the most important lesson I have learned here at Otterbein. If something needs to get done and I need specifics on it, I have to communicate with other people who can offer assistance. A few weeks ago, I was not happy with my grade on my first math exam. So instead of just complaining about it and shoving it to the recess of my brain, I took the iniative to contact my professor and have a meeting with her about it. Speaking up is so important. Without a voice, nothing will ever be heard. God gave everyone a voice. Use it. If we are going to make the women who opened the door for us proud, we need to use our strengths and be aware of our weaknesses. Always be prepared for anything. It is our time to fill the shoes of the women who lead before us.

It's All Fun & Games

This past weekend, I played capture the flag for the first time. If any of you have played this game before, you understand the rules of the game. For any of you who have not, the basic rules are:
  1. Both teams have designated areas of their turf.
  2. The more of your inner ninja that comes out, the better.
  3. If caught on opposing team's turf and tagged (not tackled), you must return to your own side and start over.
  4. Find the flag, grab it and run back to your home base!
This game took amazing leadership skills. We had to communicate with other members of our team in order to cover the entire area of our turf. We also had to communicate with the opposing team when we chased them away from our side. We also had to decide who would play defense and who would play offense. This is an example of how leadership is used during a Friday night filled with fun and games!!!!