Just Be You: To Infinity, and Beyond!

It's that time of the year again. Leaves crunch under every step and warm jackets are moved back up to the front of the closet. Sometimes, even more noticeable are the jack-o'-lanterns, masks, costumes, and mountainous displays of candy filling the isles of almost every store in town. Fall as arrived, and so has Halloween!

Whenever this holiday rolls around, I cannot help but think of how much my cousins, brother, and I anticipated that final day of October each year. Let's take a moment and flashback to an October 31st of a few years ago. My brother, Mike, and I had anxiously made it through that day of school and were on our way to our grandparents' house to get ready to go trick-or-treating. That year, Mike had decided to step into the shoes of his very favorite character. He could constantly be seen in the living room reenacting some of his favorite scenes from this character's movies, often ending in his favorite line, "To infinity, and beyond!" Yes; Mike was Buzz Lightyear. He excitedly stepped into the costume our mother had spent hours sewing and preparing for him. Then, he picked up his trick-or-treat bag, got off to a good start by grabbing a handful of our grandma's candy, and headed out the door.

Now, why did Mike choose to dress up as Buzz Lightyear? He chose this character because he wanted to! He was allowing his personality to shine through by fearlessly showing each fellow trick-or-treater he passed exactly who he wanted to be for that day. Think back to your favorite Halloween costume. Sure, there is a good chance that there were others who chose to dress as the same character, but I am sure you had added your own personal touch of creativity that made your costume perfect for you.

Wouldn't Halloween be boring if everyone dressed in the same costume? Sure it would, and everyday life is just the same! Just as we choose who we want to pretend to be for that one special day of the year, we choose who we really want to be every moment of every day as well. If we all wanted to be the exact same person, the world just wouldn't be the same. We all have our different interests, talents, and personalities for a reason. All we have to do is embrace exactly who we are! Be appreciative of the talents we were given and focus on what we are passionate about, even if those talents and interests aren't the same as the person next to us.

Be yourself! Show the world just how special and wonderful you are! Why? Because the world needs you, exactly who you are. Yes, you.

The world needs you, "To infinity, and beyond!"

Lessons from Sophie

She's a Cheerio-eatin', Popsicle-lickin', life-lovin', super-spoiled girl's best friend. Just like any friend, she's loyal, trustworthy, and quick to give a high-five. However, this friend also wags her tail, walks on four legs, and eats straight from her bowl. Yes, I am talking about my dog, Sophie.

Now, when I first got Sophie, my initial thought was that I would be teaching her to behave and perform all kinds of sweet tricks. However, what I did not expect was to discover how much my dog could teach me. That's right, I have learned some life lessons from my dog! Here are a few lessons from Sophie which I would like to share:

Lesson One: Have Patience

On a weekend during June of last summer, Sophie and I had two entirely different ideas of how I would spend my day. Sophie wanted me to spend the afternoon tossing her large collection of dog toys one at a time for her to chase around the house. I, on the other hand, was planning on spending some time packing for the upcoming trip to Washington Leadership Conference. As I laid my suitcase out on the floor, Sophie picked up a toy, sat down right next to the bag, and gave a heavy sigh. It did not work. As I began making a

pile of what I wanted to pack in the bag, she gave a small whine. I then gave her a pat on the head and proceeded to pack. So, Sophie got up, jumped inside the suitcase, and laid down in it. I merely laughed, placed her back on the floor, and quickly finished packing. Finally, once the task was complete, I tossed her toy. Sophie knew if she was patient enough, she would eventually get her wish.

Lesson Two: Persevere

It happens quite often. I absentmindedly throw a dog toy while working on something else, and the toy lands in a place where Sophie is unable to successfully retrieve it. Take, for example, the time her dog toy somehow landed behind a door. Well, the simple route for Sophie to take would be to bark until someone decided to move the door for her. Sophie, however, was determined to solve the problem herself. Her first solution was to place her paw under the door to attempt to retrieve it from the shadows. She did not have any luck. Her next solution was to bark at the door. To her surprise, this did not work either! Finally, she strategically angled herself to where she could give the door a small nudge with her nose to open it just enough to grab the dog toy. That day, Sophie demonstrated her persistence and willingness to work and try different methods to reach her own solution.

Lesson Three: Face Your Fears

Allow me to try to paint a quick picture in your mind. The front porch of my house contains three standard-sized porch steps. Sophie was about five pounds when I got her. In other words, she was a small dog, which made our porch seem very large. After a few weeks of carrying Sophie out to the yard, I decided it was time that she learned to walk with a leash. Now, Sophie had no problem following me with a leash attached to her collar. Instead, her greatest obstacle was that porch and its steps. As she followed me to the edge of the porch and looked down at the giant step in front of her, she gave an anxious whine. She was terrified of taking that first step. However, soon enough, her desire to get out to the yard exceeded her fear of the journey she needed to take to get there. She nervously jumped down the first step, then the second, and, finally, the third. Sophie faced her fear.

Lesson Four: Dream Big

The sound of plastic coming from the refrigerator is like music to Sophie's ears. It means only one thing: she is going to eat some cheese. Cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, or Colby, Sophie loves cheese. Therefore, anytime that sound of plastic in the kitchen is within earshot, Sophie immediately begins to hope someone is finding her a tasty treat. Now, perhaps Sophie's wish of receiving her favorite treat is not necessarily a major aspiration in which we all share, but the lesson is still the same. Sophie is teaching us to set our goals high and reach for our dreams.

Lesson Five: Love Your Life

The final lesson from Sophie is probably the simplest. She greets even the simplest things with excitement and joy. Sophie's favorite dog toy is her blue rubber ball. It is not uncommon to have the sound of the ball rolling on the wooden floors and an excited bark break any silence present in the house. Usually, she not-so-subtly asks that someone in my family directs all attention to her ball and continuously rolls it for her to chase and retrieve. However, she does not allow those instances in which we fail to entertain her ruin her fun. Instead, she picks up her ball, drops it at the top of the stairs, gives it a little nudge, and chases it down the stairs. Once at the foot of the stairs, she proceeds to pick the ball up again, carry it back up the stairs, and do it all over again. Sophie enjoys every minute of every day because she wants to. She loves her life because she surrounds herself with joy and those whom she loves.

Now, our realm of possibilities in life are much more broad than dog toys, porch steps, and cheddar cheese. However, these lessons from Sophie still present important lessons. Let's take Sophie's advice and approach life with patience and perseverance, face our fears, dream big, and, most importantly, love this life we have the opportunity to live!

Inspired

Last month, Lexi and I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Washington, D.C. I love that city. It seems no matter which direction one chooses to turn, he or she can expect to be surrounded by inspiration. Here are a few examples:

• Catching a glimpse of the towering Washington Monument as the airplane descends toward the runway
• Being in the presence of incredible leaders while walking around Capitol
  Hill
  
• Reading the words of Thomas Jefferson while visiting his memorial
• Standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, in the same place Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once stood
• Paying respect to many of the most courageous individuals in history at Arlington National Cemetery

I truly felt inspired in each of these instances. However, I also found inspiration when I least expected it. On one afternoon of the conference, we had some free time to tour the city as we pleased. Later on, we met up with everyone attending the conference at the Ronald Reagan Center for dinner. Once we had entered the building, I noticed a quote on the wall nearby. It read:

"There are no limits to growth and human progress when men and women are

free to follow their dreams."

-Ronald Reagan

As I read these words, I realized how incredibly true they are at any given time. Throughout that evening, my thoughts kept drifting back to President Reagan's quote. I thought back to a few months ago, when I had the opportunity to witness a group of individuals following a common dream. This spring was a wonderfully exciting time for my high school and community. It was obvious we had a group of talented basketball players on the Ell-Saline girls' basketball team. In addition to their talent, these girls shared a dream: to make it to state, which would be a first of the girls' basketball program at Ell-Saline. The girls worked to strengthen themselves as a team, and it paid off. The entire community proudly watched as a girls made history at our high school, not only making it to state, but finishing second in the state championship. This team, this group of friends, decided they would work above and beyond any limits. They allowed themselves to grow and progress to reach a dream they shared.

Coming home to Kansas, I realized that just like those incredible individuals in our nation's history we learn about, and just like the Ell-Saline girls' basketball team, we all find inspiration to encourage us. In fact, in the two days following our return to Kansas, I was inspired by our very own Kansas FFA Foundation and partners. These individuals work constantly to serve each and every one of us members. They are the reason we are able to have many of the FFA experiences we have, such as Career Development Events, Proficiency Awards, and State Convention. During one of those days following our return from D.C., the Foundation and many partners came together for the Blue & Gold Golf Scramble. I felt truly inspired by the passion these individuals shared through their support of the FFA and its members. Let us all remember to express our appreciation and support to each individual on the Foundation for everything they continue to do for all of us FFA members. The amazing accomplishments of the Foundation are true examples of how we can all continuously strive to experience growth and progress toward our dreams, just as President Reagan once said.

How Much Will You Dream?

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.” -Karen Ravn

I love reading quotes. A quote such as this one carries so much meaning; to me, it can truly inspire. And, as the quote my class chose to display on our graduation announcements this year, this quote will always hold a special place in my heart. Therefore, I decided to use some of its moving words to help me introduce myself!

Gardening and working in my school’s greenhouse make up one of my Supervised Agricultural Experience programs. The other involves my job at Pet Life by Roberts, a local pet store.

Random facts interest me. Did you know, according to Snapple’s Real Facts, a goldfish’s attention span is three seconds?

One of my favorite things to do during my downtime is to read. In fact, I’ve read the Harry Potter series way too many times!

While I do not like any other kind of pop, I could drink cherry limeade every day.

Growing up as an animal-lover, my family’s house has been the home to many pets, from cats and dogs to sheep and horses.

Oddly enough, although my dad has been a pilot for most of my life, I am not a fan of flying in airplanes.

Sunshine or rain, I enjoy being outdoors.

Everything can be complimented by two embellishments as far as I am concerned: camouflage and rhinestones!

Excited to officially become a student at Kansas State University this fall, I will be majoring in Animal Sciences and Industry and focusing on Pre-Veterinary Medicine.

Developing a speech for the Prepared Public Speaking Career Development Event has always been one of my favorite CDE experiences.

Radios in my car or home will always be turned to country music! What are some of my favorites? Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, and Garth Brooks!

Ell-Saline FFA is my home chapter!

As a sister to one brother, family is very important to me.

Most of all, I have a strong passion for FFA, agricultural education, and the industry of agriculture!

Now, as I said, I love quotes such as this one because the words can truly inspire. Taking a look at the meaning of these words, I realize that life presents us with countless opportunities to better ourselves in some way each and every day. All we have to do is choose to accept those opportunities and continue to seek more. The potential to which we choose to achieve is entirely up to us! How incredible is that? It is up to us!

Therefore, how high will you reach to set your goals? How far will you seek to strive to achieve your potential? How deep will you look to discover what your ambitions are? Finally, how much will you dream?