Mentor Project Reflection

The Mentor project I participated in was girls club, we went to a local middle school on Thursday afternoons to meet with and mentor a group of approximately 20 eighth grade girls.  This was the third time we had gone to meet with the girls for their lunch for our mentor group time.  On this day the first thing we did was that we introduced ourselves and said our majors and where we see ourselves in a couple years.  We talked about what we want to do with our lives after we graduate college.  After this Tyler asked what they thought about self-image, and we discussed what their definition of self-image was.  After this I discussed what good self-image is and gave some examples of how to have good self-image and what some things they could think or say that would promote a positive self-image.  After I finished talking Tonyce gave an example of a bad self-image and spoke about what bad self-image is and why it is bad.  Then Sam told the girls about the importance of respect and of respecting other people's dreams and self-images.  This was an important topic to talk about because it can be hard to have a good self-image when others around you are not supporting or respecting you and your self-image.  Finally Alex explained the 'zine page that Melissa Gilbert asked us to have the girls do.  For the pages we had them draw where they see themselves in five years, after high school graduation.  After this the final thing we had the girls do was fill out the journal they write in every week.  Hannah explained the reflection they were to write; they were to explain their ‘zine page, so basically explain where they saw themselves after high school.  The girls were able to relate to us with this because we talked about where we wanted to be in five years and in five years they would be in the same place we are in our lives now.  The girls then also had to list 3 good qualities about themselves, doing this helped to promote a positive self-image.  Since we were on the topic of self-image and the importance of having a good self-image they also had to write things they could do to promote a good self-image.  The last thing they had to write was one good thing about the day, no matter what the topic was, we like to end the journal and reflection pieces with something good that happened or something they were looking forward to.

As a mentor I believe that my impact on the lives of the girls has been that they were able to have a positive role model who has been in their place before and can help give advice about the topics we have been discussing.  One on my most rewarding experiences so far in this mentorship was when the second week of meeting with the girls we were talking about “frienemies”  which are friends who are secretly or perhaps not so secretly you enemy.  On this day we split up into groups and came up with skits with one girl being a good friend, one being a bad friend, and then another being caught in the middle.  While in my group one of the girls told me that she had a “frienenemy” that she was currently trying to deal with, I was able to give her some advice from lessons I had learned from my own personal experiences.   After talking she and her friends in the group thanked me because they had no idea how to deal with

the bad friend in their lives.  It was a very rewarding experience to be able to help these young women to be able to know how to surround themselves with positive people who are good friends.

I learned that my own style of leadership works best when I am able to help people and give them advice from my own experiences.  I also noticed that I was able to help them with a personal problem while at the same time maintaining the sense of respect that they had for me.  In the past I have found it difficult to build relationships with people who I am considered a leader of, while at the same time being able to maintain the balance in the relationship.  I think that this is something I have learned in this class so far!  I am hoping that from this experience I have learned how to be a mentor better, and I hope that when I become a mentee I will be able to gain all sorts of insights from my mentor on how to deal with all sorts of situations

How do you lead yourself?

How do I lead myself...?
I lead myself with the decisions I make everyday.  Throughout this course we have had many wonderful speakers, these speakers have had some inspiring things to say.  There have been some speakers that i have related to more from than others, I really enjoy the pieces of advice they all have given.  Currently I am mentoring 8th graders at a local middle school and I have taken some of the advice from the speakers to help guide my words and actions when I am with the girls.  After every class, seeing and listening to the inspiring women who have come to talk about I not only feel like a stronger leader, but I feel like a stronger woman and person.  Also after every class I feel like I am leading myself, my personal life and my professional, in a more confident direction.  There are days when I go to my classes and don't feel like a leader but when I go to this class and then to mentoring the next morning I truly do feel like a leader.  I lead myself with my experiences everyday, that is that everyday, even if i do not feel like much of a leader, I try to make sure that I doing something to lead in some aspect of my life.  I think that the speakers, readings, and discussions from our class have really  helped me know that I can be a leader in so many aspects of my daily life.  

When Dames Bond, Dames thrive!!!

This week I was lucky enough to attend a DamesBond event with President Krendl.  It was great to see some of the women from our class at this event.  I really enjoyed going to the event in Worthington seeing as how I am from Worthington and knew the area, so when at the event they were talking to us about the different local farm markets and local food places, I knew what they were talking about and was even able to chime in with some great local food options.  I love that seeing how I am from so close to Otterbein that when I talk to people they know places near me.  However, back to the Dames Bond event, it was great to see all of these women in absolute awe of President Krendl and it was cool to see how intently they were listening to what she had to say, and to see all of the women interested in becoming our mentors.  I know that I personally saw half a dozen women taking notes and writing down information about our mentor program.  It was also so cool to see how excited the "dames" were to have us students there, immediately when we walked in we were bombarded by women asking us questions and if we were "the students".  It seemed to me as if everyone knew about us coming and were really excited about having us there.  It was great that Molly B Relotto was so excited to have us there and invited us to join them at any other dames bond event in the future.  Molly  B. is such a happy person who is genuinely excited about helping women help women further each other.  I really appreciate her inviting us and taking us along and helping us network with some of the women there!!  Molly also geared some of her talk to us as students and talked to us personally, and I know that it made me feel really welcome at the event!  Dames Bond is such an amazing group and I feel so honored to be welcomed into it.  And lastly I would just like to throw in "When Dames Bond, Dames Thrive"

government and baking cookies!

I really enjoyed listening to the women in politics speak to us last week.  I found it extremely interesting that most of the women's careers were influenced by one woman who basically started it all and made it possible for other women to join the world of politics.  I found it interesting that her entire career started by baking cookies and helping and supporting others campaigns and then deciding that she could do a better job.  I was also inspired by the fact that she may have lost her first election but she came back for the next elections and won.  They gave some really great advice about how you should never put your name out there for an election that you aren't willing to loose.  I thought that was a great way to think about it.  I also like that they were able to admit that they take losing an election very difficult, and ave to take at least two weeks to get over it where no one talks to them about it and by then the are able to work through losing the election.


I enjoyed hearing the woman talk who was currently in office at the state house, I found her stories really interesting because I was trying to guess who the people she was talking about were.  I also enjoyed it because I have visited the state house several times over the years for school, and could picture where she worked and what her daily work life looked like.

  I also thought that the women gave great advice and  had great stories to share. I would really have enjoyed listening to them longer and hearing more of their life and experiences.  I think that in the future if we are really enjoying a panel we should be able to let them continue their discussion.  


oh on a side note, I want to say how excited I am to go to President Krendl's house tonight to bake cookies for class!

Opportunity of a Lifetime

today I had the opportunity to go to a luncheon for the YWCA celebrating 125 since its founding, called women-to-women.  I was invited to go to this event by the president of Otterbein University President Kathy Krendl.  Not many people can say that they got to go to a luncheon with the president of the University the go to!  I am still in a state of shock about how amazing this opportunity was!  I thought it was so cool that I got to see some of the things we learned and talked about in class actually happen in real life situations!  I got to see President Krendl networking first hand!  Also while at this even I recognized half a dozen women who I have met, in one way or another, through this class! It was so cool to see these women whom I have known from class in their professional environments!  There were over 1,000 women in attendance and maybe 1 dozen men, I feel so blessed to be a part of such a large group of influential women!  It was an incredible experience that I am so grateful to be lucky enough to have had!  After this experience I know I learned a lot about leadership, from being able to see it first hand, and I now know that I want to be able to volunteer with the YWCA in the future

whoops! for 10/5/11

So in getting ready for my presentation today I totally forgot to post a blog, so here is one now! sorry guys!

I have been looking forward to this week since the WELD conference.  I was lucky enough to be on Nicole Dunn's panel at the WELD conference, and really enjoyed listening to her speak that afternoon, so knowing that she would be at class tonight made me really excited.  I think Nicole is a wonderful speaker and person and she always has wonderful advice and things to say, I always take many things away from listening to her!  Today was a crazy day and I was so nervous for my presentation that I was shaking, but when Nicole and the other panelists were talking I was able to focus on what they were saying and on learning from them that I was able to stop worrying about my presentation and listen.   I think Nicole is such a wonderful person, even from the brief time I had to meet her and speak to her personally, so when she talks it is always very easy to pay attention let alone learn. 

I had one question though, about something one of the other panelists said, Robin, from the Dave Thomas foundation mentioned that Columbus doesn't have any professional sports, and I was wondering if she just meant to say football or basketball teams?  Columbus has a plethora of professional sports teams, we have the Columbus Crew (Men's Soccer), the Columbus Blue Jackets (Men's Hockey), and the Columbus Clippers (Baseball) there are three that I can think of right off of the top of my head...  I know that I should let it slide, but I am proud of Columbus, and our sports teams, all of our sports teams.  While I understand she was trying to make a point about something, I just felt that for someone who has lived in Dublin, Ohio for so many years she should know.  Now that I have written that it seems harsh but I am sorry I did not mean for that to be so harsh but it is how i feel!
I am really sad I had to leave early and miss everyone's presentations but I know you all did great! I am really excited for fall break and the Harry Potter Party when we get back!!

9/28/11 Networking and "Inner circles"

So for class last week we had one of our readings about a leadership style that consisted of having two groups, one that was the"inner circle" and an "outer circle".  I dislike this leadership style but I can see why people would use it.  I dislike it because for the people who are in the "outer circle" it can cause feelings to be hurt and bring about tension and harsh feelings on the part of the "outsiders" towards the "insiders".  I have had experience as a member of both groups, and while being a member of the leader's group of "go-to" people makes you feel great and think it is a really good way of doing things.  When you are on the "outside" it can make you feel really bad and not perform to the best of your abilities.  While reading this chapter I couldn't help but think about and episode of The Office.  In this episode Will Farrell plays a character who is attempting to be the new manager after Michael Scott leaves, and Farrell is doing his best to attempt to find his leadership style.  He decides that he is going to select a group of the men in the office and make them his "go-to" guys.  This move caused wide spread panic across the office and for a number of reasons, including this leadership style, Farrell's character was no longer manager or even part of the company by the end of the episode.

I would also like to make a note of how awesome my group for the activity was, we worked so well together and helped each other in the conversations, so Bailey and Katelyn, thank you!

I really enjoyed the speakers and felt that they did a good job of making us engaged and interested and they did so by utilizing their skills at networking.  I really enjoyed listening to them even though I may not know much about their respective fields, for example I know nothing about being a patent lawyer, but they still made me feel engaged.  They also did a really good job of giving us really good advice, which I found very helpful.
That is all for this week, I will let you know how tonight's class goes! Not that i expect anything but great like all of our speakers have been.