The Leader Life (Top Ten Leadership Student Moments)

I have done a lot of student leadership moments. I have been international as a student leader (Jamaica) out of the state (Baltimore, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, Washington) and as a community leader have gone to several places in and out of town and will soon be going to Nevada. The list of things I've done is endless (just about). But here in no particular order of impressiveness are my top ten student leadership moments in college:
10. Starting a club
9. Autism Campus Inclusion in Baltimore
8. Winter Games For Two Years, Youth Summit for Two Years, and Special Olympics internship
7. Being nominated Spirit of Boise State and being the 1st one to win
6. Being a site leader for four? years
5. Partnership Jamaica (the first group)
4. Leadershape (also the first group)
3. Being in several Boise State YouTube promotional videos
2. Being in the Boise Obama video, shaking Obama's hand, and being right behind Obama when he was in town.
1. Being one of the most faithful Service Learning students when I do a class with that and often continuing afterwards
and just for fun the top 10 community leadership highlights in college:
10. Testifying at the capitol for those who couldn't
9. Being a founding member of Self-Advocacy Leadership Network
8. Apologizing to members of the LGBT community
7. Sharing my story with parents of those with autism
6. Advocating for the BUS system in Boise
5. Torch Run for Winter Games in 2009
4. Sharing my story at the CPI conference a few times
3. Helping out at Vacation Bible School often- so many kids having smiling faces
2. Creating a safe place for people to talk about mental health by showing love and care to them
1. Being selected to the Developmental Disability Council, the State Self-Advocacy Leadership Network board, and the Consortium of Idahoans with Disabilities.
Like I said in no particular order of impressiveness I have done plenty of great things and will continue to. I admit it I have a long ways to go on making the world an even better place but by being a leader and showing from the heart, I have continually changed lives. Stay tuned for my next blog: the best friends I have right now that have changed my life.

A Most Willing Volunteer

When I started volunteering in high school with the Environmental Awareness Club and with the Meridian Parks Department I had no idea it was going to be long-term. I also did not know to what extent I would be filling and in what capacity. I have volunteered at about 15 non-profits in Boise and a few others other places (Jamaica, Washington, Oregon, and Maryland as well as other places) and have enjoyed every single one. I have also thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of things I've done. Whether it's warehousing or helping the elderly, volunteering is something I felt like I was born to do. I also have done many other leadership-related volunteering with the Self-Advocacy Leadership Network, Boise State, and the Special Olympics (among others). I have enjoyed most of my volunteering and most definitely am not there just so I don't get fined. I have a passion for the volunteering flame that cannot be extinguished, a metaphor that surely can change lives and inspire others to do the same. I feel like my life wouldn't be as complete without volunteering and I feel like I can continue to piece together my hope, my dreams, my self-actualization, and my prominent feelings with volunteering. No matter what happens in my life I know that not only I can make myself better but continue to make others around me better and continue to inspire them. Due to my passion and my self-awareness and advocacy, volunteering continues to lose complacency and continue to show extreme appreciation for everything that I do. Volunteering is my passion and maybe a future career in the non-profits. If I make it a side hobby, I can continue my passion and my stud persona of someone who is always willing to lead. It's win-win. A passion that started 16 years ago has blown away and continues to make things better for everyone. And while I am no longer going to site lead due to my 4 officer positions and everything else (you see I'm not kidding about doing too much and some aren't kidding about being too passionate), volunteering is something I will do semi-often because I feel like it's a great duty. I am willing to get off my rear and continue to volunteer. And I love leadership- go team!