Dipping my toe into the water...finally

“Heeey, Dad?”

“What do you want?”

(In a rushed voice) “Can I join this one karate class? I got this flyer at school and I think it would be super cool and please? And it would be awesome? And pretty please with a cherry on top?”

(Dad views flyer)

“I’ll have to talk with you mom, but probably.”

This is how I imagine the start of what would become my way of life began: an overly excited seven-year-old coming home from school asking her dad if she could become a ninja, something straight out of the movies.

Over 17 years later and I’m stepping my big toe away from theoretically opening my own place to actually starting a (test) class: eight Sunday mornings introducing basic self-defense and traditional Okinawan karate to potentially just one student.

I can’t help but wonder, “Where is my safety net?”

Where are my fellow instructors: Sensei Steve and Sensei Brandon? Where are my upper-belt students: Patricia, Andrew or Robert?

The realization that to start something new, someone had to decide to try is attacking me like an allergic reaction to peanuts. Yet, within the same reflection, I also know I am ready. In spirit, those who have gone before me are and will always be with me.

 

Sorry it's backwards. From Master Sharon English to my parents:
(You guys are great. I appreciate your support and your friendship. You did a great job with the scorekeeping (and I know it was a lot of work). Jennifer did as superior job. Her positive attitude and willingness to try will help her excel in everything she does. It is a reflection of great parents. Thanks again. Sharon) - March 1999

As the seven-year-old naive child, I had a lot of learning to do, but looking back I can see just how much support I had from others; people believed in me. I hope to be even half the person others were and still are to me.

Wish me patience and understanding,

Jenn

And so it begins

"Is this real?" I asked myself.

I looked in my box and there were four envelopes from people I've never met and placed I've yet to see. The envelopes collectively contained 33 thank-you cards waiting to be used.

"This is real." I told myself as I walked gingerly past others' desks thinking of who I should write to first. In a sense, the answer was right in front of me. I was to write to the people who aided in my mission; Finding something to be grateful for in each member of my entire school community, in less than year.

However, these wonderful people would not be the first on my quest. Instead I had come into the mailroom to drop off my first batch of thank yous when I checked my box.

I began instead with a pen, a few 3x5 neon-colored index cards and addressed those in my immediate community first: 

"Thank you for all your help at gathering. I would have been lost without you."

"Your relationship gives me hope."

"I feel a part of the community because of you."

Something tells me this will be a wonderful journey...

Calling all ugly, odd and misspelled thank-you notecards

I started reading 365 Thank Yous by John Kralik and became inspired to begin my own two-part project: 

1. Thank each and every person (workers and students) at Eagle Rock by August 2014.
2. Secretly engage the community (a collective term encompassing all workers and students at Eagle Rock) in writing thank-you notes.

Call to Action –

I am collecting 150+ unused thank-you cards. Does it have batman on the outside of it? Is there an old flower that reminds you of your grandma covering it? Did you keep a box full of cards, forgot you had them and now they look too old to use? Do you, your school, church or creepy neighbor have any of the above? GREAT! I am accepting any and all unused thank-you cards.

Jennifer Pearsall

2750 Notaiah Rd.

Estes Park, CO 80517

About 365 Thank Yous:

(Short Version) John Kralik’s personal, professional, financial and social life has fallen completely apart when one day he is inspired to write a thank-you note. He then makes a commitment to write one note every day for 365 days. Kralik finds himself trapped within his own mission where some days it appears there is nothing to be thankful for, but he perseveres. Does he finish this challenge? I’m not sure but I bet I will know by the time I finish this delightful read.

Sincerely,

Jenn

I did it! Wohoooooo!

Extremely, extremely excited to say my idea was approved. Here is the image of what my sample looks like. I could not have done this without going back and forth about relevance, material and especially design with Marcy, Becca, Denise L., and John G. Thanks to Jenn for giving me ideas on how to make this initial process (slightly) easier on myself and to Dan for (Friday) showing me how to make an online importing system survey for the students.

WOHOOOO!!! Next projects: making a document for each student and importing all of their past service, creating a weekly eblast with service opportunities, planning my second course & writing a song with all the acronyms this school has. Okay..so maybe the last one isn't quite a priority.

Much love!
Jenn

Wait, I'm supposed to MAKE money in life?

“If you could do anything (as a career) without regard to time or money, what would you do?”

I was going through some of my old papers and notebooks from college when I came across the beginning of an assignment that asked that question. It seems odd to me that there has to be such context of “without regard to time or money” but then I realized that we as people put limitations on ourselves, the way we think and in the end, what we decide to do.

Birth –> Preschool -> Elementary School -> Middle School -> High School -> Job & College -> Job -> Career -> Family -> Death

Yep, that’s my outlook on what life is currently.

Birth -> Learning how to read, laugh, love, walk, talk, hug, high five, explore -> Finding oneself, passions, interests, desires, loves -> Exploration -> Death

This is how I hope life can one day be viewed as by everyone. The events, and even the order, can be the same but what is valued is different.

So back to my assignment, I wrote two answers: 1. I would open a leadership camp and serve at-risk youth.  2. I would travel the world helping people for free.

The first is a risk but ends with a savings, retirement plan and health insurance. It offers stability, acceptance by society and structure. The second offers freedom, cultural experiences, varying viewpoints, connections and adventure. Both are great and I will always tend to lean towards the first because that is the safer route but in my heart, I will never be truly fulfilled.

Where is your path taking you and what would you do if you didn’t have to worry about money or obstacles?

 

Be true to your passions, desires, hopes, dreams,

Jenn

Embrace your Discomfort

My new backyard/view from Shaaman

 “Embrace your discomfort”

This past (nearly) week has been an experience of a lifetime and it has only just begun…but I’ll into that later.

If you haven’t noticed, I’m off on another adventure and will attempt to update this blog every so often. Last time (in Michigan) I focused more on my internal development: Who am I? What do I want? Am I okay? This time I anticipate professional growth and decisions: How will I start an afterschool program? How can I be more experiential and project-based? Where will I go? I also imagine I will have a collection of student quotes, which I can’t wait to share!

Back to this week: If I was to write about all the things we have done so far, this would be an essay. Do you want to read an essay? I didn’t think so. Here are some highlights:

•         Laying on a picnic table under the stars for hours just relaxing - Friday
•         Stopping to pee and seeing an entire arts festival – Saturday afternoon
•         Telling everyone I snore and sleep talk before choosing roommates – Saturday night
•         Having a $500 budget to spend on (at least) one week’s worth of meals for 12 people. This was more nerve racking than you think. – Sunday night
•         Life Maps – Monday and Tuesday
•         Learning to accept and embrace my own discomfort – Tuesday (I think)
•         Tour of Estes Park, icecream and meeting four students – Tuesday night
•         Sharing values, playing volleyball and discussing course possibilities with my IS (instructional specialist – aka: teacher and mentor) – Wednesday
•         Hanging out with my house parents (although not living with students, we are divided into houses, like Harry Potter) – Wednesday night
•        ROCKCLIMBING SHAAMAN!!!! Three different sides and levels of difficulty – Thursday
•         ????? – TBD 

Look at the small figures - this is what we climbed.

The view of Eagle Rock School from Shaaman. I live down there!

I am completely and utterly excited about this year. It’s a time filled with anticipation, fear, excitement, love, overwhelming moments and adventure. I’ve already learned so much from the staff and fellows and I cannot wait to learn a world from the students. This year I will embrace all my fears, doubts and discomfort to be the best person I can be.

What will you embrace?

Jenn

What I won't (and will) miss about my time in Three Rivers, MI

Top 10 things I will (and won't) miss about this place:

Won't miss

The mold, or the smell of it

Cats having sex in my ceiling

Water coming through when it rains

The terrible phone reception

Being in a different time zone

(Almost) unlimited ice cream

Being 45 minutes to the nearest "real" city

(Re)doing the store inventory

Cardiac hill

The Tarzan rope

Will miss

The lack of potholes and fire, ambulance and police sirens

Working with different groups nearly every day

Free room and board with the (almost) unlimited ice cream

The people - both at Camp Eberhart and Norton Elementary School

Wearing shorts and a tshirt to work every day

Having almost 300 acres to play on and seeing deer daily

The best goodwill store EVER

Flexibility of what I teach, days off and the random projects

The camp Eberhart story

80s parties, trainings, collegiate presentations and TRIO

*I typed this the week before I left in May, but it never made it past notes.

Letters to Alayna

Since moving away I began writing letters to my youngest niece every month. Here is one letter I'm sending to my now 9-month old niece, Alayna:

"Dear Miss Alayna,

How have you been? Are you handling living in two homes okay? How are the teeth coming along? I hope you're doing well and staying strong for your parents.

One day, no, lots of days I hope you pursue things you like and that which is unknown. Explore, try, fall, get up and learn. Without this, how do you know what you like and don't like, what bugs you and causes you will stand for? Do what's right for you as it is your path you walk on. Go after what you believe in but challenge yourselv, your beliefs to view the other side(s). In doing so be open minded as your thoughts my change or modl, or maybe become stronger.

If one day you grow up and become girly, do it because you enjoy it, not because of others or the media. I will support you and will love you even if I may not understand the path you choose. Whatever it is you do, be happy. Know there will definitely be hard times but if it's worth it, and you will know when it is is, keep going.

As for me, I'm still trying to figure my path out. I'm not sure where I will go or if I'll ever stay still, or move back home. It's one of my greatest hopes that we will still find a way to be close, maybe pen pals. You may not know me yet, but I hope one day you will.

A day in the life of me:
             Date: April 08, 2013
      Location: Three Rivers, MI
          Job(s): Outdoor Education Instructor at YMCA Camp Eberhart
Current Song: A hiding place for the moon by Antoine Dafour
           Quote: "Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." - ?


Love always,
   Auntie Jenn"

Kids cause (very) thick skin

I work with kids of all ages at camp and for the past few months I've also been working at a local elementary school as a recess monitor. I absolutely loving it at this school and the kids never sees to amaze me with their pure curiosity and lack of tact. They are the only beings that see and ask things as they are with no dancing around a subject nor regard on how things may sound.

Regards to my hair:
I have short hair, very, very short hair and boy have I become very confident in myself. Each afternoon, sometimes more, I'm asked the same question, "Are you a girl or a boy?"

Regards to my watch:
I go through watches at a ridiculous pace no matter what fancy brand I buy. After my last two watches killed over I decided to go to Meijer and purchase a cheap watch. The latest comment is, "Hey, that's the same watch (insert name) has!"

Regards to my size:
I'm not even sure why or how this came up but boy was this kid's substitute teacher furious he asked, "What size shoe do you wear?" I personally thought it was funny and wanted to hear why he wanted to know.

Have you had any hilarious, embarrassing or weird questions or comments from kids? Feel free to share your moments below.

I will live for today.

I will live for today.
I will live for.
I will live.
I will.
I.

My love, or lack there of, with job applications

I may be Miss peppy and positive but applications are ridiculous, no ifs ands or buts. Seriously, why in the world would I spend time on a resume highlighting my relevant work and experiences when I have to then spend two hours filling out an online application in addition to my resume and cover letter?

Things on applications I will never understand.

(I reluctantly understand the online application is a tool for HR to see things in a pretty format where they can easily search the document and verify a person’s background thereby eliminating a large pool of applicants from the interview phase.)

1. List your educational background, starting with high school. – You don’t actually care what I did before college, why start now? Not to mention that oh say, I have it typed in my resume, mentioned in my cover letter and per your request, I uploaded my transcript.
2. List your work experience in the last 10 years starting with the most recent. – This is a two-part annoyance. First, TEN YEARS?!?!?! Yes, spelling the 10 out for emphasis on this one people. (Sorry AP stylebook.) Unless I’m applying for a federal position with super secret clearance, I’m not sure why this is needed. Honestly, you’re going to do a background check anyways, why waste your time? Plus, as much as I’ve loved everywhere I’ve worked, I don’t keep up with each and every person to know their current title or even if they still work at the same place. I can list a few at the top of my head that don’t. Secondly, you ask for my job, title and a description of what I did. Um, hello?!?! I wrote that in my resume, thank you for looking.

Okay so maybe I don’t completely hate the online system. It’s nice to be able to go back and apply for more positions at a place that keeps your application on file. I may not enjoy the time it takes for even the lowest on the totem pole position but the questions the application asks are relevant. But please, narrow the selection down with your questionnaires and background info. To be honest, I’m interviewing you and the culture of the place just as much as you’re interviewing me for the position. If you still like me, yes, I would love to sit for additional hours filling all this out. God knows if I’m hired I’m going to be handwriting everything all over again in the new-hire paperwork.

Keep your algorithms and neatly typed documents but keep it like a (well written) survey: short, sweet and to the point in the most unbiased way possible.

Thank you,

A girl who hopes she didn’t just shoot herself in the foot with this post.

Trust in something, trust in your gut.

Why do we associate that personal feeling of what to do, with our gut? Why is the gut placed high on a pedestal acting as a balance between right and wrong? Well whatever the reason, Gibbs would be proud.

However, I don't believe the gut feeling should be the sole decision but I'm sure it's different for each person. For me, I like to combine research and planning before I consult with my gut; I want it to have all the information before making its' decision.

My gut has aided in my adventure through my life and across the nation. I'm always shocked yet never surprised by my gut. Presently my gut is telling me to put all my eggs in one basket. Although I cringe at the thought, I feel it is the right thing for me to do. As the outdoor education season is soon to end, I've applied to quite a few jobs, no, several jobs and fellowships. There is one in particular I'm looking the most forward to. Not to say the other opportunities aren't great, but this one feels right, better.

To wherever I wind up, I'll give you my best and I promise that I only applied to positions where I could see myself making a difference and enjoying the new location.

To my gut, my budget would like you to feel more positive about higher paying jobs. To my heart, disregard that previous statement. Do what will make an impact in the lives of others and yourself no matter the dollar sign. Maslow's hierarchy says I need the basic needs first and that's all the dollar sign needs to be used for.


Thanks as always for being a part of my adventure,
Jenn

Closing one door to open another

I've had many blog post ideas about Christmas, family, giving thanks, change and friends so I'll do my best to sum my emotions into this one short and sweet post.

2012 was a big year for me and involved a lot of change and facing this weird part of life called growing up. I closed so many chapters: graduated college, moved out of state and walked away from someone I loved but couldn't marry. Only to begin new ones: started a new job, learned a few skills and began finding my purpose. When I reflect on times when I felt low or things were stressing me out, in any age of my life, they almost all point to change. In Oklahoma we have a required Success in College course but what's not offered is a class about what's next and how to cope with transitioning from a 16+ year career as a student to life after graduation.

My 2012 journey has definitely not been the smoothest sailing nor with the best views but it was my year. Through all the craziness I've learned a great deal about myself and why I feel the way I do about some things. I'm more certain in myself than I ever have been.

2013 will be an epic one because I choose for it to be. I have many grand ideas I'm looking into. With hard work, luck and the most wonderful college mentor a person could ever ask for (Scott Monetti), I might even open NKYO, Nana Korobi Ya Okie (If you fall down seven times, get up eight.) an after-school program to empower middle school women through self-defense and service learning.


So hasta la vista 2012 and pura vida 2013!