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This year has really been a WILD ride! Before it comes to an end there are some people I’d like to thank. First of all, thank you Michigan FCCLA Staff, for all of your help and smiles through out the year. To the 6 goofiest people I know that make red blazers look cool: I’ll never forget you and the fun times we’ve had together from the 90 degree hotel room, the long trip to the UP, and everything in between. You’ve really made this year unforgettable for me and I’ll miss you so much! And last but not least, thank you, members, for making this year AWESOME. You give FCCLA a good name and the things you do really make a difference! Keep enjoying all that FCCLA has to offer and never be afraid to look a little silly. May I leave you with these words of wisdom, “In a world full of cheerios, be a fruit loop.” |
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“Don’t be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.”-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Nothing could have prepared me for FCCLA. I seem to keep saying that, probably because it’s true, but that’s what came to mind first when turned on my computer and sat down to write this, my final article for FCCLA. In my English classes, I have learned to use a hook to grab my readers’ attention. As you can see, I quoted Emerson. He talks about life being ‘an experiment.’ FCCLA was an experiment for me. I never expected to do anything more than work a few craft shows and hang out with my friends in FCCLA. But thanks to a quick opportunity given to me by my adviser, I hopped onto the bandwagon known as being a State Officer.
That bandwagon has taken me so far into my future that I can barely remember what life was like before it. I remember shaking before I went on stage for my first speech in front of the members of Michigan FCCLA. I remember holding onto my camera for dear life, hoping it could do my speech for me. I remember completely forgetting my speech and making up a new one, hearing cheers, and being embraced by my friends.
The people I ran for office with all stick in my mind, how we’ve all grown from that first day we met. Some crazy girl in a fro, a boy looking sharp in a suit, a girl who had such a motherly feel that I was compelled to hug her the first day I met her, a silent girl who seemed to get louder by each day, a girl I had known but never really gotten to know, and a friend I had known for years. We all connected instantly, becoming the executive council before we even gave our speeches, planning the next year before the first one had ended. I was timid then, squeamish about being who I was. After a meeting or two though, I came out of that shell and grew into someone, I like to think, is stronger, and well-suited for the world.
I’d like to thank those people, Jill, George, Kaye, Sammy, Ashley, and Clare. We came together so quickly and held that way until the very end. I hope it continues in the years to come. Even though we’ll be all over the state in different colleges and schools and different lives, we overcame that as high school students and I know we can do it again as both high school and college students.
To my adviser, Jessica Ward. I’ve known you since I moved to Michigan. You were the cool high school girl scout that came to work with my troop, the older sister to a friend, and then my adviser. I never got over calling you Jessica, that’s just who you were, and I laughed when people scoffed at my ‘lack of respect’ toward you. I think we both know that it was out of respect that I called you by your first name, out of trust, because I knew you saw more in me than most did. Thank you so much for the opportunity to be a State Officer, and all the help you gave me over the year.
To my friends and family, thank you so much for supporting me throughout this year, it’s been tough! With auditioning, meetings all over the state, school, and so much more, I’m shocked we survived! But we did, and we all grew through it and worked to get to know each other more before I left for college. We all know what having crazy lives can be like, but I’d like to think that we invented the word ‘flexible’ and overcame the stress to finish everything off with style and grace. Thank you so much for being my driving force, you are all in my heart.
And finally, but certainly not least, Mr. Brad Schmidt, or as I like to call you, Schmidty. You have been the best sport all year, dealing with us hiding in closets, attacking you with darts, surviving our tedious meetings when our ADD kicked in, laughing off our mistakes and helping us not make more, you have been a hero. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done, you truly made more than just a difference, you left a mark on us all, and I for one want you to know how important you are.
To FCCLA members: The moment is yours to seize. Don’t worry about fear and confusion, they come with everything. Take chances(safe ones please!) and step into competitions with confidence. Work hard and believe in yourself and you can achieve far more than you could ever comprehend. |
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“We stand for old and precious values.” This exert from our creed truly embodies our organization and the importance of family. When you’re an FCCLA member, you are part of that family; and it never leaves you. With the dreams of tomorrow, we face the problems of today in hope of a solution. We have worked together to encompass our goals and improve the world around us. As an outgoing senior, it saddens me to think that now I must leave this family. I must go out on my own to grow and become a member of society, but FCCLA will always be with me. I will hold its morals and values close to my heart, for it will guide me throughout my future. I thank you all for your support and guidance over the past five years. I have been truly honored to represent this wonderful organization; I have been touched by all of your presence. FCCLA has given me great opportunities, and I hope to continue being an avid alumni supporter. I hope through member determination that MI FCCLA and national FCCLA will continue for many years, allowing other eager students to be involved such an uplifting organization. This truly is a once in a lifetime thing. Members travel all over the state and nation meeting people from all over, see cities that most never see, and experience a horde of new challenges. Through these trips, I have met the most amazing people, such as the 2006-2007 State Executive Council. These six other people have taught me so much and I cannot imagine my life without them. I know that we truly are best friends forever and will continue to be for the rest of our lives. I appreciate the continued supported I have received from my Pickford chapter, my advisor, Mrs. Jacobson, and my family. My parents and family have really helped me through my years of FCCLA, just as all of you have helped me throughout this challenging year. Thank you MI FCCLA and GOOD-LUCK!!!!!!!! |
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This year has gone by so fast. I would like to thank my state officer team. You guys have taught me to leave my comfort zone and be myself. I will never forget all the great memories we share. Thank you for treating me like I have known all you for years. Also thanks you for teaching me that I don't need water to be wild and fun.
I would also like to thank Mr. Schmidt. You have been very supportive through out the whole year. You have played a bif role in my life to make sure I get my voice heard and stay focused on my dreams.
Last but not least, I would like to thank David Lett and Kate Clark for alot of laughs. You two have supported the fccla state officer team the whole year and I appreciate it. |
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It’s so hard to say goodbye to something that has been a major part of my life for the past two years. Being a state officer has opened many doors for me and has given me many opportunities to succeed. It feels like I’ve just begun my journey and it hurts to know it’s all over. I’ve made so many memories and have had more fun than most people have in a lifetime, and I thank all of you for that. Without the members and advisers, FCCLA wouldn’t exist, and I wouldn’t be the same person I am today. I’d especially like to thank everyone from my chapter for being so supportive of me, and for being so awesome this year, I really appreciate it. You have all been such a great help to me along the way. To my fellow state officers, it has been a wild year and I can’t even imagine what it would have been like without you. You are amazing people and there is no doubt in my mind you will do great things. And of course, thank you mom and dad for everything, I love you! All of you are what makes FCCLA a reality, not a dream. I hope someday you can all experience what I have as a state officer; it’s truly a once in a lifetime kind of thing that I’ve been fortunate enough to go through twice. Farewell. |
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There are so many types of leadership roles that one may accomplish. For me, becoming a FCCLA State Officer was the ultimate leadership experience for me. I took this role not knowing what would come of it, and only hoping that it would be the best. Well it was the best and my hopes came true. It all started at the CTSO meeting where the girls and I got to know each other. Then there was planning meetings for Fall Leadership Workshops along with our FACESM meting, and then the FLW’s were here… how WILD. We didn’t expect for our year to fly by so fast. Next there came meetings for State meeting, and well now State Meeting is already over. I am really going to miss this amazing organization, but I never would have been shaped into the person that I am now with out it. This is me saying farewell to being an officer, but also saying hello to a new open door in my life. The State officer team this year was WILD, and I wouldn’t exchange my experience with them for anything. I am leaving my office with my head held high for many different reasons. One reason is because I have helped more people with this organization than I would have ever dreamed of. Another reason is because I met a ton of people that I can now call my friends, and I hope that my friend bank continues to grow. To the members, I would have never been able to do this with out the cooperation of you. Here are some words of encouragement from Buddah “In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins – not through strength, but through persistence.” I will see those of you who made it to Nationals in Anaheim, but those of you who didn’t make it there is always next year. To those members who are graduating… I wish you the best of luck, and I hope that you will use what you have learned through FCCLA in your every day life. This year has been WILD, but I know that next year the officer team will be great too. Thank you for a great year. |
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Wow how a year as flown! Where does the time go when you are having fun? If someone was to tell me when I was a freshmen that I was going to be an officer for Michigan FCCLA, I would have asked them what FCCLA was. After all I didn’t find out what FCCLA was until my sophomore year. But now this organization is a huge part of my life, it has taught me things that some people don’t ever figure out, like taking the initiative to get something done, and how to get someone you have never met just as excited about doing something as you are. If only everybody I know could have an experience like this, it has truly been a life changing experience.
But I never would have gotten here with out the support of my friends and family. And who could ever forget Mr. Schmidt and friends, and of course Jill, Ashley, Kay, Sammy, George, and Katy. The way the entire council gets along, makes everything we do together so easy and extremely fun. “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.” has been a quote I have kept close to me all year, and I hope they realize that they have all been the world to me this year. It will be so hard to say goodbye, so I won’t, I will just say thank you, so very much.
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