As an FFA member sometimes it feels like you never have time to slow down and reflect. As soon as one CDE has finished, that means it's time to start prepping for the next one or writing your proficiency or running for a chapter office. However, throughout that busy schedule there is a perfect opportunity to reflect on your year: the chapter banquet. This is the time when every member is rewarded for all their hard work and success throughout the year. After attending five chapter banquets so far this spring, I put together a list of three things to do at your chapter banquet. Reflect on y ..read more

For Fall Break, I went to Evanston, Illinois to visit some of my family. Evanston is a suburb just north of Chicago, so I was expecting to see a lot of gray concrete. Once I arrived, that was exactly what I was greeted with, tall buildings, busy streets, and stores on every corner. The only signs of life were obviously the people going to and from work and school, the occasional tree beautifying the side of the street, and the neighborhood park. That is until one morning, my family took my mom and I to the farmer’s market that they are weekly patrons of.  Because I live in the middle of ..read more

I have never been able to get enough adventure. Ever since I can remember, I have always been exploring the woods, swimming in the creek, and even going on “survival missions” with some of my best friends. These have been some of my greatest memories. I still recall one time very well, and I don’t know if it was because it was so much fun, or if it’s because my mom feels the need to share it with pretty much every guest we have over. No matter the reason, this story still sticks with me. It was a beautiful summer day, and I decided I needed to head outside and enjoy all the beautiful weather ..read more

As a state officer, many days are a blur. In order to best capture the most special moments of this year, I have turned to saving vlogs to my TikTok drafts and journaling at the end of the day (that is, when I remember to). All throughout FFA Week, I reflected on each day and chapter visited, so I thought that I would take this opportunity to share a little of what was written. Here’s a look at the 2024 National FFA Week through my journal! 2/16/2024 Today I got to start FFA Week early! I joined the Monrovia FFA Chapter for their all-school convocation where students got to compete by grade f ..read more

Growing up my family had a Christmas tree up all year long. I know this might sound crazy, but hear me out… For each season my family would decorate this four foot tree with different ornaments to create a different theme for the tree. Other than Christmas, my favorite theme was always Valentine’s Day because our tree was covered with pink hearts and red ornaments.  Each season of the year brought a different theme for our tree. It was so much fun to decorate each season uniquely and see it everyday in our living room as a reminder to celebrate the different seasons of the year. This Vale ..read more

I was watching the Lions game the other night and at half time I thought for sure the Lions would beat the 49ers and get their ticket to the Super Bowl. However, that thought quickly escaped my mind once the 49ers scored 17 points in the 3rd quarter. That night the Lions unexpectedly lost. Sometimes in life, we experience unexpected outcomes. For the Lions, this outcome was less than ideal. However, on the flipside this unexpected outcome made the 49er's dreams come true. In life, we will have highs and lows accompanied by surprises. It's important to celebrate the positive surprises and refle ..read more

I am sure we have all heard the timeless expression, “New Year, New Me,” which probably led to crafting a New Year’s resolution that you hoped would make the next year of your life the best yet. I’m not usually one to participate in making these resolutions, but that all changed this year.  If you know me you know I love sarcasm, but sometimes satire can be very negative. That might have been why my mom got me a “365 Days of Positivity” desk calendar for Christmas. At first, I thought this gift was just a joke and my mom being my mom, but I decided to bring that calendar down to the Indi ..read more

Hope doesn’t fade for long, It hides and at times seems to run away, But hope is the friend that sticks around, Hope is the call from my mom making sure I’m okay, Hope is my dad teaching me how to work, Hope is my teachers encouraging me. Joy is here for the holidays, And it is here to stay, Because joy is not based on a situation, Joy comes from the hope that has been given, Joy comes from a sacrifice that was made,  A sacrifice that carried the weight of all my mistakes. Peace is what keeps me going, It has been given not taken, Times have made peace hard to find, But much like hope a ..read more

In a world that often moves at a frenetic pace, with endless to-do lists and a constant barrage of distractions, the art of living in the moment has become increasingly elusive. Yet, amidst the chaos, there exists a profound wisdom in embracing the present.  One of my personal favorite quotes says to "realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have." These words encapsulate the essence of living in the moment. The past is a collection of memories, and the future is an unfolding mystery. The only time we truly have is now. When we immerse ourselves fully in the present, we ope ..read more

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