Make a Movement

If you want something to change, most of the time you need to do something to make it happen. Or at least get it started.

I was folding laundry and thinking about what we were going to be watching the next night at the BUILD Beauty meeting when I had an idea for a poem. I immediately wrote it down and started thinking about ways to phrase it just the way I wanted to because I wanted to post it in a picture. I wanted to make a bold statement. We watched Miss Representation at BUILD Beauty which is an amazing documentary about women being negatively portrayed in the media in numerous ways. I highly recommend it if you get free time. It is a great watch that should get you fired up about something. And it's on Netflix! It reassured me that it was okay to post the picture. So I did.

"Boys seem to care more about the numbers and letters that make up my bra size rather than the ones that make up my GPA. I've never been asked that before."

There is the picture! It didn't take long to spark some comments on Facebook. It was a good feeling seeing discussion on issues and seeing people thinking. It's a wonderful thing. Sometimes we don't talk about these things, but I think it can be good for us. It's even better when people talk about it to me face-to-face and not just through social media. It lets me know it can leave an impact and raise awareness for people. Simple awareness can be powerful.

So I don't want to stop there. I want to encourage people to post pictures with statements like I did to raise awareness about issues that deal with gender, stereotypes, relationships, self-esteem, assumptions, and the like. I don't know what I want to do with them just yet. I thought about making it into a collage, it's own blog post, inspiration for poetry, sparks for discussion in BUILD Beauty, and more. This is just the first step to a movement. Who knows where it can go and how big it can be. First thing is first and that is to take the first step and send in pictures!
Please feel free to tag me in it on Facebook so I can save it or email it to me at glitterandthegirlygirl@gmail.com.
You don't have to be a woman. Guys can participate too! You don't have to go to ESU. It can be anyone! Please be appropriate and kind. I don't want it to become an attack on anybody.
Thank you in advance and I encourage you to participate.

I had a discussion with someone about girls and boys. He talked about how there can be guys that talk about girls negatively and wonders how it can be changed. I told him it goes both ways. Girls can't simply blame boys for everything negative. We need to be able to stand up for ourselves and each other and speak up when boys may say/do something disrespectful. We also need to set an example and respect ourselves and each other. If we are okay with how things are and let things slide, that's when it gets worse. It goes both ways. So here's a chance to speak up.

I look forward to seeing pictures! Poetry in pictures. Believe in yourself, Un-do negative thinking, Inspire others, Live fully, Dream. :)

Sparkle & Shine,
Rachel

People

It didn't take me very long when I started my Happiness Journal (that I need to pick back up again) this pattern of people that consistently showed up. I was writing more about the people that had made me happy somehow that day rather than objects or moments. This really interested me and made me wonder why that is. It also confirmed my beliefs that being a communication major is the right for me. I am simply a people person. More and more lately, I have realized that I officially can't go anywhere without having a conversation with somebody. Just last night, Kirsten told a fellow Ambassador anywhere that you can't take me anywhere. Anytime we go out on the weekends we are stopped by people or I stop by people to talk. And I love that. But it goes even further than that. I have realized the abundance of people that I work with day to day to keep my life moving forward along with my jobs, organizations I am involved in, classes and more. I wanted to give you a glimpse of people in my life that make it bright. I may not get everyone or have a picture for everyone. It's just a little glimpse!

Family.
Family is first. And family is over everything. They are definitely my foundation. They have been supporting me in all kinds of ways and keep my life funny and exciting. I really do think sometimes the family could have our own reality show. Just the other day both my brother and sister texted me during the day while I was at work and it made me heart smile. My mom will send me back to school with home cooked food and my dad will send me inspirational quotes at random times. There is a whole lot of love.

My Stister & I at the Lady Gaga concert in Kansas City.

My oldest nephew, Logan who is my "idolee" :)

Friends. 
Of course my friends are important too and keep my life funny and exciting as well. Sammie will help clean my room and Jessica and I can talk about nail polish for an hour. It is nice to have a good set of best friends to go home to in Kansas City.

Roommate.
Anna. "She's the one I always talk about!" That's what I usually say to people when I introduce her when we are out and about. This lady puts up with me the most probably since we share a room and an apartment together. She deals with my dramatic ways of life and weird nature. She also helps so much with stuff around the place all the hours in my day are filled! She is a favorite!

Co-Workers.
I have been blessed with pretty amazing co-workers! Jade is the only other Admissions recruitment intern like me. So we have to tag team a lot of projects and make sure we get our stuff done! We aren't just co-workers, but friends too. It's nice to work, but also do a little gossiping too!

Jordan is my partner for the ESU Bulletin Fashion Blog. She edits and helps my writing and also takes the photos for it. We make it work and kind of hit it off. We enjoy talking in accents and being weird while doing photo shoots!

The Ambassador Family.
I've made so many great bonds through Ambassadors that now I kind of refer to them as the Ambassador Family. We get to spend lots of hours together with meetings, events, traveling and the like. We have each other's backs and are really great friends!

In Indianapolis

Michael & Hunter. Our Ambassador love bird couple :)

Heather & I at the Up 'Til Dawn event

My BUILD Beauty Ladies.
These girls have been a great help to me this year running BUILD. As I have gotten busier this year, they have been great to have because they can do things to lessen my load by emailing, updating Facebook & Twitter and also brainstorming ideas with me. They are all so funny and sweet and wish I could spend even more time with them! Definitely inspiration!

One of our planning meetings at the library!

My Vice President Committee.
I have a committee for Ambassadors and this semester I have quite a few that are so enthusiastic and helpful. They have been on a roll and can't wait to see everything that we have accomplished by the end of the semester. I think I forgot to mention they are pretty goofy too :)

Partners in Crime.
Now I am Vice President of two organizations so I now I have two partners to tag team and run these two prestigious organizations. Ashley is also one of my best friends since Freshman year here at ESU. We have been through Ambassadors since Freshman year and have done a lot together through the organization. This year has been so great tag teaming with her and doing big things!

Michelle is the President of Blue Key and we got to go to the national conference together. We hit it off right away finding out we have a lot in common! She nominated me for the national board position so I tell people she was my campaign manager :) This semester has been really fun so far getting to know her and work with her as we are establishing this organization!

At a bar in Toledo :)

Faculty & Advisers
The faculty and advisers here are amazing. They really do truly care. I don't know how many times I have felt that. President Shonrock and Gary Sherrer are our advisers for Blue Key. It is neat working and talking with such brilliant and influential minds. Michelle and I got to meet with Dr. Shonrock last week in his office to discuss Blue Key. I am sitting there thinking how privileged and blessed that I got to sit there.

Professor Webb is the adviser for BUILD Beauty, but also has been my teacher for 4 classes. She has been so resourceful in getting BUILD off the ground and running. But she also pushes me to apply for scholarships and makes sure I excelling. A few weeks ago, I left her office and soon had a few emails with deadlines and links to scholarships. Last week she was telling me which papers to use for one scholarship and who would be great for recommendation letters to get a good variety.

Then there is Dr. Rabas who is my poetry professor that is constantly encouraging me to keep writing and keep going. He is always filled with encouraging words on critiques he gives on my assignments, emails, and in person. Just last night I was at the 150 Gala and ran into him. He said, "I really liked your poem in class today" and continued encouraging and talking to me. He's also been a great resource in that area and a mentor. I always get amazed to think that he knows and has worked with Kim Addonizio who is one of my favorite poets!

Another lady that has always challenged me and has a lot of faith in me is Kenna Reeves in the Communication department. She has done letters for me, sent me things that could help with my speeches in class last semester, and now has been really helping me on my path to finding possible internships. She has been willing to take me on and advise me through internships which makes me feel a whole lot better since I don't have very much experience in that area!

Nikki Metz. This lady. She is our Ambassador adviser that puts up with us all! She has driven us for hours and hours to get to national and district conferences, spent hours with us in her office and in meetings. She gets stuff done. And she can tell it like it is. She has been a huge part in getting projects and programs that I have wanted to do come to life such as the T-Shirt exchange and Pay It Forward.

You guys are amazing and I thank everyone that makes me smile, laugh, challenge me, inspire, believe in me, push me, help me, take care of me and more. I am beyond blessed to have so many wonderfully amazing beautiful people in my life! Thank you!

Sparkle & Shine,
Rachel

Balancing as a Busy Bee

I'm in the car traveling again. Two weekends ago, I was in Toledo, Ohio. Tomorrow I will be on the road to St. Louis to see Lady Gaga in concert for the first time! The semester started off with a bang. I was going from sleeping in until 12:30pm and averaging 1-2 Dr. Peppers a day doing nothing over Christmas break to transition into one of the busiest weeks of my life. We had a two day Ambassador retreat, started school and I missed my classes Friday to catch a flight to Toledo for the national Blue Key conference. It was a beautiful university and I was able to make connections with students from University of Georgia to Kansas State University. I was voted to be a student representative for the national board. It's a two year deal. I was a little weary about it but I wanted to immerse myself in the organization and get Emporia's name out there while setting an example and bar for future members at ESU. I also had the ESU Blue Key alum who have contributed so much for us in mind. I thought this would be a way to give back. Plus, the board needed women representation. They were all guys!

My fashion blog partner and I have managed to get a post published already and even were featured in a large ad in The Bulletin!

I have an amazing Vice President committee in Ambassadors and they already have had so many great ideas for the banquet and the end of the semester! Their enthusiasm and great ideas makes me excited and proud to work with them!

We've had a BUILD Beauty meeting already and have one this coming Wednesday. We made "I Sparkle" boards. I loved one of the girls designs she did. The "I" in BUILD stands for "inspire others." And they sure do that for me. I made friends with people from K-State that is helping me get in contact with resources to better the organization there as well.

For Blue Key, I am on a committee that is putting on a leadership banquet at the end of the semester as well. We are recognizing 150 students that have changed lives at Emporia State. We plan to even award some scholarships that night too.

It's been becoming quite an experience planning two banquets and all the other programs and activities I'm involved in. It's still weird for me to grasp that I'm part of putting on these things that involves thousands of dollars.

I've been feeling more and more thankful, blessed and privileged to get to work with the people I do, the connections I've made and opportunities ESU has given me!

Last night, I was in power yoga class and I found that I really enjoy the balancing poses. I was so focused and steady balancing on one foot. I was in the zone. And I couldn't stop thinking about how comfortable I was with that. Now if only I could balance the other things in life. That's what I've struggled with since starting the semester. Balancing 3 leadership positions, 17 hours of class, 2 on campus jobs and everything in between. This busy bee will be a happy camper when she finds a good peaceful balance. I'll keep working at it and enjoy every minute and every person a part of it!

Thank you!

Sparkle & Shine,
Rachel