I have had a good variety of different students work for me over the past five years, all of them have had a different style of learning and all of them excelled in different aspects of the job. One of the main trends, however, which set certain workers apart from their counterparts were the ones who asked questions and asked for more. 

It may seem simple, but the students who are destined for greatness are always asking for clarification and are always asking for more. There are a lot of opportunities in this world, but most of them don't magically just land in our lap. We must work for them in order to make them happen.

Back when I was an RA, I was in need of a summer job. I was a good event programmer, but did not have the slightest idea what I could do with this skill-set. I decided to talk with one of my employers and see if they had any ideas of potential work I could do over the summer. Their response changed my life.

I was given an internship where I designed and implemented a weekly alcohol-alternative program series every Thursday night call "Happenin' on Thursdays". This internship provided me with a $55,000 budget and unlimited resources to create programs and events for our student body. In many ways this internship has set me apart from many of my peers (even today) and although it happened six years ago, I still include it in my resume.

Now I am not saying that every person has a secret internship just waiting for you to ask for it, but there is no way of knowing if there is or isn't if you don't ask. We miss 100% of our baskets when we don't shoot the ball at the hoop, how is this different? 

The students who finish a job swiftly and effectively and then return to me, asking for more, those are the students who will always be attractive candidates for new jobs. Self-motivation is a rarity in some cases, so why not set yourself apart from others? Reach for your potential. Don't miss your shot!

​Question time: What opportunity has presented itself to you recently which unfolded from a simple question?

While watching the falls, I noticed a small leaf fly off of one of the trees and float to the top of the falls. It twisted and turned in the pool of water at the top for a second and then began to spiral into one of the water currents. As it picked up speed, the leaf began to drop down the rapids. Gallons of water drenched the poor leaf and it was slammed time and time again into jagged rocks. A feeling of dread swept over me as I watched the helpless leaf get drowned by the furious waters before me. I knew the leaf was a goner and would surely perish, but to my surprise it continued to maneuver down the rapids, sinking every once and awhile, but resurfacing to face the next oncoming rapid. The leaf finally reached the bottom of the waterfall and joined hundreds of other leafs at the bottom pool who made similar journeys.

The point to my story is the fact that there will be times when you are swept away with the wind, taken away from the comfort of your tree branch. There will be times when you have to face conflict and must keep your head afloat. If you are willing to endure the pain and chaos and keep getting back up, you will eventually reach a better place and rejoin your friends who took a similar plunge. Even when times get tough, remember that you are not alone and there have been many who can relate to your situation. If you shine a light at any storm, you can find a rainbow within. Remember to stay positive when things get tough, shed some rays of positivity in the direction of your fears and a spectrum of hope will help show you the path to make your way through the troubled waters.

Question time: What tries have you overcome recently? 

Here's a quick challenge of the day:

​Imagine for a second that your "essence" represents a company. Your body is the factory, your thoughts are the blueprints, and the way you interact with others is your product. How would you set up your brand? What would make you a "marketable product"?

There are many easy ways to get noticed, your factory could alter its look to make it more attractive, the blueprints may represent the newest concepts on the market, but at the heart of it all, people will be looking to your product and will be looking at its core. How does your product work? Does it deliver efficiently and consistently, does it have any faults, what makes it tick?   

At the beginning of every RA and RD training, I speak with my staff about the "fishbowl effect". Many higher ed professionals are familiar with this concept, but basically it says that you are always being watched. In your everyday life, consider how you are being seen by your supervisors, supervisees and peers. What will they think of you, by looking at your actions, how do you work, what makes you tick?

In today's society, a person can become a brand just as easily as a company can. It is important to build that reputation, tie yourself to positive experiences. People will always remember how you made them feel. Go out of your way to bring a positive experience to their life. Make sure the product you offer is a positive one.   
  
​Question time: When watching the Toy Story original reel below, how does the different brand of Woody effect your feeling toward him?

We traveled down an old mountain road in search of a place to eat. It had been about ten minutes of farm houses and a heavy lack of civilization and we were both getting very hungry. Afraid we would never find anything and would become very lost, I noticed an old house on a hill with a tattered white sign which said "RESTAURANT" in red spray-painted lettering indicating their hours of operation. My significant other looked at me said, "You must be joking". Something had pulled me into this direction and there was no going back now. We got out of the car and were greeted by an old broken pickup truck, a clowder of screaming cats, and the old rustic house. A elderly woman greeted us and asked if we were there for dinner. We agreed and she directed us inside. I felt as though I was in the middle of a horror movie.

​Upon entering the house, we were greeted by a large Labrador retriever and one of the most beautiful bed and breakfasts I have ever seen. We were given a tour of the house, given its history and were then served one of the most fresh and delicious meals I have ever had. I will treasure this memory for ages to come, not because the food was good or the great company, but because it felt like a true adventure.

Although there are many points I can make here, the topic I want to drive home is to

Explore the unknown, try things which scare you, go wandering into a town you don't know and visit the many hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.  

It was Tolkien who once said "Not all those who wander are lost." Why not unplug from technology for a day and explore the world around you? You never know where your feet will take you.

Question time: What hidden gems are in your local town that many people do not know about?     

Today I went to an antique store and there was a section of old military uniforms. It reminded me of my Grandfather who recently passed away who had served in the military. The last time I saw him, one of my favorite memories was when we went through old photo albums and I got the chance to hear his stories about his life, his service and his childhood. He died a few weeks after this visit.

The other day I received some clothes of his since we were the same size. I try to wear these clothes in my daily dress as much as I can. It makes me feel comfortable in my surroundings and especially on tough days, it is like he is with me.

Why am I sharing this story? A few years ago, I taught a leadership course and one of the classes we had was called the "gummy lump". The summary of the story was that there was a box which meant the world to a man. It was created by his daughter and although it may seem insignificant to many, it meant the world to him. The class was kind of a "grown-up show and tell", but we went around the room and brought an item which may have seemed insignificant, but meant the world to us. I honestly did not have a big item like this except for an old stuffed animal, but now my grandpas clothes are my "gummy lump". I feel like the times that he served, there were many soldiers who had letters from back home or little nick-nacks which meant the world to them as well. These items have special meaning and value to us, they are filled with love and mean many different things. What is your gummy lump?  

Question time: What is your gummy lump?