Keep Climbing Launched

Hello all,

While this is my second attempt at a blog, I feel that this will be more successful than the last blog. One thing I have learned is that by keeping a narrow focus for a blog, you can really only write about those areas of interest.

My areas interest span far beyond just triathlons, so my topic was too narrow. I chose keep climbing because it seems that I keep seeking out new challenges and want to climb the next mountain (and yes, the Miley Cyrus song was the inspiration). The prefect example is my next entree into education. I am beginning my doctorate in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine.

We just completed our three day orientation program for the Organizational Leadership program. The experience was very exciting and enlightening.

Thursday, the first day of orientation, was a "technology camp". Basically it was the administrative day for the program. We met the director of the program, a librarian, a career center representative, did a writing sample and went through several hours of tech training. Jenith set us up with Skype accounts, Tapped In, Blackboard, etc and gave us tons of tips on programs that can be used for screen sharing, screen capturing, edition You Tube videos, inserting videos in PPT. Long and short - we learned a ton in a very short period of time. I am so thankful that I knew some of that stuff or I would have been completely lost!

Friday and Saturday were the official beginning of the EDOL program. The two days were like two weeks in a resident assistant training program or a leadership camp. We did sharing activities learning each others names. We did teamwork and communication activities to assist us recognizing how we communicate. We completed the MBTI, Firo-B, and DISC assessments and compared and contrasted our different styles. We watched several videos: Seeing Red Cars with Laura Goodrick, Power of Positive Vision with Joel Barker, Everyday Creativity with Dewitt Jones, Who Moved My Cheese and J in a Box (cannot remember his name). We discussed different leadership theories and the similarity of Self Awareness in most of them.

Our three days ended with our sharing our lifeline and our vision of the future. Two and half hours was all the time that we had for a group of 25 to share what life experiences made them who they are today. We each had 5 minutes total. Very short period of time, but I was immensely impressed with the level of respectfulness and value that every member of the group placed on hearing what was shared. Tears were shed, comfort zones were pushed and we all made it through together.

Needless to say, I am exhausted after the three days! I slept for 14 hours after we finished last night. And this morning (okay afternoon), the first thing I did was to see if our syllabus had been posted, so I could start the work. I am sincerely looking forward to working and learning with this group of people.