Re-Living those Radford Days

Although I had been to my alma mater Radford University about five years ago, it has been more than ten years since I visited there with friends.  Physical places hold a lot of memories for each of us, but it is the people we care about who add depth to those memories.  So it was this past Homecoming weekend that brought it all back to life.

My best friend Marcus and I made the five-hour drive on October 13th from Portsmouth, Virginia to Radford.  Around the Charlottesville area, the weather brought heavy fog and rain though our spirits were far from dampered.  We passed a town called Crozet in the heart of the mountains that would always make us laugh years ago traveling back and forth during breaks.  As it happens, we have an inside joke where in our best stereotypical Asian accents we exclaim, "Mountain in Crozet!"  I really can't explain the meaning behind this joke but I break down in hysterics thinking about it.

Radford has changed a lot in the past ten years.  There's the new Hurlburt Student Center nicknamed "The Bonnie" after the former Dean of Students Bonnie Hurlburt.  It's a marvelous facility that frankly makes me a little jealous of the students!  A genuine Starbucks is located there... oh, how I would have spent my meal plan dollars at that location.  The Bonnie is directly in front of Trinkle Hall, where I lived my sophomore and junior years.

Trinkle Hall has been completely renovated, and one of the first things Marcus and I noticed was a wheelchair ramp at the entrance of the building.  He and I pushed hard against the administration to build such a ramp around 1998 but of course we didn't know the ADA laws then which state such accomodations aren't necessary until the building is renovated.  Still, we were pretty happy to see one of our dreams was realized.

Moffett Hall, the second largest residence hall on campus, is presently under renovation.  Behind Moffett, there's a behemoth building under construction for the College of Business.  Several streets have been replaced with grass and plazas.  The new Covington Center, also near Trinkle, features an art gallery and performance hall.  And as one female faculty member put it to me and Marcus, the new university president has been "a womanly touch" to the campus by adding plenty of flowers to the landscaping.

It was also great to see some familiar sights - for example, I often frequented the theatre in Porterfield Hall where many of my friends performed in plays.  As Trinkle Hall primarily housed visual and performing arts students, those students tended to be my friends (and honestly, those who dedicate themselves to the arts tend to be my best friends).  I took a few photos of the theater where a play called "God of Carnage" is presently being put on.



Porterfield Hall theatre, from the back row

View from the stage in Porterfield Hall

Of course, the best part about coming back to Radford was seeing three of my friends who I hadn't seen in what seems like forever.  We had such a wonderful time catching up.  Even though we've stayed in touch on Facebook, seeing each other face-to-face was a vastly cool experience.  We had lunch at Macado's, a staple of the Radford off-campus dining experience.  We trekked around the campus, reliving memories.  Muse Hall, my home my freshman year, unfortunately has been treated unkindly the last few years and definitely needs a facelift.  But we reminisced happily at Trinkle Hall the most; we snuck into the building, violating the guest policy in the process... here I was, an RD, breaking the rules!  But we got to walk to my old room where Marcus, my former roommate, lived.  Though the doors and hallways were in nice new shape, they kept the room numbers the same, which was great.  In the basement, they've converted some of spaces.  The best space downstairs was where Marcus and I had put on a swing dance our sophomore (or was it junior?) year for all of the Trinkle Hall residents.  That was probably our program we were most proud of.  And who doesn't love swing dancing to such great music like the Brian Setzer Orchestra?



Where we had our swing dance years ago...

 

Marcus and I in front of our old room



Angela showing off one of her old rooms!

View of the campus from the top of Muse Hall

There are plenty more photos that I've taken that are on my Facebook profile, so I didn't feel like I needed to post all of them here on this blog post.  But certainly we've got to have a group photo!

Erika, myself, Angela, and Marcus in the Governors' Quad

Visiting Radford again reminded me how much of an impact it had on my life.  I certainly would not be the person I am today if I didn't have such an amazing experience there.  I'm extraordinarily thankful for the friends I made, the leadership skills I developed, and the education I received. 

During our senior year, Marcus and I had put together a two-CD set of music that marked significant memories.  We called them, somewhat unoriginally, "The Final CDs."  Marcus and I vowed for this Homecoming trip to compile another CD of songs that didn't make the cut back then or were new to our experiences in our friendship since graduating from Radford.  So on the drive to and from Radford, we succeeded in making a list.  Music has always seemed to me to be one of the best ways to honor and relive our memories.  And as I write this blog, I've been listening to the songs from the final draft playlist.

So I figure it's poignant to end this blog with a video of the Brian Setzer Orchestra playing one of their cool cat songs "Let's Live It Up."  Because we really did live it up back then, and for a beautiful fall October weekend in 2011, we lived it up again.

 

Ten Years Ago

Ten years ago today, I had just started my first year as a Graduate Assistant Resident Director at Capital University of Columbus, Ohio.  We were in our Residence Life staff meeting, and someone mentioned that a plane had just struck one of the World Trade Center Towers.  When I left the meeting, I went straight back to my apartment in Cotterman Hall and turned on the television where I was transfixed by what I saw.  Peter Jennings, who'll always be my favorite anchorman, was talking about the tragic events of the morning.

I called my mother and asked her if she knew what happened.  She turned on the television too and we watched together for the next hour, discussing it all over the phone as it happened.  Watching each of the Towers fall, seeing black smoke bellow from the Pentagon, and hearing the report of the plane crashing in Pennsylvania were all really haunting to witness. 

After that hour, I was called to assist on campus.  I went to the service on campus with many of the students, staff, and faculty.  I remember a lot of people crying, and the world just seemed like it was in a fog. 

There are three specific memories I recall most vividly on that day:

• It seemed like the first-year students in my residence hall were playing the song "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton in just about every other room as I walked by to check on them.  That song will always be engrained in my soul in association with September 11th.
• The candlelight service that night outside of the Campus Center.  Listening to students speaking into a microphone about their reflections.  Holding that candle in my hands and seeing everyone else doing the same was somehow calming, I suppose.  Small lights to offer some hope.
• Calling my best friend Marcus from my parents' house (just five miles north) in the backyard, I looked up and saw a crystal clear starry night sky.  Marcus was in Virginia, and we just thought about how big - yet small - the world seemed to be that day.  We spoke over the phone with emotion just in awe that no planes would cross that starry night sky.

Today the events of September 11th, 2001 and the people so greatly affected by it are marked in my heart.  Always remember.  Always reflect.

Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles"

Drastic Measures for Plastic Tethers

It's funny how a slim card of plastic that can fit in your wallet can weigh you down so much.  Sometimes they multiply, especially under the right economic conditions, until there's a point those little pieces of plastic become tethers anchoring you down as the waters rise all around you.


img: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's a depressing experience when you allow credit cards and debts to become larger than you ever expected.  It started for me when I entered college in 1997.  I was getting so many credit card offers at the time during the good old Clinton era when businesses were booming.  As a college freshman, I gave in to the temptation.  Being an avid 49ers fan, I got myself an NFL credit card through MBNA.  And then I spent money like it was my part-time job.  But with most part-time jobs, the benefits are few.  In 1999, I had an awesome three-week vacation in England with my best friend.  He saved for it.  I didn't.  By that time, I already had accumulated a few credit cards.  Though I don't regret that trip to England for a moment, I'm ashamed to say that it started the lengthy trudging through deeper and deeper debt.
 
I always thought I'd get myself out of it on my own.  But it's been 14 years since the debt began - and gradually increased.  Over the last three years, the debt has plateaued but never decreased.  Then this August 2011 slammed me with such frustration and fear that I knew I had to seek help.

Early in August, I noticed my trusty 1998 Nissan Altima with 120,000 miles was making loud rumbling and squealing noises under the hood whenever it was idling or accelerating.  I had it checked out by the local mechanic and $530 later, part of the problem was fixed.  But the mechanic said the timing chain in my engine was about to go, which was the kind of work he didn't do.  I took it to the local Nissan dealer and they confirmed the problem along with a hefty $3400 price tag to get it fixed.  I couldn't afford this, not even if I combined all the remaining available credit on all of my credit cards.  The financial fear was gripping, and I called my father to ask if he'd help me get a "new-to-me" used car.  Initially he said he'd do it but then changed his mind and said he'd only give me a loan to repair the car.  I didn't have much of a choice unless I took out a large car loan - but even when I did the math for that, I wouldn't have been able to afford the monthly payments unless it was beyond a 60-month term.  So I called around to different auto shops and was able to get my car fixed for $1450 (which contributes to the notion that dealerships are greedy folks!) after getting a check from my father to pay for it.  But I still feared this was $1450 being sunk into a potential black hole.  It's an old car after all.  It took a week for the car to be fixed, which was the longest I've ever been without a car.  That wasn't too bad though since I was in the middle of Resident Assistant training at work which meant I was mostly stuck on campus anyway!

When the auto shop called me to say it was all repaired, I was so relieved when they told me everything else under the hood was in fantastic shape.  What a gift.

I didn't want to experience such stress again though.  What would happen when my car needs another major repair again - or worse yet, is beyond repair?  I knew I had to take care of my personal debt crisis seriously.  After speaking with a friend, I believed speaking with a financial counselor would be a smart start.  Another friend provided me with the name of a reputable credit counseling company, and that's when I decided to take control of my life again.  After a lengthy phone conversation with the counselor named Tricia, she helped me create a debt management plan and a personal budget.  Starting this Monday, I will be giving a little more than half of my monthly salary to the credit counseling company every month for the next 4.5 years.  They'll in turn distribute that money to the credit card companies each month.  It's well worth it, as they're able to lower all of my credit card interest rates by very significant amounts.  You can probably get a good sense now of how bad my debt has really become.

I have cut up all of my credit cards so there's no temptation.  And as each credit card is paid off, that particular account will be closed until all I have left is one credit card remaining with zero balance.  That's where I'll re-build my credit history, wisely this time.  Thankfully throughout the last 14 years, I've never missed a payment to credit card companies and I always made more than the minimum payments, so my credit score is actually really good right now.  So even as my credit history is gradually "lost" over the next 4.5 years, I don't think I'll ever have "bad" credit.  I have student loans too, but I have to manage them myself.  I'm not overwhelmed by those loans - they'll get paid down soon enough.

I've often felt weighed down and depressed by all of the debt I've had.  It's hard to believe that nearly half of my life has been inundated with that horrible feeling and a sense of no control.  But at least I now have a plan.  And with a new personal budget, I'll be able to put aside money monthly for emergencies like car repairs (or perhaps a down payment on a new car a few years down the road?) while also only purchasing the things I only really need.  Well... with one exception. 



My little piece of heaven

That exception would be mocha lattes!  I love them too much and I've visited Starbucks and the local Better Bean coffee shop to get my craving for so long.  Mocha lattes are my self-indulgence.  When it comes down to it, they are probably my most simple daily pleasure that I didn't want to lose.  Of course, I couldn't afford to drive out and buy them anymore with my new  budget.  Well - six years ago, my parents bought me an espresso machine that I never used.  Too complicated, I thought, quite stupidly I might add.  But three weeks ago, I chose to finally give it a try, and guess what?  I've made a mocha latte for myself every day since.  It's certainly an art form to make the perfect mocha, but I've succeeded at doing so.  And instead of paying $4.25 a day for a mocha - plus gas for the car (gasp!), now it only costs me $1.50 a day.

August 2011 was the month that nearly brought me to the financial brink.  Instead, I've chosen to use it as an opportunity to bring me to the light.  I can see the light.  And in 4.5 years, I'll be able to bask in it.  It's a tough journey ahead, but I'm ready for it.  

A Tribute to Our White Shepherd

It was around 2001 that Shaman, a beautiful White German Shepherd, was brought home by my parents in Columbus, Ohio. I'll be honest in saying that when I first met Shaman, I didn't like him. He was initially a little fearful of me, barking every time I looked at him. I walked out of the house to go back to my apartment (I was attending The Ohio State University at the time) and told my parents I'm not coming back until the dog was gone. Yeah, right. Quite the bluff on my part, because Shaman never left, and I came back not too long after.

Ten years later, I'm living near Boston and my parents live in Virginia. Every time I come home to visit for a few days, Shaman has been the first dog to greet me at the door. Tail wagging uncontrollably, pathetic but sweet high-pitch whimpers of excitement, and a craving to be as close as he can to me. When I'd first walk in the door, Shaman's thoughts were likely, as my mom put it, "He's home! The pack is complete again!" He's a brilliant dog. He recognizes different words and phrases easily: ball, walk, [Mikey, Daddy, Mommy - whoever]'s coming, and kittty cat." And if you talked to him, sometimes he'd tilt his head to the left and right as his mouth hung open (kind of like the photo above), trying to figure out what you were saying. He loved learning.

Unfortunately, like many shepherds, Shaman had a lot of hip and leg issues. He'd tear the ligaments in his rear legs, and while some owners might put their dog to sleep at that point because the surgery is so expensive, my parents made the investment - twice - to provide the surgery for Shaman on the two different occasions he took out one of his legs. Shaman got a very good life. He got to hang out with three different dogs in the household over his life - Echo, our Siberian Husky (still alive and well up in Maine with another family now); Diamond, our Doberman Pinscher (no longer with us); and Callie, our Great Dane (still with my parents). By that, you can tell my parents seem to love big dogs!

I went home about three weeks ago for a vacation, and my parents and I spent time at their new vacation home in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Shaman and Callie came with us, of course. It was obvious Shaman was in some pain as his hips and legs were sore, naturally from him getting older. But the moment my mom would ask him if he wanted to go swimming in the pool in the backyard, with his BALL, Shaman would get right up and quickly hobble over. And he'd go swimming! I took this photo of him then with his Spongebob Squarepants ball.

Well, I got the news from my mom that Shaman sadly passed away this past Friday, July 15th, 2011. On Thursday, he apparently didn't have any food or water and was in some pain. That evening, he limped up the stairs with my parents since it was bed time. But at some point that night his body just went into paralysis. He couldn't move at all, and he was whining and panting a lot. My dad had to carry him downstairs, and as soon as the vet's office opened, my parents brought Shaman there. The vet wasn't really sure what it was - it could have been a number of possibilities, but none of them sounded like something that would allow Shaman to have a good quality of living. So my parents had him put to sleep so that he'd no longer be in pain. He would have been eleven years old this November.

I'm sure it's harder for my parents and Callie than it is for me since I'm not even home to be reminded of Shaman. But it's still sad to know that this sweet dog is gone. As for the relationship I had with him, it was good as it can get with a dog. He and I didn't see eye-to-eye initially, but Shaman and I ended up becoming best buddies whenever I visited home. I'm glad I got to see him just recently. One evening at the Outer Banks, I gave Shaman a good massage and he fell asleep he was so happy! I'm thankful I got to have that moment with him.

Rest in peace, Mr. Shaman!

A Whirlwind Trip to Myrtle Beach!

I just returned a few hours ago from a quick trip to Myrtle Beach, SC where my friend Stephanie and her family have just moved to.  It looked as though Stephanie would have to make the 16-hour drive by herself, so I volunteered to tag along.  It was a LONG overnight drive from Massachusetts starting Saturday around 5:30pm, and we saw some major thunderstorms and downpours, but we made it down there in one piece around 9am Sunday.  Stephanie's rabbit also survived the sometimes bumpy-road journey thankfully, as well.  On long-distance drives, I think sometimes the most interesting things are the strange town names you see.  The town of Zebulon, NC probably topped my list this time around.  I thought it sounded like a planet that some crazy aliens would come from. 

Stephanie, her husband Bill, and her daughter definitely have a nice apartment in SC, and I'm frankly a little jealous!  I could also see why Myrtle Beach is such a major tourist destination.  Plenty of things to do.  And I haven't seen palm trees in years, so that was cool, too.  The weather was a bit too hot for my liking in the 90's (coming from Massachusetts when it was raining and 60 degrees was a shock).  But I enjoyed seeing where they are now living.  I think once they settle in, they'll really love it.

Sunday was the only day I'd have down there, so I was limited in what I could do.  But we all had lunch, took a 4-hour nap, played a round of mini-golf together where a fun miniature train took us to our 18-hole course (playing golf, I came in second... Bill kicked butt, but I had two holes in one!), and had dinner at the Outback Steakhouse.  I LOVE that restaurant.  Though it's pricey, it's so worth it.  I savor every bite of their delicious Victoria's Filet.  Perhaps I will write to Outback and tell them how great it is, and they'll send me a coupon for a free meal there.  Haha, one can hope! 

It really stunk that I had to leave Monday morning since I'm on call this evening at work.  But at least I was flying back instead of driving.  It was tough to say goodbye, although I know I eventually return down there especially considering my parents live in Hampton Roads, VA and have a vacation home in the Outer Banks of NC, both of which are about 5 1/2 hours away from Myrtle Beach.  By the way, I definitely recommend Spirit Airlines as they have quick, inexpensive flights between Myrtle Beach and Boston.  Plus they have a $9 fare club you can join.

All in all, I was just happy to help out a good friend make the journey, see where her family's new life is, and get a mini-vacation in there, too!  Oh, and I can officially add South Carolina to the list of states I've visited - 38 of 50 now! Woot!  Now it's back to work...  but I'll be on vacation again in a week and a half in the Outer Banks.  Yay for that!

Please Help Me Raise Money for the MDA!

Hi gang!

The reason for my blog today is to make a plea to you to help me raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of southeastern Massachusetts.  The MDA provides support for children with muscular dystrophy and other neurological muscular disorders.  Last week, I received a phone call from Barrett's Alehouse asking me to participate in their Bridgewater Lock-Up to raise money for the MDA.  On June 22nd, I will be arrested and placed "behind bars for Good."  They have set my bail at $1600 - I know it is a stretch to make that, but I'd like to do my best!  I'm told if I don't meet bail, I'll still be released for good behavior... so don't worry TOO much.

Here is my game plan to raise money - now that I am out doing my brisk walks again (and will likely do another half-marathon in the early fall), I ask for you to pledge to donate for every mile that I walk between Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, June 19.  My personal goal is to reach 50 miles over the course of those 30 days.  You'll be helping to support Jerry's Kids, but I also offer you an incentive!

For every 25 cents per mile that you pledge, I will enter you into a drawing for a free meal at your favorite restaurant up to $25 with yours truly!  If you live far away and we won't be able to meet up, then I'll mail you a $25 gift certificate to your favorite restaurant.  If you pledge to donate 50 cents per mile, then I'll enter you twice in the drawing, and so forth.  So how's that sound? :-)  All you need to do is comment on this blog with your pledge, write on my Facebook wall, or send me a Tweet!  You can also me at mtgoodha@gmail.com.

Once June 19 rolls around, I will announce the drawing winner, and I'll let you all know my walking total and request your donation at my MDA Bridgewater Lock-Up personal page.  If you prefer to make an anonymous donation, you can still do so at my personal page noted above, any time you wish!

Feel free to share this post on your blog or in any form that you choose, too!

So are you willing to help me and Jerry's Kids out?  I hope so. :)

(p.s. - in case you're feeling skeptical about my walking total, I use RoadRunnerGPS on my walks and will post those on June 19th [until then, I'm going rogue with it]... so this is scientific! ) 

A StrengthsQuest Experience

An Introduction to StrengthsQuest

Recently I had the pleasure of attending a full-day workshop with fellow staff members on StrengthsQuest, a program that begins with a 30-minute assessment of one's individual talents and then explores how your talents can be harnessed as strengths in an academic setting.  Whereas a talent is a natural ability, a strength is that talent tapped into and developed.  StrengthsQuest boldly states that you need to focus less on your weaknesses and more on developing your talents.  Certainly you can't completely neglect making some improvements on your weaknesses especially when it comes to job requirements.  But you'll make better use of your time by building on your talent.

I was excited about the workshop for a couple of reasons: it's essentially a program that identifies personality traits, and since I love the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, StrengthsQuest sounded cool; the other reason is I had already taken the StrengthsFinder assessment a couple years ago, so I was somewhat familiar with the various 34 Strengths and my particular Top Five Strengths.  The workshop was very interactive, and we spent much of our time in discussion with a partner, a group of four, and in full room activities.  I couldn't help but compare StrengthsQuest to the MBTI many times, and I think I still prefer the MBTI overall.  But regardless I do feel StrengthsQuest is a very useful tool.  It's another lens through which you can view yourself (and others).

The 34 Strengths can be consolidated into four categories: Executing, Influencing, Relationship-Building, and Strategic Thinking.  Getting a sense of the distribution of your and co-workers' Strengths across these categories can help you understand how you can work as a team and if your team is missing some useful talents. 

As it turns out, three of my Top Five Strengths are in Relationship Building, and two are in Strategic Thinking.  In fact, even among my Top Ten Strengths - seven are in Relationship Building, and three in Strategic Thinking.  What that means is you can definitely count on me to consider others' thoughts and feelings in decision making but also to utilize logic to analyze different plans of action.  However, when it comes to implementing the plan or persuasively pushing my (or the group's) agenda -- not as much! (A funny example of that: ten years ago in my first year as a Resident Director, after much group deliberation over an issue in a staff meeting, I told my RAs "if it's okay with you guys, I'd like to make an executive decision."  Classic indecision.)

My Top Five Strengths/Talents

So, here are my Top Five Strengths, what they mean, and examples of those strengths (or talents) in my life.  I have italicized the definitions as provided from StrengthsQuest.  You'll have to forgive me in advance, as I feel like this next section comes across a bit narcissistic.  But these are my strengths after all.  ;-)

1) Connectedness: People especially talented in the Connectedness theme have faith in the links between all things.  They believe there are few coincidences and that almost every event has a reason.

I did a lot of research during graduate school on the topic of spiritual development among college students, and that was sparked from a situation my junior year of college when I had a bowel obstruction and would have died without emergency surgery.  That experience set in motion a personal search for meaning and purpose.  I read the Tao te Ching, fell in love with the idea of synchronicity discussed by Carl Jung, and came to believe that the world was vaguely meant to be as it is.  My love for genealogy is partly rooted in the belief that I was meant to be here, for if even a single one of my ancestors did not procreate at the time they did, I would not exist - at least not as I am.  I especially love the idea that the moment of conception is a high-stakes game of chance where the odds are overwhelmingly against you to be born; thus, if you're lucky enough to be born, you should consider yourself a chosen one (by who or what, I don't know).  Finally, when things in life get difficult, I have faith that it's all part of a cycle, and that eventually things will get better again.  These beliefs all help to keep me resilient and motivated.  I think the Connectedness theme also helps drive my involvement with sustainability efforts.

Oh, and my favorite song?  "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," by Sting. 

2) Input: People especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more.  Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.

I've always loved books since I was a young child, and today I have quite the library in my apartment.  I mostly read non-fiction books - either biographies, history, or politics.  Like a batting line-up in baseball, I always have at least a couple books ready for whenever I'm finished with the current book I'm reading.  Along with that, I soaked in words as a child, and spelling and grammar became important to me as I grew older.  With genealogy, I love the pursuit of my ancestors (or my friends' ancestors - honestly, it doesn't matter!) as I search for birth, marriage, military, census, immigration, academic, and death records to name a few.  Having a collection of ancestors' letters during the Civil War, World War I, and World War II is a matter of pride for me.  I enjoy trivia games, and my home web page is CNN.com (I crave the news!).  And the Input theme definitely lends itself to my desire to work in a registrar's office one day.

3) Intellection: People especially talented in the Intellection theme are characterized by their intellectual activity.  They are introspective and appreciate intellectual discussions.

As a strong introvert, I appreciate time alone to collect my thoughts, imagine different situations, and consider my feelings.  But I also thirst for discussions with others about the news, politics, and philosophy.  I've always been this way even in middle school.  I recall morbidly theorizing as a 14-year old that if the human population had to be reduced due to overpopulation, which people would be first to go and why?  I'm not proud of those ideas, but it is an example of me as an adolescent boy flexing the muscles of his brain.  With significant others, I've always needed to be with someone who shared my love for one-on-one philosophical discussions and debate.  Also, if there's a major decision for me to make, it's important for people to give me a fair amount of personal time to reflect on it. 

4) Individualization: People especially talented in the Individualization theme are intrigued with the unique qualities of each person.  They have a gift for figuring out how people who are different can work together productively.

I feel as though my obsession with the MBTI is a mark of the Individualization theme.  I used the MBTI when I was a student leader in RHA.  In graduate school, I was lucky to take a course in the Myers-Briggs.  After that, I was able to become qualified to administer the MBTI to groups and organizations - something I love doing to this day.  I consider myself pretty observant of others' qualities; I'm not necessarily as good at getting people to work together productively but that perhaps is a talent that just needs molding.  In conduct cases at work, I tend to take students' individual stories into consideration for judicial decisions.  During my senior year in college, I had written a poem that I read to a group of fellow student leaders at a banquet about the power of the individual.  Coinciding with that time, my letter of intent for graduate school outlined my firm belief in individualism.

5) Adaptability: People especially talented in the Adaptability theme prefer to "go with the flow."  They tend to be "now" people who take things as they come and discover the future one day at a time.

I immediately think of the "Perceiving" type preference from the MBTI when this Adaptability theme comes up.  As a Perceiver, I am fairly spontaneous about many things at least in the long term.  In the short-term though, I do tend to have thought-out plans and goals.  But I feel no need to plan out my nights and weekends, and I'd rather have a day free to myself to do whatever I want rather than be tied down with a commitment.  If a plan goes wrong, I don't typically panic and can consider other options fairly quickly.  I also believe that planning things out too much can blind you from seeing sudden opportunities that may come your way.

*You can see how I rank for all 34 Strengths below:

Final Thoughts

I'm looking forward to collaborating with others in student affairs at Bridgewater in considering plans to use StrengthsQuest with others at the university.  I'm also keen on reading the StrengthsQuest book that we were given at the workshop - it's next on my line-up!

If you're interested in taking the StrengthsFinder assessment, you can go to http://www.strengthsfinder.com/ and purchase an access code, or you can go to your book store and buy the StrengthsFinder 2.0 book.