Do You Know Your Strengths?

Yesterday, I had an extremely long day.  It started with a 6am-2pm shift at the hotel followed by an SOS/Camp War Eagle (CWE) retreat that lasted from 3:30-7pm.  I was excited to go but went into it thinking it would be just a long staff meeting.  It most definitely was not.

The last part of the meeting focused on our goals and expectations for the next spring which was a great way to get us all focused for the next semester and training new orientation leaders.  But the first part was very interesting.  The career services came and spoke to us about an assessment each one of us took to learn what our strengths are.  This test is called Strengths Quest.  The assessment reveals your top 5 strengths out of 34 talents (or strengths).  My top 5 strengths are Achiever (no surprise), Significance, Focus, Activator, and Responsibility.  All of these I thought were just like me except for Significance.  After reading the description I thought, "Oh, I know exactly why that describes me."  The brief description for significance is you are independent and want to be recognized.  The old me would say that being recognized is the most important but now I would say that being recognized is not what it is all about.  It's about doing things for people whether they know you did it or not.  I like to hear thank you's from people but I'm not going to be upset if I don't hear one.

The interesting thing about this assessment is that there are 34 talents (or strengths) that you can be assessed.  You can take it as many times as you like but your top 5 do not change much.  Studies show that you will stay within your top 10 strengths and vary little.  If you have a strength in your top 5 that you do not think matches you well, it is probably a strength you haven't developed yet.  Focus on that strength and make it stronger than ever.  A successful person knows what their strengths are, what they need assistance with, and is not afraid to ask for help when they know they aren't good in certain areas. Do you know what your strengths are?

September 11th, 2001

Today marks the 10 year reunion of the biggest tragedy I've ever experienced in my life.  I was in the 6th grade when the world trade center towers fell to the ground.  It was a unusual Tuesday because by lunch time no one was in school.  There was enough to keep all the teachers and faculty there but it seemed so empty.  In eighth period, the last period of the day, Mr. Berry told the four out of twenty-five kids left what was going on.  The middle school decided it would be better if we did not know what was going on so the teachers weren't allowed to say anything about the matter.  But with five minutes left of school Mr. Berry, my history teacher, told us what had happened that morning.

I began to walk home right after this thinking, what is the world trade center? What is a terrorist attack? Why did everyone check out because of that? When I got home, my mom was sitting on her bed watching the news.  For an hour I sat there and watched the news trying to figure out what this problem was all about.  Mom tried to explain it to me but a little 6th grader who has no idea what a terrorist attack is doesn't listen very well.

On the one year anniversary, I was in Mr. Ward's government and civics class when an announcement came over the intercom to stand for a moment of silence in remembrance of all the people we lost on that day.  I remember standing there praying and hoping that everything in the world would go back to normal.  Since that day, in 2001, things have never been the same.  Walking home after school isn't an option.  Playing in the neighborhood until 8 or 9 at night is not an option anymore.  Watching your Dad fly off to a conference at the gate is not an option.  Being carefree is not an option.

I am forever grateful for the service men and women who lost their lives on that day.  I look up to those families who have spent the last 10 years trying to explain to their children what happened and make it through this crazy world alone.  I am inspired by the strength those people had who worked in the world trade centers.  It can't be easy to be in a building knowing you are going to die and there is nothing you can do about it.  This day will forever be embedded in my heart.  September 11th changed this nation but we will always be united because of that day.  Tragedy makes faith grow stronger and that's exactly what this country needs every single day.


*This blog is written in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 victims and their families.*