Field Trip

YESTERDAY---I woke up early in the morning hours to get ready and glammed for a trip to the independent living center in SLC for two educational trainings.  I was so legitimately excited to have an opportunity of doing in person event this time and helping youth with disabilities learn about self determination. I was truly grateful to have been asked to do this not once, but twice and if you must know--that doesn't necessarily happen too often. 

After an hour train ride up to the Murray Station, I climbed off the frontrunner and went to look for my boss who was going to drive me and my colleague to the Independent Living Center. Once we arrived, there was certainly a lot of excitement in the air as I anticipated to present in front of such an incredible group of people. I knew in the back of my mind there would be a Mini Leadership Conference going on, with the idea that I knew both of my amazing colleagues from USILC would be there!!! As I slowly was getting started with this presentation, I was feeling extremely nervous and my heart immediately begins to start pounding really fast. I could not keep the biggest smile off my face as I stood up there and tried with all of my might to keep myself composed. 

I certainly enjoyed getting to add my own little personality into the training itself and that is something I keep close to my heart. I have been doing these trainings for three and a half years now, which is just an absolute dream come true for me!! So many of the self advocates we trained were so engaged in what we had going on--I was completely blown away with how much they knew about and wanted to learn through out their lives. 

Legitimate Highlights:

Getting to make my favorite people laugh and smile throughout yesterday, was just a delight in more ways than one!!! I love spending time with incredible people who are genuinely passionate, dedicated about what they do everyday and I'm not sure I would be the self advocate I am without them. 

Went out to lunch with my colleagues who can make me laugh like no one else can!!! We certainly just enjoy each other's company and shared a scrumptious lunch together at a place, that I had never been to in my lifetime. But it was such a wonderful experience to visit with each other and share stories that I'll genuinely keep myself quiet about--haha!! :) 

Heartfelt Moment:

During my second training--- I was asked a specific question about something related back to if it was hard for me to get up and going with my volunteering experience. I didn't necessarily think much about the fact I was going to become slightly teary eyed and not knowing how much it would strike deep with me as I shared my response with everybody. It was very much from the heart and even though I did not express it in the way I wanted to... I could truly hope that the imprint I left on their hearts stays with them forever. 

Ice Cream Toast (Random Story)

My mentor with the speakers network and I went to get an ice cream cone, which if you must know is a treat for me whenever the opportunity comes up!!! To make this a very long hilarious story brief, I kept mentioning how much I wanted one of the guest speakers who were at the mini conference, could have been with us to get a summer treat--and instead decided to make a toast to this person with our melting ice cream cones!!! Talk about passion right there my friends! I genuinely wished they had been with us and shared in that celebratory moment--but hey I'm sure it will mean something to them when they hear the legitimate news tomorrow!!