Time Management Workshop

Youth City Council Leadership Institute Retreat

On Friday morning I went to Utah State Universtity to a Youth City Council Leadership retreat. I was asked to speak on Time Management for Teens to youth from across the state of Utah. It was a great experience for me. These youth were top notch kids and I really enjoyed teaching them.

I was a little stressed initially when I arrived because the map they gave me was totally confusing and I got LOST! I did not attend USU (other than a couple retreats I attended as a youth) and so I had no idea where anything was. I was getting real stressed when my clock said 10:18 and my first workshop was scheduled at 10:30 and I was still no where closer to the building. Finally, I pulled in a parking lot and asked a girl for help. She told me that the building was on the other side but there was NO parking over there and so my best bet was to park where I was and walk. I luckily found a parking space (the ONLY one left...) whew! I have nothing against walking UNLESS I am running late, and have a ton of stuff to carry, AND it's less than 2o degrees outside! BUT, I had no choice so I grabbed my stuff and hustled as fast as I could to the building. I went the wrong way, and was lost again! But, true to my feminine form, I once again asked for more directions from the next person I saw (see men how easy it is!)

As I was walking towards the building, all I could think of was, I am speaking on time managment and I am going to be late!!! I imagined myself walking in a room filled with youth all waiting for some deep knowledge on how to be better time managers from a speaker who is ...LATE! I worked up a great role play of me just pretending to be late as part of my act...ya know an object lesson of sorts! But lucky for me, the keynote speaker let them out late and I arrived to an empty room! I had to hustle to get all my visual aids ready, but I was so relieved I was on time...well, not technically, but non-technically...(what is the opposite of technically?)

I had a great time. I was sooooo excited to see some of my favorite people from my city there! I had no idea anyone I knew (except Linda Baugh) would even be there. I didn't feel real prepared with this workshop and so I was really hoping no one I knew would be attending! But when I saw Stephanie and the Rex girls, I was so HAPPY they were there. I needed some serious support and they provided it for me! I presented the workshop twice and I have to say I was so impressed with these youth. They were amazing and very interested in the topic. It was so much FUN!!! Thanks guys!

I gave them my blog address and told them I was going to have a contest to see who made the greatest improvement in one of the ideas I taught. They are supposed to write in and let me know what they have done to be better at managing their time. I will choose the one I think improved the most. Soooooo, we'll see if ANY of them will. I don't think they will let me down. After all the prize is a gift card to Blockbuster video!

Here are some photos:

ATTENTION JARED: If you (or anyone that knows you) reads this...you left your book "Beyond Illusions" by Brad Barton in my classroom. Let me know and I will send it to you!