Just One Opportunity

If one seeks the meaning of " opportunity" they will see the following: "A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something." So I ask you think about a time when something you wished for really did happen. What did it feel like?  How did you navigate to make it possible?  Did you feel bubbles bursting on the inside?  Now, think how that feeling boosted your confidence and madeyou realize the impossible is possible.

I tend to think that small accomplishments will increase that set of circumstances to make your dream a reality. Sometime, we just need that push. For instance, last week our UB advisor took note of  a student who had a dream of becoming a pilot. Yet, this dream became a mystical memory when someone gave her misinformation. When the UB advisor realized her dream, the staff sought for an opportunity. Basically, the UB advisor gathered a set of circumstances that entailed the misinformation, a lost dream, and the significant push from an experienced person to form a plan for the student.

The UB advisor found an experienced pilot who flies aircraft for the Army. This experienced pilot resembles similar characteristics of the student - same gender, same ethnicity, and same origin.  UB advisor arranged a meeting for this pilot to mentor our UB student. From the very first meeting, our student profoundly gained confidence on how to make her dream a reality. Now she is preparing to enter a program from high school to pilot school.

Please note in this scenario, the misinformation that caused the lost dream, also initiated the set of circumstances that lead to meeting someone to make the dream a reality. So the Bottom Line is as follows: 

Dreams produce a set of circumstances of which you can make the impossible possible. Seek opportunities to make your dream a reality.   

Natalie concurs with this blog by stating "misinformation produces an opportunity for something better."

Meet our pilots...

Follow-up on a Global Mindset

Often you see migrants who come to Americas to find work. These individuals find jobs using skilled labor like building, farming, landscaping, etc.,  but surprisingly they greatly impact the global economic. While listening to Dilip Ratha, he indicated that $413 billion entered the global economic from America in 2013. How does this occur? Migrant workers wire money to their families in Mexico, Nigeria, India, etc. This flow of funds benefit families as well as the markets in these countries. Because the money purchases foods, medicines, and necessities for survival.

(Dilip Ratha: The hidden force in global economics: sending money home #TED : http://on.ted.com/s0B6B)

So how does knowing migrant workers are wiring money can benefit you?  If you develop  a Global Mindset,  you will understand that engaging in an academic setting provides opportunities both socially and educationally. First, you will expand  your classroom experience while sitting and engaging cultures with students from these countries. You will understand their customs and their priorities. Usually, they have different values and tends to express opinions unlike yours. Secondly, the common struggles in the classroom tend to unite the similarities instead of pointing out the differences. You may  find yourself struggling with an  argumentative essay or algebraic equation like one of them. Therefore, a social bond develops between you and the foreign student that will later expand to monetary value when your friend return to his/her native land.  

TRiO Students touring Auburn as an option to become Global Minded

The bottom line:
Seek global opportunities for experience sake instead of finding the right answers all the time.

Global Minded

According to a report in this week by Forbes, LeBron James overtook Tiger Woods as the most marketable athlete in the world." (quoted in the Los Angeles Times)  Also, in the same article Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra said, "in the last six years…we've been to England, France, China and Rio with tremendous experiences." 

 

Remember yesteryears when you watched the commercial "I WANT TO BE LIKE MIKE." Living in a global economic like America, one ceases opportunities like LeBron has.  Now sport enthusiasts in France know that LeBron played against his former team on Saturday, October 11 in Brazil.. Now the international community waits for December 25 with both teams will  meet again.

 

I purpose this question to ponder. How can you cease opportunities like LeBron has? More to follow…

 

I encourage you to read the 25 most influential teens in the world to grasp how you too can become global minded. http://wpcomwidgets.com/?wpcom_origin=http%3A%2F%2Ftimedotcom.wordpress.com

 

Kentoria challenged you to think globally this week as you listen to your professors.

Campus Tours -- Uncertainties

Join our Campus Tours?

Individuals gain experience in unlikely places. When ones broaden their experiences,  it creates opportunities to resolve uncertainties. Basically, the more experiences, the more options one can choose when uncertainties occurs in ones' life. For instance,  the TRiO staff tries to broaden ones' experiences through campus tours at various colleges. These college tours enable participants to observe others experiencing the challenges to acquire their bachelor's degree. Campuses like Tuskegee University allow TRIO students the value of becoming familiar with others just like them. 

Therefore, I commend these students who value competing for more opportunities and seek adventures outside the walls of Wallace Community College. I encourage you to acquire the skill set inclusive of a bachelor's degree to prepare you for future uncertainties.  

Teresa indicated that touring George Washington Carver's home  removed the fears that "I can do anything if I put my mind to it.  Although, Tuskegee allowed me to reduce my selection of colleges, but I know now I want to acquire my BS degree and further my education in medicine." 

ACT Preparation

I once read that "confidence and courage come through preparation and practice."  Our Upward Bound students realize that the more they practice taking the ACT the more confidence they will gain for the actual ACT. They are sharpening their mental skill set for tomorrow's performance. Abraham Lincoln quoted, "If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first hour sharpening the ax."  Continue to sharpen your mental ax until your ACT testing date. 

Practice, Practice and Practice...
you reward will materialize.