February 22, 2011 Dean Kau

"When we serve others we are not motivated by selfishness, but by charity" according to Dean Kau. A leadership experience I've had where I've been motivated by charity occurred just last Tuesday, the week we didn't have class. A girl wanting to interview for next year's SH VP came in to talk with me about what SH is, how it works, what its programs are, etc. I could have just told her flat out that since she had never been involved with our area before there's little chance she'd become VP so she should just bag it. During our conversation I could tell her heart was in the right place and that some day she would make a fantastic VP; I told her what I could and printed out a rough, ROUGH outline of each of our programs hoping that would be enough for her to succeed. I guess I share this experience because it's only out of my genuine interest in her behalf that I took 90 minutes of my time to talk with her about something so dear to my heart. I met with her initially thinking our discussion would be a waste of time but by the end I realized how much I care for the Honor Code and that I'm not the only one who feels that way. I hope she does well in her future leadership positions because if she can inspire me then she can inspire a ton of people!

It's important for me to serve and lead now because tomorrow may never come. I shouldn't wait to be influential. I should do what I can today so I can improve for tomorrow. Time is precious and it's how I use that time that determines my future happiness and success!

At my first meeting as Vice President for Student Honor the old presidency and the new presidency met up with the leaders of our University and Elder Johnson who, at the time, was the CES President (he might still be but I'm not sure). He spoke about how the winds will blow and storms will come but how I face those oppositions are what make me a strong leader. "Will you face those challenges with a smile?" he asked us, "Or will you groan and shirk away from your responsibilities?" In two weeks a full year ago I decided I would face my challenges with a smile and haven't stopped smiling yet. It's important that I do my job the best I can meaning that I work hard to be a good student, a good sibling, a good daughter, a good teammate, and most importantly a good friend. In preparation for unexpected opportunities I need to make sure that I'm doing all I can so that I have the time to serve others without forgetting the duties to myself.

February 14, 2011 President Samuelson

President Samuelson explained the importance of accepting callings. Please describe how you plan to respond to different calls that will come to you over your lifetime.

I love my calling! I get to teach Sunday School every other week! I learn more by being the teacher than I do by listening from the seats. I like lead discussions and hear what people have to say. I think it's unfortunate that some people avoid their calling. Trust God and know that He only gives us opportunities that we can accomplish and from which we will learn and grow. Every calling is important. I love the following story: There were two men working on the same building. One was building a chapel for the Lord while the other was merely laying bricks. Callings come from our Heavenly Father and if I trust Him I know I am building a chapel not just laying bricks.

President Samuelson identified the practice of being “too critical” of ourselves as being worse in effect than not being critical enough. How do your expectations of your own performance effect how you serve as a leader. How do you intend to avoid the practice of over self-criticism?

I used to worry about being perfect until I realized it only made me stress which led to my face breaking out. To prevent unnecessary zits I stopped worrying about what I couldn't control. If I can do my best and feel good about it then why criticize myself? I'm good at things that other people have to work hard at and there are things that I need to work hard at that they're naturally perfect in. If we were all perfect then we would have no need to be on Earth yet we are. Christ was the only perfect one and I am no where near where I need to be in relation to Him but I can perfectly try to be like Him =D.

President Samuelson shared his method of organizing his plans to include, long term, mid term and short term. What approach do you currently use in organizing the work you are responsible for?

I plan for mid-term more than anything else. I plan out my major things of the month and focus on those rather than day to day. Sometimes I try to schedule every hour of my day but then when I miss an hour I get all lost and confused with what to do next. I find it better to have to-do lists and work on semi-large milestones rather than fuss over many little boulders. A little bit of unbalance helps me progress towards where I want to end up. While I don't worry about each day so much, I do have a list of long term goals and they include: go on a mission, get married in the temple, graduate college with a bachelors degree, have a family, go to the Celestial Kingdom. So far I haven't accomplished any of those but I'm working on them! I want to be a good leader to my team by being my best self. If I have goals then hopefully my team will hop on the wagon and make goals too!

Please describe your motive for serving in BYUSA. Has this motive changed or evolved as the year has gone by.

I started in BYUSA as a freshman because I felt like an opportunity to serve in such a large capacity would never come again. I just love to help where I can and if I don't do it, who else will? Over the two years I've been involved my desire to help others has increased and grown into something that makes me who I am. I am a Server. I serve where I want in however I want whether that be to a friend who needs someone to listen to or as a VP over PDs who don't know what they're doing. I love to help and have the means needed to help in BYUSA so here I am. I only hope that I have been able to teach others through my service and inspired them to want to stay involved in BYUSA.

February 7th, 2011 Brother Ron Jones

Brother Jones gave an experience where he was recommended for a job based on his ability to follow through on assignments and be responsible. I can learn from his example by following the same pattern of leadership. I should start this behavior by being a tad more pro-active about my blog assignments! At least I'm getting them in now instead of never doing them though... OK, back to the task at hand --> To make sure I am considered someone who is reliable in completing projects I can make sure to only bite off what I can chew. Although it's not a huge issue, I see it more and more as I grow up that people say they will do something only to realize that they don't have enough time or they've double booked themselves! Of course, this usually happens within the week that the said project is due... I want to be someone that others can count on and I need to start by making sure I have time to do what I'll say I'll do. Empty promises are lame.

I want to be a counselor at a high school when I grow up and graduate from college (if that day ever happens...) and I need to prepare myself for the non-mormon community that I will most likely put myself in. Today at church we talked about how important it is that we befriend others before we go all missionary on them. Like Ron, I can be a good example for our church by being nice, friendly and welcoming to everyone. It's important to "remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (DC 18:10) despite their religious beliefs.

The concept of involving others is incredible to me. Through Honor Week we were able to see just how involved people could be with a simple invitation to participate. God loves each of us and has given us particular talents to improve ourselves and lives of others. How could I not let them showcase their gifts? Like Ron and his ability to include all sorts of people to make his event of the Festival of the American West successful I too can invite as many people as possible to help where they can. Who knows if my invitation will be the one to change their life?

Brother Cox - January 31

Select at least three of Bro. Cox's 12 career "hints" and report what you are currently doing to follow his recommendations. Be specific in describing how you are living each "hint."

1) "Family First": I've realized how much I enjoy letters from missionary friends and how I write to them more than my own family. I'm working on a project where I write one letter a week to one of my siblings or to my parents. I would be nothing without them in my life! The first letter is to my sister and I'm writing it tomorrow during my lunch break. =D

2) "Don't Measure Success by Fame or Fortune": I teach sunday school every other week but for the past three weeks I've taught the lesson. It's wonderful because I really feel like I learn more about the gospel when I get the opportunity to teach. I can't measure how well I'm teaching based on fame because the other good teacher teaches the same week I do. If I measured the quality of my lessons based on attendance that would be a waste of time! I'm not teaching for popularity! I'm teaching so that those who do come to listen and participate can learn about Christ's divine mission and the New Testament. What I measure my teaching quality on is the type of comments I get afterward and those are what make me feel good. I can tell they are sincere comments and that's what I like to hear! Having a fun class is entertaining but I like to make my class think about real life application and how they can take the lessons into the real world and improve their lives.

3) "Try New Things": Every month my goal is to experiment with a new extreme activity. How will I find out what I like or don't like if I don't try it out!? If I didn't take advantage of the new opportunities that come my way while at college then I wouldn't be involved with BYUSA or even have the friends that I currently do. Trying new things and not being skeptical of what might happen is how I've learned so much about myself, what I enjoy doing, and what I'm good at.

Select one or more "hints" from Bro. Cox upon which you feel a need improve your focus. Be specific about your plans to better incorporate this "hint" into your life.

1) "Do More Than is Expected": I need to do this hint waayyyy better. I feel like I only do what is required of me when I'm working on a project or doing an event. It's not all about me. I have responsibilities to my team, roommates and friends and need to fulfill my duties to them more than meet the bare minimum. Life is hectic, yeah, but I can bite off quite a bit to chew for myself and I've never been one to start something I can't finish. I can be better about being a leader and getting stuff done BEFORE its due, not just on time. It's all about being pro-active. I get frustrated when other people just wait around for something to happen. I want to urge them to 'Make it happen! Be a leader! Do what you signed up to do!', but I need to take my own advice before I can dish it out to anyone else.

The 12 "hints" he shared with us on Monday include:
1. Family First
2. Leave it better than you found it.
3. Don't fear to contribute and invite others to do so.
4. Do more than is expected.
5. Be prepared before opportunity knocks.
6. Be willing to start from ground level.
7. Don't measure success by fame or fortune.
8. Don't value security more than opportunity to serve.
9. Deflect praise to others.
10. Sprout deep roots.
11. Try new things.
12. If you don't love it, leave it.

Judge Griffith - January 24th

Judge Griffith spoke about his career and how he had moved around to different opportunities seeking to find his passion. Please describe what you feel you are passionate about today and where you think these interests will take you as you start your career path.

I'm really passionate about making other people happy. I love when I influence someone to smile, or to think about a life changing experience, or to call their mom and tell her how much they love her. I'm not huge on having to see a numerical result [even though that is nice] but knowing that I've helped someone realize how much they are loved and then see them love others in return gets me through the day. I guess this means I'm passionate about loving others?? I know I'm not the greatest at being an event leader but I like to think that in some small way I'm helping others feel good about themselves and learn what kind of person they want to be. Is there a career for that?!?! I think there is and it's called motherhood... too bad that doesn't pay for college.

Judge Griffith quoted several versus in Jacob 2, in reference to the pursuit and use of wealth. How will you apply the concepts that Jacob shares with us as you experience success in your career.

I was thinking about something similar over Christmas break. Poor people can't help others because they don't even have the funds to take care of themselves! I need money if I want to help people! Of course there are people like Ghandi and Mother Teresa who did wonderful things without a ton of money, but what about those days when I just want to make dinner for a struggling, single mother and her 3 kids but hardly have money for my own top romin? What do I do then? Sometimes the sentimental things are best when I'm trying to show how much I care and more than usual those sentimental things cost money. Judge Griffith talked about how the LOVE of money is the root of all evil but money in general is a good thing! I want a good job that will pay well so that I can take care of myself, my future family, and others! That isn't too much to ask for, is it? When I get that fantastic job as a private school councilor and basketball coach, I'll use the money to give service and have my kids come help. It's killing two birds with one stone really.

Please share something you learned about leadership in your career from judge Griffith’s presentation.

I realized that even though I would like to be a poor hippie who spreads the good message of love and peace, I don't have the life style to keep such a low income budget haha. Soooo something's got to give! I like being middle class and I also like helping people. I feel like I'll learn more on my mission (my first interview is on Wednesday!!) and after that I'll better understand what God has in store for me. I don't need to rush through life nearly as quickly as I used to think I needed to. Life is so full of opportunities! I should take more time to stop and smell the roses because most of the time I don't even realize I've passed them until I'm stuck in a garbage dump.

As for how this has anything to do with leadership I don't know really. I feel like we are always having to look forward to the next thing and thinking of the future and how to prevent the bad stuff from happening at an event. That doesn't really leave time for smelling anything except the sweat from your forehead because you're so worried that you forgot something. If there is one thing I've learned this year it is this: it always works out; do your best and don't worry about what you can't control; love others for them to love you back and don't sit in the corner when something needs to be done; be proactive and not overbearing; make a situation better than how it was when you found it. LIFE IS GOOD!

SUPERarea meetings - SHA meeings

Melissa talked to me today about having a quick area get together where we share a spiritual thought or message so that as an area, Student Honor can be more unified. I think it's a great idea! I just don't know how we'll do it. It sounds kind of like an FHE; I love FHE. I'm going to figure out a good way to do it. This is something that will bring us together as an area and help everyone get to know each other. Great idea Melissa! Good thinking!

My Resume

KariElle Thalman

322 N 750 E Provo, UT 84606 623-229-2916 karielle.thalman@gmail.com

Objective

­­Committed to find, teach, build and inspire others to help them become leaders centered on Jesus Christ who enjoy serving those around them and contribute to the building of Zion.

Skills Summary

Service oriented – always willing to lend a helping hand

Motivates Others to High Achievement – focused on lifting others to become their best

Builds relationships – observant to other’s personalities and needs without verbal communication, encouraging superior clientele service

Goal driven – embraces challenges that enhance knowledge and experience

Experience

BYUSA Vice President of Student Honor 2010-Present

- Supervise 4 executive team members to serve 33,000 students

- Attend regular meetings with University dignitaries as a student representative to encourage honorable living standards

- Effectively delegated 13 new 5 month programs

- Organized and lead an ethics dinner discussion for 20 student leaders

- Planned and successfully provided food for a two hour outdoor venue to 7,500 students

- Researched, planned, and carried out productive team building activities

- Conducted interviews for the Student Honor Executive Team

BYUSA Executive Director in Student Honor 2009-2010

- Recruited, trained and mentored 16 co-ed ethics discussion leaders

- Planned, organized and lead ethics discussions to 20 college freshman twice a week for 7 months

- Organized 8 ethics discussions for BYU Performing Arts Majors and athletes

Teacher, Gospel Principles 2008-Present

- Prepare and present gospel principles to groups of 30-45 undergrad students for gospel discussion and enlightenment

- Prepared and delivered appropriate gospel messages to six 5 year old children at the age of 18

Education

Brigham Young University 2009-Present

English Major

Expected Graduation Date: April 2015

Willow Canyon High School 2004-2009

High School Diploma with Honors; 3.8 GPA

Graduation Date: May 2009

TThis really does look good... I'll send it to you in an email if you'd like.