Top Five Methods for Communicating to a Group:
1. Ask questions.
2. Speak clearly, with formulated ideas.
3. View and interpret non-verbal communication.
4. Use information given to you by others.
5. Be open to questions and new ideas.

Top Five Methods for Communicating to Individuals:
1. Listen.
2. Ask questions that let them repeat information back to you.
3. If there are emotions attached to the issue wait to speak until you can be calm.
4. Do not be afraid of stating your opinions in a straight-forward way
5. Do not speak longer than necessary.

I personally love talking, which I'm sure comes as a surprise to all of you. I feel exhilarated when I am able to communicate with a group. Communicating is especially nice when the group is receptive.  The best group communication happens when questions are asked as you go.  The conversation becomes guided by what people actually want to hear and know. Questions can make it easier to speak as you are guided during the presentation.  You almost make the audience a support system.  This is most effective when you are presenting to a pretty small group.  Letting people ask questions is always important, but when they are asked depends on the size of the group.

When communicating with one person, question become less prevalent, but listening is extremely important.  Communicating one on one typically means that there is an issue that needs to be resolved involving this one person. Eliminating volatile emotions makes for better communication. Brevity is always appreciated as well.  Don't take a small amount of information and stretch it out.  When you give your opinion do not be afraid to say them. Beating around the bush can lead to miscommunication and further issues.

Communicating is an interaction between people, not at people. Questions and listening is always welcome and engages people very nicely.

I Believe in Growing up Beautiful

So you all were there and you all know I got rather emotional about American beauty, what that meant, what it meant for me, and what it means for coming generations.  Speaking to you all as a group, especially one with boys seems like it was a pinnacle for me.  I've had an issue with body image for years, as do many people.  It was only during my junior year that I realized my body wasn't wrong, the way I thought about it was wrong.  During the past two years I have been coming to the conclusion that girls and boys should not have to change the way they think about their bodies, they should grow up thinking they are beautiful.  

There are a lot of emotions tied into body image.  But connecting the heart and the head with these issues is innate.  You perceive and connect to images you are given with beauty, but you really should not connect with beauty.  Models are currently 28% under weight and their body types are achievable by 5% of women in the world.  Girls are happiest with their bodies at the age of nine. Freaking nine years old? And this isn't an issue that is being addressed? This Americanized ideal of beauty has permeated the world and body-altering surgery is more and more prevalent. It can change and it must.

Changing the way women and men think at a young age will improve health, both physically and mentally.  The idea cannot persist that people must change to attain something that is so out of their reach. Understanding must permeate more than dissatisfaction.    

The Set-Up: High school is a challenge for everyone. Academically, socially, mentally, and just waking up that early.  I went to the middle school that was considered the poor middle school in the district.  The education I received has the potential for being shoddy, but due to some fantastic teachers I was still challenged.  When 8th grade rolled around my parents decided I should go to a different high school than most people in my middle school. I recoiled from this.

The What:  My parents wanted me to be challenged and the high school they wanted me to go had the I.B. Program. This program is very challenging and it frightened me. Going to a school where no one knew me and working very hard all the time was just not appealing.  As it turned out I loved the program, loved the school, and loved the people. I enjoyed the challenge and I learned almost everyday.

The So-What: The internal conflict came from social anxiety and anxiety about not being good enough to face challenges.  As it turns out it re-enforced that I can be successful in both social and educational situations.  It was frightening but I proved to myself that I can be successful even when I feel I cannot be.

The Now-What: Now I can use this high school experience as motivation for times when a task seems daunting or unfinish-able. My academic skills and social skills would not have developed as well if my parents hadn't encouraged and eventually forced the challenge on me. It stunk for a little whle but I learned I am resilient and strong.

Congruent Cochlears

So, beyond being heart-warming and miraculous, this video is an example of innovation and hard work.  For those who do not know cochlear implants allow people who are born deaf to gain "hearing". This hearing may not be the same as unassisted hearing, but its endgame is the same: to allow the brain to process noise that is fed through the outer ear.

As I narrowed down my influencers and my biggest values it came to light that the birth of my siblings had the biggest effect on my values.  I began to value children so much more. I learned to value the hard work of my parents, the passion that someone can have for their children, love, joy, and the direct correlation that sleep has to my parents happiness.

Delight of being. My number one value is wholly reflected in this video, from the mother's joy to that incredible, tiny smile on the baby's face.  I can watch this video so. many. times. and it never stops making my happy.

The struggle of my parents having more children was one I was semi-aware of as a child. I still am in awe of my parents commitment to one another and to the twins, who did not even exist yet.  This showed me that family, love, commitment, and strength are values that can give you delight you cannot measure.

I know this is soppy and sort of sickening (believe me, I kind of am thinking about deleting the whole thing) but it is the freaking truth. Those two kids are incredible. I do not think of myself as a role model for them.  I want to be someone they would want to know, if science hadn't forced us together.

Both the video above and my siblings were effected positively by science and innovation which are invaluable contributors to society and our current values.

Currently I just try to be happy through myself and the things I do. I want to find joy in something even on the crappiest and most tiring of days. Gabby and Tristan can do that for me, which is a blessing.