Keepin' It 100 with Willy T. Coming to you LIVE from the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel in Sweet Home Alabama! Over the next couple weeks, I have a really awesome opportunity to attend three conferences in multiple cities that I’ve yet to visit. I’ll do my best to keep you posted on my social media, and I’ll find a way to make my updates entertaining :) This week: I attended the NIRSA Region II Conference in Birmingham. Here are some highlights (photos below for some more context) -
Steph Goetz (far right) and I completed grad school together at JMU. When we were students, we’d get taken to lunch at conferences by professionals, and we promised each other that we would return the favor when we “made it.” This has now become an annual tradition, and Dylan/JP are two incredible NIRSA students. Eugene’s Hot Chicken was the perfect setting with some great eats! Upcoming Travel:
This much travel is a good bit out of my comfort zone, so say a prayer and send me any travel tips you may have! Peace, Love, and Conferencing,
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Keepin' it 100 with Willy T. As we’re just a few days away from Halloween and as I conclude this month’s Snickers Series (if you’re joining us late, here’s the theme I’m referencing), I jumped on the opportunity to highlight the biggest chocolate-aficionado that I know: Emma Kirwan. She also happens to be my girlfriend, and today marks 2 years that we’ve been dating. According to Emma, her “Snickers” is going for a walk because it clears her head and helps her reset her day. In honor of that, I asked her the following questions on a recent walk as we prepare for Hallowellness: Q: What’s your favorite Fall/Halloween tradition? Why? A: Watching Hocus Pocus! It’s a timeless film that gets anyone in the mood for Halloween. Q. What’s your all-time favorite Halloween costume that you’ve worn? A. My all-time favorite was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz when I was 6 years old. I don’t think I took off my red ruby slippers for a few days after. Q. What’s the most embarrassing costume you’ve dressed as for Halloween? A. I don’t think I have an embarrassing costume I’ve worn because I was always so picky when I was younger. It was a little embarrassing the amount of times I was a witch because I got to wear cool black lipstick that I would never wear on any other occasion! Q. If you could dress as a superhero for Halloween and get to keep their superpowers, who would it be and why? A. Wonder Woman because she is a literal goddess. She has the strength and agility that I want to acquire. Plus she’s amazing and can do anything. Q: Here’s a scenario: While trick-or-treating, you come upon the home of a witch. She presents you with the following conundrum. The piece of candy you choose from her selection will become the only type of candy you can eat for the rest of your life. What type candy do you choose? A. Without a doubt, it would be a Milky Way. They’re the perfect combo of chocolate and caramel, and I could probably eat a whole bag in one sitting. Q. Settle this hot debate: Should Candy Corn be sold year-round? Why/Why not? A. Absolutely not!! It is only good once a year, when you’re carving pumpkins or dressed in costume. Anytime else is not nearly as enjoyable. (For the record, I completely disagree and think Candy Corn should be sold year-round. We decided to save this topic for a later discussion - ha!) Emma is a yogi and wellness-promoting graduate student. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Social Work from James Madison University in May 2017 and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Sport and Recreation Leadership at JMU. She also serves as the Graduate Assistant for JMU’s Office of Admissions. Her two biggest loves (in no particular order) are running and donuts. She’s a Leslie Knope wannabe and aspires to work with students and spread positivity. Thank you to everyone who has read and supported my blog throughout the Snickers Series! A special thanks to Rachel Nicely, Mark Iturriaga and Kyle Harmon for guest-writing this month. And to Em - Happy Anniversary: You’re the real MVP! Keepin’ it 100 with Willy T When I moved into my full-time role at UNC, Kyle Harmon was a standout intern who showed me the ins and outs of what it truly means to be a Tar Heel. She absolutely walks the walk (maybe you’ll get the pun after reading the next paragraph) and never waivers from her positive attitude. She will definitely be back on this blog, so buckle your seat belts. Kyle keeps it REAL on this one: “No more than three hours after Will texted me about writing for this series, I pulled my quad muscle. I was about to tell y’all how a Zumba or cycle session makes me feel like a new woman. But what happens when you can’t do the one thing that hits your reset button? It may not always be about the activity you do—maybe it’s more about being selfish, giving yourself the freedom and permission to clear your head, to breathe, to play. You can’t always go for that run, but maybe you can walk…” Kyle is a graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin studying Public Health and Social Work. She graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she worked as a fitness instructor during her time as a student. Two years following her graduation, Kyle worked to create fitness and wellness programming at Campus Recreation and the university community as a whole. She is devoted to spreading health and happiness, and wants to create spaces for all to access opportunities to put their best foot forward, play, and prosper. You can follow Kyle’s journey on Instagram at @kyleinharmony. Keepin' It 100 with Willy T. This one is powerful. Like, superpowerful (pun obviously intended). Marc and I originally met by working in the field of collegiate recreation, and he’s been an awesome source of support throughout my career. Hear from the King in the North himself on why he reads superhero comics to keep him going: "My typical day is never the same. Being a creature of habit, it is sometimes difficult to navigate hectic days of meetings, projects, meetings, emails, meetings, connecting with staff, oh, and meetings! Marc is currently the Executive Director for the Genesis Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, a community hub whose mission is to connect people in shared celebration, service, learning, and play! Previously, he worked for over 20 years in Student Affairs at 3 different institutions with the International Students Office, Residence Services, and 15 years with Campus Rec. Along with his Master of Leadership, he has extensive experience in developing leaders of the future and is committed to ensuring a respectful, collaborative, and engaging work environment which values inclusion, continuous development, and fun! In no particular order, he has defined himself as: Devout Partner | Lego Dad | Baller | Raps Fan | Comic Geek | Changemaker | Human | Lifelong Learner Keepin' It 100 with Willy T Last week’s blog metaphorically focused on my “Snickers,” or what I go to when I’m not feeling very “me” (here’s the blog if you need to catch up!). I encouraged friends to share with me what keeps them going and I received some awesome responses. So with this sweet treat in mind, I thought I’d share responses as we approach Halloween (or Hallowellness as Alicia coined it). Up first is Rachel Nicely, who keeps it 100 on why she exercises to ensure she’s giving her best self to those around her. “With all the different roles that life demands, it is sometimes easy to get caught up in it all. Giving 100% of myself to those around me is on my every-day agenda, so I know that my cup needs to be completely full in order to serve those around me. When I’m not feeling my best, my go-to “Snickers” is without a doubt getting a solid lift or run in with my workout partner. Working out forces me to get out of my mindset no matter what kind of day I am having. It grounds me in a way that nothing else can! It reminds me how blessed I am to move my body is such an astounding way, while also allowing me to show gratitude for the opportunity to even have weights to lift or an environment to run in. Physical exercise refreshes my mindset and gives me a euphoric reminder of how lucky I am to live the life I do.” Rachel is a junior at Radford University currently studying Allied Health Science. In addition to studying at Radford, she’s a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise. She loves inspiring others to be confident in themselves while also crushing goals not only inside the gym, but outside as well! She is employed at the Radford University Student Recreation and Wellness center working as the social media manager and as a personal trainer. Keepin' it 100 with Willy T: Episode 7 The “dog days of summer” have come and gone. While reflecting, I wanted to highlight the chance I had to connect with my best bud since 9th grade, Jordan Ronning, for a day of disc golf back at in my hometown. Neither of us have much experience, we aren’t particularly good, and neither of us pretend to be either. We both agree that sometimes it’s healthier to play without a score. I’ve grown in my comfort with being vulnerable in learning new skills. I’m a perfectionist, and historically it’s been hard to try new things because I want to be great at everything right away! My relationship with Jordan has flourished over the years, in part because he’s taught me how to have fun no matter the circumstance. Naturally, I vlogged the disc golf experience for you to enjoy: Keepin' it 100 with willy t. I received some news this week that didn’t go the way I had hoped it would... No less than an hour after being on the receiving end of this news, Twitter came through in the clutch as I randomly came across this in my feed: (Now, please understand that I fully recognize this “storm” in my life is a mere “drizzle” compared to what many of you endure on a daily basis. With that being said, I hope this can help someone who needs to see it, just as it helped me) “What I had hoped” and “what is best” may totally differ. Because I happened to see this in such a timely manner, my outlook on the situation changed ever so positively and drastically. I hope that by “keepin’ it 100,” it may do the same for you too. Peace, Love, and Clear Pathways, (Note: I did not create this graphic and am simply sharing it for the good of whomever created it) Keepin' It 100 with Willy T. “Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching.” In my life, photography provides a healthy combination between a workplace duty and fulfilling free-time hobby. I don’t claim to be an expert, but rather a student of a craft that rewards me just for getting out there and trying to improve. (stops, breathes, and takes a moment to realize how parallel that is to wellness as a whole) This shot captures hundreds of moments in my life. I run on the American Tobacco Trail frequently, and this turn marks the halfway point of my typical training route. It’s the point where I turn the corner and remind myself that I have prepared to finish strong. It’s the beginning of that “I’m-finished-and-I’m-exhausted, but-I-just-got-better-by-trying” feeling. Hope you can connect with that as we ~turn the corner~ on our week. Peace, Love, and Wellness, Camera: DJI Mavic Pro
Aperture: f/2.2 ISO: 311 Shutter Speed: 1/13 sec Focal Length: 4.73mm Keepin' it 100 with Willy T Try something that I hope will shift your perspective. (Before reading further) Watch this video with the following question in mind: “What are you looking at?” I’m guessing most of you noted that this was a drone timelapse I captured at Wrightsville Beach. You looked at the Atlantic Ocean, waves, clouds, rocks and a boat…. The beauty of the moment shifted when I focused less on “what are you looking at?” and focused more on the question “what do you see?” In this moment, I see: vastness, motion, serenity, a beginning, and the assurance that this journey is guided. Don’t let your standard perspective dictate a standard outcome. Happy August, fam: Have a ship-ton of fun this month! Peace, love, and boat-load of joy, FEATURE: Joey Cutting on “living out your values” To keep things fresh, I’ll sporadically host “Keepin’ it 100” style writeups from colleagues, friends and celebrities. It’s only fitting that for my first feature blog I host someone who is all three! World: meet Joey Cutting. Currently serving as the Assistant Director for Western Carolina’s Catamount Club, he’s the ultimate people person. Together, we co-class-clowned our ways to masters degrees as fellow marketing graduate assistants: Joey in athletics and myself in collegiate recreation. You may know him as “Emcee Joey” rocking the mic at sporting events. He’s probably stolen the show at your local karaoke night by singing (and yes, definitely dancing to) Enrique Iglesias’ “Hero.” If you’ve ever crossed paths with him - you know he embodies the true meaning of a friend. Fortunately, he’s shared the secret to his consistent authenticity: his core values - AKA the Five F’s Filosophy. Before you just assume he’s a terrible speller, let’s let him explain why his values drive his successful life: “1. Faith Faith in myself to do the right thing, believe in my upbringing, and the values my family has instilled in me. 2. Family The driver of my success—making them proud and living up to our name through respect and love. 3. Friendship The reason why life has been enjoyable thus far, plus the social balance needed to break free from adulthood stresses. 4. Fishing My biggest hobby and contributor to my peace and well-being. When I’m on the river, I’m in my happy place. 5. Fundraising Giving back full-time in philanthropy to my passion that will always be part of who I am – collegiate athletics.” |
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Who we areJust a team of round pegs in a square hole changing the world one interaction at a time. Look back at it
March 2020
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