Something to think about.





Definitely Worth Reading!

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full.. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.

Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and mow the lawn.

Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.


author unknown -- happy to attribute if somebody knows

Life Would be Pointless Without the People You Love

Throughout my life I have been extremely fortunate to have had multiple people who have acted as mentors. I remember back in 6th grade when I made the conscious decision to surround myself with only people who better me as a person. This decision, I believe is what led me to have so many mentors and guiding figures in my life.

One mentor who really stands out in my mind is Mr. Pregitzer from Milford High School. Mr. Pregitzer dedicated his time to making sure that all of his students succeeded. I truly admired Mr. Pregitzer because of the way he was so passionate about what he was teaching and doing (he was the adviser of Milford DECA, a marketing program for juniors and seniors). He was so intelligent, had so many connections, and knew all there was to know regarding marketing. He truly could have gone on to start his own company or do something that most would consider extraordinary; but really, me and the many other students before and after me would agree that what he did was more than extraordinary- he made a huge impact on our lives.

For me, Mr. Pregitzer helped me realize my potential. Through his guidance and motivation I was able to take 1st place in the nation in a Creative Marketing Competition. Never did I think I would be able to beat out 700 other students to win first place in Anaheim, CA. This new found confidence led me to apply for many colleges I would have only dreamed of going to. I went to Saint Louis University and then again, Mr. Pregitzer came in handy when I needed to make the tough decision to transfer or not. I didn't even have to email, call, or write him, I could just hear his words from high school always reminding me to do what I think is best for me, and follow my passion.

I believe I am where I am today thanks to Mr. Pregitzer. I know that no matter what I may need he will be the mentor who guides me in the right direction. What is so special to me about this mentor-ship was it wasn't forced- he didn't have to, he wanted to.

Since I was so lucky in the people I have been surrounded by, I always try to give back the same way people gave to me. I have never really been a mentor on purpose, or by assignment, they have just happened. For example, I came to Ohio State as a transfer student my sophomore year, and now, a sophomore that I live with just transferred here. I remember it being so difficult for me coming here; not knowing which orgs to join, how to meet people, everything was just very overwhelming. I try to make it a smoother transition for my roommate this year so that she can learn a lot easier than I did. I want her to have a better experience than I did my first year here so I do my best to share my knowledge of "what I would've/could've/should've done." While my relationship with my roommate is first and foremost a friendship, I still look at it as a mentor-ship because we are both learning from each other and sharing our experiences to better one another.

M.B.T.I

Before Buckeye Leadership Fellows I had never really heard of the MBTI before and I definitely never thought I would be taking it and getting an overall analysis of my results; but I must say I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity.

I think that the MBTI is a great tool but I would most likely not bring it up in casual conversation or in a job interview. My reason being, I see the MBTI as being more of a tool to help me better understand myself and why I may act the way I do in certain situations. Going into a job interview confident and understanding myself and  how I would react in certain situations based on my MBTI, I believe is more important than simply telling the employer that I am an ESFP.

So, although I don't see it as a talking point in a conversation or interview I still see it as an essential component. It is a way to help students, like myself, become more aware of themselves which ultimately could help in an interview.