Traveling is a great way to spend your free time and great way to see the world. Traveling is something that I love to do and I hope that I can travel the world someday. I have had many opportunities to travel around the country with National Geographic Student Expeditions, People to People and Education in Action. This summer I had the chance to travel to California to participate in the 2011 National FCCLA Conference.
FCCLA is a national student led organization with family as the central focus. Students can participate in STAR events, complete a national program, or even go to Japan through the Japanese exchange program. This year, I had the honor of being elected an officer to region two in Texas. To find out more about FCCLA visit their website.
As an officer, I had the opportunity to be a voting delegate. This means I got to vote for national bylaw changes and help decide the lucky ten who will be on the 2011-2012 National Executive Council. You can see their names on the National FCCLA website. Texas is proud to be the home of two national officers Miguel Astello from Madisonville and Kristy Paquette from Lindale.
The Texas Delegation of FCCLA had many activities planned for them by the Texas state advisor, Mrs. Sharon Pierce. I may be biased, but Mrs. Pierce is one extraordinary woman. She secured us rooms at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel, tickets to Knott’s Berry Farms, a two day pass to Disney Land, a trip to Huntington Beach, and a dinner cruise to round out the whole week. Also, she worked with our travel agent, Manny, to provide us with a tour of Los Angeles and a chance to see back lot Universal Studios, the Staple’s Coliseum, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the Kodak Theater; hello American Idol!! We walked down the Hollywood Walk of Fame and even saw the sets from movies like Bruce Almighty, Jaws, and Desperate Housewives.
FCCLA has given me the opportunity to go places that I never would have been able to go due to family finances. It has helped me enhance the leadership qualities that I already had and also to learn new ways that I can step up and be a role model in high school. I have met some pretty amazing people that have taught me so much about being a leader while also helping me learn more about myself. The knowledge that I have gained this summer through FCCLA will be something that I can always count on and look back to when I am in a tough spot. Mrs. Sharon Pierce, the Texas FCCLA advisor, Mrs. Sheri Millican, my former local advisor, and Mrs. Denise Roberts, my current local advisor, have helped me grow in ways that make me a better student and a better leader.
You can see more pictures of my adventures in CA at http://www.flickr.com/photos/meaganross/sets/.
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