Expanding Your Horizons

East Texas Annual Career Awareness Conference

Me w/Donna Christopher, Conference Coordinator

Reading and broadcasting  so much negative news day after day can have an emotional impact, if I’m not careful to focus on more positive news.  Therefore, I’m always elated and humbled when an opportunity to be a part of positive news and worthwhile causes such as Expanding Your Horizons— a national network that motivates young women in career choices.

The  American Association of University Women  Nacogdoches Branch  and Stephen F. Austin University hosted the annual Expanding Your Horizons Career Awareness Conference on the campus of SFA this month. I was honored to be the keynote speaker in the morning session to get the 600+ girls, grades 6 – 8,  motivated for a full day of workshops and fun-filled activities.  Seeing their enthusiasm was inspirational.  It brought back memories of my middle school years when I began thinking about career choices.  I was not as fortunate to have such a conference to present career opportunities and women role models in fields related to science, technology, and mathematics, although math was not a career option for me.  However, I did have extracurricular activities that helped me as well as teachers who saw my potential.  Seeing that diverse audience of brilliant young minds and potential leaders gives hope for a promising future amid the craziness of the world I see everyday.  I could definitely relate to their excitement knowing they have options and sponsors who believe in them and are willing to invest in their future.

Special thanks to Ms. Donna Christopher for extending the invitation to be a presenter at the conference, and for considering me a role model in my career field.   From the positive feedback I received, and my interaction with the young ladies, I believe the conference made a life-changing impact; I know it did for me.

If you would like information about the EYH network, check out this introductory video…

ACT-SO is…

While this is the time of the year when many people use their much-needed and well-deserved vacation days to travel, like taking extravagant trips to the islands, entertaining family road trips, or intimate get-aways, I didn’t.

I decided to spend my time giving back, investing in the future of our young people.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) held its annual convention in Houston this year, and part of the convention is the National ACT-SO Program, which was held as well at the George R. Brown Convention Center.  ACT-SO stands for: Afro-Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics

Many are not aware of this dynamic program that exists for African-American students or students of African descent.  ACT-SO is sponsored by the NAACP, and was founded by Mr. Vernon Jarrett.  It’s designed to stimulate and encourage high academic and cultural achievements among high schools students.

The competition is national and consists of 26 categories within the following areas: the Sciences, Performing Arts, Humanities, and Entrepreneurship.

Throughout my high school years I participated in ACT-SO.  I can’t even begin to tell you, or explain the doors it opened for me.  That’s why I felt so compelled to give of my time, service and talents to a program that invested in my future, and nurtured my dreams.

The NAACP ACT-SO Program selected me to be a judge for the Oratory category, which is actually the category I competed in and placed locally and nationally during high school.  It was a great experience; however, coming back years later was an even greater experience.

You walk this hotel surrounded by these gifted and talented kids from all over the country, and you feel so proud. These kids are so awesome…it’s like they can’t even hate on each other, because they are all exceptional.

I was sitting in the competition thinking how do you choose the top 3? How do you do it?

I did it, along with two other judges, but it wasn’t easy. They were all good! They all have untapped potential!

At the awards ceremony on Sunday, I walked up to one of the young ladies that actually won in the category of Oratory to congratulate her. She said, “Oh my gosh, you’re the judge! I saw you stand up in the competition, when you introduced yourself, and I said I want to be like her.”

I told her she was definitely headed in the right direction to achieve her goals. I said to her, “You can be like me … but I want you to be better than me; I just set the bar.”

She looked at me with the biggest smile, and gave me a sincere hug.

It was at that moment, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I spent my time wisely. Every one of those students in that room was destined for excellence. I knew that being in their presence, nurturing their dreams and believing in their potential was part of the foundation that could pave the way for greatness.

Someone did that for me;  I’m thankful to God they did.

Throughout the convention people were asked, “Give me one word to describe ACT-SO.”

ACT-SO is awesome.

ACT-SO is eye-opening.

ACT-SO is phenomenal.

ACT-SO is mind changing.

ACT-SO is excellence.

New Orleans…

Last week I returned to the place where my passion for broadcast-journalism began—New Orleans, Louisiana.  What great memories on the campus of Xavier University! I met some great people and developed some lifetime friends.

Attending the NABJ (National Association of Black Journalist) Convention 2012 brought back bittersweet memories.  Yet, there was a sense of solemnity realizing the severity of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, and the displacement of so many people.  However, the spirit of New Orleans is still strong and it’s very apparent it is alive and well!

I am always pleasantly overwhelmed when I attend the conference, there is always a positive energy I feel when I am surrounded by other beautiful black professionals. I often find myself stopping for a moment to reflect on the great accomplishments of my culture.

My trip to New Orleans was so rewarding, I came back home with a rejuvenated passion to work harder, do better, and of course go farther in this journalism journey.

NABJ Convention 2012, New Orleans

Deborah Lee, Chairman & CEO of BET Networks

TJ Holmes, Host of BET’s ‘Don’t Sleep’

Paige, a journalism colleague, attending the NABJ Convention

Brea, a SFASU student, first time attending a NABJ Convention