Oct. 19

 Last week, we heard from a panel of three women who work in the business sector. So far, it seems like our panels have been composed mainly of women who work for non-profit organizations, so this was an interesting change of pace. All three women took very different paths to their current careers, but each story was interesting in its own ways. I really appreciated the fact that they all agreed that although we might not think we want to go into business later on, neither did they. I don't know at all what I want to do after college so it means a lot to me to know that other people felt the same way but found careers that made them happy and at which they are successful.

I forgot to post a blog entry before class last week, so I will just add that entry here. Last week was the first full week following fall break. Many people had a great time going home and staying with their families for the 5 day break. I decided to stay here at Otterbein over break. But I still got some family time because my mom and one of her sisters were driving to West Virginia to see one of their other sisters, so they stopped here on their way and I went with them and we had a relaxed, fun day of shopping and catching up. I couldn't help but make the connection between my mother and four sisters and the Women in Leadership class.

Mom is the youngest of six children, five girls. They grew up in the same small town I did- the same house even. I have a huge amount of respect for them. They grew up in a completely different time, obviously. I don't feel that I personally encounter adversity due to being a woman. But I know they did. Between the five of them, they have worked in the medical, education, business, and financial sectors, and, I'm sure, a few others that I just haven't heard about yet. And they did this when it was incredibly difficult for women to even be considered in those fields, let alone be able to succeed. I can't explain how proud I am of my mother and her family. I feel that women like them were among the generation that broke through so many of the “glass ceilings” that women my age can barely imagine. In most cases, we are now given an equal amount of respect as men, but we don't have to fight for it quite like our mothers did. Of course I love my mom, but she happens to also be one of the best people I know. The experiences that got her where she is today made her into a strong, caring, and wonderful person, and she has four sisters with the same qualities. This group of women are one of the standards by which I judge my own success, and even though that at times is an intimidating standard, I am so glad that I have such influences in my life.

Sept. 28

This week it was very interesting to hear from women who had each had such unique experiences in their respective fields. Although each of them had taken very different career paths, their stories overlapped in some ways. This is a theme I have noticed is recurring with our speakers. No matter how different their fields of work may be, they have all gone through some common experiences. For example, they all seem to have had to deal with some level of adversity due to gender over their time in the workplace. Many of them also have been in situations in which they are the only female in the room, at the table, or on the committee. I really enjoy hearing from all of these women and learning their stories.

This week I attended an FYE event. As part of the Ocsoberfest, I tried to walk the lines in the Campus Center wearing “beer goggles.” I kind of regretted deciding to try this event once I had the goggles on and was attempting to stay on that line. It seemed like such an easy task before, but those goggles made it nearly impossible to stay on the line. I was mildly embarrassed to be stumbling around the CC while people walked past, going to and leaving dinner. But it really impressed on me how difficult alcohol makes simple tasks like walking a straight line. It worries me that people actually try to drive while in that state, so I hope all the people who gave this FYE a try will keep the experience in mind if they are ever in a situation where they might be tempted to drive drunk.