La vérité…

Le samedi 6 mai 2017, quelques jours jusqu'à la plus grande aventure de notre vie. Je ne peux pas croire que ce soit ma dernière année à l'Université de l'Oregon. L'année dernière, la plupart d'entre nous luttaient toujours avec Gateway, et maintenant nous nous dirigeons vers New York. C'est fou. Aujourd'hui, quand je pense à tout ce qui m'est arrivé, et je me sens béni et reconnaissant de faire partie de la bulle, il y a des gens talentueux qui se rendent à ce voyage.  Je serais très excité et heureux, mais la vérité est que j'ai peur.  Oui, j'ai peur parce que je ne pense pas que je suis assez doué pour être là, je veux dire regarder le livre de tous, à peu près rien. J'ai peur que je puisse bien faire et je ne sais pas si quelqu'un ressent la même chose, mais au moins, vous savez que vous n'êtes pas le seul.  Mais alors, je réfléchis et je me rends compte que j'étais choisi pour faire partie de cela pour une raison et je dois me faire confiance pour être assez confiant pour non seulement faire le meilleur travail que je peux mais aussi être moi, moi et moi-même Parce que j'ai toujours été ce que je suis et ce que cela me rend spécial.  Il est vraiment facile de se concentrer sur les choses négatives qui se produisent dans votre vie, mais toujours garder à l'esprit que pendant longtemps que vous êtes en vie, vous pouvez marcher, respirer, parler et voir les personnes que vous aimez le plus.  TU ES UN GAGNANT!!!                                        Ahoua Touré

The Truth …

Saturday, May 6, 2017, few days until the greatest adventure of our lives yet. I can not believe that this is my senior year at the University of Oregon. Last year most of us were still struggling with Gateway, and now were are on our way to New York. This is crazy.Today, when I think about everything that happened to me, and feel blessed and thankful to be part of the bubble is talented people that are going to this trip.

I should be very excited and happy but truth is I’m scared.

Yes scared because I don not think that I’m talented enough to be there I mean look at everyone’s book, has barely anything.

I’m scared that I would be able to do well and not sure if anyone feels the same thing but at least know that you are not the only one.

But then I think back and I realize that I was chosen to be part of this for a reason and I must trust myself to be confident enough in order to not only do the best work I can but also to be me, myself , and I because I have always been whom I am and that the thing that makes me special.

It is really easy to focus on the negative things that happen in your life but always keeps in mind that has long as you are alive, you can walk, breathe, talk, and see the people you love the most.

YOU ARE A WINNER!!!

                                       Ahoua Touré

worse places to sleep.

I’m spending the night in JFK after flying in too late to justify paying for a hotel. It’s bright, it’s loud, not necessarily comfortable and I left my jacket back in Portland. But I am so grateful to be here, because I’m in New York. I can’t imagine traveling without having a single struggle, so I am more than willing to accept this as mine. “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change” is a line that goes off in my head when I find myself in less than ideal situations and allows me to find peace even while alone in a massive airport across the country. The sun will rise and life will move on to an amazing day in the city. Until then, so it goes.

-Sara Bagnell

Simmer Down.

Yeah, I was stressed about this trip. If you know me, then you would know it takes a lot to make me stressed, but for the past 3 weeks that is all I have been. Of course I have felt stress before, though usually only for major, life-altering events. I’ve been getting mad at myself for being so anxious for a trip that should be fun and valuable yet I’ve been having a hard time of convincing myself that.

That is until yesterday, the day before my departure. I was sitting in my friend’s backyard; warm day, pink sunset and a couple cans of beer.

“I’m excited for you,” said my friend.

“Really? Because all I feel is stress,” I replied.

“Going on this trip isn’t your problem,” he said, “everything else that’s going on right now is stressful and it’s making it seem like New York is stressful.”

He’s right. Going to New York for a week may or may not be a major, life-altering event but what lies ahead in the next month is. I’m graduating, a year early at that. I have a lease in SF to sign and a job still yet to be found, all while trying to finish strong academically. The stress I have been feeling every day is not the product of NYC, but rather the feeling of growing up. It happens, that is life, so it goes.

I’ll leave you with this, the serenity prayer, which I discovered through Kurt Vonnegut at the age of 16 and honestly helps lead my life with minimal stress to this day:

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to tell the difference.”

-Sara Bagnell

TAKEAWAYS before TAKEOFF

Well, it’s official. I’ll probably be the last one arriving in New York for this trip, right around 5 a.m. Monday morning after the Eugene Half-Marathon. That gives me even more time to reflect on what I’ve learned and what is still to come (and also stretch — a lot).

I think back to fall term when the SOJC was celebrating 100 years and they hosted a panel of some of the best creative minds in the industry. Helmed by our fearless leader Deb Morrison, the panel consisted of data experts, brand whisperers, prolific professors, and innovative leaders (seen below).

It was a cramped room with no seats left, full of alumni and students alike. The session lasted a little more than an hour but still, the information presented was palpable. Here are my main takeaways:

Storytelling is as ancient and essential as fire or the wheel 

It’s one of the oldest, most important tools we have. It’s our power to wield it wisely.

Tell stories with data

We have more data in this lifetime then we even know how to comprehend. That’s our job. Decipher it, use it, change the world with it.

Superficial is the complete lack of caring to make an ad resonate

There’s good work and then there’s great work. We’re aiming to make important work.

We have to make the environment personal — aim for the heart

For so many the environment doesn’t resonate as an issue, it simply doesn’t affect people. It’s time to make it connect on a deeper level for each and every person. The environment is not some distant issue; it’s here, it’s imperative, it’s right now.

Read, read, read 

Hence my kindle. Next up, “The Sympathizer.“

With that, here we go.

• Kyle Heiner, 5.5.17