Letter to my future self

Dear Jenny,

Wow has time flown!  I hope that you were able to lead your team to success.  I hope that you were able to share the vision of BYUSA with each executive director and helped them to understand their important role in BYUSA.  In the clubs area we have the special responsibility to help club presidents help accomplish the BYUSA vision to make sure there are no intellectually, spiritually, physically, or emotionally poor  among us.  During the year I hope that as a clubs area we were able to help students find a place to belong.

Most importantly, I hope that the executive directors, program directors, committee members, and clubs know that you love them.  I hope that charity was the focus of the area and that everything revolved around it. Additionally, I hope that the team of executive directors were able to create strong relationships and were able to become good friends.  Also, I hope that the presidency was able to become close and lead together, not separate.

In the clubs area, I hope that advertising has increased, more clubs have been started, Care Week has been perfected, there is a higher attendance at Clubs Night, and that the team is helpful to club presidents.

Leadership Lessons

Vice President Sharman talked a lot about doing the father's will and building up the kingdom.  She said to try and figure out what heavenly father wants you to do to build up the kingdom.  Additionally, she spoke a lot about putting the family first.  I know that by doing this everything will fall into place and my family will be strong.

Final Reflection

Jenny Gordon

Final Reflection

Go Forth To Serve

            This past year has been the most amazing experience.  I am extremely thankful I had the opportunity to serve as an Executive Director in the Clubs area within BYUSA.  I know that the people I worked with and the experiences I had will stay with me throughout my life.  The skills I have learned through this experience will help me go forth to serve in my community, church, employment, and family.  In our class this past semester we had the opportunity to hear from many professionals that helped us understand how to balance the gospel, service, family, and the workplace.  It was extremely beneficial hearing from these speakers. 

            President Sharman came and spoke to us and the most important lesson I learned was to put family first.  I have been praying lately on whether or not I should just focus on a career or if I should also think about a future family.  Well, my answer was given this past General Conference and from Preisdent Sharman’s talk.  I know that I need to put family first and that the most success will come from being a mother.  I want to be successful with a career, but I know that a family is more important.  I hope to become a good mother who is always there for her children.  I want to create strong relationships with my children through family dinners and family vacations. 

            I hope to be a leader in the home by taking care of my children and my husband.  I will do everything possible to help them with school, relationships, friendships, sports, and daily life.  By being a strong, loving leader in the home, my children will be able to know that I love them and want the best for them.

            By putting family first, I know that everything will fall in to place. It is important to trust in the Lord and have faith.  By continuing to live the gospel I know that I will find true happiness.  I want to stay active throughout my life because I know that this is the true church.  My family is not active and I have seen the things that happen when the gospel is not in your life.  The gospel helps balance everything in your life, by putting the Lord first you will find true happiness.  It is important to be a leader in the Church by fulfilling your calling and teaching your children.  I know that I will accept any calling I am given and hope to lead to the best of my abilities. 

            When Dean Cox came and spoke, he emphasized the importance of service.  Service should emulate our lives and we should always be focused on it.  It is through service we are able to display our love for others and for Christ.  One of the best ways to center our lives around Christ is to love as he loves and serve those around us. One of my favorite quotes by C.S. Lewis is “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal”. If you think about everyone one of us are important in the eyes of Christ and we should also see each other that way.

            Sister Silvia H. Allred said, “When we have charity, we are willing to serve and help others when it is inconvenient and with no thought of recognition or reciprocation.  We don’t wait to be assigned to help, because it becomes our very nature.  As we choose to be kind, caring, generous, patient, accepting, forgiving, inclusive, and selfless, we discover we are abounding in charity”.  I truly love this quote because she explains as we are simply kind to one another charity will become second nature.  We should strive to be charitable every day.  We can show charity in the home, the workplace, and at church. 

            Another place to be a leader is in the workplace.  This past semester has taught me to stick to my values and to be a leader at all times.  In BYUSA Clubs we have the unique opportunity to be a leader of leaders.  We help the club presidents with their club; whether that be putting on events, training their team, or simply how to run meetings.  It was such a cool experience to help presidents advertise for their club.  I know that in my future career I will not be surrounded by Latter-day Saints and there will be some ethical dilemmas. 

            It is vital that I stick to my morals and values as a leader in the workplace and do not give in.  I know that the best way to leave is with love.  By simply loving those around me I will be able to become a better leader.  When people know that you love them, they are more willing to listen to you and follow you.  One of my goals is to make sure those that I’m leading know without a doubt that I love them. 

            I have learned so much through my experience as an Executive Director and I know that I will use the skills I learned here throughout my entire life.  I’m excited to serve this next year as a Vice President, and I hope to learn even more.  There is always room for improvement and I hope to someday become an excellent leader.  BYUSA is a unique opportunity to lead since it is a student service association.  All focused on service.  As I serve the club presidents I hope they know I love them and want to help in any way possible.  

Leading in the Family

I know that I want to be a mother someday.  I didn't have a strong relationship with my own mother growing up and that is something that I want to change with my family.  I want to have family dinners to build strong relationships with my children and my husband.  I always want my children to know that I'm there for them and that they can talk to me about anything.  I hope to be a leader in my family by helping my children and always being there for them.  I also want to support my husband with everything that he does.

Accepting Change and Serving

It is important to accept change with an open mind.  Change is a good thing and allows for growth.  I know that throughout my life a lot of technological advances and I will have to accept them with open arms.  Additionally, through change I will be able to learn more about the world, those around me, and myself.

I want to continue serving after BYU in my community.  I know that is important to be involved so I can give back to the community and those around me. I want to be involved in every aspect of my life.

Perception of Humanity and Senselessness of Conflict

Sen. Garn said that the opportunity he had to orbit the Earth gave him a different perception of humanity and senselessness of conflict.  He said that if everyone has the opportunity to orbit the Earth they would want peace and not war.  He said that there would be no feelings of anger towards each other and that everyone would love one another.  I know that if I keep this mentality I will not feel animosity towards others.  It is important to keep an open mind and a loving heart when serving and working with others.

Serving and Giving Back to the Nation

I feel gratitude for the opportunities that I have had to serve because I feel happy when serve those around me. We can serve in our church, school, and our community.  Wherever I am I try and serve in some capacity.  There are many opportunities to serve and we must capitalize on them.