It will be one of the highlights of my career working alongside such talented contributors at the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup in Mr. Palmer’s backyard. So much credit goes to the media squad of Alex Gelman, Carson Racich, Marty Lafica, and Cavender Neutze for turning eyes our way and helping create one of the most memorable weeks for many👀 Thank you to the Laurel Valley Golf Club staff and all who played a part in being so welcoming and having the course in superb condition. Teamwork IS the dreamwork, and until next time, see below for photos from the week (June 2 - June 13): (picture by Carson Racich) The male GCAA staff members lodged on the second floor of the clubhouse at Laurel Valley Golf Club. The atmosphere felt quite similar to staying on the second floor of my grandparents' house in Grand Haven, Mich., or returning to college. A mixture of both, I would say. There was a room per person to sleep in (first image) and shower rooms and bathrooms to share (second and third images). Players/coaches were housed in the below cottages. Our tournament office was in the middle building in the second image. Safe to say everyone got their steps in and calves engaged while on-site:) (picture by Alex Gelman) Arnold Palmer and Laurel Valley Golf Club have a rich history together. Mr. Palmer co-founded Laurel Valley, which is located about 12 miles from his hometown of Latrobe, Penn., and later renovated it. The 1975 Ryder Cup was held there, and Mr. Palmer captained Team USA to victory. His team included World Golf Hall of Fame members Billy Casper, Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Gene Littler, Johnny Miller, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, and Tom Weiskopf, as well as major winners Al Geiberger and Lou Graham, future PGA TOUR broadcaster Bob Murphy, and 82-time PGA TOUR winner Sam Snead's nephew, J.C. Snead. That Ryder Cup was the only team event held at Laurel Valley until this Palmer Cup. Palmer and Nicklaus, two of the greatest to ever swing a golf club, have their own historical past at Laurel Valley. The pair won both the 1970 National Four-Ball Championship and 1971 National Team Championship there, and signed photographs of them together are displayed throughout the club. What might be most memorable, however, was what you can view below from the 1965 PGA Championship. Other highlight events hosted at Laurel Valley Golf Club include the 1989 U.S. Senior Open 2005 Senior PGA Championship. After a couple days on the course getting prepared for tournament play, the opening ceremonies kicked everything off. ⬇️ (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) My job pre-ceremonies was to go over the script with the evening's MC, Golf Channel's Todd Lewis. Through the time crunch, Todd took the time to nail each pronunciation, and it was a pleasure getting to work with him and talk about the day's previous news (PGA TOUR and LIV Golf merger). (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) After a few speeches, opening round pairings were announced. The Arnold Palmer Cup is the only major tournament where men and women are featured playing side-by-side as partners. The first round is Mixed Four-Ball, meaning all four players in the match (two male and two female) play their own balls throughout the round. The winner is the team with the lowest aggregate score over the amount of holes played. The next two rounds are Foursomes and Mixed Foursomes, respectively, where two teams of two apiece compete in a match using only one ball per team. Alternate shots are taken until the hole is completed. The two pictures above involved Julia Lopez Ramirez and Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (first image) grouped together in their match and Amari Avery and Gordon Sargent (second image) together in theirs. Both groupings knew each other well, as they both went 2-0 in the 2022 Palmer Cup when paired together. (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Carson Racich) These two have been in a relationship for well over two years, if you can't tell. (Photo by Carson Racich) Team USA's Ashleigh Park and her Oregon and Team USA head coach Derek Radley (Photo by Carson Racich) Team USA's Caleb Surratt with his Tennessee head coach and Team International assistant coach Brennan Webb (Photo by Carson Racich) Team USA's Antonia Malate with her San Jose State and Team USA assistant coach Kortnie Barrett (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Two Team USA team photos (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Two Team International team photos (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Before heading down to the 10th tee for the opening ceremonies, players and coaches received a fireside chat presented by Rolex with World Golf Hall of Fame members Curtis Strange and Nancy Lopez, who are pictured in the middle of the two above photos. I got to sit in on the last 10 or so minutes of the chat, and it was cool to hear how they met so many years ago and how Nancy looked up to Curtis when they were in college. Tournament play began on Thursday, June 8, at 7:30 am EST. While Alex handled group photos and 1st-hole tee shots and Carson on-the-course action shots, I was on the practice range snagging any angles I could. North Carolina and Team USA teammates Ford, left, and Austin Greaser (Karl tweaked his back during Wednesday's College-Am. He practiced on Thursday as if he were to play, gave it his all in practice, but decided to sit the tournament out to be in his best shape for the next week's U.S. Open. After all of that and going to the doctor twice with my coworker, I'm happy that he both got to enjoy his stay and play in the U.S. Open). (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) Team International’s Max Kennedy provided fireworks in the day’s final match to finish with fellow Ireland native Lauren Walsh. Needing to win the 18th hole to halve their match against Team USA’s Zoe Campos and Maxwell Moldovan, Kennedy hit the 198-yard approach shot two feet to the hole, which he eagled to halve the match and maintain Team International's 6.5-5.5 lead after 12 matches.   “That was special,” Kennedy said. “We were under the gun coming down to the last (hole), and I hit a good shot. Lauren’s been keeping me in it all day, so it was my time to give a little back.” “We thought we’d have to make an eagle coming down to the last, and he’s been hitting that 7-wood great all day,” said Walsh. “I was walking up hoping that it was a 7-wood number for him.” Friday's two-round day began at 7:30 am EST. Photag posts were similar to the day before; Alex on 10 tee getting group photos and tee shots, Carson handling 1st-tee group photos and tee shots (only difference being that Friday was a two-tee start when Thursday was only one). Tyran Snyders, Christiaan Maas, and Christo Lamprecht are all South African natives. It was cool to hear different languages between them throughout the week. This guy's (Team International's Sampson Zheng) hole-in-one on the par-3 fifth hole, their 14th of the round, sparked his and Josele Ballester’s 5&3 win over Team USA’s Tommy Kuhl and Derek Hitchner. “What a time and place to do it,” Zheng said of his second-ever 1 in tournament play. “We were going 3Up into the hole and I knew that I needed to hit one close coming down the stretch. The strike was good, so I knew it was going to get there. Hit it 12 short and it just rolled right in. I saw it disappear, and Josele and I started playing rugby in celebration." (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) Team USA won seven of the 12 Foursomes matches to take the 13-11 lead. The round’s final match to come in brought all watching around to witness. Team International’s Maddison Hinson-Tolchard and Chiara Tamburlini went 5Up through seven holes and 3Up making the turn, but Team USA’s Zoe Campos and Amanda Sambach used four birdies on the back nine, including one on the match’s final hole, to claim the 2Up victory and maintain Team USA’s lead they gained in Amari Avery/Antonia Malate’s 2&1 win over Team International’s Carla Bernat and Julia Lopez Ramirez. “We didn’t play our best in the first nine, but we were never out of it,” Sambach said. “We were talking all day about how we like to be from behind, so we kept it together and got some putts to drop.” “As soon as we won our first hole, I knew that we could come back from it,” Campos said. Round 3, Mixed Foursomes, began at 1:30 pm EST. (Photo by Alex Gelman) Two Arizona State Sun Devils (Preston Summerhays and Ashley Menne) paired with together being photographed by an Arizona State Sun Devil for the second time in as many days (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) These two, Carla Bernat and Josele Ballester, are from Castellón, Spain, so it had to be extra special for them to be paired together. (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Carson Racich) Austin Greaser with his North Carolina and Team USA assistant coach Matt Clark (Photo by Carson Racich) Since we didn't get to see them in action in 2022, it was even cooler seeing the umbrellas in use on Friday. (Photo by Alex Gelman) “Crystal and I had a good vibe out there,” Tommy Kuhl said of his and Illinois Fighting Illini classmate Crystal Wang's 3&2 victory of Herman Sekne and Lottie Woad. “We played well yesterday in our Fourball and carried the momentum into this afternoon. We made no bogeys, and in this format, that works pretty well. These greens are tough to read, and if you can make some putts, that’s an advantage in match play.” (Photo by Carson Racich) Avenging an opening-round loss was duo David Ford and Amanda Sambach, who birdied four of their first five holes en route to the 3&1 win over Team International’s Max Kennedy and Lauren Walsh. “We played really well and got some momentum in the beginning,” Sambach said. Ford added that, “other than the one bogey that was only because of me, we played pretty clean. I missed more shots than she did, but we picked each other up, and it worked out well.” Adding 10.5 points to their total, Team USA led 23.5-12.5 after three rounds. Saturday's final round Singles began at 7:30 am EST. Saturday happened to be Rachel Kuehn's 22nd birthday (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Team USA's Emilia Migliaccio concluded her record-fifth Palmer Cup by never trailing in her 2Up victory over Wake Forest teammate and previously-unbeaten Lauren Walsh. “It was really special that we got to play all 18 holes together in our last amateur tournament,” said Migliaccio. “To have Lauren and Rachel (Kuehn), two of my closest friends, here is something we’ll always remember.”  “I feel the legacy of Arnold Palmer here at the Palmer Cup. This week, you’re constantly reminded of the values that are important. Everyone wants to win and we’re all extremely competitive, but it’s about the bigger picture and the camaraderie between both teams. Each Palmer Cup has kind of felt that way, but to be able to do what I did, not play college golf for a year and come back was really, really special. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.” (Photo by Alex Gelman) Tyran Snyders of Team International won every match he played during the 2023 Palmer Cup, including Saturday’s 3&2 victory over Maxwell Moldovan, who entered the morning 2-0-1 on the week. “It honestly means a lot,” Snyders said. “I had a pretty good year going, and towards the end (of the season), I had some tough rounds and tough days. I’ve seen a lot of good things this week, which is showing that what I’m working on is working. To go and do this at such a prestigious event and contribute every point I could to the team means a lot to me.” “I feel like this week was bigger than itself,” continued Snyders. “It’s about the memories you make, and as they say, this is probably one of the best weeks of your life, so make the most of it.” Entering Saturday’s final round down 11 points, Team International won 14 singles, twice as many their United States counterparts, but Zoe Campos secured the Cup for Team USA in tying her match against Maddison Hinson-Tolchard.  “I know we struggled out there a bit with the individual matches (today), but I’m glad to get it done,” Campos said. “Honoring Mr. Palmer is something I’ll never forget.” (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Each year, a man and woman are voted upon by their peers to receive exemptions into the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and Amundi Evian Championship. The 2023 recipients were David Ford and Rachel Kuehn. “I was thinking back to when I caddied in the Palmer Cup a few years ago, remembering so vividly that there was one player designated to get an exemption into that event,” said Ford. “To have my name called is really cool and comes full circle.” (Photo by Alex Gelman) “I’m really honored because I got voted in by the rest of the players,” Kuehn said. “I feel really lucky to be given the opportunity to represent the Arnold Palmer Cup and everyone here well that week.” On February 13, 2002, former Penn State University golfer and GCAA Arnold Palmer Cup intern Michael Carter died in an automobile accident at the young age of 19. While Carter tragically left this world too soon, his infectiously fun-loving spirit will forever live in this competition. The Michael Carter “Junior” Memorial Award is presented to the Arnold Palmer Cup participant from each team who best represents the qualities and ideals that made this young man unique. The 2023 recipients were Derek Hitchner and Mateo Fernández de Oliveira. (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Carson Racich) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Derek Hitchner with his Pepperdine and Team USA head coach Michael Beard (Photo by Alex Gelman) Hoos! Virginia Cavaliers Ben James and Amanda Sambach (Photo by Alex Gelman) Illinois Fighting Illini Crystal Wang and Tommy Kuhl (Photo by Carson Racich) Deacs! Wake Forest Demon Deacons and 2023 NCAA Champions Rachel Kuehn and Emilia Migliaccio (Photo by Alex Gelman) The power couple, David Ford and Amanda Sambach (Photo by Alex Gelman) They made it a spectacle; congratulations on a chemistry-filled week, Team International! (Photo by Alex Gelman) (Photo by Alex Gelman) Team USA did just enough to hold off a late Team International charge and win the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup 32-28 at Laurel Valley Golf Club.

It has been 24 hours and I’ve been trying to figure out how to properly put this down on paper. I’ve never had this much difficulty writing down my thoughts. It almost feels like the words are in pain too. With every demoralizing picture, post, story, and link I’ve seen, the same emotions and memories that flashed before me throughout last night did so all day today. For those of us who do call East Lansing home and/or have called East Lansing home and are currently far away, I want to personally thank the strength and bravery of all who are there and sharing their story. In the words of my mother, who has called East Lansing home for 40 years, “My heart breaks for the students on campus. What's been my lifelong happy place is now a place of trauma for them. It's so sad and needless.” And as she and over 700,000 other Spartans have said, Spartans Will. “When we speak about Spartans Will, it means that we will remain encouraged,” said one professor. “As a teacher, I hope I can be the calming voice to help them, and conversely, I hope they can inspire me too,” said another. I have dedicated my social media channels to sharing as much from others as I can. After this next text that I wrote in the moment last night, the remainder of this post will include images from members of our Spartan community that have struck me to the core. “Thank you to everyone who is leading by example and looking out for one another and confirming/deny everything coming out. When tragedies like this continue to happen in the only country in the world where this is a major societal issue, leaders emerge taller than ever. Anyone that knows me knows how much my roots run in my blood and everything I do. I was born and raised in East Lansing. All but about 24 months of my life has been spent in East Lansing. Many of my family members and friends, including my entire immediate family and me, are Spartans. Each building that gets named conjures up specific memories that are now flashing before me. Policymakers, administrators, rule-makers: It will continue to amaze me how communities combine to do more work than the people that enact how we are ‘supposed’ to live our lives. WHEN WILL THIS END?” Our School. Our Community. Our Spartans. 🙏💚🤍 P.S. - See this link for Requiem for the Spartans, bone-chillingly-written by The Atlantic's Tim Alberta, an MSU graduate himself. More images taken by others from this week: I was fortunate enough to watch the Vigil at the Rock on Wednesday evening live via the university's livestream. It meant the world to me to be able to be there with my family and friends in spirit. Each school and each community, include those close to us in Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, means more than words can express. Even knowing that the Spartans and Wolverines will be playing a basketball game in Ann Arbor this Saturday, the University of Michigan's Vigil for MSU means an infinite amount. Thank you 🙏💚🤍💙💛 Members of my extended family are both Broncos and Spartans, so this means so much 🙏💚🤍🤎💛

Since beginning work with the GCAA in October 2021, these last two Decembers have been whirlwind journeys traveling-wise. Both of those months presented unprecedented challenges for my colleagues and I, but this post will focus on my experiences this past December. The month began in Las Vegas for the 2022 GCAA National Convention. This wasn't my second time attending both the convention and city, this time with more responsibility than the last. Through very long hours during a stretch of an entire week and vital teamwork among all staff members, we accomplished new heights in new spaces. Big things are coming for the sport and our association, and I'm thankful to all who continue supporting us. After spending almost eight full days back in Oklahoma, I got to (safely) make it home to Michigan for some of the holidays! The weather outside was definitely frightening, but the views were exciting:) Very glad I was able to get out and capture them, many on Christmas Day itself. I then flew out to Phoenix on December 26, one of a seemingly few who made it unscathed and with all of their luggage at the same time and place, to be an essential member of the 2022 Patriot All-America/inaugural Thunderbolt invitationals. Due to airline and weather issues, I along with two of our traveling interns ended up being the lone representatives of the GCAA for the six-day trip. My main task was being an/the official photographer for the Thunderbolt, held at Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club in Surprise, AZ. "The Golf Course is a world-class (Jack) Nicklaus Design course, operated by the renowned Troon Golf Management Services and designed to be enjoyed by golf enthusiasts and newcomers alike." Hope you loved the content I captured as much as I and social media did! Before taking the rental car, myself, and my luggage to the airport to head back to Oklahoma on 01/01/2023, I made an afternoon seeing Phoenix's main professional stadiums, including State Farm Stadium (NFL's Cardinals), Chase Field (MLB's Diamondbacks), and Footprint Center (WNBA's Mercury and NBA's Suns). State Farm Stadium was the home of the CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, a classic 51-45 victory for TCU over previously-undefeated Michigan. I found a couple of keepsakes as I walked around the exterior of the stadium, one that will be hosting Super Bowl LVII in one month's time. Even though it was chilly (per Arizona standards) and wet for much of the week, I had a great time in my second-ever trip to the Patriot All-America!

I spent the last four weeks in my home state after not being there since last Christmas, and I wanted to put a few thoughts down to share. Grand Haven My Mitten State stay began in Grand Haven, where the inaugural Folds of Honor Collegiate took place. I have spent hours, days, and even weeks in Grand Haven at least once every single year of my life, creating memories at my grandparents’ 10 acres that helped shape who I am. My time there last year began building what this trip would mean. 2021 gave me so much to think about; graduate school graduation, moving back home to search for my first full-time job, moving far away from everything I knew for that job, everything that the new job had waiting for me, and the most impactful moments of my life come Thanksgiving weekend. I had never missed Thanksgiving surrounded by my family before 2021. Most of those holidays were spent in Grand Haven, including this one without me, so the least I could do was say hi to everyone via FaceTime. Thanksgiving has grown into my favorite communal holiday because of everything it represents, so I was very much looking forward to doing what I could in my new environment. I got to share typical “how’s life?” chatter with each family member, including my grandpa. I had recently moved over 1,000 miles from home to immerse myself in the sport of golf, one of his lifelong passions and a game he and I spent many hours in his 150-yard pasture working on. Just the day before our Thanksgiving Day conversation, I was in San Antonio, TX for a golf tournament at a distinguished course where some of the game’s greatest have stepped foot. I have many people to thank for that, but I was most looking forward to telling Grandpa about that experience. With a smile on my face, I got to, which brought a smile to his. That moment will be with me forever. I told my boss about this conversation the next day. I told him that Grand Haven is a second home for me and that I grew up with golf in Grand Haven because of my grandpa, and my boss said that “we’ll have to have him with us as a volunteer then: how does that sound?” Grandpa passed away 24 hours later. Above all the laughter, newest family topics or usual frustration surrounding beloved Chicago sports teams we shared, I would want him to truly know how much his personality and charisma have rubbed off on not just me but everyone that knew him. He was and will continue to be there with me. 2022 Folds of Honor Collegiate The brainstorming for this event began in May 2021, five months before my hiring at the Golf Coaches Association of America, so this event (hosted by Michigan State) had me written all over it before I knew anything about it. The GCAA, whom Michigan State Men’s Golf coach Casey Lubahn came to first with the idea for the Folds of Honor Collegiate at American Dunes Golf Club, ran tournament operations and will continue doing so for this tournament moving forward. (Graphic courtesy of Michigan State Men's Golf. Photo by Alex Gelman) (Not sure about you, but I'm a big fan of the above shade of green) In Year 1 of this transformative event for collegiate golf, the feedback given to us was overwhelmingly optimistic! American Dunes Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course that is a tribute to the military and commemorates the birthplace of Folds of Honor, gives a scale of challenges to even the best competition. I got to play it twice, and damn. Multiple non-play hiccups occurred, including what can only be described as Michigan weather, but those hiccups are important in getting this event equipped to grow how we think and know it can. (Tom Izzo speaking at the Folds of Honor Festival on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium.) (Tom Izzo speaking at the 2022 Folds of Honor Collegiate Opening Ceremonies on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at American Dunes Golf Club. Photo by Alex Gelman) (Tom Izzo speaking at the 2022 Folds of Honor Collegiate Opening Ceremonies on Sunday, September 25, 2022, at American Dunes Golf Club. Photo by Alex Gelman) Hall of Fame Michigan State head Men’s Basketball coach Tom Izzo did go from East Lansing to Grand Haven and back two different times in the span of 24 hours, including the grand entrance of the private helicopter carrying him and Folds of Honor Founder Lt. Col Dan Rooney landing on the 10th fairway before the opening ceremony, to be with us in military appreciation. The American Dunes staff, including a longtime family friend whom I hadn’t seen in a while, were hard-working, gracious, and a blast to work with. It was special to celebrate with many of them at the Grand Haven Armory after the completion of the tournament to celebrate the moment. The 18 teams that participated; Air Force, Arizona, Army, Central Michigan, Clemson, Eastern Michigan, Florida State, Grand Valley State, Illinois, Kansas, Liberty, Michigan State, Navy, NC State, Oregon State, Texas Southern, UCLA, and Virginia Union, each displayed passion and commemoration for what those moments represented, and it was a pleasure getting to know everyone as much as we could. (Graphic courtesy of Illinois Men's Golf. Photo by Alex Gelman) (Graphic courtesy of the ASUN Conference. Photo by Adam Mackey) With the help of a do-it-all superstar creating and running the tournament’s social media accounts and photography needs, I managed media relations and wrote the tournament’s official press releases. Having the opportunity to be the point of contact with local, regional, and national media is always a treat and something few if any my age get the luxury of doing, but being able to work alongside friends, colleagues, past coworkers and even college classmates of mine made this experience that much more meaningful. I am already getting asked by media members about next year’s event, so I cannot wait to be as much a part of the external growth of the Folds of Honor Collegiate and Challenge as I can. Most of all, my immediate family and grandma were able to stop by for multiple days and enjoy themselves as much as they could. I was really glad my grandma could make it to our Saturday night festivities, which included free food, live music by a fun cover band, speeches by Lubahn, Izzo, Rooney, and Hannah Davis, a Folds of Honor recipient and Michigan State graduate, and a never-waning performance by the Grand Haven Musical Fountain. I hadn’t seen her since last Christmas, so to be able to spend about 45 minutes catching up with her in her town meant the world. They all got to attend the opening ceremony, walk a little bit of the course, have dinner with me, and meet new people while in town. This was only Year 1, and because of the above and lots more optimism, I am ecstatic about the potential of this event in Year 2 and beyond. 2022 Folds of Honor Challenge The inaugural Folds of Honor Challenge, hosted at The Meadows Golf Club on the campus of Grand Valley State University, was played October 3-4. This event was a first for me in multiple ways: I ran all tournament media, including content capture and media distribution; and I helped our other two staff members in any ways I could, especially making sure operational needs like food & beverage were taken care of. The golf course staff did all they could and I know that we greatly appreciate them for their long hours and hard work. The tournament schedule consisted of a Sunday practice round, fighting the imminent frost, which delayed the beginning of the next two days, getting 36 holes in on Monday with about five minutes of daylight to spare, and the final 18 holes on Tuesday before everyone departed and we cleaned up. Our Monday of work technically started at about 6 am and lasted until about 10:45 pm, but everything worked out and we survived! The Meadows provides a great balance of challenging yet beautiful golf, and with the praise that was given back to us from the 10 participating schools; Grand Valley State (NCAA Division II; the host and team champion along with their star, Charles DeLong, winning medalist honors), Findlay (NCAA Division II), South Carolina Beaufort (NAIA), Lee (NCAA Division II), Keiser (NAIA), Hope (NCAA Division III), Mississippi Gulf Coast (NJCAA Division II), Lawrence Tech (NAIA), Grand View (NAIA), and Muskegon (NJCAA Division II), the future of this event is really bright. The ability to bring top national talent from non-NCAA Division I schools is a pleasure to work with. Home After picking up a 2021 BMW 228i xDrive at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport as a rental, I drove home on October 5! It was my first time being home since last Christmas, the longest time I’ve ever been away from home, so this trip meant so much to me. While at home (October 5-16), I got to spend quality time with family and as many friends as I could, refreshed my memories at familiar places, and relaxed a fair amount. Reminiscence A natural experience that has interested me for a while now is how nostalgic feelings factor into our lives, in both who and why we are. If I were to get back into the academic world, researching this topic would be a prime focus of mine. “How many layers can a nostalgic memory hold? Where does the brain store these feelings? How do they know when to make themselves visible? How long can a memory of nostalgia live?” These are a few questions that come to mind, be they for research or discussion. For example, I love to walk. As long as a path and entertainment, especially music or conversation, exists, count me in. On a walk around East Lansing, I jotted down that, “there’s something so peaceful about letting a trail take you the distance.” No matter if that distance is already known or not, my day gets a jolt of energy during the walk. A walk of some kind and distance happened every single full day I was at home. Michigan State hosted multiple important events around campus while I was there, including Michigan State Madness, two football games, and homecoming festivities. Ohio State was in town for their October 8 football game, and while they did Ohio State things to MSU, I really enjoyed the day. I got to spend time at multiple tailgates hosted by friends, follow the marching band through their day, and watch the entire game from the press box. Spartan Nation is a family through and through, and that includes within the athletic department. Whether it was through my childhood, as a member of the Spartan Marching Band, working in the Athletic Communications and Spartan Ticket Offices, or now partnering with the athletic department to run important golf tournaments, much of my life has been lived through Michigan State Athletics. That continued the next weekend for homecoming. It began with the MSU Homecoming Parade, an event I participated in as a child, teenager, and college student. It was cool to see everything from a spectator’s perspective again. Being from East Lansing, I also go/have gone just to see people I know. The next afternoon saw me at more tailgates, seeing more friends, and a confusing yet incredible Michigan State W! It was awesome being in the stadium and able to wave the “Chop Chop” towels that were handed out, adding needed energy to Spartan Stadium. Even though I didn’t make it out to these events, numerous other sporting events were held at Michigan State that weekend, including volleyball, hockey, and field hockey. Fall seasons are winding down, and there are things to be excited about, Spartans! In Closing Home is where the heart is, as they say. I lived on and off in Indiana while in graduate school, which gave me necessary experiences living on my own more than being a stone’s throw from home. That was 200 miles and a two-plus hour drive, though, a world of difference from living in Oklahoma. I feel that I’ve grown immensely in many areas of my weakness since graduating from undergrad in 2019. For example, as much as I’ve learned that patience is a virtue, so are independence and sightseeing. Traveling via work as much as I do has opened doors for me and given me something few if any my age get the luxury of doing. Only through some sort of destiny, I ran into extended family members at the Denver International Airport terminal on my way back to Oklahoma even. Those four weeks will live with me and I am excited about what the future holds!

I was fortunate enough to have spent the last two weeks abroad at the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup, held at Golf Club de Genéve in Geneva, Switzerland. The GCAA staff spent months working towards this experience. I helped prepare the tournament program, write pre-tournament press releases, get social media ideas in line, fulfill media obligations, and get items shipped to their proper locations prior to traveling on-site, all while the spring 2022 season was finishing. Only so much of that preparation could gear us for the amount of off-the-course drama that came our way. Getting our participants onto location in one piece became more abstract than comprehensible. Much luggage, including a double-digit amount of golf bags needed for play, saw more of the world than their owners did. Some players had to play rounds of the tournament with rental clubs, if you can imagine that. One still hasn’t seen their clubs…. A $1,500 Uber from Heathrow airport to Geneva (680+ miles) was even taken due to travel stress. I will publish my journal from the trip's every day eventually, but the participants made everything worth it. The tournament began with a “Hello Friends, and welcome to the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup” from Jim Nantz himself, which was even more awesome than it sounds. That utterance happened minutes before a strong thunderstorm brought our opening ceremonies inside to pandemonium. At least the pause gave everyone time to meet and greet. In a right place, right time moment, I got to lead Nantz around and through the chaos a little bit. The hospitality of Rolex, an important APC sponsor and Geneva native, was as good as advertised throughout. The evening spectacles around the town were special to witness, and lastly, the play lived up to the hype, with Team International using a triumphant final round to break the tie and defeat Team USA 33 to 27. The weather couldn’t have been better to match the level of play, as you will see in the below photos. The media fulfillments required for a tournament like this could not have been done without the help of do-it-all phenom Alex Gelman. Alex, who ran the @arnoldpalmercup social media and official photography throughout the experience, is the 2022 Ron Balicki Scholarship recipient, a John Reis Intern with the GCAA, travels with the Arizona State Men’s Golf program as their official broadcaster, and is a P.J. Boatwright Intern with the USGA and Arizona Golf Association (AGA), where he has worked two Patriot All-America Invitationals. He has immersed himself within the college golf landscape over the last year-plus and has such a bright future in front of him. The opening and closing ceremony photos seen below were taken by him. To me, the most rewarding feeling that came from this experience is the gratification our work gave to so many. Players came to us and said that they had the most fun they’ve ever had, be that in golf overall or amateur golf, at this tournament. “If you look back at the players who have played in this tournament before, it is a testament to how strong college golf is and where it’s headed,” one said. “Anytime that you get to represent your country, you’re very proud.” Sports Information Directors sent notes to Alex and me saying that we “absolutely CRUSHED it, I don't have enough kudos for you guys. Just outstanding coverage, photos --- just so, so, so helpful!” among other praises. Some sightseeing, almost two meals of Italian food per day on average, a plethora of tasty Swiss beer, incredible white Sangria, and decadent Swiss, Italian, and French desserts were consumed as well. See below for photographic highlights, and until next time, Arnold Palmer Cup, thank you. (I created the documents that the legend himself, Jim Nantz, is referring to:) (Each player and coach signs these two bags. One goes to the club and one to Rolex as a thank-you gift.) (Rachel Kuehn and Michael Brennan of Team USA got paired together to face Carolina Chacarra and Josele Ballester in Round 1's Mixed Four-Ball competition. Kuehn (far right), Brennan (middle right), Chacarra (middle left), and Team USA Assistant Coach Ryan Potter (far left) all come from Wake Forest, which is Arnold Palmer's alma mater, so it was very special to capture these moments.) (Just a couple of Stanford standouts sharing a Stanford ball-mark and pairing during the first round. Michael Thorbjornsen, left, has become a name to know in the golfing world these last few weeks, and Rose Zhang, right, won the individual national championship, every national individual award, and is the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world at 19 years old.) (What a view of Mount Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, and the 11th most prominent mountain summit on Earth.) (Kuehn, left, and Brennan, right, were paired again for Round 3, where they provided fireworks late to secure a big victory for Team USA.) (This photo is from the final round. Aline Krauter and Rachel Heck are teammates at Stanford and welcomed a picture with the walking standard.) (Chiara Tamburlini, the St. Gallen, Switzerland, native, posing with family members before Sunday's final round.) (Fresh of his fourth-place finish at the PGA Tour's 2022 Travelers Championship just three days prior to arriving in Geneva, it was a pleasure seeing and getting to know Thorbjornsen in his element. He's off to superb things in his career.) (Got to know and gain contact with Ashley Lau, who owns eight University of Michigan program records and became the first U-M player to play in the Arnold Palmer Cup. She is back in Ann Arbor beginning her Masters program, and I cannot wait to see what her future holds.) (On February 13, 2002, former Penn State University golfer and GCAA Arnold Palmer Cup intern Michael Carter died in an automobile accident at the young age of 19. While Carter tragically left this world too soon, his infectiously fun-loving spirit will forever live in this competition. The Michael Carter “Junior” Memorial Award is presented to the Arnold Palmer Cup participant from each team who best represents the qualities and ideals that made this young man unique. The 2022 recipients were James Leow, right, and Cole Sherwood, left.) (Team International - 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup Champions.) (Mateo Fernández de Oliveira became the first Arnold Palmer Cup participant from Argentina.) (Fred Biondi became the first Arnold Palmer Cup participant from Brazil.) (Leow became the first Arnold Palmer Cup participant from Singapore.) (Biondi, left, and Fernández de Oliveira celebrating their victories on Sunday.) (Heather Lin, left, and Christo Lamprecht, right, requested a photo with each other because they had so much fun being paired together this week.) (From Évian-les-Bains, France, home to the worldwide evian Natural Spring Water.) (A splash of Lake Geneva water.) (Some incredible views from Yvoire, France, a location our Uber driver took us to.) (This was the most popular hangout spot for the APC during our stay. Hôtel Métropole Genève, where the players were staying, housed a rooftop bar with this view. Many nights, beverages, pictures, and a few cigars were shared on that rooftop.) (Thought to record a time-lapse on our trolley ride back from the yacht club, where we had drinks and snacks at, on Sunday evening.) (A view of Geneva's past.) (The view from our office at Golf Club de Genéve.) (As the players were arriving, six of them that arrived earlier got to be a part of a junior clinic at the course, working with and showing an abundance of youth their craft. The signed autographs after and were just so wonderful with everyone.)

Immortality, A word so impactful and rewarding, it is commonly used to describe championship-winning athletes. Ones that break records and put their sport in a brighter light. In the not even eight months I’ve been in Norman, I’ve seen OU athletes compete in numerous postseasons, win plenty of individual honors, compete for a handful of championships, and bring together sport-loving communities along the way. Within all of it were two team national champions in sports I’ve strengthened my knowledge of through them. Women’s gymnastics was the first. I’ve come to learn about Norman’s rich and distinct gymnastics history, both in women’s and men’s, and it was so much fun attending their events and becoming a fan during their championship runs (the men finished as national runner-up). My mementos from this season included autographs from each gymnast, multiple items of apparel, and a fateful experience meeting some of their family members. Softball is the second. It’s been an absolute blast being indoctrinated into the atmosphere that surrounds one of the deepest and most dominant teams in collegiate sports history. I intently watched the 2021 Women’s College World Series, where I innocently rooted for the underdogs instead of the Sooners. OU’s record-breaking roster made many fans then, but this 2022 season has been like a more-appealing sequel. This year’s team didn’t just break many of the same records they broke last year, they broke even more sport-wide records throughout the season, including multiple WCWS records that have lasted decades. A handful of their games were broadcasted live on national television, including being a playing member in the first college softball game to ever be televised on ABC. Multiple of their games in the WCWS broke event attendance records; to put that into perspective, yes, the USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium is just up the road in Oklahoma City, but in comparison, that stadium can hold over 12,500 fans, where Marita Hynes Field can only take 1,378. It was incredibly rare to find a ticket under $50 to watch OU Softball play this season. Many of their home games costed over $100 per ticket. Whether it was through autograph sessions, social media, licensed AND personalized memorabilia, or fateful experiences on top of parking structures, I was lucky enough to have my fair share of time with this team. They have fun like normal people, they are loving like normal people, but their superstar statuses elevate their level of celebrity within the community. Read more about the teams' accomplishments from this article written by ESPN's Alex Scarborough. The most-known name on the team is Jocelyn Alo, properly nicknamed the Home Run Queen. The individual records she broke grew as the season went on, and they are plentiful, but her background is the most badass part of her story. ESPN did a Cover Story titled “Oklahoma softball and the secrets behind the most dominant team in sports” in May, which you can read here. A statue in Norman is next in her Sooner sights:) And how did it all cap off? By charging past Red River rival Texas in two of two games to capture their second-straight national title and fifth in the last nine seasons. Work has been so insanely busy of late, but being able to lean on the success of these winter/spring sports has been a saving grace. It helps that I work for a spring/summer sport, but I will always cherish these moments, as they aren't made to be taken for granted. They are made to live on forever, just as these teams will here in Norman. One last thing to say: LET'S GO BABY, BOOMER

With all of the thrill that occurred and jaw-dropping moments we saw, these last seven days have to go into the books as one of the greatest stretches of collective college basketball in history. That goes for both men and women. There were so many incredibly high-octane games with incredible finishes that it was simply astonishing to watch/witness. So much talent, emotion, and intensity was on display that was mixed in with oh so much nerve. My school might have been beaten in an instant classic, but this is what March is all about. The women’s tournament saw numerous improbable upsets with growing crowds by the game during this span. Iowa sold out their games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena (that’s over 15,000 fans per game). Creighton came into Iowa City and stunned everyone when their Iowa transfer hit the game-winning three🤯 The images you see below are from fans who have been itching for NCAA Tournament action for some time, and the atmospheres were the best I’ve seen for any OU game(s) in my time here. Crowds like these and national exposure like this is exactly what the sport has needed for so long, and I’m blessed to be a small part of it.

The last two national champions. The top two finishers at the 2021 NCAA Championships. Winners of four of the last five national championships. Numerous All-Americans with multiple conference and regional championships competing. Impressively-high scores up and down the rosters. Senior night in Norman. Did I miss anything? Oh yeah, No. 1 Michigan at No. 2 Oklahoma. Firstly, it was a welcomed sight for a team from Michigan to be competing in Norman. I was looking forward to this meet for weeks and not being one of the only Michiganders in the building😁. Secondly, the atmosphere was simply exceptional. 8,000+ invested fans who stayed with it throughout the entire night, especially as scores got incredibly high (season and school-record bests for some at that). It really sucked that not everyone could win, because the competition was just that good. Thirdly, the level of excitement and fun the athletes show each and every rep, even in these high-pressure types of moment, is always good to see. Gymnastics is one of the most technically-challenging and bodily-demanding sports in existence, so it is important for the athletes to show their spirit and camaraderie. Lastly, it has been such a pleasure getting more into collegiate gymnastics this season. The scores across the country have never been this consistently high, and there is star power all over the place. I cannot wait for the postseason (some of which will be hosted by OU👀), and let’s keep this energy up! View my photo gallery from the meet below⬇️

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. July 23 - August 8, 2021. Games of the XXXII Olympiad. This post serves as a personal reflection documenting long-winded emotions, conversational points and earned respect to all who lived/captured/experienced them. I feel it important to write this for so many reasons, ones that go beyond athletic fandom. Yes, sports have been a part of my life since the beginning and they course through my veins. Yes, I spent most of my waking hours during those 17 days surrounded by Olympic coverage. Yes, I have and will continue to build an employment portfolio in athletics. But these Games were so much more. Take it from this montage that concluded the coverage on August 8: https://youtu.be/EGuMooA9Cgw I watched that montage live and have watched it multiple times since. Tears filled my eyes each time. There's something so mesmerizing about watching people fulfill lifelong dreams and goals. There's something so breathtaking witnessing people experience the fine line between triumph and heartbreak. There's something so motivating about following and learning from people who have the ability to share their stories, setbacks and backgrounds. All while going through a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic and a year-long postponement. Can you imagine what these participants (event volunteers included) have gone through? What participants in and with sports that require such meticulous, body-specific and age-defining training where every single second, day, week, month and year weighs so heavily, have endured? Yet some media, be it on social media or other forms, mocked them. One of the most common opinions I've come across, especially over the last few years, is that being open about mental health shows a sign of "copping out", "disgrace" or "letting others down." To touch on a specific example, there's only one Simone Biles; only one person who endures the pressure, attention and want for whatever "perfection" means 24/7 that Simone Biles has to; only one person who has lived the young life Simone Biles has (she's still only 24 years old, remember). This is the theme that plays true to anyone who chooses to use their platforms to speak up like Simone has, such as Naomi Osaka, Michael Phelps, Kevin Love and so many others. Since not one single person on this planet has experienced what she has, why are people so quick to point fingers or make judgements on matters they know nothing at all about? Your status doesn't make you more or less human than anyone else. That fact falls on deaf ears way too often. So a much-earned and respected thank you goes out to any Olympic participant who made mental health, their own or collectively, a priority and will continue doing so. I cannot conclude this post without celebrating the women of these Olympics for their historic achievements on and off the playing surface: "Tokyo 2020 was the first Olympics in which trans women were permitted to compete in women's categories, with Laurel Hubbard entering the women's super heavyweight weightlifting event.[94]. Women competed in softball, karate, sport climbing, surfing, and skateboarding at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.[95] The new sports climbing events - speed climbing, bouldering, and lead climbing - all had men's and women's categories.[96] Several sports, such as swimming, introduced mixed events.[97]. The length of tennis matches were changed so that men played three sets, the same as women in all previous Olympics.[98]" (percentage of all women, not just from Team USA) (to name a few) (how about the U.S. Medalists By Gender?!) As much as this post is one for the time capsule, I equally hope that it continues pushing the narrative for continuous dialogue about the Olympics, mental health awareness, women in sports and countless other important topics that made appearances. The blessing in disguise from these one-of-a-kind Games is that the 2020 Summer Paralympics (August 24 - September 5, 2021), the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing (February 4 - 20, 2022) and the 2022 Winter Paralympics (March 4 - 13, 2022) are right around the corner! Congratulations and thank you to all for making this (safely) possible!

Recently saw this on Twitter and I feel that it provides a good starting point to something that’s been on my mind recently. No matter if you’re the hiring manager or whatever other position(s) you hold with the employer, you’re human first and foremost. That seems to be forgotten more often than not in the hiring process, at least in my experience. As someone who’s taken the time, effort and energy to participate in over 300 job applications since January, which then leads to x number of interviews and/or rejections, it irks me that too many people involved with hiring miss the mark on opportunities to give and receive feedback and treat others as they’d like to be treated. Be the amount of traffic for that specific application as it may, the platforms to communicate are greater now than ever before, yet way too few professionals I’ve personally reached out to, via email or direct messaging with personalized application materials, for guidance, opportunities or a simple hello, have replied. That’s just sad, in my opinion. A reply to the attached tweet said that “a job interview is as much for the interviewer as the interviewee. Anyone who would treat someone like this before they were even hired, is someone I would not work for. They simply have no respect for you. No amount of money is worth that.” Even if you aren’t or weren’t directly in the same shoes I’m in now, you were in them at least indirectly because you had to search for the position(s) you’re currently in. Your workplace title doesn’t make you any more or less human than I am. If you think my reaching out to you wastes your time, don’t forget that you’re wasting the exact same amount of time choosing not to respond. The fact that we’re all in this together will forever remain and prop my reasoning for lending my help in any way I can to anyone who needs or wants it. 🙏

"Do I believe people are better together? Yes." - Sharron Reed-Davis On June 19, 2021, Michigan State University held it's inaugural Juneteenth Celebration on campus. 16 faculty members, involved students and alumni, educators, artists and musicians provided information and entertainment to historically and locally represent the holiday. (the event's poster) Dr. Nakia D. Parker, a Dean's Research Associate in the College of Social Science and professor in the Department of History, gave a brief history of Juneteenth that included preliminary information provided in this link here. "This collection captures the stories of former slaves in their own words and voices. Only 26 audio-recorded interviews of ex-slaves have been found." Incredibly fascinating to me. Head Football Coach Mel Tucker stopped by and spoke about what Juneteenth means to him. He is one of 13 Black head coaches in FBS college football. 13 Black coaches of 130 teams. He talked about this not so much being a celebration for him but a time of reflection, "where we were then and where we are now." His sons are 19 and 17-years old, respectively, so he also talked about how important is it for him to not just be a mentor for his community but also at home. He stayed a while longer to speak with attendees and faculty members and such as well. (Coach Mel Tucker speaking) Two of the speakers who received some of the loudest applause were Dr. Lee N. June and Dr. Rema Vassar. Dr. June, a lifelong activist and a current professor in the Honors College, the Department of Psychology and the African American and African Studies Program, spoke about what he's seen and hopes he will continue to see as societal injustices make their way into common conversation. "We should not be celebrating something that shouldn’t have happened in the first place," he said while calling Juneteenth more of a commemoration than a celebration. His passionate body language and words reverberated into the audience and beyond. As a storm blew through the event, he even said that "rain came but did not impede on John Lewis and Dr. King’s March to Selma." Lastly, a book that Dr. June suggested to read is titled Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy DeGruy. (Dr. June speaking) Dr. Vassar, the Morris Endowed Chair leading The Leadership Talent Development Project in the Detroit Public Schools Community District and the newest member of Michigan State's Board of Trustees, spoke so personably and thrived with it throughout. "When I think of Black, I think of brilliance, boldness and beauty," she said. She also made a distinction between education and learning and emphasized the importance of reading. "Education is about your credentials; Learning is about being in these spaces, and when we show up, we change these spaces." "You need to learn from your experiences in order to combat them." The current students that spoke, including Reed-Davis and Dantevius Branigan, are all incredibly involved in their inclusive and outreach ventures on campus and were proud yet continually-learning speakers. "The past wasn't that long ago," Branigan said. During Dr, Vassar's speech, I learned that the first Black female graduate of MSU was in 1907 while the first Black male graduated from MSU in 1904. A passionate alumna, Felicia Wasson, ended her speech by saying that "the struggle continues" for a subtle yet powerful statement. The fact that the number of Black tenured system faculty members at MSU has dropped from 105 in 2006 to 86 in 2016 among countless other institutional and societal data would suggest that Wasson is more than correct. I have dedicated the last year and will continue dedicating myself to listening and learning about historical and systemic injustices that plaque our communities and what I could do to help. I thoroughly enjoyed attending this event today and thank all that worked to put it on.

I feel that it is extremely important to normalize the necessity that, before being assigned any course (specifically in higher education), the teacher has a proven track record to help students achieve in the classroom. The best teachers I’ve had in higher education either have displayed a strong balance in both field and teaching experience or have much more field experience but have the inclination of gaining feedback from their students/peers on their teaching performance. This and a proven track record are also known as ACTIONS SPEAKING LOUDER THAN WORDS. I could get any degree, let’s loosely say a Ph.D in this case, in any subject and be an atrocious teacher. I could get 61% in every single class I took and paper I wrote and have minimal at best field experience yet still have Ph.D., but would my backstory make me the “best fit” to teach the course? Do you see how flawed that is? I don’t care if you have this award or that title; if you can’t read a room or have acted-upon proof that you can and do deploy proper teaching skills in the name of your students, you don’t deserve to be assigned the course. Plain and simple. Proper teaching skills, in simplest terms, means being resourceful and trustworthy to your students. A friend of mine who works in education said that “the sad thing about professors is that they more likely than not don’t have teaching degrees, just a bunch of research in their background. That’s not bad per se, but their standard is set so high and they don’t ever learn how (people) learn.” My educational experiences fall directly in line with that and one of main reasons why working in an educational setting interests me. I might just create an entire post about this, but a specific something that I believe needs to be further disseminated within schools is mental health education. That means providing everyone involved with education further resources for learning about the spectrum of mental health. I believe that mental health awareness in academia can open the door for infinite improvement, improvement that can expand to other necessary topics of discussion like systemic racism, adulthood studies and personal finance.

If you point the finger at other people before/without having the tough conversations, like if you ghost that person without explanation just because you disagree with something, for example, but also don’t speak up about the situation, you’re the problem person. Especially here in America, so many people confuse freedom with ignorance. As mentioned in the previous post, I view life like driving: Yes it may be your car or yes you may be the one driving, but you aren’t the only one on the road. In any kind of traffic, you can’t just plow through everybody to get to your destination, because what if everyone tried to do the same thing? You have to abide by the rules of the road first and foremost, meaning who and what surrounds you on all sides. Everyone else on the road has to do the same. That’s the only way driving, and life, can work. This is seen every single day in America (you name the examples). There are many freedoms within America, but the freedom of togetherness, aka companionship, isn’t a one-person band. That’s missed a lot these days, especially within the social media culture, a place where some go for guidance. It was Abraham Lincoln who said “you cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” That’s important to realize because we all have things going on, varying in severity, but that things don’t just manifest in front of us. It takes grunt work from each side to help. If you’re willing to do that, along with stepping into each others' shoes and take the time to listen and understand, anything is possible. Also, freedoms aren’t mutually exclusive. If you don’t also understand the existence of ramifications to what you’re saying or doing, that freedom turns into ignorance. We’re told when we’re young that the “world is my oyster.” But truly, does the whole world revolve around any one of us? Are your opinions, goals, dreams, hobbies, etc. all that matters in this world? Your world may and just may revolve around you, but holistically, your opinions and perspectives only count for one, just like those of the people on all sides of you. You don’t live in your world; you live in the world. It’s important to express yourself, but you can’t diminish or judge anyone else if you’re not going to take the time and energy to do three things that I’ve learned through experience: listen actively, balance and understand the perspectives at play, and walk the talk. If/when privileges are involved, those that are privileged need to understand the importance of these notions. If you aren’t seeing, understanding and appreciating your privileges, if you misuse them, you’ll lose them. In the case of walking the talk, something I think about here is the example of the challenge scenes in Black Panther. It’s first T’Challa than Killmonger in a later challenge who have to swallow a potion that alleviates their superior physicality given to them by rule to allow for a fair fight. That superior physicality is earned by winning the challenge, aka walking the walk. The same thing goes with our society here. If you care enough about the person/situation, you’ll see, appreciate and understand your privileges and how they coincide with the person/situation. You’ll go the extra mile (if not longer) for them/it in doing so and work together to concur the obstacles. That’s true friendship.

One of the most painstaking realities I’ve come to learn is that those that need to be listening tend not to. Be those as they may, as I think that we all fall into that category in at least one context, but one of the emptiest feelings I've experienced is when my emotions and/or experiences fall on deaf ears. It’s almost like you’re invisible even though you’re directly surrounded by people. Similarly, I view life like driving. Yes it may be your car or yes you may be the one driving, but you aren’t the only one on the road. In any kind of traffic, you can’t just plow through everybody to get to your destination, because what if everyone tried to do the same thing? You have to abide by the rules of the road first and foremost, meaning who and what surrounds you on all sides. Everyone else on the road has to do the same. That’s the only way driving, and life, can work. Something my dad has driven into me my whole life is that we have two ears and one mouth for a reason. You can’t possibly expect to prosper in life if you don’t learn how to listen. I’ve experienced direct incidences of this in multiple capacities throughout my life and I just hope that we all can understand that we as individuals aren't the only ones here. More to come on that in proceeding posts.

Through both direct and indirect experience, I have come to learn how inconsiderately inhumane some if not many employers are. I received an email one morning saying that I "am not the right fit for the position at this time" and that this potential employer is "sorry for the disappointing news." They didn't speak to me for even one fraction of a second yet word their exit email like that. Pro tip: There are countless ways to bid your farewell to an applicant and the above example is not one. I took three organizational leadership skills courses, while getting my Masters degree (one in an HR concentration, one in a Communication concentration and one in an Organizational Leadership and Supervision concentration). One of the (many) things I learned is that, in order to be treated how you would like to be treated, you have to treat them the way they would like to be treated first. That isn't taught enough, as I'm sure you have your own personal examples on the subject. The fun fact is, if you want to bring in the "best" employee, you have to be the "best" employer first. Especially if you require the applicant to submit a resume, cover letter and a filled-out application that just repeats the information that is in the resume and cover letter, offer time to the applicant in the interview process for "pick my brain" questions so everyone has the opportunity to be on the same page. If that applicant is "not the right fit at this time" for the role, no matter if they get an interview or not, either provide feedback on what could help them moving forward or simply thank them for taking the time to apply. I know that these things happen in the employment process, including management issues with high volumes of applicants, but the impersonal nature of too many employers rubs me the wrong way. Don't just do better; be better. Thank you.