Today is my last day at the University of Pikeville. I am excited to see some very special people up in the NKY but I'm super sad to be leaving. I'm sitting in my boss' office right now typing out my feelings. I still have a few things to move out of my room and into the car, I guess you could say I'm delaying the process. If you asked me a year ago if I thought I would have moved twice since last August (and am getting ready to move again!), worked three different jobs (and am getting ready to start another one!), passed 6 graduate level classes with a 4.0 GPA (and am actually looking forward to starting classes again), have built the best relationship I can imagine with my parents, made it through the tough times in a long distance relationship with the most awesome understanding man in the world, stayed in touch with friends from undergrad (even though that we all live far away from each other now), created a second family with my JMU CSPA cohort, and got to hang out with 10 unique UPIKE students who have taught me so much in a few short weeks I would have thought it wasn't possible!
I can hardly even believe this is my life. How did I become so independent? How did I grow into a woman of pride and purpose? How did I get so blessed? I am taking risks more than I ever thought I would. Anytime I feel that uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach that means I am learning something and ya know, I haven't regretted sticking with that awful feeling yet. I hope I continue to find people who will challenge me. I certainly created an awesome support system while at UPIKE. I learned some key things here that I will take with me to my next work place and hopefully to my personal life as well. (These are all lessons I have made up, the University of Pikeville does not endorse them.)
UPIKE Lesson #1 - Laugh more. Don't take yourself too seriously. It's okay to have fun while you are working too. In fact, it makes the whole process so much more enjoyable! Be happy. Laugh!
UPIKE Lesson #2 - Don't be passive aggressive. Say what you mean, mean what you say, and say it to who needs to hear it. No good can come from whispering around behind people's backs. Speak up for yourself and be honest. Some people will appreciate it and some people won't but remember, being assertive doesn't mean you are a bad or mean person.
UPIKE Lesson #3 - Teach a student how to do something for themselves and maybe next time they will be able to do it on their own. Do something for a student time and time again because it is "easier" and you are going to be the one stuck with all the work and the student will never learn.
UPIKE Lesson #4 - You won't click with everyone. Some students will be drawn to you and feel comfortable and others will want nothing to do with you. Don't take it personally. You can still work in a professional manner with them. I didn't come into this job to be best friends with students anyway. I did come with the intention to love them and want what is best for them no matter if they like me or not.
UPIKE Lesson #5 - Don't be afraid to be alone. It's easy to not want to go out to eat by yourself or go to a movie alone or take a walk with your own thoughts. We usually aren't raised to be comfortable with being by ourselves. Do it anyway! Be confident. Of course you should want to spend time with yourself - you are amazing!
To all the students and staff at the University of Pikeville who helped make my experience better than I could have ever imagined this post is dedicated to you! Thank you so much! Please let me know if you ever need anything at all. UPIKE and these mountains will always have a place in my heart. Just like Earl Dibbs Jr. does. (Watch that for a good laugh and to understand my title.)
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Friend of Coal: The Rally!
This post has the potential to turn into a political debate and that is not my intent at all. I just want to feature the culture I have been surrounded by during my time in Pikeville. The reason why the coal industry has been so interesting to me since I've been here dates all the way back to the 8th grade. I traveled to Louisa, KY which right on the boarder of Kentucky and West Virginia. Here the small town depended on coal for their livelihood. They lived and breathed coal and still many people in the area lived in poverty. I spent a week doing service work at various homes and store fronts helping them catch up on almost any project at all. After this trip I knew how important coal could be to some people, especially when it was all they had. Fast forward many years and I started my college career at NKU. The freshman class' common reading book was called Lost Mountain. This book is about the dangers of strip mining to the economy and wilderness. The picture it paints is a terrible one, however, in class I found myself playing devil's advocate. I still had the faces of the people who needed this source of income to survive ingrained in my mind. After the year was over and the topic on campus calmed down it was easier to put my stance on coal mining aside. I didn't like the danger it caused but I also didn't want to destroy hardworking peoples futures. This was still my position when I came to Pikeville.
Everywhere I looked there were "Friends of Coal" stickers, t-shirts, bracelets, license plates, etc. Even on the University of Pikeville's campus we are getting ready to name a new medical school building the "Coal Building." The common reading program at UPIKE supports Kentucky authors and focuses on the lives and history of eastern Kentucky when they make their decision on which book to choose. I've read most of them and enjoyed them (Gap Creek, Coal Tattoo, Clay's Quilt). One thing is for sure though, if anyone chose Lost Mountain as a book for the entire freshman class to read, they would lose their job in a heartbeat.
This is just a snip-it of where I was on the day I heard music down at the city park. I decided to walk down and see what was going on. From the very beginning I could see it was a Friends of Coal event because there were tshirt and signs everywhere! There were coal miners in their uniforms and families surrounding them. There was also a huge cook out set out as well as other free snacks. I didn't want to intrude though so I sat on a bench and observed, listening to music, and smiled as families walked by. One woman came up to me and said "Honey! The rally is about to start! Go get in line and get ya a tshirt and sign to hold on! Ask for a bracelet too! Run on now, hurry!" It must have been her southern charm but before I knew it I was armed with a Support Coal bracelet, a bumper sticker, and a poster. I heard the announcer say "Come on now y'all, get in closer now, we can't have a rally without any people! Scoot in!" Well, you all know how I like to follow the rules so there I went, third row, front and center! I was ready for the rally! I wasn't sure what I was rallying for at first but as the speakers came up one by one and the cheers grew louder I understood that the EPA was attempting to pass legislation that would hurt the coal industry. At some times I was laughing at myself for being caught in the middle of it all and at other times I was tearing up listening to those around fight to support their family members.
One of the speakers said it best, "We don't want to hurt anybody. We don't want to break any rules. We are good people. We want to do what is right. What is right is feeding my family. What is right is helping my local economy. All I want to do is work hard. There is a right and a wrong way to mine coal and I want to continue mining the right way because until the day I die I will be proud to say, 'I am a friend of coal." Some other great coal supporting lines I learned are: When the sun don't shine and the wind don't blow - coal keeps the lights on. Coal: It's a family tradition! If you don't like coal, don't use electricity! Coal: Ending poverty in America. Kentucky Coal = Energy for America. Got electricity? Thank a coal miner! And thank a coal miner, I must. After the rally there was a debate between the two sides and a few days later many people in the mining industry lost their jobs due to some of the decisions that were made. A lot of the students I have been working with have family members who have worked in the industry for as long as they can remember. I'm praying that a solution can be created to keep the environment healthy but also keep people employed as they try to support eastern Kentucky simply by doing old fashioned hard work.
As my supervisor said the next day, "Emily Romito is all jacked up on coal." and as I earned the "Most Likely to be a Friend of Coal" superlative at our end of the year dinner I hope everyone just remembers to look at both sides of an issue. It was easy for many students at NKU to believe coal is evil (me included) because of the one sided book we were required to read. College is a time for ideas to be explored and critical thinking to transpire. I'm glad I had an opportunity to explore more than ideas, I have been able to explore the stories, families, and lives that "keep our lights on."
Everywhere I looked there were "Friends of Coal" stickers, t-shirts, bracelets, license plates, etc. Even on the University of Pikeville's campus we are getting ready to name a new medical school building the "Coal Building." The common reading program at UPIKE supports Kentucky authors and focuses on the lives and history of eastern Kentucky when they make their decision on which book to choose. I've read most of them and enjoyed them (Gap Creek, Coal Tattoo, Clay's Quilt). One thing is for sure though, if anyone chose Lost Mountain as a book for the entire freshman class to read, they would lose their job in a heartbeat.
This is just a snip-it of where I was on the day I heard music down at the city park. I decided to walk down and see what was going on. From the very beginning I could see it was a Friends of Coal event because there were tshirt and signs everywhere! There were coal miners in their uniforms and families surrounding them. There was also a huge cook out set out as well as other free snacks. I didn't want to intrude though so I sat on a bench and observed, listening to music, and smiled as families walked by. One woman came up to me and said "Honey! The rally is about to start! Go get in line and get ya a tshirt and sign to hold on! Ask for a bracelet too! Run on now, hurry!" It must have been her southern charm but before I knew it I was armed with a Support Coal bracelet, a bumper sticker, and a poster. I heard the announcer say "Come on now y'all, get in closer now, we can't have a rally without any people! Scoot in!" Well, you all know how I like to follow the rules so there I went, third row, front and center! I was ready for the rally! I wasn't sure what I was rallying for at first but as the speakers came up one by one and the cheers grew louder I understood that the EPA was attempting to pass legislation that would hurt the coal industry. At some times I was laughing at myself for being caught in the middle of it all and at other times I was tearing up listening to those around fight to support their family members.
One of the speakers said it best, "We don't want to hurt anybody. We don't want to break any rules. We are good people. We want to do what is right. What is right is feeding my family. What is right is helping my local economy. All I want to do is work hard. There is a right and a wrong way to mine coal and I want to continue mining the right way because until the day I die I will be proud to say, 'I am a friend of coal." Some other great coal supporting lines I learned are: When the sun don't shine and the wind don't blow - coal keeps the lights on. Coal: It's a family tradition! If you don't like coal, don't use electricity! Coal: Ending poverty in America. Kentucky Coal = Energy for America. Got electricity? Thank a coal miner! And thank a coal miner, I must. After the rally there was a debate between the two sides and a few days later many people in the mining industry lost their jobs due to some of the decisions that were made. A lot of the students I have been working with have family members who have worked in the industry for as long as they can remember. I'm praying that a solution can be created to keep the environment healthy but also keep people employed as they try to support eastern Kentucky simply by doing old fashioned hard work.
As my supervisor said the next day, "Emily Romito is all jacked up on coal." and as I earned the "Most Likely to be a Friend of Coal" superlative at our end of the year dinner I hope everyone just remembers to look at both sides of an issue. It was easy for many students at NKU to believe coal is evil (me included) because of the one sided book we were required to read. College is a time for ideas to be explored and critical thinking to transpire. I'm glad I had an opportunity to explore more than ideas, I have been able to explore the stories, families, and lives that "keep our lights on."
Monday, June 11, 2012
Small Town, USA
Mom, Dad, and Ben all got to spend a marvelous two days in Pikeville this weekend! It was just excellent! They got here and I took them on a tour of our small campus, showed them the grand tour of my bedroom, and spied on a wedding happening in the city park. We went to church together and then had dinner at a local barbecue place called Pig in a Poke. My family is the best and gave me all their leftovers for dinner tonight! We were so full from dinner we laid around the hotel for a little bit and then ventured out to Muscle on Main. This is an event held in downtown Pikeville where people can show off their cars. We got there just in time for the last few rounds of a blowout competition. A husband/wife couple competed against each other and I cheered for the woman of course! Good ole Alma gave those men a run for their money! To finish the night we all got tangerine swirl ice cream from Dairy Cheer. This was an amazing discovery that tastes just like a creamsicle. It was the real deal! Just writing about it makes me want one!
After sleeping in, eating at the breakfast buffet, and showering in a real shower (not a dorm room shower) we packed up and headed out to Breaks Interstate Park. This park crosses between Kentucky and Virginia. We hiked along and between the state lines and had so many beautiful views of the mountains. We also had a few family photo shoots. My favorite was getting my mom to climb up on a semi-dangerous rock ledge. I think I get my sense of adventure from her! Or maybe my favorite was when I hid under a fallen rock and Ben pretends like he is holding it up for me. My brother always takes care of me! Or maybe it was when I asked an old lady on an overlook to take a photo of all of us together... yeah, that might be the winner. It was a great day hiking, talking, laughing, and remembering. Remember when we went hiking all day and I got car sick on the way home and threw up on campus? Oh yeah! That was today! Regardless, still an awesome day! We finished up our time together at a local diner called Jerry's. After the rest of the family headed back north I sat on my front porch and read. When the quiet hit me I realized how much joy they bring my life. I don't think we were ever not laughing about something. It was a great weekend.
Luckily, I don't have to deal with the quiet for long. I have two more orientation programs and then I'm moving back home and we'll all be under the same roof again!
Next post: I have got to fill you all in on the coal rally I went to!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Whooah, we're halfway there!
... Living on a prayer!.. Well, not really a prayer, more like living on the orientation high. (We are halfway done with our summer orientation programs though.) I guess I should try to explain what that is. However, it's kinda like sororities and fraternities: from the inside looking out you could never explain it and from the outside looking in you could never understand it. I have some amazing people in my life that do a really good job trying to understand why I love what I do. For those of you I haven't talked to about it before here are some reasons.
- I love when students and parents first walk in the door and they have to check in separately. It is sometimes the first independent thing a student does in college.
- I love when the SOAR leaders take off their cool caps, act silly, and help families to relax.
- I love when I have to deal with a difficult parent because I know that student has a support system at home.
- I love when parents are honest about how hard it will be to send their baby away to college. (When they start to tear up, I start to tear up.)
- I love remembering all of the stories my mom has told about me and Ben on our college journeys.
- I love when students find a connection with their future institution. They start to make this place their home.
- I love when opportunities are provided for students to make new friends and then they stay up half the night talking and playing games.
- I love reading evaluations and knowing I did a job well done.
- Even more than that though, I love when a student starts class in the fall, sees their SOAR leader and says, "You were my SOAR leaders. I love going to school here!" That is when orientation is worth it to me.
All of these things combined with the energy and excitement of people on campus, staff members, new students, returning students, and people in between make my job so worth while. I'm able to make working around 30 hours over two days (the most exhausting two days!) more fulfilling than weeks of work sometimes. Nothing is better than loving what you do.
My parents (and maybe Ben) are coming to Pikeville this weekend to visit. I'm really excited to see them and to show off the little place I've become so attached to. My next post will have to be about our adventures here!
- I love when students and parents first walk in the door and they have to check in separately. It is sometimes the first independent thing a student does in college.
- I love when the SOAR leaders take off their cool caps, act silly, and help families to relax.
- I love when I have to deal with a difficult parent because I know that student has a support system at home.
- I love when parents are honest about how hard it will be to send their baby away to college. (When they start to tear up, I start to tear up.)
- I love remembering all of the stories my mom has told about me and Ben on our college journeys.
- I love when students find a connection with their future institution. They start to make this place their home.
- I love when opportunities are provided for students to make new friends and then they stay up half the night talking and playing games.
- I love reading evaluations and knowing I did a job well done.
- Even more than that though, I love when a student starts class in the fall, sees their SOAR leader and says, "You were my SOAR leaders. I love going to school here!" That is when orientation is worth it to me.
All of these things combined with the energy and excitement of people on campus, staff members, new students, returning students, and people in between make my job so worth while. I'm able to make working around 30 hours over two days (the most exhausting two days!) more fulfilling than weeks of work sometimes. Nothing is better than loving what you do.
My parents (and maybe Ben) are coming to Pikeville this weekend to visit. I'm really excited to see them and to show off the little place I've become so attached to. My next post will have to be about our adventures here!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)