My Leadership Family

"I suppose leadership at one time meant muscles; but today it means getting along with people."

-Mahatma Gandhi  

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To have a group of genuine and caring people in one classroom is a very rare thing.  I am lucky enough to be apart of the Treasure Mountain Junior High Leadership Class which is full of thirty amazing individuals.  Without this class, I would not have built some of the friendships I have now.  AND I wouldn't be as confident in my abilities as a leader.  I used to be unknown to the student body, quiet, weird, awkward, and unimportant.  Because of this class, I have come out of my shell and shown my peers who I am and what I have to offer.  

Some of the incredible people in my class include: Emma Burke, Samantha Bush, Ben Butcher, Marta Myshrall, Matt Whipple, Micaela Berglund, Emma Louden, Leah Anderson, Lauren MacRitchie, Lane Radovan, Evie Edwards, Elaine Prom and SOOOOO many more.  I am so thankful for the relationships I have built, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. 

(L to R) Claire, Marta, and Elaine at the Utah Allies Dinner
Photo Courtesy of Claire

(L to R) Marta, Emma, Claire, and Samantha at TMJH Registration
Photo Courtesy of Claire

From leadership, I have learned to never doubt myself.  Failure follows self doubt, and I have learned that the most important thing is to love yourself.  By telling myself things will work out, they (almost) always do. I have also gained the ability to have an open mind.  In a room full of opinionated and often bossy teenagers, you have to allow yourself to consider other people's ideas and thoughts.  Everything I do in leadership is collaborative and I wouldn't complete any of my tasks without the help of my classmates. 

Anyone can be a leader, and I have learned that the power of my voice is huge.  If I want change, I can make it happen, and don't need to wait around for anyone else to do it.  I am in control of what happens in my life, and it is important for me to take control of things that I am passionate about.  By simply voicing my opinion things the original path can be altered.  Not everyone is perfect, and I have learned that my ideas aren't always great.  We all fail.  It is important to try and learn from your mistakes.  Yet, you can't learn if you don't throw yourself out there.

To put it simply, I am a better person because of the TMJH Leadership class, and I have all of my classmates to thank for that.  Leadership has changed my life in the best way possible. 

rainy_ribbons

There are very few people in this world that can be described as exceptional.  Not many people in this world honestly go above and beyond the status quo.  To find a person who is genuine and inspiring in junior high is like finding a piece of gold in dirt.

I have many amazing friends who, in my eyes, are truly amazing individuals.  Marta just so happens to be one that really stands out in everything she does.  She is an incredible student, soccer player, and leader.  Unlike me, everyone in the school knows and admires her.  Marta is one of those people that swears like a sailor and is a saint.  She can joke about herself and really knows who she is as a person.

Marta and me at the Utah Allies Dinner
Photo Courtesy of Mama Claire

Because of things in my past, I have a hard time trusting people.  Yet, I have trusted Marta since the day we became friends.  Whenever I need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to rant to, she is always there.  There are very few people who are actually there for you all of the time.  I am lucky enough to have one of those very few people as my friend.

In addition to being a beautiful person on the inside and out, Marta is a born leader.  She has a calling to make a change and do something big.  Currently, she serves as the TMJH 9th Grade Class President, and is in the running to become next years Sophomore Representative.  Although we have not been told the results yet, I know Marta was chosen because of the way that she interacts with people.  She has a special way of connecting with an audience, and my grade would be completely stupid not to pick her.  There are so many things that she is able to bring to the table that others can't.  It excites me to even think that she will be representing our grade; there isn't anyone better.

Marta and me at the Utah Allies Dinner
Photo Courtesy of Mama Claire

I am lucky to even know Marta Myshrall.  From school to photography, she excels in everything.  I didn't that it was possible to be perfect until I met Marta. Marta is one of my best friends.  I don't know how I would survive without her.

"A Day for Hot Coke (Cocoa) "

Today, I had the best babysitting job EVER.  And I mean EVER.  I have been dying to babysit the cutest kids, L and L2 (code names).  Back at the beginning of January, I gave my number to their mom and hadn't heard from her until this morning when she needed a babysitter after school.  I, of course, said yes even though I had a lacrosse scrimmage around the same time.  Nonetheless, it was so fun.  I already knew L because I was a TA in her preschool class last year and this year (mentioned in "A Teacher in Training.")  However, I didn't know her younger sister, L2, and boy did I have fun getting to know her.

Their mom picked me up after school and we drove to their home where I played with them while she worked.  First, I read "The Velveteen Rabbit" to them, which is a great book and I highly recommend it for everyone.  Then, we snacked and I made hot chocolate for the L2, who told me afterward that she doesn't like hot cocoa.  Don't you love when kids claim to like something and then you waste your time to make it for them and in then, they don't even want it?  Yeah, I do too. *Sarcasm*

My favorite event of all was when L did my hair and told me it looked, "SOOOO beautiful."  It certainly was quite the hairdo.

Please pardon the poor quality, it was taken by a five year
old who claimed to know how to work and iPhone camera.
Photo Courtesy of Mana Claire

Later on, I really wanted to go on a walk, so we voyaged on the road to visit my friend, Samantha, at her house.  I thought the walk would be short, but it took about 20 minutes to get to her house... Mostly because I was carrying L2 on my hip and holding L's hand.  

All I heard the whole time from L was, "Are we there yet?"  "When will we be there?" "This sure is a long walk."  "Claire!  My hands are cold!"  "It sure is a day for hot coke (cocoa)."  

We made the best of it, and Samantha was so excited to see us and even brought us cupcakes :).

We made it back home just in the nick of time and off we went to drop me off at my scrimmage.  L was so interested in my uniform that exactly what I was wearing, and I had a great time attempting to explain it. 

Overall, it was the most fun I've had babysitting in a long, long time.  Mostly because I LOVE these kids and they are so nice and sweet.  If you can't tell how excited I was to babysit them, just as my friends.  It's all I could talk about today. 

Until next time. 

Mama SWAG

Hello there!  This week I have a rather interesting story that comes from my experience at the Teton Science Schools.

Here is the story that made me call myself, Mama Swag....

March 7, 2013

My school, Treasure Mountain Junior High, had to share the campus with fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from a school called “Wheaton.”  These Wheatoners appeared to be snooty, smart-aleck, little children.  

Every day we would have to answer a question in order for our table group to get in line for all meals.  The first few days, the children from Wheaton would beat us to the line and take all of the food.  They would also take THIRDS of the meals when all we were allowed was SECONDS.  This seriously ticked-off many of the Treasure Mountainers.  Many tables, including my own, would plot against the little kids just so we could get our meal first.  

However, on the morning of March 7, that all changed.  I was in charge of reporting the weather to the people in the cafeteria. 

I got up in front of everyone and said, “Goooooood morning Teton Science School! Today’s weather is.....”  And I continued to tell them about the days forecast.  

Afterwards, I sat down in my seat and talked with my friends.  It was then that I heard a little girl say, “Excuse me... You’re the bests weather lady ever!” 

I was so shocked that the Wheaton kids were complementing me and, quite frankly, I was flattered.  

(L TO R) Mama Claire, Nicki, Ava, Loretta
Photo Courtesy of Emma Louden 

That evening at dinner I took my picture with them and they were so excited.  

Also, the next morning, Loretta, Nicki, and Ava asked if they could sit with us.  We of course said yes and had a great time talking with them.  My favorite quote from Loretta (who was quite sassy) was, “Don’t mess with the flava of the bacon or I will get you.”

Letters that they wrote to me on the last morning: 

Overall, I shared this story because I thought it was so funny that I made friends with these kids from Chicago.  It may sound like a stupid story to you, but I thought it showed that all kids want is to be friends with someone older.  I remember the days that all I wanted was to have a best friend in high school.  

With all this being said, I'm sure it's obvious why the name, "MAMA SWAG" has come to be mine.  I mean, who doesn't want to be my friend? :)

My Babysitters

Growing up I had lots of great babysitters.  Some were great, others not so much.  Here in Park City parents pay the big bucks for a sitter.  However, at the Breiholz household, my parents were a little more tight with their rates.  Often times, I wonder if that discouraged them from watching us... That's aside from the point; I'm going to share some of my favorite memories of hanging with my babysitters.

My most frequent sitter was Ashley.  I used to idolize her, and I honestly wanted to be her BFFL.

Here is a list of a few memories of our experiences:

This is Ashley and Me many years ago on July 4th
Photo Courtesy of Ms. Breiholz

1. Mimi lost her tooth. 
2. I spilled the mac n' cheese on the floor. 
3. I dumped a bucket of tiny beads on the floor after the mac n' cheese incident. 
4. My dog, Rubie, bit my face and Ashley laughed at me. 
5. Trying on Ashley's hand-me-down clothes. 
6. Jumping on her trampoline. 
7. Dancing in my family room. 
8. Begging her to stay up thirty more minutes.
9. Playing Littlest Pet Shops. 

There are many more things I could recall from her watching me, but I am going to leave it at that.  Ashley experienced the best and the worst of Mimi and me.  I must admit that I was the pleasant child to watch... My sister was quite the nightmare.  I remember that Mimi bit another one of our babysitters and then sat in the corner of her room screaming for the evening.  Yet, when my mom would arrive home, she would tattle on me. AS IF I DID ANYTHING!!!

Thinking about my past babysitters makes me wonder what the kids I watch think of me.  I hope that when they're my age they remember the pleasant teenage girl who would spend her "free" evenings watching them play video games or (pretend to be) enjoying a quick round of UNO.  For now, I will act as nice as possible to ensure that I am remembered in a positive way.

Ideas for next weeks post?  Please comment below.