Attitude of Gratitude

What kind of person do you want to be?
When I think about my response to this question, I immediately think of my mother's thankful attitude even during some of the hardest points in her life.
Around this time last year, my mom was unable to bend her right knee and couldn't put any weight on it. She was kicked by my steer after weigh-in at my county fair, breaking her tibia and tearing her MCL. She had to get a bone graft by her patella and multiple rods and screws inserted. Unable to drive, unable to walk without crutches, looking at months of recovery and months of physical therapy, having to relearn how to walk correctly, years worth of pain left to endure, and aches and pains that will never entirely go away where only some of the things my mother had to deal with, all while homeschooling two elementary school kids.Despite all of her physical limitations, my mother kept a positive attitude in everything she did. She still showed up for all of my brother's games without fail, supported me in all of my FFA and speech contests, helped my sister with anything she needed, and was always there as a listening ear. To an outside eye, my mom had every right to complain and be miserable; but she chose to be grateful and thankful for what she had. 
We're all going through different things this holiday season: loss of friends or family, discontent with life, financial struggles, school stress, relationships or friendships ending, or any number of things I haven't named. No matter how hard it gets, be thankful for what you have and enjoy the life you have. 
Focus on the good because when you do, the bad gets better. 
With gratitude and joy,Christina Caldwell 

God Bless The Broken Road

It is so easy to get caught up in the moment, and forget all of the moments and memories that lead up to you being to where you are today. For me, it’s a long story full of twists and turns, full of ups and downs, laughter and tears, and, most importantly, relationships. Family, friends, mentors, and even people I met on my journey have gotten me to where I am. In my mind, everything happens for a reason; even though we may not know it at the time, there is a greater plan at play. I'm not sure that I could pin-point the moment that made me a State Officer, or the moment I realized that my best friends were my best friends, but I could tell you when I really learned how precious life really is. 11/22/23: a day that will be etched into my memory forever because that is the day that I lost one of my best friends. You see, when people tell you not to take life for granted, I always knew that they were right but I didn’t understand it fully. To me, people passing away wasn’t something that happened frequently or to anyone that I knew. I was in complete shock; I felt broken. How could life keep going on all around and he would be forever 18? Maybe that’s the beauty of it all, though; this messy journey, this broken road called life. Well, this could be tied into a beautiful bow the day after his eighteenth birthday. So young, full of life and dreams and hope; as we come upon one year of the hard lesson I had to learn the day Evan left, I never take my moments for granted. I try to live in the moment, always, and remember all of the beautiful souls that lead me down this beautifully broken road. 

Forever thankful for the moments we shared, 

Sienna Alexander 

Indiana FFA State Reporter

Acts Of Service

I had the opportunity to head back home for my FFA chapter’s Annual Veteran’s Day Program. This was always my favorite project that the chapter hosted. It was so inspiring to see members from 7th to 12th grade honor those who served. Throughout my life, I was influenced by many people who had a servant's heart. I also wanted to keep this going in my day-to-day life. I made volunteering for my community a priority. 

As the National Anthem played, I thought back to my graduation day when we recognized my classmates who were going into the service. This brought chills and tears to my eyes as I watched one of my best friends stand and wave to the crowd. Dylan truly chose to live to serve when he decided to enlist in the United States Navy. As we sent him off to basic, the tears that swelled his eyes saying goodbye to our small town still sting. 

To be a servant leader is to put others before yourself to better the people around you. All this time, I thought I was doing just that. After taking a step back and looking at those Veterans around me in the gymnasium who were too frail to even stand, I knew that these service men and women were the ones who exemplify servant leadership. Although I did not enlist in the service and risk everything to give back and serve my country. I hope one day I can say selflessly that I have a servant's heart. I want to live a life like the selfless Veterans who served and the current service men and women who are currently showing acts of service. I want to live like Dylan, always giving back to others.

Finding Pride In My American Roots

It’s July 4, 1976. George Washington is in the middle of leading the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the final draft of the Declaration of Independence is being signed by those in attendance. This document will change history forever as a new nation will be formed and will be declared the United States of America. 

Aside from being a big history buff, there are few things that I love more than being an American citizen. I genuinely love this country and wake up each morning thankful to know that I live in the greatest nation in the world. Just a few short days ago, I had the opportunity to participate in my first election. I was so proud to utilize my constitutional right and was yet again thankful to know that I live in a nation that is governed by its people and is for its people. 

Recently, at the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, I had the amazing opportunity to bear the Indiana State Flag in the presentation of each of the associations’ flags throughout the nation. I couldn’t help but become overwhelmed with joy and happiness as I carried my state’s flag alongside 51 other states and U.S. territories. 

What was most meaningful about this experience, however, was that I was surrounded by 51 other individuals who were just as proud and happy to be Americans as me. Not only were we each proud to bear our own state’s or territory’s flag, but we were proud to represent the big picture as a whole: “one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.” While we each wore our own state’s name on the back of our FFA jackets, we were each proud of uniting under one organization and one nation. 

Although many things contribute to my great love for this country, there is one reason that rises to the top as to what makes this country so great: pride. We as American citizens take pride in our great nation. We are proud of the freedoms and peace that we experience in this nation. We are proud of being grounded in a democracy that puts its people first and is boosted by a Constitution that establishes liberty for every American. 

I find pride in my country because it has exemplified what the ideals of pride, love, liberty, patriotism, sacrifice, freedom, and unity should look like for nearly 250 years. This nation is where my roots lie; I am beyond humbled and proud to carry on my family’s generational love for this beautiful nation. I am truly proud to be an American and am blessed to know that my roots lie in the greatest nation in the world. 

Finding pride in my American roots,

Cale Williams

Indiana FFA State Southern Region Vice President