Last Frida,y I received the opportunity to attend the Missouri FFA State Convention. As I walked into the convention I was instantly flooded back with memories. Memories that I had left with the jacket I took off nearly two years ago. Memories of early mornings and late night bus rides, memories of eating at what seemed like every Dairy Queen in Northern Missouri. As I sat through the session and watched hundreds of high scholars receive awards and recognition for accomplishments that they had worked so hard on all spring semester. I realized that FFA did not only give me great memories but also life lessons that I carry with me today.
As I said before I took off the Blue Jacket for the last time nearly two years ago at my senior FFA banquet. It was a sad moment for all of us to let go but most of my classmates had stayed connected to the agriculture world. Whether it was through their major in college or helping out on the family farm. But I had not stayed connected, I did not grow up on a farm, nor did my major have anything to do with agriculture. So when I took off that blue jacket for the last time, I also took off all the memories that went with it. But what I did not realize until that night at convention, I may have taken off the jacket but I could never take off the values and lessons that FFA taught me, lessons like.
1. Be punctual.
I will never figure out how the my chapter did it. But I will always remember my adviser standing up in front of the class announcing that the bus would leave no later than 5:30 the next morning to attend the contest or event. We never left the parking lot for the event at least a half an hour later than he said. But we always arrived to the contest or event at least a half an hour earlier than needed. Though by the time the event or contest started we were always ready to go. FFA has taught me to be punctual. People notice your punctuality and enjoy someone who is always early than someone who is always running late.
2. No matter what happens, do not take off your jacket.
I think this was a my chapter only rule. I can remember going to a banquet at the end of the school year in a high school gym with no air conditioning. I will never for get my adviser standing up in front of the bus when we arrived and saying. "It is going to be hot in that gym, but you will not take off your jacket. If I see one zipper unzipped or one shoe off you will not be asked to come back and represent us again. Understand?" I still use this today, when I am going some where in professional dress no matter how warm or what happens I always stay in professional dress until the event is over. I have realized you look more put together than others who have taken off their jackets or blazers half way through the event.
3. Never give up.
I know this sounds cliche but what I mean is fight till the end. We would be stared down by advisers and students alike when we entered a contest or event. My chapter was very successful at contest and usually won state in at least one contest every year. Making us the enemy of every chapter in Missouri FFA. It got to the point were schools that hosted contest would often try to throw the contest so anyone but us could win. You often had to ask questions or saw your adviser asking questions about how and why you got points knocked off. This taught me that no matter how many people are staring you down keep your head up and remember you got this.
These are just some of the many life lessons that FFA taught me. I know that these lessons will hold true with me for the rest of my life. So hey, hey what do you say?
