Letter from OU

Write a letter to all the seniors at your HS. Give them advice. Tell them what to watch for. 


Dear HS Students,


I hope that high school was everything you wanted it to be and you met any goals you had set in place.  I also hope that you are excited for this new transition in life.  As exciting as it is, it will most likely also be the most difficult you ever face.  The personal changes in living out of the house along with school and studying will send you to a state of shock that can be hard to get out of.  With this said, I believe the best way to get through the senior-itis will be to  list the key points I would like to express.

1. If you are not in good shape and or health, it would behoove you to find a balance in health and exercise.  And STICK WITH THIS BALANCE.  It is easy to forget in college that your first priority should always be your well being.  Eat Healthy, exercise often, and get SLEEP.
2. If you skimmed  by in high school, that means you took easy classes and did not have to study, get a different mind set.  I know it is hard to have a parent say the "3 to 1 rule."  If you haven't heard it, it's not 3 hours of class to 1 hour study, yep, it's 3 hours of STUDY to 1 hour of class, so...
1. 15 hours (thats 15 hours of class a week) x 3 hours of study = 45 hours of study
2. 15 hours + 45 study hours = 60 hours of school work!
3. HS is 7 hours x 5 days a week = 35 hours!
4. Its a huge change, be prepared for it.
3. Become involved.  If you were involved in high school it is difficult to know where to begin.  There are so many places to volunteer and lead, the best advice I can give is, dive in.  The same goes for students who weren't involved in high school, find something your passionate about and dedicate yourself to it, you just might find a career.

In Summary

1. Be Healthy
2. Study
3. Get Involved

I wish you the best of luck in all of your endeavors.  Don't get caught up in school so much that you forget to make connections.  The people you meet in college will be your life long friends.  Someone once said, "it's not the grades you make, it's the hands you shake."  You can take that quote as seriously as you like.  Stick with your gut, be respectful, and strive for excellence and you will succeed in everything you do.

A Proud Alum,

Kyle Ferguson

Bystander Behavior

What have you been a bystander to? What event do you wish a bystander had stepped in? Why do you think college students don’t speak up against wrong doing?


I have been a bystander to people talking behind others backs.  It is not a serious life affecting moment, but it is still something that should not go un-contested.  I wish a bystander had stepped into a situation I was in when they knew what I was saying was correct, but they didn't want to speak up because everyone else was against the idea.  It made the effect on me harder than if they had supported by side.  The common response of a college student when faced with the situation of speaking up, is that someone else will do it.  They most likely don't think it's their place to say something, or if they do then they may be judged for it.

Priorities

What were your priorities before you came to OU? What are they now? Are they the same or are they changing?

My priorities before coming to OU were more self centered, I was concerned with what I was doing, how I was doing it and how I would be recognized.  Since military training and the beginning of my college career my priorities have shifted to care more for my loved ones and others around me.  I would say that priorities are always shifting.  There are always new deadlines, new people and new things to care for.  Our success is usually directly proportional to how well our priorities are placed.

Influences

Who has influenced you?  What has influenced you?  Has it changed since high school graduation?

I have had many influential people and things in my life.  The most important obviously being people.  Some of the most influential people in my life are family, especially my dad.  He holds a high ranking position that I respect greatly and his actions reflect his leadership and the compassion he has for people.  My surroundings have also influenced me, I strive to put myself into situations I want to be in, rather than ones that I may struggle or have a hard time dealing with.  These influences have changed since high school, I have been out for two years now and have also attended military training since graduation.  It is amazing to see what all changes in your life after high school.  There is so much more growing up to do and it comes so fast.

Signing out,
G. Kyle Ferguson

Summer of 2011

Kyle's Opinion Khronicle will be a blog about Kyle's opinion on current leadership topics.  It is important to not only have opinions, but to speak them out loud:

Recently, while I was with my family after church, my brother and I discussed if we believed that "Bagel Cafe" on main street would last.  We have lived in Norman nearly our whole lives and we seem to have a grasp on what does well here and not.  I argued that the casual cafe added conveniently close to the high school and relatively close to campus would benefit business greatly.  My brother on the other hand seemed to think the cafe was doomed for a quick close due to a lack in business or improper management.  After we had talked my dad chimed in and said how proud he was that we had our own opinions and were not afraid to defend them.  Might I add, that the first day of this class was the first that either my brother or I had a had a bagel from "Bagel Cafe."  I promptly told my 16 year old brother it was delicious.

Another facet of my Blog name is "chronicle," or with a more childish spin "Khronicle."  I believe my life to be very organized and planned out.  Instinctively, I seem to start my day by planning out the days events and figuring out how everything will get done.  I used a "K" just to keep myself young.  Turning twenty next thursday will make a man feel old.

In my life I have gone by many titles; son, brother, friend, officer (of many clubs and orgs,) boyfriend, Airman in the USAF, fraternal brother, and most recently, college student.  Each of these titles has taught me something different in my personal path of leadership.  I believe that everyone is a leader, but the ones that are publicly called leaders may just be further down that path than most.  I have certainly been blessed with many oppurtunities and resources to improve myself and I believe that I have become a better leader because of it.

I hope that I would be considered an understanding leader.  The last thing I want is someone around me to feel like they haven't been heard, or that their opinion doesn't matter (opinion's - they must be spoken to be heard.)  I would describe myself as a "Servant Leader."  I am just as willing to do the work that is being asked and will do that if it is necessary to benefit the team.  I believe a strength I have is being a servant leader, while also possessing the ability to direct and distribute jobs, ideas, and man power.  A servant leader also has the advantage of being with and around his or her team, and may be better available to tend to their needs and desires.

Signing out,
G. Kyle Ferguson

(I want this whole G-dot thing to stick, I think it will make my professional life a lot easier)