Your options in high school

Concepts to ponder while in high school:
-You are a direct representation of the people you hang out with and the books you read.  If you’re struggling, ask yourself “Who am I becoming? What am I reading?”
-Live intentionally. This means-do everything for a reason.
-Knowledge is power. Learn another language. Study abroad. Volunteer more.

In 10 years, what kind of stories do you want to share?

You’re in high school. You think “I can’t travel. My family say’s they’ll miss me too much. My friends say they need me everyday. What if I miss out on something? I don’t have enough money. I’m not capable of exploration.”

STOP.

Choose to think differently. Choose to accept this…..  You’re family will always love you. You’re friends will continue to live once you’re gone. The experience you gain will positively change your life forever. You can make money and find resources. YOU are capable.

If you want to know the endless possibilities that are open to you, here are just a few:
EDventure International
EDventure International aims to inspire individuals by teaching them leadership skills which are developed and enhanced through direct engagement with volunteer projects overseas.

S.T.E.P Into The World
STEP Into The World is an educational and exchange organization that uniquely provides innovative short-term educational abroad programs.
Our mission: “To empower leaders, promote cross-cultural understanding, and develop global ambassadors.”

ISV (International Student Volunteers)
ISV’s Mission and Purpose is “To support sustainable development initiatives around the world through life-changing volunteer and responsible adventure travel programs that educate, inspire and result in more active global citizens.”

National Geographic Student Expeditions
We invite the next generation of explorers to get out in the field and follow in the footsteps of National Geographic’s photographers, writers, and scientists. You might hike into the Grand Canyon to find traces of its ancient inhabitants, study the behavior of giant tortoises in the Galápagos, or settle into a village in Cambodia and help out with a community project.
It takes just a little digging to find that there is wonder—big and small—all around the world. Come discover it with us.

CIEE
CIEE is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. Our mission is one shared by many in international education: “to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world.” To fulfill that mission, CIEE provides both outbound international education experiences for university students, faculty, and administrators, and study, work, and internship opportunities for people coming into the U.S.

Follow Your Dreams

That’s the theme for the next two days.

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Back in Iowa. Honored to be a part of Worth County’s Parenting Fair this year. In the next two days I have the opportunity to speak to two different high schools and then to the community Thursday night about following dreams. How important is it to know that “you can do whatever it is you set out to do.” Been talking to an array of people today, it’s so interesting when people say “what’s holding me back is….” or “the biggest catch for me is….”

Ever feel that life is NOW. HERE. READY – TO – BE – LIVED!

GO. EXPLORE. MORE.

Putting the finishing touches on my presentation now.

Stellar’s Jay

Saw this guy today outside, being all inquisitive.

Wondering why do birds need cone shaped feather heads?

Would you rather have your hair be feathered like this guys, forever, or have his beak as your nose?

Serious question, ehh!

Trade you!

These hats need a home.  Make you a deal:  you send me a letter, I’ll send you one of these hats.  And if someone beats you too it, I’ll make something up, nice + pertty, just for you!

Unisex Adult Fantasticness

 

Unisex Small Head or Child

 

Email me for my address — hailee.rustad@gmail.com

Winter Teva Mountain Games

Winter Teva Mountain Games were this weekend and….. fantastic! My favorite part: being whisked away on a Vail snowmobile up the mountain.  Dropped off, in the dark, in the middle of now-where, with one glow stick.   Job: send the runners doing the 5k/10k snowshoe race in the right direction.  Best thing about it: the view looking down on the Tele Big Air comp and Teva Best Trick Bike comps.  Holy toledo it was SWEEETTT! Not to mention, sooner-than-later, my roomie Kari ran by on her snowshoes. Quite fast too I might add.  So fast, SHE WON the Womens 5k!

Photo credits:  Photo © Ryan Day Thompson, 2012 | www.ryandaythompson.com

Get more experiences!

Today, volunteering at the Teva Winter Mountain Games, a 71 year old  ortho-pedic surgeon named Robert shared stories for hours.   As he spoke of his visits to other countries or other adventures, he handed me a piece of jerky, elk jerky from the elk he killed this hunting season.  Reminder:  he’s 71.

He spoke candidly to the two of us, youngsters in his eyes.  Told us stories about his 20 years playing polo and the horses he tried to train.  He spoke of his time in New Orleans at Tulane.  He asked us why we do what we do.   And then upon our responses he smiled “we grew up in different times!”

How true!  We appreciate each other equally, gaining so much from the conversation.  His wisdom, our life energy.  Upon being asked about his public speaking experiences, he talking about how we live in different times.  His life options:  stay in school or go to Vietnam.  But he eventually did both!  Then he smiled:  ”we’re just living Hailee, we’re living!  Either you live it in the front end of life (meaning during your youth) or you try to catch up in the back end and that’s what I’m doing.  I just don’t have the body I use to.  These old knees hurt too much.”

“Either way you do it, you only live once, and we don’t know how long that’ll be.  Usually, it’s shorter than we want.”

 

 

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