Class Rep Appreciation

So yesterday was a friend from MFT school's wedding in Abilene - Sarah. It was beautiful it was in this little chapel that low and behold one of my bosses owns (I found out when she was bringing out more punch glasses!!!) Anyway, as I was sitting there by my friend Steve's daughter and wife I was thinking what awesome class reps we had during our two years in the program.

Let me explain a little bit. Each year each class of the two classes in the MFT program elect a class representative. The class rep has a couple of main jobs 1) to bring to the professors concerns of the class, 2) to let the class know things the professors need to let us know from staff meetings, and 3) (and perhaps most important to the other students) work desk duty if needed.

So our first year we elected Laura Beth and she was awesome. She brought our class together and worked hard to unite us when most of us didn't know each other. I believe it was in large part to LB was why our class was so close. The first semester she planned something every month from scavengar hunts, to trick-or-treat, to Christmas Caroling, and to progressive holiday dinners it was awesome fun. She kept this going right through the spring and summer.

Also, when someone couldn't work the desk or those extra times that weren't planned for desk duty we never had to worry about it because we knew LB would just cover it no questions asked and without complaining. She also represented us well to the professors and always encouraged us with what the professors said that was positive but also encouraged us to improve on things the professors would notice or be frustrated about. She would do research on things like how to get our license and what it would cost and events coming up and always prepare us.

The 2nd year we elected Steve and he continued the same things LB started above with maybe the exception of the get togethers but this was more due to time and we would plan our own things by this point in time. During the hard 2nd year what I really admired about Steve is even when he was frustrated or discouraged and when things would get tough we would get an email from Steve that was so positive and encouraging and helped us to keep our chins up and focus on the things that really matter like our clients and our friendships. He would help us put the changes that inevitably happen behind us and just accept those and move forward. He would remind us that the 1st years were looking to us for leadership and that the professors were doing what they thought was best and he would set the example even when it was hard for him because he was frustrated. And again desk duty was never an issue. And Steve did this with his wife working and 3 small kids.

As I'm now out graduated and watching and talking to other classes from people I have met either at work or in the community that went through the program; I realize how blessed my class was to have these two very special people be the leaders for our class and how united we were largely in part to their efforts. So as I was sitting there yesterday thinking about how maybe I don't miss class and the long hours and stuff; I do miss the people and the encouragement that we constantly received from our class reps throughout the program. Especially in my job where sometimes its hard to stay positive and focused on the good I am tyring doing.

So LB and Steve thanks for all you did those two years that went way underappreciated.

And of course we also heard the best speaches ever at the banquet!!!!! I don't know of another class who circled up, attempted to say the Serenity Prayer from memory, and received clay jars from their reps!!!!

THANKS LB AND STEVE