Senior Send-Off

Although your time was cut short this semester everything you have done has greatly
been appreciated. Thank you for being role models to your mentees. I can’t believe May is already here. Your time here is almost complete. You have done so much to give back to you community and university. We are so proud of you and can’t wait to see where you continue to grow.

Congratulations, and make sure to celebrate this weekend!

 

~Kenzie McMullen, FDP representative for East Project

 

NHRI Alumni: Taylor Lofdahl

Just last week, I started a work meeting with the classic “Rose, Bud, Thorn” ice breaker game, and after sharing the directions, I mentioned that I learned it during my time in NHRI. The rose represents something energizing or positive in your life. The bud represents something you are looking forward to in the near or distant future. The thorn represents a challenge or obstacle you might be facing. I remember loving the energizer the first time I experienced it due to its simplicity while also requiring an acknowledgment of both the good and the not-so-good happenings of our lives. It was a refreshing change of pace from the more normal, quick exchanges of “I’m good, and you?” and it has stuck with me ever since.

After graduation, I began my career in the world of CliftonStrengths, and one of the cornerstone principles of our coaching conversations is vulnerability in acknowledging our strengths, the talents that don’t come as naturally to us, and the life circumstances that have shaped the people we have become. There’s great power in this as it engages an awareness about ourselves that allows us to better interact with others in a meaningful way, and as often as I can, I try to create spaces where people can share openly about the fullness of life. After all, we don’t leave ourselves at the door when we walk into work, class, or our involvements. We carry both the good and the not-so-good with us.

So when the time came to facilitate a virtual meeting last week, I felt confident in beginning with “Rose, Bud, Thorn.” Especially now as we each learn how to adjust to the more digital world we’re living in, it’s necessary for us to acknowledge our emotions and responses so that we may better express support and love for ourselves and others. It seems like a simple concept, but when we actually ask and listen, we invest ourselves in each other, just like the weekly conversations we had in project meeting. 

So here it is. My rose is starting the day with a hot cup of coffee and breakfast with my sister while I’m living at home with my family for this period of time. My thorn, because I don’t want to end on a negative note, is the sense of stagnation I’ve felt in the repetition of my days lately. I want to find a new activity to apply myself to in the next few weeks, and it’s been helpful to share my ideas with close friends for accountability. Finally, my bud is the half marathon I hope to run this fall, and the training I’ll do between now and then to feel strong. 

Wishing everyone health and wellness. 

Photo 1: Taylor and her mentee, Faith.

Photo 2: Lauren Niesen is Faith’s current Leadership Mentor, and we were both able to attend her dance performance!

Meet NHRI Alumni REGAN BURNHAM. She graduated from UNL in 2019 and currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin where she is a Client Solutions Specialist at FarWell Project Advisors. Regan was a part of the Lincoln Southeast project and in her senior year was a Staff advisor for Childs project.

I got the opportunity to interview Regan and ask her a little about her life and time with NHRI. Here is what she said….

What was your all-time favorite NHRI memory?

“My favorite NHRI memory was being a Staff Advisor my senior year. I got to meet other mentors and Staff Advisors who I hadn’t met before and gain a closer relationship with Lindsay, Hannah and Nick. All these people inspired me to be a better mentor, leader, and friend.”

What was your favorite NHRI event?

“Fall Kickoff – it’s so fun to see NHRI families interact with each other in a casual setting. It’s a great way to get everyone together and to witness the strength and support of the NHRI community.” 

 Most successful one-on-one.

“My most successful one-on-one was when my mentee, Taylor, and I went rock climbing together. It was fun to do something different. After, we had a great discussion about leadership themes related to facing challenged and working together as a team”

One thing you miss about NHRI & why?

 “I miss the people of NHRI. Each interaction with someone or any NHRI meeting would leave me so energized. I miss the small moments of building relationships or getting to meet someone within NHRI. Soak up this treasured time!”

How did NHRI impact your college experience? 

“NHRI was such a highlight of my college experience. It made me think about how I spend my time and who I spend it with, and how to be more intentional. It gave me some of my best friends. Everyone in NHRI lives their lives authentically through their own strengths, which is so inspiring.”

How has NHRI helped you post-grad?

“NHRI has helped me post-grad by being aware of how I interact with those around me. I moved to a new state, and I am so grateful for the tools it has given me for how to build relationships with new friends and strengthen relationships with friends and family far away.” 

Qhat concepts do you still use today?

“NHRI concepts I still use today include the looking glass principle and the power of listening and asking good questions”

Any advice to the graduating seniors?

“Soak up this time – life changes after college. It’s different, but it’s still great. Your senior year might not be ending the way you originally intended for, but it’s still important to make the most out of this time. Share your appreciation for others and continue to try new things.”
Natalie Matuella, Senior, Childs Project and FDP representative

 

 

Three Years of Growth and Generativity

Hello NHRIers!  My name is Alie Gillespie and I’m delighted to be writing this week’s blog. I’m reflecting, as many seniors do, on my collegiate experiences and I have to say, NHRI has been a standout among them. Though I’ve adored many things about my time in NHRI, my favorite part of mentoring has been experiencing NHRI’s celebration of creative thinking.  

I’ve been a conscientious person my whole life and I’m really motivated by doing the “right thing” in the “right way”. Therefore it was upsetting to me when, as is often the case with new mentors, it took me a little while to hit my stride with my mentee, Jada. Initially, I was fearful that I wasn’t mentoring Jada the mystical and nebulous “right way.”  

What if I didn’t address enough concepts in our first semester?  

What if I ran out of ideas for one-on-ones? 

What if I never had a “breakthrough”?

I knew that I enjoyed the uninhibited inventiveness of the middle school spirit, but I wasn’t quite sure how to connect with it.  Fortunately, my fellow project members let me know loud and clear that I was on track to developing a great relationship by asking those ever-so-famous open-ended questions and seeking out some beloved hot buttons. With their reassurance, my relationship with Jada began to flourish. Thanks to the wonderful example set by older members of the project, I began to trust in my ability to not only recognize Jada’s strengths but also to tailor our one-on-ones to them.  

At the end of my sophomore year, I looked back and breathed a sigh of relief.  My mentee and I had become closer, I hadn’t run out of ideas and, most importantly, because of my project’s support, I had a newfound confidence in my ability to use arts and creativity to engage Jada in conversations about perception, collaboration, and relationship building.

Since sophomore year, I’ve enjoyed continuing to explore the intersection of the arts and leadership development with Jada.  Together we have visited the Sheldon and Kiehcel art galleries, painted, looked at art history books and made countless collages.  During our artistic collaborations we’ve discussed how life literally is a game of “different (brush) strokes for different folks” and how we as artists enjoy the sometimes challenging privilege of sharing emotions and perspectives with others by making beautiful things.  

I wish I could go back and tell my sophomore self to relax and believe in myself, but, had I not struggled, I wouldn’t have come to appreciate the way NHRI seeks to affirm its mentors’ varied approaches to leadership development.  We are united in our mission to develop high human relations capital, but we also enjoy a lot of freedom when it comes to executing that development. This freedom and the affirmation that comes with it have been such blessings to me in college because they’ve grown my self-confidence and sense of personal capability.  

As I’m on my way out the door, I’m a bit tearful about saying goodbye to the routine of project meetings and retreats, but am also grateful to be carrying so many wonderful memories and interpersonal skills with me into life as a college graduate. I’m especially looking forward to putting my NHRI knowledge to work next year as a graduate teaching assistant for the ALEC department! Most of all, I can’t wait to see the wonderful ways future generations of NHRIers continue to establish and grow long-lasting, difference-making investment relationships.

-Alie Gillespie, Senior

East Project and Lux Staff Advisor

LDP’s Virtual One-on-Ones

As Zach addressed in the previous blog post, it can be so easy to get overwhelmed by the media and the events of today’s world. However, it is comforting to know that we are all in this together. It is even more uplifting to witness mentors and mentees continuing to support the mission of NHRI, leading me to share what I have been observing. I am so thankful to be a leadership mentor in NHRI Leadership Mentoring because of the people. We are well-equipped to persevere, which is my favorite verb. 

With the transition of one-on-ones from being in-person to virtual, leadership mentors and their leadership mentees are coming up with new, exciting ways to invest in their relationships through digital means. Every project now has a Facebook group to post about their one-on-ones. Mentors are highly encouraged to ask questions and interact with one another, just as projects normally do in-person. These Facebook groups are true testimony that mentors and mentees have not stopped investing in one another to create a ripple effect.

The ideas for digital one-on-ones are infinite! They just keep coming as the leadership team of each project continues to assist mentors to the best of their ability by creating lists of ideas on what to do while face-timing, reaching out to each of their project members, and more. 

As I am scrolling down my project LDP Lincoln High’s Facebook group, I am swept up into stories of mentors and mentees comforting one another. There are stimulus situations being made possible during quarantine as well as goals being set, challenging pairs to hold one another accountable. Netflix dates are sparking conversations and helping to find more hot buttons for others. Many are utilizing TED talks to dig deeper into leadership and others are using this time to take the CliftonStrengths test to dive into strengths. Every person is continuing to invest their time in the future generation. 

By Ashton Krueger

LDP Lincoln High Project, Junior

 

Reflection in Isolated Times

As we find ourselves in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, I can’t help but take a step back to be thankful. In this day and age news spreads so fast via television, radio, and especially the internet. It can be easy to be overwhelmed by this non-stop news cycle. Events seem bigger, and more important, because the news media is constantly blasting us with updates, warnings, and “advice”. While many people are raiding Walmart, I plan to take a different path. As I look around my home, I am overwhelmed by a sense of comfort, not fear. I am fortunate to live in a country where first-class medical care is a short car ride away. I am lucky to live within driving distance of more grocery stores, convenience marts, and Costco warehouses than I could possibly begin to name off. How did I get so lucky to be born in such an affluent nation? A nation where our own citizens don’t even realize how much they have to be thankful for. I count myself among the luckiest of people to claim citizenship to this great country that can provide me with so much. A country where hard work and loyalty can get me as far as I want to go in this life. A country where an illness, economic recession, or natural disaster cannot tear us down. I hope each one of you reading this feels the same way. 

The ripple effect is ever present in this time. Don’t let this small event put ripples on your pond, because those ripples won’t stay contained there. They will move to my pond, your kids’ pond, and the ponds of people you’ve never even met. So, be the bigger person, take the high path, and maybe just call Grandma on the phone instead of visiting her this week. She’ll understand. Spread ripples of thankfulness, not ripples of fear. 

Our mentors and mentees are continuing to develop their leadership capacity during this time of uncertainty. While face-to-face meetings have been suspended, our young leaders have taken a page from the Marine Corps handbook: Improvise, Adapt, Overcome. In the coming weeks, many new breakthroughs will be made, and stronger friendships will be formed. Our mentors will continue supporting their mentees in any way they are able. This is a group that is strong, smart, and resilient. They continue to support the mission of NHRI no matter the circumstances. 

By Zach Treves

Teenage Project, Senior in NHRI

Three Years of Empathy and Friendship

Senior Kaitlyn Forsythe and her mentee, Marie, of PALs project had a bit of a different one-on-one this past week. Prior to their usual meeting time, Marie called Kaitlyn and informed her that she was sick with the flu. However, this did not stop Kaitlyn from driving over to Marie’s house to give her a hug and tell her to feel better in person. At project meeting, Kaitlyn mentioned how she missed Marie and didn’t want to go the week without seeing her. While this one-on-one was a quick hello and the pair didn’t have the opportunity to focus on an NHRI concept, it clearly illustrates one of the defining features of NHRI- developing empathy level relationships between mentors and mentees that lasts years. Kaitlyn going to tell Marie in person to feel better instead of just skipping meeting for the week is truly a testament to the level of relationship that the pair have developed over the course of the three years they have been together. Their one-on-one also goes to show that, even if things don’t go as planned, mentors and mentees can still make one another feel cared for and enjoy seeing one another.

~Madelyn Mann

Barn Bash Mentor Bonding

Hanging out with fellow mentors is one of the best ways to spend a Saturday evening. Last Saturday, NHRI hosted a mentor-hangout called Barn Bash at the Bourbon Theater. We had live music, plenty of snacks, and lots of great conversations with mentors involved in NHRI. It was great to see mentors from every project come out to invest some quality time in each other. Thank you to the Bourbon for letting us hold the event!!!

~Anna Barent

Bucket Filling with Chalk

Jake Fuker from Child’s Project and his mentee Jackson had an outstanding one on one this week where they were able to turn a tough situation into a positive bucket filling opportunity! After hearing Jackson had a rough day at school, Jake decided to get creative with chalk! The duo traced each other’s outline then wrote 5 things that they love about each other in the outline. What a creative way to remind each other that even though we make mistakes, we are still awesome people! Good job Jake and Jackson!

By Morgan Dickey

WE LOVE NHRI

There’s no better way to celebrate Valentine’s day than to share the love with other NHRI mentors. This last week, each project was challenged to get in touch with our softer side for Valentine’s day and they did not disappoint! Each project took a different difference-making approach to the celebrations and shared love with each other, ourselves, our projects, and OF COURSE our mentees. The activities ranged from writing a love letter to ourselves, decorating cookies, card making and decorating, snacks, hanging with our mentors, Valentine bag decorating, and writing cards of appreciation. It was rewarding for our mentees to have some fun celebrating Valentine’s day and to take these ideas to complete similar Valentine’s Day projects with our Leadership Mentees.