Back in the Saddle Again

Hey everybody,

After a long break, I'm happy to report that the fall term has finally begun and I'm back answering your emails and blogging away for the admissions office. Now that I'm actually taking classes again and my extra-curriculars have recommenced, I ought to be able to write (somewhat) interesting entries twice a week or so. So keep coming back for new posts!

One of the things I'm most excited about for this year is my participation in the Rockefeller Center's Senior Leadership Fellows Program (or RLF). The Fellows are a select group of student leaders from all over campus who meet once a week to discuss our personal philosophies on leadership, political engagement, social responsibility, and other topics with leaders from various industries. We also participate in workshops on facilitation, public speaking, and risk taking. In other words, it's a great transition program from the life as an undergrad to life outside of College.

We had our first session this past Thursday and our guest was Nathanial Fick, a Dartmouth '99. Nate entered Officer Candidate School for the Marines right out of Dartmouth, was commissioned as a 2nd Luitenant, and reached the rank of Captain before retiring after 5 years of service. The best-selling book Generation Kill by Rolling Stone embedded reporter Evan Wright was about Nate's unit and its experience in Iraq. This book was eventually made into a miniseries on HBO with the same name. Meanwhile, Nate wrote his own book because he felt that the perspective of the soldiers was not being told enough. Called One Bullet Away: the Making of a Marine Officer, it was itself a New York Times Bestseller back in 2005.

Anyway, over dinner from Mai Thai, Nate gave a presentation about his leadership experience and talked a great deal about decision-making processes. As undergrads, it was a really great opportunity for us to hear from someone who's been so well accomplished out in the real world. After all, that's where we'll be next year. In theory, anyway.

The RLF schedule this year is filled with amazing presenters, and I'm really excited to continue to work with and get to know my fellow... Fellows. This weekend we're going on a retreat to the Lake Morey Resort over in Vermont. I'm know I'm going to learn a lot about leadership and even get to practice my skills, but mostly I think it's just going to be a great time.

'Til the next time,
John